第14章

YouseeIamreckless。IcarenotwhatIdonow，knowingthatyoucannotdespisememorethanyouhavedoneallalongformyforwardness。"

Sheranbackfrommeintotheedgeofthetrees。

"Butthisisfoolishness，"Isaid。"Imusttakeyouthroughthedangersthatliebetweenhereandsomegateofthecity，andthencomebacktotheship。"

"Youneednotfearforme。Theunhappyarealwayssafe。And，besides，Ihaveaway。Itismysolacetoknowthatyouwillremembermenow。Youwillneverforgetthatkiss。"

"Fareyouwell，Ylga，"Icried。"MaytheHighGodskeepyouentirelyintheirholycare。"

Butnoreplycameback。Shehadgoneoffintotheforest。

AndsoIturneddowntothebeach，andsplashedintothewater，andclimbedonboardtheshipupthesteeringoars。Tobgavethewordtohaul—totheanchor，andgetherawayfromthebeach。

"Greeting，mylord，"saidhe，"butI’dhavebeenpleasedtoseeyouearlier。We’vesmallenoughforceandslowenoughheelsinthisvessel，andit’smyideathatthesoonerwe’reawayfromhereandbeyondrangeofpursuit，thesaferitwillbeformywomanandbratswhoareinthathutchofanafter—castle。It’slongenoughsinceIsailedinsuchasmallold—fashionedshipasthis。She’snomachines，andshe’snotevenasteeringmannikin。Lookatthemeannessofherfurnitureand（inyourear）I’vesuspicionsthatthere’srottennessinherbottom。Butshe’sthebestI’dthemeanstobuy，andifshereachestheplaceatthefartherendI’vegotmyeyeon，weshallhavetomakeahomethere，orbecontenttodie，forshe’llneverhavestrengthtocarryusfartherorback。She’sbeenashipintheEgypttrade，andyouknowwhatthatisforgettingwormandrotinthewood。"

"You’denoughhandsforyourschemebeforeIcame？"

"Ohyes。I’vefiftystoutladsandeightwomenpackedintheshipsomehow，andtroubleenoughI’vehadtogetthemawayfromthecity。Thatthiefofaport—captainwellnighskinneduscleanbeforehecouldseeitlawfulthatsomanyusefulfightingmenmightgooutofharbour。Timesarenotwhattheywere，Itellyou，andtheseatrade’saboutdone。Allsailormenofanyskillhavetakenawomanortwoandgoneoutincompaniestotrytheirfortunesinotherlands。Why，I’dtroubleenoughtogethalfascoretohelpmeworkthisship。Allmybalancearejustlandsmenrawandsimple，andifIlandhalfofthemaliveattheotherend，weshallbedoingwell。"

"StillwithluckandafewgoodwindsitshouldnottakelongtogetacrosstoEurope。"

Tobslappedhisleg。"NosavageEuropeforme，mylord。Now，seetheadvantageofbeingamariner。IfoundoncesomeislandstothenorthofEurope，separatedfromthemainbyastrait，whichI

calledtheTinIslands，seeingthattinorelittersmanyofthebeaches。Iwasdriventherebystorm，andsaidnowordofthefindwhenIgotback，andhereyouseeitcomesinuseful。There’snooneinallAtlantisbutmeknowsofthoseTinIslandsto—day，andwe’llgoandfighthonestlyforourground，andbuildatownandakingdomonit。"

"WithTobforking？"

"Well，Ihavefigureditoutassuchformanyaday，butI

knowwhenImeetmybetter，andI’mcontenttoserveunderDeucalion。Mylordwouldhavedonewisertohavebroughtawifewithhim，though，andIthoughtitwasunderstoodbythegoodladythatspoketomedownattheharbour，orI’dhavementioneditearlier。ThesavagesinmyTinIslandsgonakedandstainthemselvesbluewithwoad，andareveryfilthyandbrutishtolookupon。Theyaresturdy，andshouldmakegoodslaves，butonewouldhavetogetbluntedinthetastebeforeonecouldwishtobefathertotheirchildren。"

