"IfDeucalionhassmalltimetosparefromhisgovernmentforbroodingoverhisfatherland，Atlantis，atleast，hasfoundleisuretoadmirethedeedsofherbrilliantson。Why，sir，overyonderathome，yournamecarriesmagicwithit。WhenyouandIwereladstogether，itwasthecustominthecollegestoteachthatthemenofthepastwerethegreatestthisworldhaseverseen;butto—daythisteachingischanged。ItisDeucalionwhoisheldupasthemodelandexample。MothersnametheirsonsDeucalion，asthemostvaluablebirth—gifttheycanmake。Deucalionisahouseholdword。
　　Indeed，thereisonlyonenamethatisneartoitinfamiliarity。"
　　"Youtroubleme，"Isaid，frowning。"Ihavetriedtodomydutyforitsownsake，andforthecountry’ssake，notforthepattingsandfondlingsofthevulgar。Andbesides，iftherearenamestobeineveryone’smouth，theyshouldbethenamesoftheGods。"
　　Tathoshruggedhisshoulders。"TheGods？Theyoccupyusverylittletheselatteryears。Withourmodernscience，wehavegrownpastthetetheroftheolderGods，andnonewonehasappeared。
　　No，myLordDeucalion，ifitweremerelytheGodswhowereyourcompetitorsonmen’slips，yournamewouldbeathousandtimesthebetterknown。"
　　"Ofmerehumannames，"Isaid，"thenameofthisnewEmpressshouldcomefirstinAtlantis，ourlordtheoldKingbeingnowdead。"
　　"Shecertainlywouldhaveitso，"repliedTatho，andtherewassomethinginhistonewhichmademeseethatmorewasmeantbehindthewords。Idrewhimtooneofthemarbleseats，andbentmyselffamiliarlytowardshim。"Iamspeaking，"Isaid，"nottothenewViceroyofYucatan，buttomyoldfriendTatho，amemberofthePriests’Clan，likemyself，withwhomIworkedsidebysideinascoreofthesmallerhomegovernments，inhamlets，invillages，insmallertowns，ingreatertowns，aswegainedexperienceinwarandknowledgeintheartofrulingpeople，andsotediouslywonourpromotion。IamspeakinginTatho’sprivateabode，thatwasmineownnottwohourssince，andIwouldhaveananswerwiththatplainnesswhichwealwaysthenusedtooneanother。"
　　ThenewViceroysighedwhimsically。"Ialmostforgethowtospeakinplainwordsnow，"hesaid。"Wehavegrownsopolishedintheselatterdays，thatmerebaldtruthwouldbehissedasindelicate。Butforthememoryofthoseearlyyears，whenweexpendedasmuchlawandthoughtovertheownershipofahay—byreasweshouldnowoverthefateofarebelliouscity，Iwilltryandspeakplaintoyouevennow，Deucalion。Tellme，oldfriend，whatisit？"
　　"WhatofthisnewEmpress？"
　　Hefrowned。"Imighthaveguessedyoursubject，"hesaid。
　　"Thenspeakuponit。Tellmeofallthechangesthathavebeenmade。WhathasthisPhorenicedonetomakeherthroneunstableinAtlantis？"
　　Tathofrownedstill。"IfIdidnotknowyoutobeashonestasourLordtheSun，yourquestionswouldcarrymischiefwiththem。
　　Phorenicehasashortwaywiththosewhoaredaringenoughtodiscussherpoliciesforotherpurposethanpolitelytopraisethem。"
　　"Youcanleavemeignorantifyouwish，"Isaidwithatouchofchill。ThisTathoseemedtobedifferentfromtheTathoIhadknownathome，Tathomyworkmate，TathowhohadreadwithmeintheCollegeofPriests，whohadrunwithmeinmanyafuriouscharge，whohadlabouredwithmesoheavilythatthepeoplesunderusmightprosper。Buthewasquickenoughtoseemychangeoftone。
　　"Youforcemebacktomyoldself，"hesaidwithahalfsmile，"thoughitishardenoughtoforgetthecautiononehaslearnedduringthelasttwentyyears，evenwhenspeakingwithyou。Still，whatevermayhavehappenedtotherestofus，itiscleartoseethatyouatleasthavenotchanged，and，oldfriend，Iamreadytotrustyouwithmylifeifyouaskit。Infact，youdoaskmethatverythingwhenyoutellmetospeakallIknowofPhorenice。"
