第16章

Eightgatesofstonetherewerecuttingthepathway，eachcommandingastraight，steeppieceoftheascent，andoverhangingeachgatewasagallerysecurefromarrow—shot，yetsocontrivedthatgreatstonescouldbehurledthroughholesinthefloorofit，insuchamannerthattheymustirretrievablysmashtoapulpanymenadvancingagainstitfrombelow。Andincavesdugoutfromtherockoneitherhandwasagreathoardofthesestones，sothatnoenemythroughsheerexpenditureoftroopscouldhopetostormagatebyexhaustingitsammunition。

Butthoughtherewereeightofthesegranitegatesintheseries，wehadthewholenumbertodependonnolonger。ThelowestgatewasheldbyagarrisonofPhorenice’stroops，whohadbuiltawallabovethemtoprotecttheiroccupation。Thegatehadbeengainedbynobrilliantfeatofarms——ithadbeenwonbythreats，bribery，andpromises;or，inotherwords，ithadbeengivenupbytheblackesttreachery。

Andherelaythekeynoteoftheweaknessinourdefence。Themostperfectrampartsthatbraincaninventareuselesswithoutmentolinethem，anditwasmenwelacked。OfstudentsenteringintothecollegesoftheSacredMountain，therehadbeennonenowformanyayear。TheyoungergenerationthoughtlittleoftheolderGods。Ofthementhathadgrownupamongstthesacredgroves，andfilledofficesthere，manyhadbecomelukewarmintheirfaithandremainedononlythroughhabit，andbecauseaneasylivingstayednearthemthere;andthese，whenthesiegebegan，quicklymadetheirwayovertotheotherside。

Phorenicewasnofooltofightagainstunnecessarystrength。

Herheraldsmadeproclamationthatpeaceandagoodsubsistencewouldbegiventothosewhochosetocomeouttoherwillingly;andasanalternativeshewouldkillbytortureandmutilationthoseshecaughtintheplacewhenshetookitbystorm，asshemostassuredlywoulddobeforeshehadfinishedwithit。Andsogreatwastheprestigeofhername，thatquiteone—halfofthesethatremainedonthemountaintookthemselvesawayfromthedefence。

Therewasnoattempttoholdbackthesesorrypriests，norwasthereanypunishingthemastheywent。Zaemon，indeed，wasminded（sohetoldmewithgrimmeaninghimself）togivethemsomemementooftheirapostasytocarryawaywhichwouldnotwearout，buttheothersoftheHighCouncilmadehimstayhisvengefulhand。AndsowhenIcametotheplacethegarrisonnumberednomorethaneighty，countingevenfeebleolddotardswhocouldbarelywalk;andofmennotpasttheirprimeIcouldbarelycommandascore。

Still，seeingthenarrownessofthepassageswhichledtoeachofthegates，upwhichinnoplacecouldmorethantwomenadvancetogether，wewerebynomeansindesperatestraitsforthedefenceasyet;andifmynew—givenkingdomwassofarsmall，consistingasitdidineffectoftheSacredMountainandnootherpartofAtlantis，atanyratethereseemedlittledangerofitsbeingfurthercontracted。

Anotherofthewiseprecautionsofthemenofoldstoodusingoodsteadthen。Intheancienttimes，whengrainfirstwasgrownasfood，itcametobelookeduponastheacmeofwealth。TributewasalwayspaidfromthepeopletotheirPriests，andpresently，sotheoldhistoriessay，itwasappointedthatthisshouldtaketheformofgrain，asthiswasamediumbothdignifiedandfitting。

Andthoseofthepeoplewhohaditnot，wereforcedtobartertheirotherproduceforgrainbeforetheycouldpaythistribute。

OntheSacredMountainitselfvaststorehousesweredugintherock，andherethegrainwasteemedingreatyellowheaps，andeachgenerationofthosethatweresetoverit，tookaprideinaddingtotheaccumulation。

