Ilearnedafterwaysthatsopressingwastherebels’attack，andsodestructivethebatteringoftheirnewwarengines，thatPhorenicehadgoneofftothewallsfirsttolendawhileherbrilliantskillforitsrepulse，andtoputheartintothedefenders。Butasitwas，thedayhadburnedouttoitsmiddleandscorchedusintolerably，beforethenoiseofthedrumsandhornsgaveadvertisementthatthepageanthadformedinprocession;andofthosewhowaitedinthecrowd，manyhadfaintedwithexhaustionandtheheat，andnotafewhaddied。ButlifewascheapinthecityofAtlantisnow，andnooneheededthefallen。
Nearerandnearerdrewthedrumsandthebrayingoftheothermusic，andpresentlytheheadofaglitteringprocessionbegantoarriveanddisposeitselfinthespacewhichhadbeensetapart。
Manyathousandpoorstarvingwretchessighedwhentheysawthewantonsplendourofit。ButtheselordsandthesecourtiersofthisnewAtlantishadnoconcernbeyondtheirownbelliesandtheirownbacks，exceptfortheironealienregard——theirsimperingaffectionforPhorenice。
Ithink，though，theirloyaltyfortheEmpresswasrealenough，anditwasnottobewonderedat，sinceeverythingtheyhadcamefromherlavishhands。Indeed，thewomanhadacharmthatcannotbedenied，forwhensheappeared，ridinginthegoldencastle（whereIalsohadridden）onthebackofhermonstrousshaggymammoth，thestarvedsullenfacesofthecrowdbrightenedasthoughamealandsuddenprosperityhadbeenbestoweduponthem;
andwithoutawordofcommand，withoutatraceofcompulsion，theyburstintospontaneousshoutsofwelcome。
Sheacknowledgeditwithasmileofthanks。Hercheekswerealittleflushed，hermovementsquick，hermannerhigh—strung，asallwellmightbe，seeingthehorriblesacrilegeshehadinmind。
Butshewasundeniablylovely;yes，moreadorablybeautifulthaneverwithherpresentthrillofexcitement;andwhenthestairwasbrought，andshewalkeddownfromthemammoth’sbacktotheground，thosenearfelltotheirkneesandgaveherworship，outofsheerfascinationforherbeautyandcharm。
Ylga，thefan—girl，aloneofallthatvastmultituderoundtheSuntemplecontainedherselfwithherformalpacesandduties。Shelookedpainedandtroubled。Itwasplaintosee，evenfromthedistancewhereIstood，thatshecarriedaheavyheartunderthejewelsofherrobe。Itwasfitting，too，thatthisshouldbeso。
ThoughshehadbeenlongenoughdivorcedfromhiscareandfosteredbytheEmpress，YlgawasadaughterofZaemon，andhewasthechiefestofourLordtheSun’sministershereonearth。ShecouldnotforgetherupbringingnowatthissuprememomentwhenthehighestoftheoldGodswastobeformallydefied。Andperhapsalso（havingakindnessforPhorenice）shewasnotalittledreadfuloftheconsequences。
ButtheEmpresshadnoeyeforonesadlookamongstallthatseaofglowingfaces。Boldlyandproudlyshestrodeoutintothecircle，asthoughshehadbeenthedulyappointedpriestforthesacrifice。Andafterhercameaknotofmen，dressedaspriests，andbearingthevictim。Someofthesewerecreaturesofherown，anditwaseasytoforgivemereignorantlaymen，wonoverbytheglamourofPhorenice’spresence。Butsome，totheirshame，weremenborninthePriests’Clan，andbroughtupinthegrovesandcollegesoftheSacredMountain，andfortheirapostasytherecouldbenopalliation。
