CONTENTS
　　PREFATORY:THELEGATEESOFDEUCALION
　　1MYRECALL
　　2BACKTOATLANTIS
　　3ARIVALNAVY
　　4THEWELCOMEOFPHORENICE
　　5ZAEMON’SCURSE
　　6THEBITERSOFTHECITYWALLS
　　7THEBITERSOFTHEWALLS
　　（FURTHERACCOUNT）
　　8THEPREACHERFROMTHEMOUNTAINS
　　9PHORENICE，GODDESS
　　10AWOOING
　　11ANAFFAIRWITHTHEBARBAROUSFISHERS
　　12THEDRUGOFOURLADYTHEMOON
　　13THEBURYINGALIVEOFNAIS
　　14AGAINTHEGODSMAKECHANGE
　　15ZAEMON’SSUMMONS
　　16SIEGEOFTHESACREDMOUNTAIN
　　17NAISTHEREGAINED
　　18STORMOFTHESACREDMOUNTAIN
　　19DESTRUCTIONOFTHEATLANTIS
　　20ONTHEBOSOMOFTHEDEEP
　　PREFATORY:
　　THELEGATEESOFDEUCALION
　　Wewerebothofusnotalittlestiffastheresultofsleepingoutintheopenallthatnight，foreveninGrandCanarythedew—fallandthecomparativechillofdarknessarenottobetrifledwith。FormyselfontheseoccasionsIlikeabitofarunasanearlyrefresher。Buthereonthisroughgroundinthemiddleoftheislandtherewerenotthreeyardsofleveltobefound，andsoasCoppingerproceededtogothroughsomesortofdumb—bellexerciseswithacoupleoflumpsofbristlylava，Ifollowedhisexample。Coppingerhasdoneagooddealofroughingitinhistime，butbeingadoctorofmedicineamongstotherthings——hetakesoutanewdegreeofsomesortonanaverageeveryotheryear——heisgreatonhealththeories，andpractisesthemlikeareligion。
　　Therehadbeenraintwodaysbefore，andastherewasstillabitofstreamtricklingalongatthebottomofthebarranca，wewentdownthereandhadawash，andbrushedourteeth。Greatestluxuryimaginable，atoothbrush，onthissortofexpedition。
　　"Now，"saidCoppingerwhenwehademptiedourpockets，"there’spreciouslittlegrubleft，andit’snonethebetterforbeingcarriedinalocalSpanishnewspaper。"
　　"Yoursismostlytobaccoashes。"
　　"It’llgetworseifweleaveit。We’vealotmorebadscramblingaheadofus。"
　　Thatwasobvious。Sowesatdownbesidethestreamthereatthebottomofthebarranca，andateupallofwhatwasleft。Itwasaten—miletramptothefondaatSantaBrigida，wherewehadsetdownourtraps;andasCoppingerwantedtotakealotmorephotographsandmeasurementsbeforeweleftthisparticulargroupofcaves，itwaslikelyweshouldbeprettysharpsetbeforewegotournextmeal，andournexttasteofthePATRON’Ssplendidoldcountrywine。Myfaith！IfonlytheyknewdownintheEnglishhotelsinLasPalmaswhatmagnificentwinesonecouldget——withdiplomacy——upinsomeofthemountainvillages，theoldvintagewouldbecomeathingofthepastinaweek。
　　Nowtotellthetruth，thetwomummieshehadgatheredalreadyquitesatisfiedmysmallambition。Thegoatskinsinwhichtheyweresewnupwereasbrittleaspaper，andthepooroldthingsthemselvesgaveoutdustlikeapuffballwhenevertheyweretouched。ButyouknowwhatCoppingeris。Hethoughthe’dcomeupontracesofanoldGuancheuniversity，orsacredcollege，orsomethingofthatkind，liketheonethereisontheothersideoftheisland，andhewouldn’tbesatisfiedtillhe’dransackedeverycaveinthewholefaceofthecliff。He’dplentyofstuffleftfortheflashlightthing，andtwenty—eightmorefilmsinhiskodak，andsaidwemightaswellgetthroughwiththejobthenasmakeareturnjourneyallonpurpose。Sohetookthecrowbar，andI
　　shoulderedtherope，andawaywewentuptotheridgeofthecliff，wherewehadgotsuchabakingfromthesunthedaybefore。