　　Inodded。Thiswasmoreliketheoldtimes，whentherewasfullconfidencebetweenus。"TheGodswillitnowthatIreturntoAtlantis，"Isaid，"andwhathappensafterthattheGodsaloneknow。ButitwouldbeofservicetomeifIcouldlandonhershoreswithsomeknowledgeofthisPhorenice，foratpresentIamasignorantconcerningherassomesavagefromEuropeormid—Africa。"
　　"Whatwouldyouhavemetell？"
　　"Tellall。Iknowonlythatshe，awoman，reigns，wherebytheancientlawoftheland，amanshouldrule;thatsheisnotevenofthePriestlyClanfromwhichthelawsaysallrulersmustbedrawn;
　　andthat，fromwhatyousay，shehascausedthethronetototter。
　　ThethronewasasfirmastheeverlastinghillsintheoldKing’sday，Tatho。"
　　"Historyhasmovedwithpacesincethen，andPhorenicehasspurredit。Youknowherorigin？"
　　"IknowonlytheexactlittleIhavetoldyou。"
　　"Shewasaswineherd’sdaughterfromthemountains，thoughthisisneverevenwhisperednow，asshehasdeclaredherselftobeadaughteroftheGods，withamiraculousbirthandupbringing。Asshehasdecreeditasacrilegetoquestionthisparentage，andhasorderedtobeburntallthosethatseemtorecollecthermoreearthlyorigin，thefablepassescurrentfortruth。YouseethefaithIputinyou，Deucalion，bytellingyouwhatyouwishtolearn。"
　　"Therehasalwaysbeentrustbetweenus。"
　　"Iknow;butthishabitofsuspicionishardtocastoff，evenwithyou。However，letmeputyourgoodfaithbetweenmeandthetorturefurther。Zaemon，youremember，wasgovernoroftheswineherd’sprovince，andZaemon’swifesawPhoreniceandtookherawaytoadoptandbringupasherown。Itissaidthattheswineherdandhiswomanobjected;perhapstheydid;anyway，Iknowtheydied;andPhorenicewastaughttheartsandgraces，andbroughtupasadaughterofthePriestlyClan。"
　　"Butstillshewasanadopteddaughteronly，"Iobjected。
　　"Theomissionofthe’adopted’washerwillatanearlyage，"
　　saidTathodryly，"andshelearntearlytohaveherwishescarriedintofact。Itwasnotoriousthatbeforeshehadgrowntofifteenyearssherulednotonlythewomenofthehousehold，butZaemonalso，andtheprovincethatwasbeyondZaemon。"
　　"Zaemonwaslearned，"Isaid，"andadevoutfolloweroftheGods，andsearcherintothehighermysteries;but，asaruler，hewasalwaysaflabbyfellow。"
　　"IdonotsaythatopportunitieshavenotcomeusefullyinPhorenice’sway，butshehasgeniusaswell。Forhertohaveraisedherselfatallfromwhatshewas，wasremarkable。Notonewomanoutofathousand，placedasshewas，wouldhavegrowntobeaughthigherthanamerewifeofsomesturdycountryman，whowassufficientlysimpletocarenothingforpedigree。ButlookatPhorenice:itwasherwhimtotakeexerciseasaman—at—armsandpractisewithalltheutensilsofwar;andthen，beforeanyonequiteknowshoworwhyithappened，arebellionhadbrokenoutintheprovince，andherewasshe，aslipofagirl，leadingZaemon’stroops。"
　　"Zaemon，whenIknewhim，wasamerederisioninthefield。"
　　"Hearmeon。Phoreniceputdowntherebellioninmasterlyfashion，andgavetheconqueredachoicebetweenswordandservice。
　　Theyfellintoherranksatonce，andwerefaithfultoherfromthatmoment。Itellyou，Deucalion，thereisamarvellousfascinationaboutthewoman。"
　　"Herpresenthistorianseemstohavefeltit。"
　　"OfcourseIhave。Everyonewhoseeshercomesunderherspell。Andfrankly，Iaminlovewithheralso，andlookuponmycominghereasdetestableexile。EveryoneneartoPhorenice，highandlow，lovesherjustthesame，eventhoughtheyknowitmaybeherwhimtosendthemtoexecutionnextminute。"
　　PerhapsIletmyscornofthisappear。