Thewoodhadalreadybeenstackedonthealtar—stoneinthedueformrequiredbytheancientsymbolism，andtheEmpressstoodasidewhilstthosewhofolloweddidwhatwasneedful。Astheyopenedout，Isawthatthevictimwasoneofthesmall，cloven—hoofedhorsesthatroamtheplains——amostacceptablesacrifice。Theybounditsfeetwithmetalgyves，andputitonthepyre，where，forawhile，itlayneighing。Thentheysteppedaside，andleftitliving。Herewasaninnovation。
Thefalsepriestswentbacktothefarthersideofthecircle，andPhorenicestoodalonebeforethealtar。Shelifteduphervoice，sweet，tuneful，andcarrying，andthoughthedinofthesiegestillcamefromoverthecity，noeartherelostawordofwhatwasspoken。
Sheraisedherglancealoft，andallothereyesfollowedit。
Theheavenwasclearasthedeepsea，agorgeousblue。Butasthewordscamefromher，soasmallmistwasborninthesky，wheelingandcirclinglikeaball，althoughthedaywaswindless，andrapidlygrowingdarkerandmorecompact。Sodensehaditbecome，thatpresentlyitthrewashadowonpartofthesacredcircleandsootheditintotwilight，thoughallwithoutwherethepeoplestoodwasstillgarishday。Andintheballofmistwerelittlequickstabsandsplashesofnoiselessflame。
Shespoke，notinthepriests’sacredtongue——thoughsuchwasherwickedcleverness，thatshemayverywellhavelearnedit——butinthecommonspeechofthepeople，sothatallwhoheardmightunderstand;andshetoldofherwondrousbirth（asshechosetonameit），andofthedirectaidofthemostHighGods，whichhadenabledhertoworksomanymarvels。Andintheendsheliftedbothofherfairwhitearmstowardstheblacknessabove，andwithherlovelyfacesetwiththestrainofwill，sheutteredherfinalcry:
\"OmyhighFather，theSun，IprayYounowtoacknowledgemeasYourverydaughter。GivethispeopleasignthatIamindeedachildoftheGodsandnofrailmortal。Hereissacrificeunlit，wheremortalpriestswiththeirpunyfireshadweekly，sincethefoundationofthisland，sentsavourysmoketowardsthesky。I
prayYousenddowntheheavenlyfiretoburnthisbeasthereoffered，intokenthatthoughYoustillruleonhigh，YouhavegivenmeAtlantistobemykingdom，andthepeopleoftheEarthtobemyworshippers。\"
Shebrokeoffandstrainedtowardsthesky。Herfacewascontorted。Herlimbsshook。\"OmightyFather，\"shecried，\"whohastmademeaGodandanequal，hearme！Hearme！\"
Outoftheblackcloudoverheadtherecameablindingflashoflight，whichspatdownwardsontothealtar。Thecloven—hoofedhorsegaveoneshrillneigh，andoneconvulsion，andfellbackdead。Flamescrackledoutfromthewoodpile，andtheairbecamerichwiththesmellofburningflesh。Andlo！inanothermomentthecloudabovehadmeltedintonothingness，andtheflamesburntpale，andthesmokewentupinathinbluespiraltowardsthedeeperbluenessofthesky。
Phorenice，theEmpress，stoodtherebeforethegreatstone，andbeforethesnakeandtheoutstretchedhandoflifewhichwereinscribeduponit，flushed，exultant，andoncemoreradiantlylovely;andtheknotofpriestswithinthecircle，andthegreatmobofpeoplewithout，felltothegroundadoring。
\"Phorenice，Goddess！\"theycried。\"Phorenice，GoddessofallAtlantis！\"
ButformyselfIdidnotkneel。Iwouldhavenopartinthisapostasy，soIstoodthereawaitingfate。
10。AWOOING
Amurmurquicklyspranguproundme，whichgrewintoshouts。