"IamstillhusbandtoPhorenice。"

Tobgrinned。"TheGodsgiveyoujoyofher。Butitispartofamariner’screed——andyouwillgrowtobeamarinerhere——thatwedlockdoesnotholdacrosstheseas。However，thatmattermayrest。But，comingtomyTinIslandsagain:they’lldelightyou。

AndItellyou，akingdomwillnotbesohardtocarveoutasitwasinEgypt，orasyoufoundinYucatan。Therearebeaststhere，ofcourse，andnoonewhocanhuntneedevergohungry。Butthegreaterbeastsarefew。Therearecave—bearsandcave—tigersinsmallnumbers，tobesure，andsomeriver—horsesandgreatsnakes。

Butthegreaterlizardsseemtoavoidtheland;andasforbirds，thereisrarelyseenonethatcanhurtagrownman。Oh，Itellyou，itwillbeamostdesirablekingdom。"

"TobseemstohaveimaginedhimselfkingoftheTinIslandswithmuchreality。"

Hesighedalittle。"IntruthIdid，andthereisnodenyingit，andItellyouplain，thereisnotanothermanlivingthatI

wouldhavebrokenthisvoyageforbutDeucalion。Butdon’tthinkIregretit，anddon’tthinkIwanttopushmyselfabovemyplace。

Thisbreezeandtheebbaretakingtheoldshipfinelyalongherways。Seethosefirebasketsontheharbourforts？We’reabreastofthemnow。We’llhavedroppedthemandthecityoutofsightbydaylight，andthefloodwillnotbegintorunuptillthen。ButI

fearunlessthewindhardensdownwiththedawnwe’llhavetobringuptoananchorwhenthefloodmakes。Tidesrunveryhardinthesenarrowseas。Aye，andtherearesomeshrewdishtide—ripsroundmyTinIslands，asyoushallseewhenwereachthem。"

Thereweremanyfearfulglancesbackwardswhendaycameandshowedthewaters，andtheburningmountainsthathemmedtheminbeyondtheshores。AllseemedtoexpectsomenavyofPhorenicetocomesurginguptotakethembacktoservitudeandstarvationinthesqualidwardsofthecity;andIconfessingenuouslythatIwaswiththeminalltruthwhentheysworetheywouldfighttheshiptillshesankbeneaththem，beforetheywouldobeyanotherofthecommandsofPhorenice。However，theirbraveheroicsweredisplayedtonosmallpurpose。Forthefullflowofthetidewehunginourplace，barelymovingpasttheland，butyetnotseeingeitheroarorsail;andthen，whenthetideturned，awaywewentoncemorewithspeed，mightilycomforted。

Tob’swomanmustneedsbringdrinkondeck，andbidallpourlibationstoherasafuturequeen。ButTobcuffedherbackintotheafter—castle，slammingtothehatchbehindherheels，andbiddingthecrewsendtheliquordowntheirdustythroats。"Wearedonewiththatfoolery，"saidhe。"MyLordDeucalionwillbekingofthisnewkingdomweshallbuildintheTinIslands，andarightproperkinghe’llmake，asyouuntravelledoneswouldknow，ifyou’dsailedtheouterseaswithhimasIhavedone。"BeneathwhichIreadaregret，butsaidnothing，havingmademyplansfromthemomentofsteppingonboard，aswillappearonalatersheet。

Soondownthegreatestuarywemadeourway，andthoughitpleasuredtheothersonboardwhentheysawthattheseasweredesolateofsails，itsaddenedmewhenIrecalledhowoncethewatershadbeenwhitenedwiththeglutofshipping。

Theyhadstartedoffontheirvoyagewithabaretwodays’

provisionintheirequipment，andso，ofnecessityevenafterleavingthegreatestuary，wewereforcedtovoyagecoastwise，puttingintoeverylikelyriverandshelteredbeachtoslayfishandmeatforfuturevictualling。"Andwhenthewintercomes，"saidTob，"asitsgaleswillbeheavierthanthisoldshipcanstomach，Ihaddeterminedtohaulupandmakeapermanentcampashore，andgetacropofgraingrownandthreshedbeforesettingsailagain。