　　Ofcoursethesecaveswerenoteasytocomeat，orelsetheywouldhavebeenraidedyearsbefore。Coppinger，whoonprinciplemakesoutheknowsallaboutthesethings，saysthatintheoldGuanchedaystheyhadladdersofgoatskinropewhichtheycouldpullupwhentheywereathome，andsokeepoutundesirablecallers;andasnootherplanoccurstome，perhapshemayberight。Anywaythemouthsofthecaveswereinamoreorlesslevelrowthirtyfeetbelowtheridgeofthecliff，andfiftyfeetabovethebottom;andSpanishcuriositydoesn’tgoinmuchwhereitcannotwalk。
　　Nowladderingsuchcavesfrombelowwouldhavebeencumbersome，butalightknottedropeiseasilycarried，andthoughitwouldhavebeenhardtoclimbupthis，ourplanwastodescendoneachcavemouthfromabove，andthenslipdowntothefootofthecliffs，andstartagainABINITIOforthenext。
　　Coppingerispluckyenough，andhehasagoodheadonaheight，butthereisnogettingoverthefactthatheisportlyandnearerfiftythanforty—five。Soyoucanseehemusthavebeenprettykeen。OfcourseIwentfirsteachtime，andgotintothecavemouth，anddidwhatIcouldtohelphimin;butwhenyouhavetowalkdownaverticalclifffacefly—fashion，withonlyathinbootlaceofaropeforsupport，itisnotmuchrealhelpthemanbelowcangive，exceptofferyouhisbestwishes。
　　IwantedtosavehimasmuchasIcould，andasthefirstthreecavesIclimbedtoweresmallandempty，seemingtobemerelystore—places，Iaskedhimtotakethemforgranted，andsavehimselftherest。Butheinsistedonclamberingdowntoeachoneinperson，andashedecidedthatoneofmygranarieswasaprison，andanotherapot—makingfactory，andanotheraschoolroomforyoungpriests，henaturallysaidhehadn’tmuchrelianceonmyjudgment，andwouldhavetogothroughthewholelothimself。Youknowwhatthesethorough—goingarchaeologistsareforimagination。
　　Butasthedaywenton，andthesunrosehigher，Coppingerbeganclearlytohavehadenoughofit，thoughhewasverygame，andinsistedongoingonmuchlongerthanwassafe。ImustsayI
　　didn’tlikeit。Youseethedropwasseldomlessthaneightyfeetfromthetopofthecliffs。However，atlasthewasforcedtogiveitup。IsuggestedmarchingofftoSantaBrigidaforthwith，buthewouldn’tdothat。Therewerethreemorecave—openingstobelookedinto，andifIwouldn’tdothemforhim，hewouldhavetomakeanotherefforttogettherehimself。Hetriedtomakeouthewasconferringaverygreatfavouronmebyofferingtotakeareportsolelyfrommyuntrainedobservation，butIflatlyrefusedtolookatitinthatlight。Iwasprettytiredalso;Iwassoakedwithperspirationfromtheheat;myheadachedfromtheviolenceofthesun;andmyhandswerecutrawwiththerope。
　　Coppingermightbetired，buthewasstillenthusiastic。Hetriedtomakemeenthusiasticalso。"Lookhere，"hesaid，"there’snoknowingwhatyoumayfindupthere，andifyoudolayhandsonanything，rememberit’syourown。Ishallhavenoclaimwhatever。"
　　"Verykindofyou，butI’vegotnouseforanymoremummiesdoneupingoatskinbags。"
　　"Bah！That’snotaburialcaveupthere。Don’tyouknowthedifferenceyetintheopenings？Now，beagoodfellow。Itdoesn’tfollowthatbecausewehavedrawnalltherestblank，youwon’tstumbleacrossagoodfindforyourselfupthere。"