\"Kneel，\"onewhispered，\"kneel，sir，oryouwillbeseen。\"Andanothercried:\"Kneel，youwithoutbeard，anddoobeisancetotheonlyGoddess，orbytheoldGodsIwillmakemyselfherpriestandbutcheryou！\"Andsotheshoutsaroseintoaroar。
Butpresentlytheword\"Deucalion\"begantobebandiedabout，andtherecameamoderationinthezealoftheseenthusiasts。
Deucalion，themanwhohadleftAtlantistwentyyearsbeforetoruleYucatan，theymightknowlittleenoughabout，butDeucalion，whorodenotmanydaysbackbesidetheEmpressinthegoldencastlebeneaththecanopyofsnakes，wasapersontheyremembered;andwhentheyweigheduphispossibleabilityforvengeance，theshoutsdiedawayfromthemlimply。
Sowhenthesilencehadgrownagain，andPhoreniceturnedandsawmestandingaloneamongstalltheprostrateworshippers，I
steppedoutfromthecrowdandpassedbetweentwoofthegreatstones，andwentacrossthecircletowhereshestoodbesidethealtar。Ididnotprostratemyself。AttheprescribeddistanceI
madethesalutationwhichsheherselfhadorderedwhenshemademeherchiefminister，andthenhailedherwithformaldecorumasEmpress。
\"Deucalion，manofice，\"sheretorted。
\"IstilladheretotheoldGods！\"
\"Iwasnotreferringtothat，\"saidshe，andlookedatmewithasidelongsmile。
ButhereYlgacameuptouswithafacethatwaswhite，andahandthatshook，andmadesupplicationformylife。\"IfhewillnotleavetheoldGodsyet，\"shepleaded，\"surelyyouwillpardonhim？Heisastrongman，anddoesnotbecomeaconverteasily。
Youmaychangehimlater。Butthink，Phorenice，heisDeucalion;
andifyouslayhimhereforthisonething，thereisnoothermanwithinallthemarchesofAtlantiswhowouldsoworthilyserve——\"
TheEmpresstookthewordsfromher。\"Youslut，\"shecriedout。\"Ihaveyounearmetoappointmywardrobe，andcarrymyfan，anddoyoudaretoputameddlingfingeronmypolicies？Backwithyou，outsidethiscircle，orI’llhaveyouwhipped。Ay，andI’lldomore。I’llserveyouasZaemonservedmycaptain，Tarca。ShallIpointafingeratyou，andsmiteyourprettyskinwithasuddenleprosy？\"
Thegirlbowedhershoulders，andwentawaycowed，andPhoreniceturnedtome。\"Mylord，\"shesaid，\"Iamlikeayoungbirdinthenestthathassuddenlyfounditswings。WingshavesomanyusesthatIamcurioustotrythemall。\"
\"MayeachnewflighttheytakebeforthegoodofAtlantis。\"
\"Oh，\"shesaid，withaneye—flash，\"Iknowwhatyouhavemostatheart。Butwewillgobacktothepyramid，andtalkthisoutatmoreleisure。Iprayyounow，mylord，conductmebacktomyridingbeast。\"
ItappearedthenthatIwastobecondonedfornotofferingherworship，andsoputtingpublicquestiononherdeification。ItappearedalsothatYlga’sinterferencewaslookeduponasuntimely，and，thoughIcouldnotunderstandtheexactreasonsforeitherofthesethings，Iacceptedthemastheywere，seeingthattheyforwardedtheschemethatZaemonhadbiddenmecarryout。
SowhentheEmpresslentmeherfingers——warm，delicatefingerstheywere，thoughsoskilfultograsptheweaponsofwar——I
tookthemgravely，andledheroutofthegreatcircle，whichshehadpollutedwithhertrickeries。IhadexpectedtoseeourLordtheSuntakevengeanceontheprofanationwhilstitwasstillinact;butnonehadcome:andIknewthatHewouldchoosehisowngoodtimeforretribution，andappointwhatinstrumentHethoughtbest，withoutmyraisingapunyarmtoguardHismightyhonour。