　　"Youfeelcontemptforourweakness？Youwerealwaysastrongman，Deucalion。"
　　"Atanyrateyouseemestillunmarried。Ihavefoundnotimetopalterwiththefripperiesofwomen。"
　　"Ah，butthesecolonistsherearecrudeandunfascinating。
　　Waittillyouseetheladiesofthecourt，myascetic。"
　　"Itcomestomymind，"Isaiddryly，"thatIlivedinAtlantisbeforeIcameouthere，andatthattimeIusedtoseeasmuchofcourtlifeasmostmen。Yetthen，also，Ifeltnoinducementtomarry。"
　　Tathochuckled。"Atlantishaschangedsothatyouwouldhardlyknowthecountryto—day。Anewerahascomeovereverything，especiallyovertheothersex。WelldoIrememberthewomenoftheoldKing’stime，howmonstrousuncomelytheywere，howlittletheyknewhowtowalkorcarrythemselves，howpainfullybarbaricwastheirnotionofdress。IdareswearthatyourladieshereinYucatanarenotsoprovincialto—dayasourswerethen。
　　Butyoushouldseethemnowathome。Theyaredelicious。AndaboveallincharmistheEmpress。Oh，Deucalion，youshallseePhoreniceinallhergloriousbeautyandhermagnificenceoneofthesefinedayssoon，andbelievemeyouwillgodownonyourkneesandrepent。"
　　"Imaysee，and（becauseyousayso）Imayaltermylife’sways。TheGodsmakeallthingspossible。ButforthepresentI
　　remainasIam，celibate，andnotwishfultobeotherwise;andsointhemeantimeIwouldhearthecontinuanceofyourhistory。"
　　"Itisonelongstoryofsuccess。ShedeposedZaemonfromhisgovernmentinnameaswellasinfact，andthenewswasspread，andthePriestlyClanroseinitswrath。Thetwoneighbouringgovernorswerebiddenjoinforces，takehercaptive，andbringherforexecution。Poormen！Theytriedtoobeytheirorders;theyattackedhersurelyenough，butinbattleshecouldlaughatthem。
　　Shekilledboth，andmadesomeslaughteramongsttheirtroops;andtothosethatremainedaliveandbecameherprisoners，shemadeherusualoffer——theswordorservice。Naturallytheywerenotlongovermakingtheirchoice:tothesecommonpeopleonerulerismuchthesameasanother:andsoagainherarmywasreinforced。
　　"Threetimeswerebodiesofsoldierysentagainsther，andthreetimeswasshevictorious。Thelastwasafinaleffort。Before，ithadbeencustomarytodespisethisadventuresswhohadsprungupsosuddenly。Butthenthepriestsbegantorealisetheirperil;toseethatthethroneitselfwasindanger;andtoknowthatifsheweretobecrushed，theywouldhavetoputforththeirutmost。Everymanwhocouldcarryarmswaspressedintotheservice。Everyknownartofwarwasorderedtobeputintoemployment。Itwasthelargestarmy，andthebestequippedarmythatAtlantisthenhadeverraised，andthePriestlyClansawfittoputinsupremecommandtheirgeneral，Tatho。"
　　"You！"Icried。
　　"Evenmyself，Deucalion。Andmarkyou，Ifoughtmyutmost。
　　Iwasnothercreaturethen;andwhenIsetout（becausetheywantedtospurmetotheuttermost）theHighCouncilofthepriestspointedoutmyprospects。TheKingwehadknownsolong，wasailingandwearilyold;hewassowrappedupinthestudyofthemysteries，andthejoyofcloselyknowingthem，thatearthlymattershadgrownnauseoustohim;andatanytimehemightdecidetodie。ThePriestlyClanusesitsowndiscretionintheelectionofanewking，butittakesnoteofpopularsentiment;andageneralwhoatthecriticaltimecouldcomehomevictoriousfromagreatcampaign，whichmoreoverwouldreleaseaharassedpeoplefromtheconstantapplicationofarms，wouldbetheidolofthemoment。
　　Thesethingswerepointedouttomesolemnlyandinthefullcouncil。"
　　"What！Theypromisedyouthethrone？"
　　"Eventhat。SoyouseeIsetoutwithahighstakebeforeme。