InmoremoderndaysithadbeenacustomamongsttheyoungerandmoreforwardofthePrieststoscoffatthisancientprovision，andtoholdthatatreasureofgold，orweapons，orjewelswouldhavemorevalueandnolessofdignity;andmorethanonceithasbeenaclosethinglesttheseinnovatorsshouldnotbeout—voted。

Butasitwas，theoldconstitutionhadhappilybeenpreserved，andnowintheseyearsoftrialtheClanreapedthebenefit。Andsowiththesegranaries，andaseriesofgreattanksandcisternswhichheldtherainfall，therewasnochanceofPhorenicereducingourstrongholdbymerecloseinvestment，eventhoughshesatdownstubbornlybeforeitforascoreofyears。

Butitwasthepaucityofmenforthedefencewhichoppressedmemost。AsItookmywayabouttheheadoftheMountain，inspectingallpoints，theemptinessoftheplacesmotemelikeasuccessionofblows。Thegroves，oncesotrim，werenowshaggyandunpruned。Windhadwhirledtheleavesinuponthetemplefloors，andtheylaythereunswept。Thecollegeofyouthsheldnomorenowthanamustysmelltobearwitnessthatmenhadoncebeengrownthere。ThehomelypalacesofthehigherPriests，atonetimesoardentlysoughtafter，laymanyofthemempty，becausenotevenonecandidatecameforwardnowtocanvassforelection。

EvilthoughtssurgedupwithinmeasIsawthesethings，thatweredirectpromptingsfromthenetherGods。"Theremustbesomethingwanting，"thesetempterswhispered，"inareligionfromwhichsomanyofitsPriestsfledatthefirstpinchofpersecution。"

IdidwhatIcouldtothrustthesewaveringsresolutelybehindme;buttheyrefusedtobealtogetheroustedfrommybrain;andsoImadeacompromisewithmyself:First，Iwouldwiththehelpthatmightbegivenme，destroythiswantonPhorenice，andregainthekingdomwhichhadbeengivenmetomyownproperrule;andafterwardsIwouldcallacounciloftheSevenandcounciloftheThree，andconsiderwithoutprejudiceiftherewasanymatterinwhichourancientritualcouldbeamendedtosuitthemoremodernrequirements。ButthisshouldnotbedonetillPhorenicewasdeadandIwasfirmlyplantedinherroom。Iwouldnotbeaparty，eventomyself，toanyplanwhichsmackedatallofsurrender。

AndthereasIwalkedthroughthedesolategrovesandbesidethecoldaltars，theHighGodswerepleasedtoshowtheirapprovalofmyscheme，andtogivemeopportunitytobindmyselftoitwithasolemnoathandvow。AtthatmomentfromHisdistantresting—placeintheEast，ourLordtheSunleapeduptobeginanotherday。ForlongenoughfromwhereIstoodbelowthecrestoftheMountain，HeHimselfwouldbeinvisible。ButthegreatlightofHisgloryspreadfarintothesky，andagainstittheArkoftheMysteriesloomedinblackoutlinefromthehighestcragwhereitrested，lonelyandterrible。

ForanyoneunauthorisedtogonearerthanathousandpacestothisstorehouseoftheHighestMysteriesmeantinstantdeath。OnthatdaywhenIwasinitiatedasoneoftheSeven，Ihadbeenpermittedtogonearandoncepressmylipsagainstitsamplecurves;andtherankofmydegreegavemetheprivilegetorepeatthatsaluteagainonceoneachdaywhenanewyearwasborn。Butwhatlayinsideitsgreatinterior，andhowitwasentered，thatwashiddenfromtheSeven，evenasitwasfromtheotherPriestsandthecommonpeopleinthecitybelow。OnlythosewhohadbeenraisedtothesublimeelevationoftheThreehadaknowledgeofthedreadfulpowerswhichwerestoredwithinit。

IwentdownonmykneeswhereIwas，andZaemonkneltbesideme，andtogetherwerecitedtheprayerswhichhadbeensaidbythePriestsfromthebeginningoftime，givingthankstoourgreatLordthatHehascometobrightenanotherday。Andthen，withmyeyesfixedontheblackoutlineoftheArkofMysteriesIvowedthat，comewhatmight，IatleastwouldbetrueservantoftheHighGodstomylife’send，andthatmywholestrengthshouldbespentinrestoringTheirworshipandglory。