　　"Oh，verywell，"Isaid，asheseemedsosetonit;andawayI
　　stumbledoverthefallenrocks，andalongtheledge，andthenscrambledupbythatfissureinthecliffwhichsavedusthetwo—mileroundwhichwehadhadtotakeatfirst。Iwrenchedoutthecrowbar，andjammeditdowninanewplace，andthenawayI
　　wentovertheside，withhandssmartingworseateverynewgripoftherope。Itwasanawkwardjobswingingintothecavemouthbecausetherockaboveoverhung，orelse（whatcametothesamething）ithadbrokenawaybelow;butImanageditsomehow，althoughIlandedwithanawkwardthumponmyback，andatthesametimeI
　　didn’tletgotherope。Itwouldn’tdotohavelosttheropethen:
　　Coppingercouldn’thaveflickeditintomefromwherehewasbelow。
　　NowfromthefirstglanceIcouldseethatthiscavewasofdifferentstructuretotheothers。Theywereforthemostpartmeredens，roundedoutanyhow;thishadbeenfacedupwithcuttingtools，sothatalltheangleswereclean，andthesidessmoothandflat。Thewallsinclinedinwardstotheroof，remindingmeofanarchitectureIhadseenbeforebutcouldnotrecollectwhere，andmoreovertherewereseveralroomsconnectedupwithpassages。I
　　waspleasedtofindthattheothercave—openingswhichCoppingerwantedmetoexploreweremerelythewindowsorthedoorwaysoftwooftheseotherrooms。
　　Ofinscriptionsormarkingsonthewallstherewasnotatrace，thoughIlookedcarefully，andexceptforbatstheplacewasentirelybare。Ilitacigaretteandsmokeditthrough——Coppingeralwaysthinksoneisslurringoverworkifitisgotthroughtooquickly——andthenIwenttotheentrancewheretheropewas，andleanedout，andshouteddownmynews。
　　Heturnedupaveryanxiousface。"Haveyousearcheditthoroughly？"hebawledback。
　　"OfcourseIhave。WhatdoyouthinkI’vebeendoingallthistime？"
　　"No，don’tcomedownyet。Waitaminute。Isay，oldman，dowaitaminute。I’mmakingfastthekodakandtheflashlightapparatusontheendoftherope。Pullthemup，andjustmakemehalfadozenexposures，there’sagoodfellow。"
　　"Oh，allright，"Isaid，andhauledthethingsup，andgottheminside。Thephotographswouldbeabsolutelydullanduninteresting，butthatwouldn’tmattertoCoppinger。Heratherpreferredthemthatway。Onehastobecarefulabouthalationinphotographingthesedarkinteriors，buttherewasasortofledgelikeaseatbythesideofeachdoorway，andsoIlodgedthecameraonthattogetasteadystand，andsnappedofftheflashlightfrombehindandabove。
　　Igotpicturesoffourofthechambersthisway，andthencametoonewheretheledgewashigherandwider。Iputdownthecamera，wedgeditlevelwithscrapsofstone，andthensatdownmyselftorechargetheflashlightmachine。Butthemomentmyweightgotonthatledge，therewasasharpcrackle，anddownI
　　wenthalfadozeninches。
　　OfcourseIwasupagainprettysharply，andsnappedupthekodakjustasitwasgoingtoslideofftotheground。Iwillconfess，too，Iwasfeelingpleased。HereatanyratewasaGuanchecupboardofsorts，andastheyhadtakenthetroubletohermeticallysealitwithcement，theoddswerethatithadsomethinginsideworthhiding。Atfirsttherewasnothingtobeseenbutalotofdustandrubble，soIlitabitofcandleandclearedthisaway。Presently，however，IbegantofindthatIwasshellingoutsomethingthatwasnotcement。Itchippedaway，inregularlayers，andwhenItookittothedaylightIfoundthateachlayerwasmadeupoftwoparts。Onesidewasshinystaffthatlookedliketalc，andonthiswassmearedacoatingofdarktoffee—