SoIledthislovelysinfulwomanbacktothehugeredmammothwhichstoodtheretamelyinwaiting，andthesmellofthesacrificecameafterusaswewalked。Shemountedthestairtothegoldencastleontheshaggybeast’sback，andbadememountalsoandtakeseatbesideher。Buttheplaceofthefan—girlbehindwasempty，andwhatwesaidaswerodebackthroughthestreetstherewasnonetooverhear。
Shewaseagertoknowwhathadbefallenmeaftertheattackonthegate，andItoldherthetale，layingstressontheworthinessofNais，andutteringanopinionthatwithcarethegirlmightbewonbacktoallegianceagain。OnlythecommandsthatZaemonlaiduponmewhenheandIspoketogetherinthesacredtongue，didI
withhold，asitisnotlawfultorepeatthesematterssaveonlyintheHighCouncilofthePriestsitselfastheysitbeforetheArkoftheMysteries。
\"YouseemtohaveanunusualkindlinessforthisrebelNais，\"
saidPhorenice。
\"Sheshowedherselftomeasmorecleverandthoughtfulthanthecommonherd。\"
\"Ay，\"sheanswered，withasighthatIthinkwasrealenoughinitsway，\"anEmpresslosesmuchthatmeanerwomangetsashercommondue。\"
\"Inwhatparticular？\"
\"Shemissesthehonestwooingofherequals。\"
\"IfyousetupforaGoddess——\"Isaid。
\"Pah！IwishtobenoGoddesstoyou，Deucalion。Thatwasforthecommonpeople;itgivesmemorepowerwiththem;ithelpsmyschemes。AllyouSevenhigherpriestsknowthattrickofcallingdownthefire，anditpleasedmetofilchit。Canyounotbegenerous，andadmitthatawomanmaybeascleverinfindingoutthesenaturallawsasyourmustyelderpriests？\"
\"RemainsthatyouareEmpress。\"
\"NorEmpresseither。Justthinkthatthereisawomanseatedbesideyouonthiscushion，Deucalion，andlookuponher，andsaywhatwordscomefirsttoyourlips。Havedonewithceremonies，andhavedonewithstatecraft。Doyouwishtowaitonasyouaretillallyourmanhoodwithers？Itiswellnottohurryundulyinthesematters:Iamwithyouthere。Yet，whobutafoolwatchesafruitgrowripe，andthenleavesittillitispastitsprime？\"
Ilookedonhergloriousbeauty，butasIliveitleftmecold。ButIrememberedthecommandthathadbeenlaiduponme，andforcedasmile。\"Imayhavebeenfastidious，\"Isaid，\"butIdonotregretwaitingthislong。\"
\"NorI。ButIhaveplayedmylifeasamaid，timeenough。I
amawoman，ripe，andfull—blooded，andthedayhascomewhenI
shouldbemorethanwhatIhavebeen。\"
Iletmyhandclenchonhers。\"Takemetohusbandthen，andIwillbeagoodmantoyou。But，asIambiddenspeaktoPhorenicethewomannow，andnottotheEmpress，IofferfairwarningthatIwillbenopuppet。\"
Shelookedatmesidelong。\"IhavebeenmastersolongthatIthinkitwillcomeasenjoymenttobemasteredsometimes。No，Deucalion，Ipromisethat——youshallbenopuppet。Indeed，itwouldtakealustylungtodothepipingifyouweretodanceagainstyourwill。\"
\"Then，asmanandwifewewilllivetogetherintheroyalpyramid，andwewillrulethiscountrywithallthewitthatithaspleasedtheHighGodstobestowonus。Thesemiserabledifferencesshallbesweptaside;therebelsshallgobacktotheirhomes，andhunt，andfightthebeastsintheprovinces，andthePriests’Clanshallbepacified。Phorenice，youandIwillthrowourselvesbrainandsoulintothegovernment，andwewillmakeAtlantisriseasanationthatshalloncemoresurpassalltheworldforpeaceandprosperity。\"
Petulantlyshedrewherhandawayfrommine。\"oh，yourconditions，andyourAtlantis！Youcarryacrudenessinthesecolonialmannersofyours，Deucalion，thatpallsononeafterthefirstbluntflavourhaswornaway。AmItodoallthewooing？Istherenothrillofloveunderallyourice？\"