Itistheusualcustominthesevoyages。AndIshalldoitstill，subjecttomylord’sbetteropinion。"

Sohere，havingbythistimecompletedatwomonths’leisurelyjourneyfromthecity，IsawmyopportunitytospeakwhatIhadalwayscarriedinmymind。"Tob，"Isaid，"Iamapoor，weak，defencelessman，andIamquiteatyourmercy，butwhatifIdonotvoyageallthewaytotheTinIslands，andoustyouofthiskingship？"

Hebrightenedperceptibly。"Aye，"hegrunted，"youareveryweak，mylord，andmightydefenceless。Weknowallaboutthat。

Butwhat’selse？Youmusttellallyourmeaningplain。I’macommonmariner，andunderstandlittleofyourfancytalk。"

"Why，this。ThatitisnotmywishtoleavethecontinentofAtlantis。IfyouwillputmedownonanypartofthissidethatfacesEurope，IwillcommendyoustronglytotheGods。IwouldI

couldgiveyoumoney，or（betterstill）articlesthatwouldbeusefultoyouinyourcolonising;butasitis，youseemedestitute。"

"Astothat，youowemenothing，havingdonevastlymorethanyourshareeachtimewehaveputinshoreforthehunting。Butitwillnotdo，thisplanofyours。IwillshamedlyconfessthatthesoundofthatkingshipinmyTinIslandssoundssweettome。Butno，mylord，itwillnotdo。Youarenomarineryet，andunderstandlittleofgeography，butImusttellyouthatthepartofAtlantisthere"——hejerkedhisthumbtowardsthelineoftrees，andthemountainswhichlaybeyondthefringeofsurf——"iscalledtheDangerousLands，andamanmustneedsbeasalamanderandbelearnedinmagic（soIamtold）beforehecanlivethere。"

Ilaughed。"WeofthePriests’Clanhavesomeeducation，Tob，thoughitmaynotbeonthesamelinesasyourown。Infact，ImaysayIwastaughtinthecollegesconcerningtheboundariesandthecontentsofourcontinentwithanicetythatwouldsurpriseyou。

Andonceashore，myfatewillstillbeunderthecontrolofthemostHighGods。"

Hemutteredsomethinginhisprofaneseaman’swayaboutpreferringtokeephisownfateundercontrolofhisownmoststrongrightarm，butsayingthathewouldkeepthematterinhisthoughts，heexcusedhimselfhurriedlytogoandseetosomewhatconcerningtheworkingoftheship，andthereleftme。

ButIthinkthesweetsofkinglyrulewereastrongargumentinfavouroflettingmehavemyway（whichIshouldhavehadotherwiseifithadnotbeengivenpeacefully），andonthethirddayafterourtalkheputtheshipinshoreagainforre—victualling。Welurchedintoariver—mouth，halfswampedoveraroaringbar，andranupagainstthebankandmadefasttheretotrees，butboomingourselvesasafedistanceoffwithoarsandpoles，sothatnobeastcouldleaponboardoutofthethicket。

Fish—spearingandmeat—huntingweresetaboutwithpromptitude，andontheseconddaywewerehappyenoughtoslayayearlingriver—horse，whichgaveprovisionsinallsufficiency。A

spacewasclearedonthebank，fireswerelit，andthemeathungoverthesmokeinstrips，andwhenasmuchwascuredastheshipwouldcarry，theshipmenmadeafinalgorgeonwhatremained，filledupagreatstackofhollowreedswithdrinkingwater，andwerereadytocontinuethevoyage。

WithsturdygenerositydidTobagainattempttomakemesailonwiththemastheirfutureking，andassteadfastlydidImakerefusal;andatlaststoodaloneonthebankamongstthegnawedbonesoftheirfeast，withmyweaponstobearmecompany，andhe，andhismen，andthewomenstoodinthelittleoldship，readytodropdownriverwiththecurrent。