　　colouredmaterial，thatmighthavebeenwax。Thetoffee—colouredsurfacewasworkedoverwithsomekindofpattern。
　　NowIdonotprofesstoanyknowledgeonthesematters，andasaconsequencetookwhatCoppingerhadtoldmeaboutGuanchehabitsandacquirementsasmoreorlesstrue。Forinstance，hehadrepeatedlyimpresseduponmethatthisoldpeoplecouldnotwrite，andhavingthisinmymemory，Ididnotguessthatthepatternsscribedthroughthewaxwerelettersinsomeobsoletecharacter，which，iflefttomyself，probablyIshouldhavedone。ButstillatthesametimeIcametotheconclusionthatthestuffwasworthlooting，andsosettoworkquarryingitoutwiththeheelofmybootandapocket—knife。
　　Thesheetswereallmoreorlessstucktogether，andsoIdidnotgoinforseparatingthemfarther。Theyfittedexactlytothecavityinwhichtheywerestored，butbysmashingdownitsfrontI
　　wasabletogetatthefootofthem，andthenIhackedawaythroughthebottomlayerswiththeknifetillIgotthebulkoutinonesolidpiece。Itmeasuredsometwentyinchesbyfifteen，byfifteen，butitwasnotsoheavyasitlooked，andwhenIhadtakentheremainingphotographs，IlowereditdowntoCoppingerontheendoftherope。
　　Therewasnothingmoretodointhecavesthen，soIwentdownmyselfnext。Thelumpofsheetswasontheground，andCoppingerwasonallfoursbesideit。Hewasprettynearlymadwithexcitement。
　　"Whatisit？"Iaskedhim。
　　"Idon’tknowyet。ButitisthemostvaluablefindevermadeintheCanaryIslands，andit’syours，youunappreciativebeggar;
　　atleastwhatthereisleftofit。Oh，man，man，you’vesmashedupthebeginning，andyou’vesmasheduptheendofsomehistorythatisprobablypriceless。It’smyownfault。Ioughttohaveknownbetterthansetanuntrainedmantodoimportantexploringwork。"
　　"Ishouldsayit’syourfaultifanything’sgonewrong。YousaidtherewasnosuchthingaswritingknowntotheseancientCanarios，andItookyourwordforit。ForanythingIknewthestuffmighthavebeensomethingtoeat。"
　　"Itisn’tGuancheworkatall，"saidhetestily。"Yououghttohaveknownthatfromthetalc。Greatheavens，man，haveyounoeyes？Haven’tyouseenthegeneralformationoftheisland？Don’tyouknowthere’snotalchere？"
　　"I’mnogeologist。Isthisimportedliteraturethen？"
　　"Ofcourse。It’sEgyptian:that’sobviousataglance。Thoughhowit’sgothereIcan’ttellyet。Itisn’tstuffyoucanreadofflikeanewspaper。Thecharacter’savariantonanyofthosethathavebeendiscoveredsofar。Andasforthiswaxystuffspreadoverthetalc，it’sunique。It’ssomesortofamineral，I
　　think:perhapsasphalt。Itdoesn’tscratchuplikeanimalwax。
　　I’llanalysethatlater。Whytheyonceinventedit，andthenletsuchasplendidnotiondropoutofuse，isjustamarvel。Icouldstaygloatingoverthisallday。"
　　"Well，"Isaid，"ifit’sallthesameforyou，I’drathergloatoverameal。It’sagoodtenmileshardgoingtothefonda，andI’mashungryasahawkalready。Lookhere，doyouknowitisfouro’clockalready？Ittakeslongerthanyouthinkclimbingdowntoeachofthesecaves，andthengettingupagainforthenext。"