\"Intruth，Idonotknowwhatlovemaybe。Ihavehadlittleenoughspeechwithwomenallthesebusyyears。\"
\"Wewereapair，then，whenyoulanded，thoughIhaveheardsighsandprotestationsfromeverymanthatcarriesabeardinallAtlantis。Someofthemtickledmyfancyfortheday，butnoneofthemhavemovedmedeeper。No，Ialsohavenotlearnedwhatthislovemaybefrommyownpersonalfeelings。But，sir，Ithinkthatyouwillteachmesoon，ifyougoonwithyourcoldness。\"
\"FromwhatIhaveseen，loveisforthepoor，andtheweak，andforthoseofflightyemotions。\"
\"ThenIwouldthatanotherwomanwereEmpress，andthatIweresomeill—dressedcreatureofthegutterthatastrongmancouldpickupbyforce，andcarryawaytohishomeforsheerpassion。
Ah！HowIcouldrevelinit！HowIcouldrespondifhecaughtmywhim！\"Shelaughed。\"ButIshouldleadhimasadlifeofitifmylikingwerenotsostrongashis。\"
\"Weareaswearemade，andwecannotchangeourinwardswhichmoveus。\"
Shelookedatmewithasullenglance。\"IfIdonotchangeyours，myDeucalion，therewillbemoretroublebrewedforthispoorAtlantisthatyousetsuchstoreupon。Therewillbeilldoingsinthiscominghouseholdofoursifmylovegrowsforyou，andyoursremainsstillunborn。\"
Ibelieveshewouldhavehadmefondleherthereinthegoldencastleonthemammoth’sshabbyback，beforethecitystreetspackedwithcuriouspeople。Shehadlittleenoughappetiteforprivacyatanytime。ButforthelifeofmeIcouldnotdoit。TheGodsknowIwasearnestenoughaboutmytask，andTheyknowalsohowitrepelledme。ButIwasatruepriestthatday，andIhadputawayallpersonallikingtocarryoutthecommandswhichtheCouncilhadlaiduponme。IfIhadknownhowtosetaboutit，Iwouldhavefalleninwithhermood。Butwhereanyofthoseshallowbedizenedtriflersaboutthecourtwouldhavebeengliblyinhiselement，I
stuckforlackofadozenwords。
Therewasnohelpforitbuttoleaveall，savewhatIactuallyfelt，unsaid。DiplomacyIwastrainedin，andonmostmattersIhadaglibenoughtongue。ButtopalterwithwomenwasalightnessIhadalwaysneglected，andifIhadinventedwould—beprettyspeechesoutofmyclumsyinexperience，Phorenicewouldhaveseenthroughthefraudontheinstant。Shehadbeennurturedduringtheseyearsofherruleonapapofthesesillyprotestations，andcouldweightheirvaluewithanexpert’sexactness。
Norwasitacasewherehonestconfessionwouldhaveservedmypurposebetter。IfIhadputmypositiontoherinplainwords，itwouldhavemaderelationsworse。AndsoperforceIhadtoholdmytongue，andsubmittobeconsideredaclown。
\"Ihadalwaysheard，\"shesaid，\"thatyoucolonistsinYucatanwerefaraheadofthoseinEgyptinalltheartsandgraces。Butyou，sir，dosmallcredittoyourvice—royalty。Why，IhavehadgentryfromtheNilecomehere，andyoumightalmostthinktheyhadneverlefttheirnativeshores。\"
\"Theymusthavemadegreatstridesthislasttwentyyears，then。WhenlastIwassenttoEgypttoreport，theblackswereclearlymastersoftheland，andourpeoplelivedthereonlyonsufferance。Theirpyramidswerepuny，andtheircitiesnothingmorethanforts。\"
