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。