17。NAISTHEREGAINED

Now，fromwherewestoodtogetherjustbelowthecrestoftheSacredMountain，wecouldseedownintothecity，whichlayspreadoutbelowuslikeamap。Theharbourandthegreatestuarygleamedatitsfartherside;andthefringeofhillsbeyondsmokedandfumedintheiraccustomedfashion;thegreatstonecircleofourLordtheSunstoodupgrimandbareinthemiddleofthecity;andnearerinrearedupthegreatmassoftheroyalpyramid，thegoldonitssidescatchingnewgoldfromtheSun。There，too，inthesquarebeforethepyramidstoodthethroneofgranite，dwarfedbythedistancetothesizeofamole’shill，inwhichthesenineyearsmylovehadlainsleeping。

OldZaemonfollowedmygaze。"Ay，"hesaidwithasigh，"I

knowwhereyourchiefinterestis。DeucalionwhenhelandedherenewfromYucatanwasastrongman。TheKingwhomwehavechosen——andwhoisthebestwehavetochoose——hashisweakness。"

"Itcanbeturnedintoadditionalstrength。GivemeNaishere，livingandwarmtofightfor，andIamastrongermanbyfarthanthecoldviceroyandsoldierthatyouspeakabout。"

"Ihavepassedmywordtothatalready，andyoushallhaveher，butatthecostofdamagingsomewhatthisnewkingdomofyours。MaybetooatthesametimewemayridyouofthisPhoreniceandherbrood。ButIdonotthinkitlikely。Sheistoowily，andoncewebeginourplay，sheislikelytoguesswhenceitcomes，andhowitwillend，andsowillmakeanescapebeforeharmcanreachher。TheHighGods，whohavesentallthesetrialsforourrefinement，haveseenfittogivehersomeknowledgeofhowtheseearthtremorsmaybeseta—moving。"

"Ihaveseenherjugglewiththem。ButmayIhearyourscheme？"

"Itwillbeshownyouingoodtimeenough。ButforthepresentIwouldbidyousleep。Itwillbeyourparttogointothecityto—night，andtakeyourwoman（thatismydaughter）whensheissetfree，andbringherhereasbestyoucan。Andforthatyouwillneedallastrongman’sstrength。"——Hesteppedback，andlookedmeupanddown。——"Therearenotmanyfolkthatwouldtakeyouforthetidyclean—chinnedDeucalionnow，mybrother。Yourappearancewillbeafinearmourforyoudownyonderinthecityto—nightwhenwewakeitwithourearth—shakingandterror。Asyoustandnow，youarehairyenough，andshaggyenough，andnakedenough，anddirtyenoughforsomewildsavagenewlandedoutofEurope。Haveacarethatnofinecitizendownyondertakesafancytoyourthews，andseizesuponyouashisservant。"

"Isomewhatpityhiminhishouseholdifhedoes。"

OldZaemonlaughed。"Why，cometothinkofit，sodoI。"

Butquicklyhegotgraveagain。LaughterandZaemonwereveryrareplaymates。"Well，getyoutobed，myKing，andleavemetogointotheArkofMysteriesandpreparetherewithanotheroftheThreethethingsthatmustbedone。Itisnolightbusinesstohandlethetremendouspowerswhichwemustputintomovementthisnight。Andthereisdangerforusasthereisforyou。Soifbychancewedonotmeetagaintillwestandupyonderbehindthestars，givingaccounttotheGods，fareyouwell，Deucalion。"

Isleptthatdayasasoldiersleeps，takingfullrestoutofthehours，andlettingnoharassingthoughtdisturbme。Itisonlytheweakwhopermittheirsleeptobebrokenontheseoccasions。

Andwhenthedarkwaswellset，Irousedandfetchedthosewhoshouldattendtotherope。OurLadytheMoondidnotshineatthatturnofthemonth:andtheairwasfullofagreatblackness。SoIwasoutofsightallthewhiletheyloweredme。