　　PhoreniceIhadneverseen，andIsworetotakeheralive，andgivehertobethesportofmysoldiery。Ihadafineconfidenceinmyownstrategythen，Deucalion。ButtheoldGods，inwhomItrustedthen，remainedold，taughtmenonewthing。IdrilledandexercisedmyarmyaccordingtotheformsyouandIlearnttogether，oldcomrade，andinmanyatoughfightfoundtoservewell;Iarmedthemwiththechoicestweaponsweknewofthen，withslingandmace，withbowandspear，withaxeandknife，withswordandthethrowingfire;theirbodiesIcoveredwithmetalplates;eventheirbelliesIcaredfor，withdrovesofcattledrivenintherearofthefightingtroops。
　　"Butwhentheencountercame，theymighthavebeenmenofstrawforalltheharmtheydid。OutofherownbrainPhorenicehadmadefire—tubesthatcastadartwhichwouldkillbeyondtwobowshots，andthefashioninwhichshehandledhertroopsdazzledme。Theythreatenedusononeflank，theyharassedusontheother。Itwasnotwaraswehadbeenaccustomedto。Itwasanewerandmoredeadlygame，andIhadtowatchmysplendidarmyeatenawayaswaveseatasandhill。NeveroncedidIgetachanceofforcingcloseaction。ThesenewtacticsthathadcomefromPhorenice’sinvention，werebeyondmyarttomeetorunderstand。
　　Wewereeighttoherone，andourclose—packednumbersonlymadeussomuchthemoreeasyforslaughter。Apaniccame，andthosewhocouldfled。Myself，Ihadnowishtogobackandearntheaxethatwaitsfortheunsuccessfulgeneral。ItriedtodietherefightingwhereIstood。Butdeathwouldnotcome。Itwasafinemelee，Deucalion，thatlastone。"
　　"Andsoshetookyou？"
　　"Istoodwiththreeothersbacktoback，witharingofdeadroundus，andaringoftheenemyhemmingusin。Wetauntedthemtocomeon。Butathand—to—handcourtesieswehadshownwecouldholdourown，andsotheywerecallingforfire—tubeswithwhichtheycouldstrikeusdowninsafetyfromadistance。ThenupcamePhorenice。’Whatisthisto—do？’saysshe。’WeseektokillLordTatho，wholedagainstyou，’saythey。’SothatisTatho？’saysshe。’Afinefigureofamanindeed，andaprettyfighterseemingly，aftertheoldmanner。Doubtlessheisonewhowouldacquirethenewermethod。SeenowTatho，’saysshe，’itismycustomtoofferthoseIvanquisheitherthesword（which，believeme，wasneverneareryourneckthannow）orserviceundermybanner。Willyoumakeachoice？’
　　"’Woman，’Isaid，’fairestthateverIsaw，finestgeneraltheworldhaseverborne，youtemptmesorelybyyourqualities，butthereisatraditioninourClan，thatweshouldbetruetothesaltweeat。IamtheKing’smanstill，andsoIcantakenoservicefromyou。’
　　"’TheKingisdead，’saysshe。’Arunnerhasjustbroughtthetidings，meaningthemtohavefallenintoyourhands。AndIamtheEmpress。’
　　"’WhomadeyouEmpress？’Iasked。
　　"’Thesamemostcapablehandthathasgivenmethisbattle，’
　　saysshe。’Itisacapablehand，asyouhaveseen:itcanbeakindhandalso，asyoumaylearnifyouchoose。WiththeKingdead，Tathoisamasterlessmannow。IsTathoinwantofamistress？’
　　"’Suchagloriousmistressasyou，’Isaid，’Yes。’Andfromthatmoment，Deucalion，Ihavebeenherslave。Oh，youmayfrown;
　　youmaygetupfromthisseatandwalkawayifyouwill。ButIaskyouthis:keepbackyourworstjudgmentofme，oldfriend，tillafteryouhaveseenPhoreniceherselfinthewarmandlovelyflesh。
　　Thenyourownearsandyourownsenseswillbemyadvocates，towinmebackyouroldesteem。"
　　2。BACKTOATLANTIS
　　ThewordsofTathowerenosleepingdraughtformethatnight。