"Atleast，"saidTob，"we’llcarryyourmemorywithus，andmakeitbigintheTinIslandsforeverlasting。"

"Forgetme，"Isaid，"Iamnothing。Iammerelyanincidentthathascomeinyourway。Butifyouwanttocarrysomememorywithyouthatshallendure，preservethecultofthemostHighGodsasitwastaughttoyouwhenyouwerechildrenhereinAtlantis。

Andafterwards，whenyourcolonygrowsinpower，andhascometosufficientmagnificence，youmaysendtotheoldcountryforapriest。"

"Wewantnopriest，exceptoneweshallmakeourselves，andthatwillbeme。AndasfortheoldGods——well，Ihavelaidmyideasbeforethefellowshere，andtheyagreetothis:WearedonewiththoseoldGodsforalways。Theyseemwornout，ifonemayjudgefromTheirpresentlackofusefulnessinAtlantis，and，anyway，therewillbenoroomforThemontheTinIslands。——Letgothosewarpsthereaft，andshoveherheadout。——Weareunderweighnow，mylord，andbeyondrecall，andsoIamfreetotellyouwhatwehavedecideduponforourreligiousexercises。WeshallsetupthememoryofalivingHeroonearth，andworshipthat。Andwheninyearstocomethepictureofhisfacegrowsdim，weshalldoubtlessmakeanimageofhim，asaccurateasourartpermits，andbuildhimatempleforshelter，andbringthereourofferingsandprayers。AndasIsay，mylord，Ishallbepriest，andwhenIamdead，thesonsofmybodyshallbepriestsafterme，andtheeldestakingalso。"

"Letmepleadwithyou，"Isaid。"Thismustnotbe。"

Theshipwasdriftingrapidlyawaywiththecurrent，andtheywerehoistingsail。Tobhadtoshouttomakehimselfheard。"Aye，butitshallbe。ForI，too，amastrongmanaftermykind，andI

haveordereditso。AndifyouwantthenameofourHerothatsomedayshallbeGod，youwearitonyourself。DeucalionshallbeGodforourchildren。"

"Thisisblasphemy，"Icried。"Haveacare，fool，orthisimpietywillsinkyou。"

"Wewillriskit，"hebawledback，"andconsidertheoddsagainstusaresmall。Regard！Hereisthylasthornofwineintheship，andmywomanhastreasureditagainstthismoment。

Regard，allmen，togetherwithThoseaboveandThosebelow！IpourthiswineasalibationtoDeucalion，greatlordthatisto—day，Herothatshallbeto—morrow，Godthatwillbeintimetocome！"

Andthenallthoseontheshipjoinedintheacclaimtilltheywerebeyondthereachofmyvoice，andwerebattlingtheirwayouttoseathroughtheroaringbreakersofthebar。

SolitaryIstoodatthebrinkoftheforest，lookingafterthemandmusingsadly。Tob，despitehislowlystation，wasamanIcaredformorethanmany。Likeallseamen，IknewthathepaidhisdevotionstooneoftheobscurerGods，buttillthenIhadsupposedhimdevoutinhisworship。Hisnewavowalcametomeasadesolatingshock。IfamanlikeTobcouldforsakealltheolderGodstosetuponhighsomepoormortalwhohadmomentarilycaughthisfancy，whatcouldbeexpectedfromthemerethoughtlessmob，whenswayedbysuchabrillianttongueasPhorenice’s？ItseemedIwastobeginmyexilewithanewdrearinessaddedtoalltheotheradverseprospectsofAtlantis。

ButthenbehindmeIheardtherustleofsomegreatbeastthathadscentedme，andwascomingtoattackthroughthethicket，andsoIhadothermatterstothinkupon。IhadtoletTobandhisshipgooutovertherimofthehorizonunwatched。