Ireachedthetumbledrocksthatlayatthedeepfootofthecliff，andthencommencedtouseanicecaution，becausePhorenice’ssoldierssquatteduneasilyroundtheircamp—fires，asthoughtheyhadforebodingsofthecomingevil。Ihadnomindtofurtherstirtheirwakefulness。SoIcreptswiftlyalonginthedarkestoftheshadows，andatlastcametothespotwherethatpassageendswhichbeforeIhadusedtogetbeneaththewallsofthecity。

Thelampwasinplace，andImademywayalongthewindingsswiftly。Theair，soitseemedtome，wasevenmorenoxiouswithvapoursthanithadbeenwhenIwasdowntherebefore，andIjudgedthatZaemonhadalreadybeguntostirthoseinternalactivitieswhichwereshortlytoconvulsethecity。ButagainIhaddifficultyinfindinganexit，andthis，notbecausetherewerepeoplemovingaboutattheplaceswhereIhadtocomeout，butbecausethesetofthemasonrywasentirelychanged。InoldentimesthePriests’Clanoversawallthearchitects’plans，andruledoutanythinglikelytoclashwiththeirsecretpassagesandchambers。ButinthismoderndaythePriestswereofsmallaccount，andhadnosayinthismatter，andthearchitectsoftenthroughsheerblunderingsealedupandmadeuselessmanyoftheseoutletsandhiding—places。

Asitwasthen，IhadtogetoutofthenetworkoftunnelsandgallerieswhereIcould，andnotwhereIwould，andintheeventfoundmyselfatthefarthersideofthecity，almostuptowheretheouterwalljoinsdowntotheharbour。Icameoutwithoutbeingseen，carefuleveninthismomentofextremitytopreservetheordinances，andclosedalltracesofexitbehindme。Theearthseemedtospringbeneathmyfeetlikethedeckofashipinsmoothwater;andthoughtherewasnoactualmovementasyettodisturbthepeople，andindeedthesesleptonintheirhousesandshelterswithoutalarm，Icouldfeelmyselfthatthesoliddeadnessofthegroundwasgone，andthatanymomentitmightbreakoutintodevastatingwavesofmovement。

Gods！ShouldIbetoolatetoseetheuntombingofmylove？

Wouldshebelaidtherebaretothepublicgazewhenpresentlythepeopleswarmedoutintotheopenspacesthroughfearatwhatthegreatearthtremormightcausetofall？Icouldsee，infancy，theirrude，cruelhandsthrustuponherasshelaytherehelpless，andmyinwardsdriedupatthethought。

Iranmadlydownanddownthenarrowwindingstreetswiththeonethoughtofcomingtothesquarewhichlayinfrontoftheroyalpyramidbeforethesethingscametopass。WithexquisitecrueltyIhadbeenforcedwithmyownhandstoplaceheraliveinherburying—placebeneaththegranitethrone，andifthewsandspeedcoulddoit，Iwouldnotmissmyrewardoftakingherforthagainwiththesamestronghands。

Fewdisturbedthatfurioushurry。Atfirsthereandtheresomewretchwhoharbouredintheguttercried:"Athief！ThrowashareorIpursue。"Butifanyofthesefollowed，Idonotknow。

Atanyrate，myspeedthenmusthaveout—distancedanyone。

Presently，too，astheswingoftheearthunderfootbecamemorekeen，andthestoneworkofthebuildingsbythestreetsidebegantograteandgroanandgrit，andsentforthlittleshowersofdust，peoplebegantorunwithscaredcriesfromoutoftheirdoors。Butnoneofthesehadamindtostoptheragged，shaggy，savagemanwhoransoswiftlypast，andflungthemudfromhisnakedfeet。

AndsointimeIcametothegreatsquare，andwastherenonetoosoon。Theplacewasfillingwithpeoplewhoflockedawayfromthenarrowstreets，anditwasfullofdarkness，andnoise，anddust，andsickness。Beneathusthegroundrippledinundulationslikeasea，whichwithterrifyingslownessgrewmoreandmoreintense。