　　IbegantothinkthatIhadmadesomewhatamistakeinwrappingmyselfupsoentirelyinmygovernmentofYucatan，andnotcontrivingtokeepmoreintouchwitheventsthatwerepassingathomeinAtlantis。Formanyyearspastithadbeeneasytoseethatthemarinerfolkwhodidtrafficacrosstheseasspokewithrestraint，andthatonlywhatnewstheEmpresspleasedwasallowedtooozeoutbeyondherborders。But，asIsay，Iwasfullyoccupiedwithmyworkinthecolony，andhadnocuriositytopullawayaveilintentionallyplaced。Besides，ithasalwaysbeenagainstmyprinciplestoputtothetorturemenwhohadreceivedordersforsilencefromtheirsuperiors，merelythattheyshallbreaktheseordersformyprivateconvenience。
　　However，theirondisciplineofourPriestlyClanleftmenochoiceofprocedure。Aswascustomary，Ihadbeendeprivedofmyofficeatamoment’snotice。Fromthattimeon，allpapersandauthoritybelongedtomysuccessor，and，althoughbycourtesyI
　　mightbepermittedtoremainasaguestinthepyramidthathadsorecentlybeenmine，toseeanothersunrise，itwasclearlyenjoinedthatImustleavetheterritorythenatthetopmostofmyspeedandhastentoreportinAtlantis。
　　Tatho，togivehimcredit，wasanxioustofurthermyintereststotheutmostinhispower。Hewasbymysideagainbeforethedawn，puttingallhisresourcesatmydisposal。
　　Ihadlittleenoughtoaskhim。"Ashiptotakemehome，"I
　　said，"andIshallbeyourdebtor。"
　　Therequestseemedtosurprisehim。"Thatyoumaycertainlyhaveifyouwishit。Butmyshipsarefoulwiththelongpassage，andareinneedofacareen。Ifyoutakethem，youwillmakeaslowvoyageofittoAtlantis。Whydoyounottakeyourownnavy？
　　Theshipsareinharbournow，forIsawthemtherewhenwecamein。
　　Braveshipstheyaretoo。"
　　"Butnotmine。ThatnavybelongstoYucatan。"
　　"Well，Deucalion，youareYucatan;or，rather，youwereyesterday，andhavebeenthesetwentyyears。"
　　Isawwhathemeant，andtheideadidnotpleaseme。Iansweredstifflyenoughthattheshipswereownedbyprivatemerchants，orbelongedtotheState，andIcouldnotclaimsomuchasaten—slavegalley。
　　Tathoshruggedhisshoulders。"Isupposeyouknowyourownpoliciesbest，"hesaid，"thoughtomeitseemsbutriskyforamanwhohasattainedtoapositionlikeyoursandminenottohaveprovidedhimselfwithastoutnavyofhisown。Oneneverknowswhenarecallmaybesent，and，throughlackoftheseprecautions，alife’searningsmayverywellbelostinadozenhours。"
　　"Ihavenofearformine，"Isaidcoldly。
　　"Ofcoursenot，becauseyouknowmetobeyourfriend。Buthadanothermanbeenappointedtothisvice—royalty，youmighthavebeensadlyshorn，Deucalion。Itisnotmanyfellowswhocanresistasnughoardreadyandwaitingintheverycofferstheyhavecometoline。"
　　"MyLordTatho，"Isaid，"itiscleartomethatyouandI
　　havegrowntobeofdifferenttastes。AllofthehoardthatIhavemadeformyselfinthiscolony，fewmenwouldcovet。Ihavethepoorclothesyouseemeinthismoment，andaboxofdrugssuchasIhavefoundusefultothestomach。Ipossessalsothreeslaves，twoofthemscribesandthethirdasturdysavagefromEurope，whocooksmyvictualandfillsformethebath。Formymaintenanceduringmyyearsofservice，here，IhavebledtheStateofasoldier’srationandnothingbeyond;andifinmynameanymanhasmulctedacreatureinYucatanofsomuchasanounceofbronze，I
　　requestyouasalastservicetohavethatmanhangedformeasaliarandathief。"
　　Tatholookedatmecuriously。"IdonotknowwhetherIadmireyoumostorwhetherIpity。Idonotknowwhethertobeastonishedortodespise。WehadheardofmuchofyouruprightnessoveryonderinAtlantis，ofyoursternnessandyourjustice，butIswearbytheoldGodsthatnosoulguessedyoucarriedyourfancysofarasthis。Why，man，moneyispower。Withmoneyandtheresourcesmoneycanbuy，nothingcouldstopafellowlikeyou;whilstwithoutityoumaybetrippedupandtroddendownirrevocablyatthefirstpunyreverse。"
　　"TheGodswillchoosemyfate。"