15。ZAEMON’SSUMMONS

SincethedayswhenmanwasfirstcreatedupontheearthbyGodswholookeddownanddidtheirworkfromanotherplace，therehavealwaysbeenareasofthelandill—adaptedforhismaintenance，butnonemoresothanthatpartofAtlantiswhichliesoveragainstthesavagecontinentsofEuropeandAfrica。Thecommonpeopleavoidit，becauseofasuperstitionwhichsaysthatthespiritsoftheevildeadstalkaboutthereinbroaddaylight，andslayallthosethatthemoreopendangersoftheplacemightotherwisespare。Andsoithashappenedoftenthatthecriminalswhomighthavefledtherefromjustice，havereturnedoftheirownfreewill，andvoluntarilygiventhemselvesuptothetormentors，ratherthanfaceitsfabulousterrors。

Totheeducated，manyoftheselegendsareknowntobemythical;butwithalthereareenoughdisquietudesremainingtomakelifeveryarduousandstockedwithperil。Everywherethemountainskeeptheircontentsontheboil;earthtremorsareeveryday’sexperience;gushesofunseenevilvapoursstealupononewithsuchcunningnessandspeed，thatitisoftenhardtofleeintimebeforeoneischokedandkilled;poisonswellupintotherivers，yetleavetheircolourunchanged;greatcrackssplitacrossthegroundreachingdowntothefiresbeneath，andthewatersgushintothese，andareshotforthagainwithdevastatingexplosion;andalwaysmaybeexpectedgreatoutpouringsofboilingmudormoltenrock。

Yetwithallthis，therearegreatsombreforestsintheselands，withtreeswhoseageisunimaginable，andfiresamongsttheherbagearerare。Allbeneaththetreesiswater，andtheairisfullofwarmsteamandwetness。Foramantoliveinthatconstanthotdampisverymortifyingtothestrength。Butstrengthiswanted，andcunningalsobeyondtheordinary，forthesedangerouslandsaretheabodeofthelizards，whichofallbeastsgrowtothemostenormoussizeandarethemostfearsometodealwith。

Therearecountlessfamiliesandspeciesoftheselizards，andwithsomeofthemamancancontendwithprospectofsuccess。Butthereareotherswhosehugenessnohumanforcecanbattleagainst。

OneIsaw，asitcameupoutofalakeaftergainingitsday’sfood，thatmadethewetlandshakeandpulseasittrod。ItcouldhavetakenPhorenice’smammothintoitsbelly，*andevenamammothinfullchargecouldnothaveharmedit。Greathornyplatescovereditsheadandbody，andontheridgeofitsbackandtailandlimbswerespinesthattoregreatsliversfromtheblacktreesasitpassedamongstthem。

*TRANSLATOR’SNOTE:ProfessorReederoftheWyomingStateUniversityhasrecentlyunearthedtheskeletonofaBrontosaurus，130ft。inlength，whichwouldhaveweighed50tonswhenalive。Itwas35ft。inheightatthehips，and25ft。attheshoulder，and40peoplecouldbeseatedwithcomfortwithinitsribs。Itsthighbonewas8ft。long。Thefossilsofawholeseriesofthesecolossallizardshavebeenfound。

Nowandagainthesemonsterswouldgetcaughtinsomevastfissuringoftheground，butnotoften。Theirspeedoffootwasgreat，andtheirsagacitykeen。Theyseemedtoknowwhentheworstboilingsofthemountainsmightbeexpected，andthentheyfoundsafetyinthedeeperlakes，orburiedthemselvesinwallowsofthemud。Moreover，theyweremorekindlyconstitutedthanmantowithstandonegreatdangeroftheseregions，inthattheheatofthewaterdidthemnoharm。Indeed，theywillliepeacefullyinpoolswheresuddensteam—burstsaremakingthewaterleapintoboilingfountains，andIhaveseenonerunquicklyacrossaflowofmoltenrockwhichthreatenedtocutitoff，andnotbesomuchassingedinthetransit。