\"Oh，\"shesaidmockingly，\"theyaremereexilesstill，buttheyremembertheirmanners。Mypoorfaceseemedtopleasethem，atleasttheyallwentintorapturesoverit。Andfortenpleasantwords，oneofthemcutoffhisownrighthand。Wemadethebargain，myEgyptiangallantandI，andthehandliesdriedonsomeshelfinmyapartmentto—dayasapleasantmemento。\"
Buthere，byaluckychanceforme，anincidentoccurredwhichsavedmefromfurtherbaiting。Therebelsoutsidethewallswereconductingtheirday’sattackwithvigourandsomeintelligence。
Morethanonceduringourprocessionthelightermissilesfromtheirwarengineshadsungupthroughtheair，andsplitagainstabuilding，andthrownsplinterswhichwoundedthosewhothrongedthestreets。Stilltherehadbeennothingtorufflethenervesofanyoneatallusedtothehapsofwarfare，orinanywaytohinderourcourtship。Butpresently，itseems，theystoppedhurlingstonesfromtheirwarengines，andtooktoloadingthemwithcarcasesofwoodlinedwiththethrowingfire。
Now，againststonebuildingsthesedidlittleharm，saveonlythattheyscorchedhorriblyanypoorwretchthatwaswithinsplashofthemwhentheyburst;butwhentheyfellupontherudewoodenboothsandrushsheltersofthepoorerfolk，theysetthemablazeinstantly。Therewasnoputtingoutthesefires。
ThesethingsalsowouldhavegiventoeitherPhoreniceormyselflittleenoughofconcern，astheyarethetrivialandcommonincidentsofeverysiege;butthemammothonwhichwerodehadnotbeensoproperlyschooled。Whenthefirstbluewhiffofsmokecametousdownthewindingsofthestreet，thehugeredbeasthoisteditstrunk，andbegantoswayitsheaduneasily。Whenthesmokedriftsgrewmoredense，andhereandthereatongueofflameshowedpalebeneaththesunshine，itstoppedabruptlyandbegantotrumpet。
Theguardswholedit，tuggedmanfullyatthechainswhichhungfromthejaggedmetalcollarrounditsneck，sothatthespikesrandeepintoitsflesh，andremindeditkeenlyofitsbondage。Butthebeast’sterroratthefire，whichwasnativetoitsconstitution，masteredallitsnew—boughthabitsofobedience。
Fromtimeunknownmenhavehuntedthemammothinthesavageground，andthemammothhashuntedmen;andthemenhavealwaysusedfireasashield，andmammothshavelearnedtodreadfireasthemostdangerousofallenemies。
Phorenice’sbrowbegantodarkenasthegreatbeastgrewmorerestive，andsheshookherredcurlsviciously。\"Someoneshallloseaheadforthisblundering，\"saidshe。\"Iorderedtohavethisbeasttrainedtostandindifferenttodrums，shouting，arrows，stones，andfire，andthetrainersassuredmethatallwasdone，andbroughtexamples。\"
Islippedmygirdle。\"Here，\"Isaid，\"quick。Letmeloweryoutotheground。\"
Sheturnedonmewithagleam。\"Areyouafraidformyneck，then，Deucalion？\"
\"IhavenomindtobebereavedbeforeIhavetastedmyweddedlife。\"
\"Pish！Thereislittleenoughofdanger。Iwillstayandrideitout。Iamnotoneofyournervouswomen，sir。Butgoyou，ifyouplease。\"
\"Thereislittleenoughchanceofthatnow。\"
Bloodflowedfromthemammoth’sneckwherethespikesofthecollartoreit，andwitheachdrop，sodidthetamenessseemtooozeoutfromitalso。Withwildsquealsandtrumpetingsitturnedandchargedviciouslydownthewayithadcome，scatteringlikestrawsthespearmenwhotriedtostopit，andmowingagreatswaththroughthecrowdwithitsmonstrousprogress。Manymusthavebeentroddenunderfoot，manykilledbyitsmurderoustrunk，butonlytheircriescametous。Thegoldencastle，withitscanopyofroyalsnakes，wasswayedandtossed，sothatwetwooccupantshadmuchadonottobeshotofflikestonesfromacatapult。ButI