Everandagainahousecrasheddownunseeninthegloom，andaddedtothetumult。Butthegreatpyramidhadbeenplannedbyitsoldbuilderstostandrudeshocks。Itsstonesweredovetailedintooneanotherwithamarvellouscleverness，andwerefurtherclampedandjoinedbyponderoustonguesofmetal。Itwasaboastthatone—halfthefoundationscouldbedugfrombeneathit，andstillthepyramidwouldstandfour—squareunderheaven，moreenduringthanthehills。

Flickeringtorchesshowedthatitsgreatstonedoorslayopen，andeverandagainIsawsomefrightenedinmatescurryoutandthenbelosttosightinthegloom。ButwiththeroyalpyramidanditsultimatefateIhadlittleconcern;IdidnotevencarethenwhetherPhorenicewastrapped，orwhethershecameoutsoundandfitforfurthermischief。Icrouchedbythegranitethronewhichstoodinthemiddleofthatsplendidsquare，andhearditsstonesgratetogetherliketheendsofabrokenboneasitrockedtotheearth—waves。

Inthatnightofdustanddarknessitwashardtoseetheoutlineofone’sownhand，butIthinkthattheGodsinsomerequitalforthelovewhichhadachedsolongwithinme，gavemespecialpowerofsight。AsIwatched，Isawthegreatcarvedrockwhichformedthecapstoneofthethronemoveslightlyandthenmoveagain，andthenagain;atinyjerkforeachearth—pulse，butstilltherewasanappreciableshifting;and，moreover，thestonemovedalwaystooneside。

TherewasmethodinZaemon’sdesperatework，andthisinmyblindpanicofloveandhaste，Ihadoverlooked。SoIwentupthestepsofthethroneonthesidefromwhichthegreatcapstonewasmoving，andclungthereafirewithexpectation。

Moreandmoreviolentdidtheearth—swinggrow，thoughthegraduationsofitsincreasecouldnotbeperceived，andthedinoffallinghousesandtheshrieksandcriesofhurtandfrightenedpeoplewentlouderupintothenight。Thickergrewthedustthatfilledtheair，tillonecoughedandstrangledinthebreathing，andmoreblackdidthenightbecomeasthedustroseandblottedtherarestarsfromsight。Iclungtoanangleofthegranitethrone，crouchingontheuppermoststepbutonebelowthecapstone，andcouldscarcelykeepmyplaceagainsttheviolenceoftheearthtremors。

Butstillthehugecapstonethatwascarvedwiththesnakeandtheoutstretchedhandheldmylovefastlockedinherlivingtomb，andIcouldhavebitthecoldgraniteattheimpotencewhichbarredmefromher。Thepeoplewhokeptthrongingintothesquareweremadwithterror，buttheirverynumbersmademycasemoredesperateeverymoment。"Phorenice，Goddess，aidusnow！"somecried，andwhentheprayerdidnotbringtheminstantrelief，theyfelltoyammeringouttheoldconfessionsofthefaithwhichtheyhadlearnedinchildhood，turninginthishouroftheirdreadfulneedtothoseoldGods，which，throughsomanydishonourableyears，theyhadspurnedanddeserted。Itwasacuriouscriticismonthebalanceoftheirrealreligion，ifonehadcaredtomakeit。

Loudergrewthecrashoffallingmasonry;andfromtheroyalpyramiditself，thoughindeedIcouldnotevenseeitsoutlinethroughthedarkness，therecamesoundsofgrindingstonesandcrackingbarsofmetalwhichtoldthatevenitssuperbmajesticstrengthhadabreakingstrain。TherecametomymindthethreatthatoldZaemonhadthunderedforthinthatpainted，perfumedbanqueting—hall:"Youshallsee，"hehadcriedtotheEmpress，"thisroyalpyramidwhichyouhavepollutedwithyourdebaucheriestorntierfromtier，andstonefromstone，andscatteredasfeathersspreadbeforeawind！"