Inthemidstofsuchneighbours，then，wasmynewlifethrown，andexistencebecameperilousandhardtomefromtheoutset。I

cameneartoknowingwhatFearwas，andindeedonlyaferventtrustinthemostHighGods，andafirmbeliefthatmylifewasalwaysunderTheirfosteringcare，preventedmefromgainingthathorridknowledge。Forlongenough，tillIlearnedsomewhatofthewaysofthissteaming，swelteringland，IwasinasmiserableacaseasevenPhorenicecouldhavewishedtoseeme。Myclothesrottedfrommybackwiththeconstantwetness，tillIwentasnakedasasavagefromEurope;mylimbswererackedwithagues，andIcouldfindnoherbstomakedrugsfortheirrelief;fordaystogetherIcouldfindnobetterfoodthantree—grubsandleaves;andoftenwhenI

didkillbeasts，knowinglittleoftheirqualities，Iatethosethatgavemepainandsickness。

Butasmanisborntomakehimselfadaptabletohissurroundings，soasthemonthsdraggedondidIlearnthelimitationofthisnewlifeofmine，andgathersomeknowledgeofitsresources。Asexample:Ifoundagreatblacktree，withahollowcore，andaholeintoitsmiddleneartheroots。HereI

harboured，tillonenightsomemonstrouslizard，whosesheerweightmadethetreerocklikeasapling，endeavouredtosuckmeforthasabirdpicksawormfromahollowlog。IescapedbythewilloftheGods——Icouldasmuchhavedoneharmtoamountainasinjurethathornytonguewithmyweapons——butIgavemyselfwarningthatthischancemustnothappenagain。

SoIcutmyselfaladderoffootholesontheinsideofthetrunktillIhadreachedapointtenman—heightsfromtheground，andtherecutothernotches，andwithtreebranchesmadeaflooronwhichImightrest。Later，forluxury，Icarvedmearrow—slitwindowsinthewallsofmychamber，andevencarriedupsandforahearth，sothatImightcookmyvictualupthereinsteadoflightingafireinallthedangersoftheopenbelow。

Bydegrees，too，Ibegantofindhowthelarge—scaledfishoftheriversandthelesserturtlesmightbemorereadilycaptured，andsomyribsthreatenedlesstostartthroughtheirpropercoveringofskinasthedayswenton。ButthelackofsaladsandgruelsIcouldneverovercome。AllthegreenmeatwastaintedsopowerfullywiththetasteoftarsthatnevercouldIforcemypalatetoacceptit。Andofcourse，too，thereremainedtheperilofthegreaterlizardsandtheotherdangersnativetotheplace。

Butasthemonthsbegantomountintoyears，andthebrutepartofmynaturebecamemoresatisfied，therecameotherlongingswhichitwaslesseasytoprovidefor。Fromtheivoryofariverhorse’stoothIhadendeavouredtocarvemearepresentativeofNaisaslastIhadseenher。But，thoughmyfingersmightbeloving，andmywillgood，myartwasofthedullest，andtheresult——thoughItriedtimeandtimeagain——wasalwaysclumsyandpitiful。Still，inmyeyesitcarriedsomesuggestionoftheoriginal——acurvehere，anoutlinethere，anditmademyoldloveglowanewwithinmeasIsatandateitwithmyeyes。YetitdidlittletosatisfymylongingsforthewomanIhadlost;ratheritwhettedmycravingstobewithheragain，oratleasttohavesomeknowledgeofherfate。

OthermenofthePriests’ClanhavecomeoutandmadeanabodeintheseDangerousLands，andbymortifyingtheflesh，havegainedanintimacywiththeHigherMysterieswhichhascarriedthemfarpastwhatmerehumanlearningandrepetitioncouldteach。Indeed，hereandthereone，whofromsomecauseandanotherhasreturnedtotheabodesofmen，hascarriedwithhimaknowledgethathasbroughthimthereputationamongstthevulgarfortheworkingsofmagicandmiracles，which——sinceallartsmustbeallowedwhichaidsoholyacause——haveaddedverymateriallytotheardourwithwhichthesecommonpeoplepursuethecultoftheGods。ButformyselfIcouldnotfreemymindtothenecessaryclearnessforfollowingtheseabstrusestudies。DuringthatvoyagehomefromYucatanIhadcommunedwiththemwithgrowinginsight;butnowmymindwasnotmyown。Naishadalienuponit，andrefusedtobeousted;and，intruth，hersweettrespasswasmychiefsolace。