　　"Possibly;butformine，Iprefertonourishitmyself。I
　　tellyouwithfranknessthatIhavenotcomeheretofollowinthepatternyouhavemadeforavice—royalty。IshallgovernYucatanwiselyandwelltothebestofmyability;butIshallgovernitalsoforthegoodofTatho，theviceroy。Ihavebroughtwithmeheremynavyofeightshipsandapersonalbodyguard。Thereismywifealso，andherwomenandherslaves。Allthesemustbeprovidedfor。Andwhyindeedshoulditbeotherwise？Ifapeopleistobegoverned，itshouldbetheirprivilegetopayhandsomelyfortheirprince。"
　　"Weshallnotagreeonthis。Youhavethepowernow，andcanemployitasyouchoose。IfIthoughtitwouldbeofanyuse，I
　　shouldliketosupplicateyoumosthumblytodealwithleniencewhenyoucometotaxthesepeoplewhoareunderyou。Theyhavegrownverydeartome。"
　　"Ihavedisgustedyouwithme，andIamgrievedforit。Buteventoretainyourgoodopinion，Deucalion——whichIvaluemorethanthatofanymanliving——Icannotdohereasyouhavedone。Itwouldbeimpossible，evenifIwishedit。Youmustnotjudgeallothermenbyyourownstrongstandard:aTathoisbynomeansacolossuslikeaDeucalion。Andbesides，Ihaveawifeandchildren，andtheymustbeprovidedfor，evenifIneglectmyself。"
　　"Ah，there，"Isaid，"itdoesseemthatIpossesstheadvantage。Ihavenowife，toclogme。"
　　Hecaughtupmywordquickly。"Itseemstomeyouhavenothingthatmakeslifeworthliving。Youhaveneitherwife，children，riches，cooks，retinue，dresses，noranythingelseinproportiontoyourstation。Youwillpardonmysayingit，oldcomrade，butyouareplagueyignorantaboutsomematters。Forexample，youdonotknowhowtodine。Duringeverydayofaverywearyvoyage，Ihavepromisedmyselfwhensittingbeforethemeagreseavictual，thatpresentlytheabstinencewouldbemorethanrepaidbyDeucalion’swelcomingfeast。Oh，Itellyouthatfeastwasoneofthevividestthingsthatevercamebeforemyeyes。Andthenwhenwegettotheactuality，whatwasit？Why，acountryfarmereverydaysitsdowntomoredelicatefare。Youtoldmehowitwasprepared。Well，yoursavagefromEuropemaybelusty，andperchanceisfaithful，butbeisadevil—possessedcook。Gods！I
　　havelivedbetteronacampaign。
　　"Iknowthisisacolonyhere，withoutanyofthehomerefinements;butifinthedaystocome，thedeeroftheforest，thefishofthestream，andtheotherresourcesoftheplacearenotputtobetterusethanheretofore，Ishallseeitmydutyasrulertofrysomeofthekitchenstaffaliveingreasesoastoencouragebettercookery。Gods！Deucalion，haveyouforgottenwhatitistohaveapalate？Andhaveyounoesteemforyourowndignity？Man，lookatyourclothes。Youaregarbedlikeaherdsman，andyouhavenotagaudorajeweltobrightenyou。"
　　"Ieat，"Isaidcoldly，"whenmyhungerbidsme，andIcarrythisonerobeuponmypersontillitiswornoutandneedsreplacement。Thegrossnessofexcessivebanqueting，andtheeffeminacyofmanyclothesareattainmentsthatnevermetmyfancy。
　　ButIthinkwehavetalkedhereoverlong，andthereseemslittlechanceofourfindingagreement。Youhavechanged，Tatho，withtheyears，andperhapsIhavechangedalso。Thesealterationscreepimperceptiblyintoone’sbeingastimeadvances。Letuspartnow，and，forgettingthesepresentdifferences，rememberonlyourfriendshipoftwentyyearsagone。Thatforme，atanyrate，hasalwayshadapleasantsavourwhencalledupintothememory。"
　　Tathobowedhishead。"Sobeit，"hesaid。
　　"AndIwouldstillchargemyselfuponyourbountyforthatship。Dawncannotbefaroffnow，anditisnotdecentthatthemanwhohasruledheresolong，shouldwalkindaylightthroughthestreetsonthemorningafterhisdismissal。"
　　"Sobeit，"saidTatho。"Youshallhavemypoornavy。I