Stillheaviergrewthesurgingoftheearth，andthepavementofthegreatsquaregapedandupheaved，andthepeoplewhothrongeditscreamedstillmoreshrillyastheirfeetwerecrushedbythegrindingblocks。Andnowtoothegreatpyramiditselfwascommencingtosplit，andgape，andtopple。Theroofsofitssplendidchambersgaveway，andtheponderousmasonryaboveshuttereddownandfilledthem。Inpart，too，onecouldseethedestructionnow，andnotguessatitmerelyfromthefearfulhearingsofthedarkness。Thundershadbeguntoroarthroughtheblacknightabove，andaddtheirbellowingstothisdevil’sorchestrationofuproar，andvividlightningsplasheslittheflyingdust—clouds。

Itwasperhapsnaturalthatsheshouldbethere，butitcameasashockwhenaflareofthelightningshowedmePhorenicesafeoutinthesquare，andindeedstandingnotfarfrommyself。

Shehadtakenherplaceinthemiddleofagreatflagstone，andstoodthereswayinghersupplebodytotheshocks。Herfacewascalm，anditslovelinesswasuntouchedbytheyears。Fromtimetotimeshebrushedawaythedustasitsettledontheshortredhairwhichcurledaboutherneck。Therewasnotraceoffearwrittenuponherface。Therewassomeweariness，somecontempt，andIthinkatingeofamusement。Yes，ittookmorethanthecrumblingofherroyalpyramidtoimpressPhorenicewiththeinfinitepowersofthoseshewarredagainst。

Gods！Howthesightofhercoolindifferencemaddenedmethen。Ihaditinmetohavestrangledherwithmyhandsifshehadcomewithinmyreach。Butasitwas，shestoodinherplace，swayingeasilytotheearth—wavesasasailorswaysonaship’sdeck，andbesideher，crouchedonthesamegreatflagstone，andovercomewithnauseawasYlga，whoagainwasraisedtobeherfan—girl。ItcametomymindthatYlgawastwinsistertoNais，andthatIowedherforanancientkindness，butIhadleisuretodonothingforherthen，andindeeditwaslittleenoughIcouldhavedone。WitheachshockthegreatcapstoneofthethronetowhichIclungjarredfartherandfartherfromitsbedplace，andmylovewascomingnearertome。Itwasshewhoclaimedallmyservicethen。

Onceintheirblindpanicaknotofthepeopleinthesquarethoughtthatthegranitestonewastoosolidtobeoverturned，andsawinitanoasisofsafety。Theyflockedtowardsit，manyofthemdraggingthemselvesupthesteepdeephighstepsonhandsandkneesbecausetheirfeethadbeeninjuredbythebillowingflagstonesofthesquare。

ButIwasinnomoodtohavetheplaceprofanedbytheirsillytremblingsandstares:Ibeatatthemwithmyhands，tearingthemaway，andhurlingthembackdownthesteepnessofthesteps。Theyaskedmewhatwasmytitletotheplaceabovetheirown，andI

answeredthemwithblowsandgnashingteeth。Iwascarelessastowhattheythoughtmeorwhotheythoughtme。OnlyIwishedthemgone。Andsotheywent，wailingandcryingthatIwasadevilofthenight，fortheyhadnospiritlefttodefendthemselves。

Fartherandfartherthegreatstonethatmadethetopofthethroneslidoutfromitsbed，butitsslownessofmovementmaddenedme。Alife’seducationleftmeinthatmoment，andIhadnotraceofstatelypatienceleft。InmypunyfuryIthrustatthegreatblockwithmyshoulderandhead，andclawedatitwithmyhandstillthemusclesroseonmeingreatropesandknots，andtheHighGodsmusthavelaughedatmyhelplessnessasTheylooked。AllwasbeingorderedbytheThreewhowereTheirtrustedservants，inTheirgoodtime。TheworkoftheGodsmaybedoneslowly，butitisdoneexceedingsure。