Butatlastmylongingcouldnofurtherbedenied。Throughoneofthearrow—slitwindowsofmytree—houseIcouldseefarawayagreatmountaintopwhitenedwithperpetualsnow，whichourLordtheSundyedwithbloodeverynightofHissetting。NightafternightIusedtowatchthatruddylightwithwidestrainingeyes。

NightafternightIusedtorememberthatindaysagonewhenIwasenteringuponthepriesthood，ithadbeenmydutytoadoreourgreatLordasHeroseforHisdaybehindthesnowsofthatverymountain。Andalwaysthethoughtfollowedonthesemusings，thatfromthatdistantcrestIcouldseeacrossthecontinenttotheSacredMount，whichhadthecitybelowitwhereIhadburiedmylovealive。

SoatlastIgavewayandsetout，andaperilousjourneyI

madeofit。Intheheavymists，whichhungalwaysonthelowerground，mywaylayblindbeforeme，andIwasconstantlylosingit。

Indeed，tosaythatItraversedthreetimesthedirectdistanceissettingalowestimate。Throughoutallthoseswampsthegreatlizardshunted，andasthecountrywasnewtomeIdidnotknowplacesofharbour，andahundredtimeswaswithinanaceofbeingspiedanddevouredatamouthful。ButtheHighGodsstilldesiredmeforTheirownpurposes，andblindedthegreatbeasts’eyeswhenIslunktocoverastheypassed。Twiceriversofscaldingwaterroaredboilingacrossmypath，andIhadtodelaytillIcouldcollectenoughblacktimberfromtheforeststobuildraftsthatwouldgivemedryferriage。

Itwillbeseenthenthatmyjourneywasinawayinfinitelytedious，buttome，afterallthoseyearsofwaiting，thetimepassedonwingedfeet。IhadbeenseparatedfrommylovetillI

couldbearthestrainnolonger;letmebutseefromadistancetheplacewhereshelay，andfeastmyeyesuponitforawhile，andthenIcouldgobacktomyabodeinthetreeandthereremainpatientlyawaitingthewilloftheGods。

TheairgrewmorechillyasIbegantocomeoutabovetheregionoftrees，ontothathighergroundwhichglaresdownontherestoftheworld，andImadebuskinsandacoatofwovengrassestoprotectmybodyfromthecold，whichbegantoblowuponmekeenly。Andlateron，wherethesnowlayeternally，andwasblownintogullies，andfrozenintosolidbanksandbergsofice，Ihadhardworktomakeanyprogressamongstitsperilousmazes，andwasmoreoversonumbedbythechill，thatmynaturalstrengthwasvastlyweakened。Overhead，too，followingmeupwithforbiddingswoops，andoccasionallycomingsoclosethatIhadtothreatenitwithmyweapons，wasoneofthosehugeman—eatingbirdswhichlivebypullingdownandcarryingoffanycreaturethattheirinstinctstellthemisweakly，andlikelysoontodie。

Butthelureaheadofmewasstrongenoughtomakethesedifficultiesseemsmall，andthoughtheairofthemountainagreedwithmeill，causingsicknessandpanting，IpressedonwithwhatspeedIcouldmustertowardstheelusivesummit。TimeaftertimeIthoughtthenextspurtwouldsurelybringmeouttotheviewforwhichmysoulyearned，butalwaysthereseemedanotherbankofsnowandiceyettobeclimbed。ButatlastIreachedthecrest，andgavethankstothemostHighGodsforTheirprotectionandfavour。