　　Coppingerspreadhiscoatontheground，andwrappedthelumpofsheetswithtendercare，butwouldnotallowittobetiedwitharopeforfearofbreakingmoreoftheedges。Heinsistedoncarryingithimselftoo，anddidsoforthelargerpartofthewaytoSantaBrigida，anditwasonlywhenhewaswithinanaceofdroppinghimselfwithsheertirednessthathecondescendedtoletmetakemyturn。Hewastolerablyungraciousaboutittoo。"I
　　supposeyoumayaswellcarrythestuff，"hesnapped，"seeingthatafterallit’syourown。"
　　Personally，whenwegottothefonda，Ihadasgoodadinneraswasprocurable，andabottleofthatoldCanarywine，andturnedintobedafterafinalpipe。Coppingerdinedalso，butIhavereasontobelievehedidnotsleepmuch。AtanyrateIfoundhimstillporingoverthefindnextmorning，andlookingveryheavy—
　　eyed，butbrimmingwithenthusiasm。
　　"Doyouknow，"hesaid，"thatyou’veblundereduponthemostvaluablehistoricalmanuscriptthatthemodernworldhaseveryetseen？Ofcourse，withyourclumsywayofgettingitout，you’vedoneaninfinityofdamage。Forinstance，thosetopsheetsyoushelledawayandspoiled，containedprobablyanabsolutelyuniqueaccountoftheancientcivilisationofYucatan。"
　　"Where’sthat，anyway？"
　　"InthemiddleoftheGulfofMexico。It’sallruinsto—day，butonceitwasaveryprosperouscolonyoftheAtlanteans。"
　　"Neverheardofthem。Ohyes，Ihavethough。TheywerethepeopleHerodotuswroteabout，didn’the？ButIthoughttheyweremythical。"
　　"Theywereveryreal，andsowasAtlantis，thecontinentwheretheylived，whichlayjustnorthoftheCanarieshere。"
　　"What’sthatcrocodilesortofthingwithwingsdrawninthemargin？"
　　"Somesortofbeastthatlivedinthosebygonedays。Thepagesarefullofthem。That’sacave—tiger。Andthat’ssomesortofcolossalbat。Thankgoodnesshehadthesensetoillustratefully，themanwhowrotethis，orweshouldneverhavebeenabletoreconstructthetale，oratanyratewecouldnothaveunderstoodhalfofit。Wholespecieshavediedoutsincethiswaswritten，justasawholecontinenthasbeensweptawayandthreecivilisationsquenched。Theworstofitis，itwaswrittenbyahighly—educatedmanwhosomewhatnaturallywritesaverybadfist。
　　I’vehammeredatitallthenightthrough，andhaveonlymanagedtomakeoutafewsentenceshereandthere"——herubbedhishandsappreciatively。"Itwilltakemeayear’shardworktotranslatethisproperly。"
　　"Everymantohistaste。I’mafraidmyinterestinthethingwouldn’tlastaslongasthat。Buthowdiditgetthere？DidyourancientEgyptiancometoGrandCanaryforthegoodofhislungs，andwriteitbecausehefeltdullupinthatcave？"
　　"Imadeamistakethere。TheauthorwasnotanEgyptian。Itwasthesimilarityoftheinscribedcharacterwhichmisledme。ThebookwaswrittenbyoneDeucalion，whoseemstohavebeenapriestorgeneral——orperhapsboth——andhewasanAtlantean。Howitgotthere，Idon’tknowyet。Probablythatwastoldinthelastfewpages，whichacertainvandalsmashedupwithhispocketknife，ingettingthemawayfromtheplacewheretheywerestowed。"
　　"That’sright，abuseme。Deucalionyousay？TherewasaDeucalionintheGreekmythology。HewasoneofthetwowhoescapedfromtheFlood:theirNoah，infact。"
　　"TheswampingofthecontinentofAtlantismightverywellcorrespondtotheFlood。"
　　"IsthereaPyrrhathen？ShewasDeucalion’swife。"