Butatlast，whenallthepeopleofthecitywerenumbwithterror，andincapableoffurtheremotion（saveonlyforPhorenicewhostillhadnerveenoughtoshownoconcern），whathadbeenthreatenedcametopass。Thecapstoneofthethroneslidouttillitreachedthebalance，andthenextshockthrewitwitharoarandaclattertotheground。Andthenastrangetremorseizedme。

Afteralltheschemingandeffort，whatIhadsoardentlyprayedforhadcomeabout;butyetmyinwardssankatthethoughtofmountingonthestonewhereIhadmountedbefore，andtakingmydearfromthehollowwheremyhandshadlaidher。IknewPhorenice’svengefulness，andhadahighvalueforhercleverness。

HadsheleftNaistolieinpeace，orhadshestolenherawaytosufferindignitieselsewhere？Orhadsheendedhersleepwithdeath，and（asagrislyjest）leftthecorpseformyfinding？I

couldnottell;Idarednotguess。Neverduringawholehard—

fightinglifehavemyemotionsbeensowrenchedastheywereatthatmoment。And，forexcuse，itmustbeownedthatloveforNaishadsappedmyhardihoodoveramatterinwhichshewassoprivatelyconcerned。

Itbegantocometomymind，however，thattheinfernaluproaroftheearthtremorwasbeginningtoslackensomewhat，asthoughZaemonknewhehaddonetheworkthathehadpromised，andwasmindedtogivethewretchedcityabreathingspace。SoItookmyfortitudeinhand，andclamberedupontotheflatofthestone。

Thelightningflasheshadceasedandallwasdarknessagainandstiflingdust，butatanymomenttheskymightbelitoncemore，andifIwereseeninthatplace，shaggyandchangedthoughImightbe，Phorenice，ifshewerestandingnear，wouldnotbeslowtoguessmynameanderrand。

SochangedwasIforthemoment，thatIwillfinelyconfessthattheideaofafightwasloathsometomethen。Iwantedtohavemybusinessdoneandgetgonefromtheplace。

Withhandsthatshook，IfumbledoverthefaceofthestoneandfoundtheclampsandbarsofmetalstillinpositionwhereI

hadclenchedthem，andthenreverentlyIletmyfingerspassbetweenthese，andfeltthecurvesofmylove’sbodyinitsrestbeneath。Anexultationbegantowhirlwithinme。IdidnotknowifshehadbeentouchedsinceIlastlefther;Ididnotknowifthedrugwouldhaveitsdueeffect，andletherbeawakenedtowarmthandsightagain;but，deadoralive，Ihadherthere，andshewasmine，mine，mine，andIcouldhaveyelledaloudinmyjoyatherpossession。

Stilltheearthshookbeneathus，andmasonryroaredandcrashedintoruin。Ihadtoclingtomyplacewithonehand，whilstIunhaspedtheclampsofmetalthatmadethetopofherprisonwiththeother。ButatlastIswungtheupperhalfofthemclear，andthosewhichpinneddownherfeetIletremain。I

stoopedanddrewhersoftbodyupontotheflatofthestonebesideme，andpressedmylipsahundredtimestothefaceIcouldnotsee。

Somemadthoughttookme，Ibelieve，thatthemerefiercenessandheatofmykisseswouldbringherbackagaintolifeandwakefulness。IndeedIwillownplainly，thatIdidbutsorrycredittomytrainingincalmnessthatnight。Butshelayinmyarmscoldandnervelessasacorpse，andbydegreesmysoberwitsreturnedtome。

Thiswasnoplaceforeitherofus。Lettheearth’stremorscease（aswasplainlythreatened），letdaylightcome，andletafewofthesenervelesspeopleroundrecoverfromtheirpanic，andallthegreatcostthathadbeenexpendedmightbecountedaswaste。

Weshouldbeseen，anditwouldnotbelongbeforesomeoneputanametoNais;andthenitwouldbeaneasymattertoguessatDeucalionunderthebeardandtheshaggyhairandthebrownednakednessofthesavagewhoattendedonher。Telloffright？BytheGods！Iwasscaredastheveriesttremblerwhoblunderedamongstthedust—cloudsthatnightwhenthethoughtcametome。