tookabracewithmyfeetagainstthefront，andonearmaroundapillar，andclappedthesparearmroundPhorenice，soastooffermyselftoherasacushion。
Shelaytherecontentedlyenough，withherlovelyfacejustbeneathmychin，andthefaintscentofherhaircomingintomewitheverybreathItook;andthemammothchargedmadlyonthroughthenarrowstreets。Wehadoutstrippedthetaintofsmoke，andtheoriginalcauseoffear，butthebeastseemedtohaveforgotteneverythinginitsmadpanic。Itheldfuriouslyonwithenormousstrides，carryingitstrunkaloft，anddeafeninguswithitsscreamsandtrumpetings。Weleftbehindusquicklyallthosewhohadtrodinthatglitteringpageant，andwewerecarriedhelplesslyonthroughthewardsofthecity。
Thebeastwasutterlybeyondallcontrol。Sogreatwasitspacethattherewasnoalternativebuttotryandclingontothecastle。Uptherewewerebeyonditsreach。Tohaveleaptoff，evenifwehadavoidedhavingbrainsdashedoutorlimbssmashedbythefall，wouldhavebeentoputourselvesatonceatafrightfuldisadvantage。Themammothwouldhavescentedusimmediately，andturned（asisthecustomofthesebeasts），andweshouldhavebeentrampledintoapulpinadozenseconds。
ThethoughtcametomethatherewastheHighGod’sanswertoPhorenice’ssacrilege。ThemammothwasappointedtocarryoutTheirvengeancebydashinghertopieces，andI，theirpriest，wastobehumanwitnessthatjusticehadbeendone。Butnodirectrevelationhadbeengivenmeonthismatter，andsoItooknoinitiative，buthungontotheswayingcastle，andheldtheEmpressagainstbruisesinmyarms。
Therewasnoguidingthebrute:initsinsanityofmadnessitdoubledmanytimesuponitscourse，thewindingsofthestreetsconfusingit。Butbydegreesweleftthelargepalacesandpyramidsbehind，andgotamongstthequartersofartisans，whereweaversandsmithsgapedatusfromtheirdoorsaswethunderedpast。Andthenwecameuponthemerchants’quarterswheremenliveovertheirstorehousesthatdotrafficwiththepeopleoverseas，andthendownanopenspacethereglitteredbeforeusamirrorofwater。
\"Nowhere，\"thoughtI，\"thismadbeastwillcometosuddenstop，andaslikeasnotwillswerveroundsharplyandchargebackagaintowardstheheartofthecity。\"AndIbracedmyselftowithstandtheshock，andtookfreshgripuponthewomanwholayagainstmybreast。Butwithlouderscreamsandwildertrumpetingsthemammothheldstraighton，andpresentlycametotheharbour’sedge，andsentthespraysparklinginsheetsamongstthesunshineasitwentwithitsclumsygaitintothewater。
Butatthispointthepacewasveryquicklyslackened。Thegreatsewers，whichsciencedevisedforthehealthofthecityintheoldKing’stime，vomittheirdrainingsintothispartoftheharbour，andthesolidmatterwhichtheycarryisquicklydepositedasanimpalpablesludge。Intothisthehugebeastbegantosinkdeeperanddeeperbeforeitcouldhaltinitsrush，andwhenwithfrightenedbellowingsithadcometoastop，itwasboggedirretrievably。Madlyitstruggled，wildlyitscreamedandtrumpeted。Theharbour—waterandtheslimewerechurnedintoonestinkingcompost，andthegoldencastleinwhichweclunglurchedsowildlythatweweretornfromitandshotfarawayintothewater。
Stillthere，ofcourse，weweresafe，andIwaspleasedenoughtoberidofthebumpings。