　　"Ihaven’tcomeacrossheryet。Butthere’saPhorenice，whomaybethesame。SheseemstohavebeenthereigningEmpress，asfarasIcanmakeoutatpresent。"
　　Ilookedwithinterestatillustrationsinthemargin。Theywerequiteunderstandable，althoughtheperspectivewasallwrong。
　　"Weirdbeaststheyseemtohavehadknockingaboutthecountryinthosedays。Whackingbigsizetoo，ifonemayjudge。ByJove，that’llbeacave—tigertryingtopuffdownamammoth。Ishouldn’tcaretohavelivedinthosedays。"
　　"Probablytheyhadsomewayoffightingthecreatures。
　　However，thatwillshowitselfasIgetalongwiththetranslation。"Helookedathiswatch——"IsupposeIoughttobeashamedofmyself，butIhaven’tbeentobed。Areyougoingout？"
　　"IshalldrivebacktoLasPalmas。Ipromisedamantohavearoundatgolfthisafternoon。"
　　"Verywell，seeyouatdinner。Ihopethey’vesentbackmydressshirtsfromthewash。O，lord！Iamsleepy。"
　　Ilefthimgoinguptobed，andwentoutsideandorderedacarriagetotakemedown，andthereImaysaywepartedforaconsiderabletime。AcablewaswaitingformeinthehotelatLasPalmastogohomeforbusinessforthwith，andtherewasaLiverpoolboatintheharbourwhichIjustmanagedtocatchasshewassteamingout。Itwasaclosething，andtheboatmenmadeasmallfortuneoutofmyhurry。
　　NowCoppingerwasonlyanhotelacquaintance，andasIwasuptotheeyesinworkwhenIgotbacktoEngland，I’mafraidIdidn’tthinkverymuchmoreabouthimatthetime。Onedoesn’twithpeopleonejustmeetscasuallyabroadlikethat。AnditmusthavebeenatleastayearlaterthatIsawbyaparagraphinoneofthepapers，thathehadgiventhelumpofsheetstotheBritishMuseum，andthattheestimatedworthofthemwastenthousandpoundsatthelowestvaluation。
　　Well，thiswasabitofrevelation，andashehadsorepeatedlyimpressedonmethatthethingswereminebyrightofdiscovery，Iwroteratherapointednotetohimmentioningthatheseemedtohavebeenmakingratherfreewithmyproperty。Promptlycamebackastiltedletterbeginning，"DoctorCoppingerregrets"andsoon，andwithittheEnglishtranslationofthewax—upon—talcMSS。He"quiteadmitted"myclaim，and"trustedthattheprofitsofpublicationwouldbeasufficientreimbursementforanydamagereceived。"
　　NowIhadnoideathathewouldtakemeunpleasantlylikethis，andwrotebackaprettywarmreplytothateffect;buttheonlyanswerIgottothiswasthroughafirmofsolicitors，whostatedthatallfurthercommunicationswithDr。Coppingermustbemadethroughthem。
　　IwillsayherepubliclythatIregretthelinehehastakenoverthematter;butastheaffairhasgonesofar，Iamdisposedtofollowouthisproposition。Accordinglytheoldhistoryishereprinted;thecredit（andtheresponsibility）ofthetranslationrestswithDr。Coppinger;andwhateverrevenueaccruesfromreaders，goestothefinderoftheoriginaltalc—upon—waxsheets，myself。
　　Ifthereisafurtheralterationinthisarrangement，itwillbeannouncedpubliclyatalaterdate。Butatpresentthisappearstobemostunlikely。
　　1。MYRECALL
　　Thepublicofficialreceptionwasover。Thesentencehadbeenread，thenameofPhorenice，theEmpress，adored，andthenewViceroyinstalledwithallthatvastandponderousceremonialwhichhadgaineditspompandmajestyfromtheages。Formally，Ihaddeliveredupthereinsofmygovernment;formally，Tathohadseatedhimselfonthesnake—throne，andhadputoverhisneckthechainofgemswhichsymbolisedthesupremeoffice;andthen，whilstthedrumsandthetrumpetsmadetheirproclamationofclamour，hehadrisentohisfeet，forhisfirststateprogressroundthatgildedcouncilchamberasViceroyoftheProvinceofYucatan。