Withallthatruinspreadaround，itwouldbehopelesstothinkthatanyofthosesecretgallerieswhichtunnelledunderthegroundwouldbeleftunbroken，andsoitwasuselesstotryapassageunderthewallsbytheoldmeans。ButIhadheardshoutsfromthatfrightenedmobwhichcametomethroughthedinandthedarkness，thatgaveanotherideaforescape。"Thecityisaccursed，"theyhadcried:"ifwestayhereitwillfallonus。

Letusgetoutsidethewallswheretherearenobuildingstoburyus。"

Iftheywent，Icouldnotsee。Butonegatelaynearesttotheroyalpyramid，andIjudgedthatintheirpanictheywouldnotgofartherthanwasneedful。SoIputthebodyofNaisovermyshoulder（toleavemyrightarmfree）andblunderedoffasbestI

couldthroughthestiflingdarkness。

Itwashardtofindadirection;itwashardtowalkintheinkydarknessovergroundthatwastossedandtumbledlikeafrozensea:andastheearthstillquakedandheaved，itwashardalsotokeepafooting。ButifIdidfallmyselfascoreoftimes，mydearburdengotnobruise，andpresentlyIgottotheskirtsofthesquare，andfoundastreetIknew。Themostvenomouspartoftheshakingwasdone，andnomorebuildingsfell，butenoughlaysprawledovertheroadwaytomakewalkingintoaclimb，andthesweatrolledfrommeasIlabouredalongmyway。

Therewasnodifficultyaboutpassingthegate。Therewasnogate。Therewasnowall。TheGodshaddriventheirploughthroughit，anditlayflat，andproudAtlantisstoodasdefencelessastheopencountry。ThoughIknewthecauseofthisruin，though，infact，Ihadmyselfinsomemeasureincitedit，Iwasalmostsadattheruthlessnesswithwhichithadbeencarriedout。Theroyalpyramidmightgo，housesandpalacesmightbelevelled，andfortheseIcaredlittleenough;butwhenIsawthosestatelyrampartsalsofilchedaway，therethesoldierinmewoke，andIgrievedatthishumblingofthemightycitythatoncehadbeenmyonlymistress。

Butthiswasonlyapassingregret，ameretouchofthefighting—man’spride。Ihadadifferentlovenow，thathadwrappedherselfroundmefardeeperandmoretightly，andmydutywastowardsherfirstandforemost。Thenightwouldsoonbepast，andthendangerswouldincrease。Nonehadinterferedwithussofar，thoughmanyhadjostledusasIclamberedovertheruins;butthisforbearancecouldnotbereckoneduponforlong。Theearthtremorshadalmostdiedaway，andafterthepanicandthestorm，thencomesthetimeforthespoiling。

Allmenwhowerepoorwouldtrytoseizewhatlaynearesttotheirhands，andthoseofhigherstation，andanysoldierswhocouldbecollectedandstillremainedtruetocommand，wouldruthlesslystopandstripanymantheysawmakingoffwithplunder。

Ihadnomindtoclashwiththeseguardiansoflawandproperty，andsoIfledonswiftlythroughthenightwithmyburden，usingtheunfrequentedways;andcryingtothefewfolkwhodidmeetmethatthewomanhadtheplague，andwouldtheylendmetheshelteroftheirhouseasourshadfallen。Andsointimewecametotheplacewheretheropedangledfromtheprecipice，andafterNaishadbeendrawnuptothesafetyoftheSacredMountain，Iputmylegintheloopoftheropeandfollowedher。

Nowcamewhatwasthekeenestanxietyofall。Wetookthegirlandlaidheronabedinoneofthehouses，andthereinthelitroomforthefirsttimeIsawherclearly。Herbeautywasdrawnandpale。Hereyeswereclosed，butsothinandtransparenthadgrownthelidsthatonecouldalmostseethebrownofthepupilbeneaththem。Herhairhadgrowntoinordinatethicknessandlength，andlayasacushionbehindandbesideherhead。