Far，farawayIcouldseetheSacredMountainwithitsringoffiresburningpaleundertheday，andalthoughthesplendidcitywhichnestledatitsfootcouldnotbeseenfromwhereIstood，I

knewitspositionandIknewitsplan，andmysoulwentouttothatthroneofgraniteinthesquarebeforetheroyalpyramid，whereonce，yearsbefore，Ihadburiedmylove。HadPhoreniceleftthetombunviolated？

Istoodthereleaningonmyspear，fillingmyeyewiththeprospect，warmingeventothesmokeofmountainsthatIrecognisedasoldacquaintances。Gods！howmyloveburnedwithinmeforthiswoman。Mywholebeingseemedgoneouttomeether，andtoleaveroomfornothingbeside。Forlongenoughavoiceseemeddimlytobecallingme，butIgaveitnoregard。IhadcomeouttothathoarymountaintopforcommunionwithNaisalone，andIwantednoneotherstointerrupt。

Butatlengththevoicecallingmynamegrewtooloudtobeneglected，andIpulledmyselfoutofmysweetmusingwithastarttothinkthathere，forthefirsttimesincepartingwithTobandhiscompany，Ishouldseeanotherhumanfellow—being。Igrippedmyweaponandaskedwhocalled。Thereplycameclearlyfromuptheslopesofmountain，andIsawamancomingtowardsmeoverthesnows。Hewasoldandfeeble。Hisbodywasbent，andhishairandbeardwerewhiteasthegroundonwhichhetrod，andpresentlyI

recognisedhimasZaemon。Hewascomingtowardsmewithincrediblespeedforamanofhisyearsandfeebleness，buthecarriedinhishandtheglowingSymbolofourLordtheSun，andholystrengthfromthiswouldaddlargelytohispowers。

HecameclosetomeandmadethesignoftheSeven，whichI

returnedtohim，withitscompletion，withdueformandceremony。

AndthenhesalutedmeinthemannerprescribedasmessengerappointedbytheHighCouncilofthePriestsseatedbeforetheArkoftheMysteries，andImadehumbleobeisancebeforehim。

"InallthingsIwillobeytheordersthatyouputbeforeme，"

Isaid。

"Suchisyourduty，mybrother。Thecommandis，thatyoureturnimmediatelytotheSacredMountain，sothatifhumanmeansmaystillprevail，you，asthemostskilfulgeneralAtlantisownswithinherborders，maystillsavethecountryfromfinalwreckandpunishment。ThewomanPhorenicepersistsinherinfamies。Thepoorlandgroansunderherheel。AndnowshehaslaidsiegetoourSacredMountainitself，andswearsthatnotonesoulshallbeleftaliveinallAtlantiswhodoesnotbendhumblytoherwill。"

"ItisacommandandIobeyit。Butletmeaskofanothermatterthatisintimatetobothofus。WhatofNais？"

"Naisrestswhereyoulefther，untouched。Phoreniceknowsbyherarts——shehasstolennearlyalltheancientknowledgenow——thatstillyoulive，andshekeepsNaisunharmedbeneaththegranitethroneinthehopesthatsometimeshemayuseherasaweaponagainstyou。LittlesheknowsthesternnessofourPriests’creed，mybrother。Why，evenI，thatamthegirl’sfather，wouldsacrificeherblithely，ifherdeathorruinmightdoatittleofgoodtoAtlantis。"

"Yougobeyondmewithyourdevotion。"

Theoldmanleanedforwardatme，withgloweringbrow。

"What！"

"Ormyoldblindadherencetotheancientdogmahasbeensappedandweakenedbyevents。Youmustbuymyfullobedience，Zaemon，ifyouwantit。PromisemeNais——andyourartsIknowcansnatchher——andIwillbetrueservanttotheHighCouncilofthePriest，andwilldieinthelastditchifneedbeforthecarryingoutoforder。ButletmeseeNaisgivenovertothefuryofthatwantonwoman，andIshallhavenoinwardsleft，excepttotakemyvengeance，andtoseeAtlantispiledupinruinsasherfuneral—

stone。"