　　Withfoldedarmsandbendedhead，Ifollowedhimbetweentheglitteringlinesofsoldiers，andthebrilliantthrongofcourtiers，andchiefs，andstatesmen。Theroof—beamsquiveredtothecriesof"LongLiveTatho！""FlourishtheEmpress！"whichcameforthasindutybound，andthenewruleracknowledgedthewelcomewithstatelyinclinationsofthehead。Inturnhewenttothethreelesserthronesofthelessergovernors——intheEast，theNorth，andtheSouth，andreceivedhomagefromeachastheritualwas;andI，themanwhomhiscominghaddeposed，followedwiththeprescribedmeeknessinhistrain。
　　Itwasahardtask，butwewhoholdthehigherofficeslearntocarrybeforethepeopleapassionlessface。Once，twentyyearsbefore，thesesamefineobeisanceshadbeenmadetome;nowtheGodshadseenfittomakefortunechange。ButasIwalkedbentandhumblyonbehindtheheelsofTatho，thoughetiquetteforbadenoisysalutationstomyself，itcouldnotinhibitkindlyglances，andthesecamefromeverysoldier，everycourtier，andeverychiefwhostoodthereinthatgildedhall，andtheyfelluponmeverygratefully。Itisnotoftenthefallenmeetsuchtenderlooks。
　　Theformgoes，handeddownfromimmemorialcustom，thatonthesegreatceremonialdaysofchangingaruler，thoseofthepeoplebeingpresentmaybringforwardpetitionsandrequests;maymakeaccusationsagainsttheirretiringheadwithsureimmunityfromhisvengeance;ormaystatetheirownprivatetheoriesforthebettergovernmentoftheStateinthefuture。IthinkitmaybepardonedtomyvanityifIrecordthatnotavoicewasraisedagainstme，oragainstanyoftheitemsofmytwentyyearsofrule。
　　Nordidanyspeakoutforalterationsinthefuture。Yes，eventhoughwemadethecircuitforthethreeprescribedtimes，allpresentshowedtheirapprovalingeneroussilence。
　　Then，onebehindtheother，thenewViceroyandtheold，wemarchedwithformalstepovergoldentilesofthatcouncilhallbeneaththepyramid，andthegreatofficersofstatelefttheirstationsandjoinedinourtrain;andatthefartherwallwecametothedoorofthoseprivatechamberswhichanhouragohadbeenmineown。
　　Ah，well！IhadnohomenowinanyofthosewondrouscitiesofYucatan，andIcouldnothelpfeelingabitterness，thoughinsoothIshouldhavebeenthankfulenoughtoreturntotheContinentofAtlantiswithmyheadstillinitsproperstation。
　　Tathogavehisformalsummonsof"OpenyetotheViceroy，"
　　whichtheritualcommands，andtheslaveswithinsentthemassivestonevalvesofthedoorgapingwide。Tathoentered，Iathisheels;theothershalted，sendingvaledictionsfromthethreshold;
　　andthevalvesofthedoorclangedonthelockbehindus。Wepassedontothechamberbeyond，andthen，whenforthefirsttimewewerealonetogether，andtheforcedetiquetteofcourtswasbehindus，thenewViceroyturnedwithmeeklyfoldedarms，andbowedlowbeforeme。
　　"Deucalion，"hesaid，"believemethatIhavenotsoughtthisoffice。Itwasthrustuponme。HadInotaccepted，myheadwouldhavepaidforfeit，andanotherman——yourenemy——wouldhavebeensentoutasviceroyinyourplace。TheEmpressdoesnotpermitthatherwillshalleverbequestioned。"
