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。\"