　　couldhavewishedthatyouhadaskedmesomethinggreater。"
　　"Notthenavy，Tatho;onesmallship。Believeme，moreiswasted。"
　　"Now，there，"saidTatho，"Ishallactthetyrant。Iamviceroyherenow，andwillhavemywayinthis。Youmaygonakedofallpossessions:thatIcannothelp。ButdepartforAtlantisunattended，thatyoushallnot。"
　　Andso，infine，asthechoicewassetbeyondme，itwasinthe"Bear，"Tatho’sownprivateship，withalltherestofhisnavysailinginescort，thatIdidfinallymakemytransit。
　　Butthestartwasnotimmediate。Thevesselslaymooredagainstthestonequaysoftheinnerharbour，guttedoftheirstores，andwithcrewsexhausted，anditwouldhavebeensuicidetohaveforcedthemoutthenandtheretoagaintaketheseas。
　　SothecourtesieswerefulfilledbythecraftwhereonIabodehaulingoutintotheentrancebasin，andanchoringthereintheswellsofthefairway;andforthwithsheandherconsortstookinwoodandwater，curedmeatandfishashore，andrefittedinallneedfulways，withallspeedattainable。
　　Formyselftherecamethen，asthefirsttimeduringtwentybusyyears，abreathingspacefromwork。Ihadnofurtherconnectionwiththecountryofmylabours;indeed，officially，I
　　hadleftitalready。IntotheworkingoftheshipitwascontrarytorulethatIshouldmakeanyinspectionorinterest，sinceallseamattersweretheexclusivepropertyoftheMariners’Guild，securedtothembyroyalpatent，andmostjealouslyguarded。
　　Sothereremainedtomeinmyday，hourstogaze（ifIwould）
　　uponthequays，theharbours，thepalaces，andthepyramidsofthesplendidcitybeforemewhichIhadseengrowstonebystonefromitsfoundations;ortoroammyeyeoverthepasturesandthegrainlandsbeyondthewalls，andtolooklonginglyatthedenseforestsbehind，fromwhichfieldbyfieldwehadsotediouslyrippedourterritory。
　　WouldTathocontinuetheworksohealthilybegun？Itrustedso，eveninspiteofhisselfishwords。Andatallhours，duringtheradianceofourLordtheSun，orunderthestarsofnight，I
　　wasfreetopursuethatstudyofthehighermysteries，onwhichweofthePriests’Clanaretrainedtosetourminds，withoutaidofbookorinstrument，ofimageortemple。
　　Therefittingofthenavywasgoneaboutwithspeed。Never，itissaid，hadshipsbeenreprovisionedandcaulked，andremannedwithgreaterspeedfortheover—oceanvoyage。Indeed，itwasbarelyoveramonthfromthedaythattheybroughtupintheharbour，theyputoutbeyondthewalls，andbegantheirvoyageeastwardoverthehillsanddaleoftheocean。
　　Rowing—slavesfromEuropeforthislongpassageofseaarenottakennow，owingtothedifficultyinprovisioningthem，formodernhumanityforbidsthepracticeoflettingthemeatoneanotheraccordingtothehomecustomoftheircontinent;sailsalonearebutanindifferentstandby;butmodernsciencehasshownhowtoextractforcefromtheSun，whenHeisfreefromcloud，andthis（inamannerkeptsecretbymariners）ismadetodrawsea—waterattheforepartofthevessel，andejectitwithsuchforceatthesternthatsheisappreciablydrivenforward，evenwiththewindadverse。
　　Inanothermatteralsohasnavigationvastlyimproved。Itisnotnecessarynow，asformerly，totrustwhollytoastarrynight（whenbeyondsightofland）tofinddirection。Alittleimagehasbeenmade，andisstoodbalancedintheforepartofeveryvessel，withanarmoutstretched，pointingconstantlytothedirectionwheretheSouthernCrossliesintheHeavens。So，bysettinganangle，canajustcoursebecorrectlysteered。Otherinstrumentshavetheyalsoforfindingatruepositionontheoceanwastes，forthenewermariner，whenheisatsea，putslittletrustintheGods，andconfidesmightilyinhisownthewsandwits。