　　"Myfriend，"Imadeanswer，"mybrotherinallbutblood，thereisnomanlivinginallAtlantisorherterritoriestowhomIhadlieferhandovermygovernment。FortwentyyearsnowhaveI
　　ruledthiscountryofYucatan，andMexicobeyond，firstundertheoldKing，andthenasministertothisnewEmpress。Iknowmycolonylikeabook。Iamintimatewithallherwonderfulcities，withtheirpalaces，theirpyramids，andtheirpeople。Ihavehuntedthebeastsandthesavagesintheforests。Ihavebuiltroads，andmadetheriverssothattheywillcarryshipping。I
　　havefosteredtheartsandcraftslikeamerchant;Ihavediscoursed，threetimeseachday，thecultoftheGodswithmineownlips。ThroughevilyearsandthroughgoodhaveIruledhere，strivingonlyfortheprosperityofthelandandthestrengtheningofAtlantis，andIhavegrowntolovethepeopleslikeafather。
　　ToyouIbequeaththem，Tatho，withtendersupplicationsfortheirinterests。"
　　"ItisnotIthatcancarryonDeucalion’sworkwithDeucalion’spower，butrestcontent，myfriend，thatIshalldomyhumblebesttofollowexactlyoninyourfootsteps。Believeme，Icameouttothisgovernmentwithathousandregrets，butIwouldhavediedsoonerthantakeyourplacehadIknownhowvigorouslythesupplantingwouldtroubleyou。"
　　"Wearealonehere，"Isaid，"awayfromtheformalitiesofformalassemblies，andamanmaygiveventtohisnaturalselfwithoutfearoftarnishingaceremony。Yourcomingwassomethingofthesuddenest。Tillanhourago，whenyoudemandedaudience，Ihadthoughttoruleonlonger;andevennowIdonotknowforwhatcauseIamdeposed。"
　　"Theproclamationsaid:’Werelieveourwell—belovedDeucalionofhispresentservice，becausewehavegreatneedofhispowersathomeinourkingdomofAtlantis。’"
　　"Amereformality。"
　　Tatholookeduneasilyroundthehangingsofthechamber，anddrewmewithhimtoitscentre，andloweredhisvoice。
　　"Idonotthinkso，"hewhispered。"Ibelieveshehasneedofyou。Therearetroubloustimesonhand，andPhorenicewantstheablestmeninthekingdomreadytohercall。"
　　"Youmayspeakopenly，"Isaid，"andwithoutfearofeavesdroppers。Weareintheheartofthepyramidhere，builtineverywaybyaman’slengthofsolidstone。Myself，Ioversawthelayingofeverycourse。Andbesides，hereinYucatan，wehavenotthenicetiesofyouroldworlddiplomacy，anddonotlisten，becausewecountitshametodoso。"
　　Tathoshruggedhisshoulders。"Iactedonlyaccordingtomineeducation。Athome，aloosetonguemakesaloosehead，andtherearethosewhosetradeitistocarrytales。Still，whatIsayisthis:Thethroneshakes，andPhoreniceseestheneedofsturdyprops。Soshehassentthisproclamation。"
　　"Butwhycometome？ItistwentyyearssinceIsailedtothiscolony，andfromthatdayIhavenotreturnedtoAtlantisonce。Iknowlittleoftheoldcountry’spolitics。Whatsmallparcelofnewsdriftsouttousacrosstheocean，readswithslenderinteresthere。Yucatanisanotherworld，mydearTatho，asyouinthecourseofyourgovernmentwilllearn，withnewinterests，newpeople，neweverything。Toushere，Atlantisisonlyafigment，ashadow，farawayacrossthewaters。ItisforthisnewworldofYucatanthatIhavestriventhroughalltheseyears。"