Zaemonlookedatmebitterly。"AndyouarethemantheHighCouncilthoughttotrustastheywouldtrustoneofthemselves？
　　Trulyweareinanageofweakmenandfaithlessnow。But，mylord——nay，Imustcallyoubrotherstill:wecannotbetooniceinourchoosingto—day——youarethebestthereis，andwemusthaveyou。Welittlethoughtyouwouldaskapriceforyourgeneralship，havingoncetakenoathonthewallsoftheArkoftheMysteriesitselfthatalways，comewhatmight，youwouldbeaservantoftheHighCounciloftheClanwithoutfeeandwithouthopeofadvancement。Butthisistheageofbrokenvows，andyouaregoingnomorethantrimwiththefashion。Indeed，brother，perhapsI
　　shouldthankyouforbeingnomoregreedyinyourdemands。"
　　"Youmaysparemeyourtaunts。You，byself—denialandprofoundsearchintothehighestofthehigherMysteries，havemadeyourselfsomethingwiserthanhuman;Ihavepreservedmyhumanity，andwithititspowersandfrailties;anditseemsthateachofushashisproperuses，oryouwouldnotbecomenowheretome。
　　Ratheryouwouldhavedonethegenerallingyourself。"
　　"Youmakeawarmdefence，mybrother。ButIhavenoleisurenowtostandbeforeyouwithargument。CometotheSacredMountain，fightmethiswanton，upstartEmpress，andbymybeardyoushallhaveyourNaisasyouleftherasareward。"
　　"ItisacommandoftheHighCouncilwhichshallbeobeyed。
　　Iwillcomewithmybrothernow，assoonasheisrested。"
　　"Nay，"saidtheoldman，"Ihavenotiredness，andasforcomingwithme，thereyouwillnotbeable。Butfollowatwhatpaceyoumay。"
　　HeturnedandsetoffdownthesnowyslopesofthemountainandIfollowed;butgraduallyhedistancedme;andsohekepton，withspeedalwaysincreasing，tillpresentlyhepassedoutofmysightroundthespurofanice—cliff，andIfoundmyselfaloneonthemountainside。Yes，trulyalone。Forhisfootmarksinthesnowfrombeingdeep，grewshallower，andlessnoticeable，sothatIhadtostooptoseethem。Andpresentlytheyvanishedentirely，andthegreatmountain’sflanklaybeforemetrackless，anduntroddenbythefootofmansincetimebegan。
　　Iwasnotshakenbyanygreatamazement。Thoughitwasbeyondmypoorarttocompassthisthingmyself，havingoccupiedmymindinexilemorewithmemoriesofNaisthaninstudyofthoseuppermostrecessesoftheHigherMysteriesinwhichZaemonwassoprodigiouslywise，stillIhadsomeinklingofhispowers。
　　ZaemonIknewwouldbebackagaininhisdwellingontheSacredMountain，shakenandbreathless，evenbeforeIhadfoundanendtohistracksinthesnow，anditbehovedmetojoinhimthereinthequickestpossibletime。Ihadhispromisenowformyreward，andIknewthathewouldcarryitintoeffect。BeforetimeIhadmadeanerror。IhadvaluedAtlantismost，andNais，myprivatelove，asonlysecond。Butnowitwasinmymindtobehonestwithothersevenaswithmyself。Thoughalltheworldwerehangingonmychoice，IcouldbutlovemyNaismost，andserveherfirstandforemostofall。
　　16。SIEGEOFTHESACREDMOUNTAIN
　　Now，mypassageacrossthegreatcontinentofAtlantis，iftediousandhauntedbymanydangers，neednotberecountedindetailhere。OnlyonehaltdidImakeofanyduration，andthatwasunavoidable。Ihadkilledastagoneday，bringingitdownafteralongchaseinanopensavannah。Iscentedtheaircarefully，toseeiftherewasanyotherbeastwhichcoulddomeharmwithinreach，andthinkingthattheplacewassafe，setaboutcuttingmymeat，andmakingasufficiencyintoabundleforcarriage。
　　Butunderfootamongstthegrassestherewasagreatleggedworm，amonstrousgreenthing，veryvenomousinitsbite;andpresentlyasImovedIbrusheditwithmyheel，andlikethedartoflightitswoopedwithitstinyheadandstruckmewithitsfangsinthelowerthigh。WithmyknifeIcutthroughitsneckanditfelltowrithingandstrugglingandtwiningitshundredlegsintoallmannerofcontortions;andthen，cleaningmybladeintheground，Istabbedwithitdeepallroundthewound，sothatthebloodmightflowfreelyandwashthevenomfromitslodgement。Andthenwiththebloodtricklinghealthilydownfrommyheel，I
　　shoulderedthemeatandstrodeoff，thankfulforbeingsowellquitofwhatmighthavemadeitselfaveryuglyadventure。
　　AsIwalked，however，mylegbegantobefilledwithatightnessandthrobbingwhichincreasedeveryhour，andpresentlyitbegantoswellalso，tilltheskinwasstretchedlikedrawnparchment。Iwastaken，too，withasickness，thatrackedmeviolently，andifoneofthegreaterandmoredangerousbeastshadcomeuponmethen，hewouldhaveeatenmewithoutafight。WiththefallofdarknessImanagedtohaulmyselfupintoatree，andthereabodeinthecrutchofalimb，inwakefulnessandpainthroughoutthenight。
　　Withthedawn，whenthenightbeastshadgonetotheirlairs，Iclambereddownagain，andleaningheavilyonmyspear，limpedonwardsthroughthesombreforestsalongmyway。Themosswhichgrowsonthenorthernsideofeachtreewasmyguide，butgraduallyIbegantonotethatIwasseeingmossallroundthetrees，and，infact，wasgrowinglight—headedwiththepainandtheswellingofthelimb。ButstillIpressedonwardswithmyjourney，mylastinstinctbeingtoobeythecommandoftheHighCouncil，andsoprocuretheenlargementofNaisashadbeenpromised。
　　Mylastmemorywasofbeingmetbysomeoneintheblackforestwhoaidedme，andtheremywakingsensestookwingsintoforgetfulness。
　　Butafteraninterval，witreturned，andIfoundmyselfonabedofleavesinacleftbetweentworocks，whichwasfurnishedwithsomepoorskill，andfortifiedwithstakesandbuildingsagainsttheentranceofthelargermaraudingbeasts。Mywoundwasdressedwithapoulticeofherbs，andattheothersideofthecaverntheresquattedawoman，cookingamessofwood—grubsandhoneyoverafireofsticks。
　　"HowcameIhere？"Iasked。
　　"Ibroughtyou，"saidshe。
　　"Andwhoareyou？"
　　"Anymph，theycallme，andIpractiseassuch，collectingherbsandcuringthediseasesofthosethatcometome，tellingfortunes，andmakingpredictions。InreturnIreceivewhateachcanafford，andiftheydonotpayaccordingtotheirmeans，Iclaponacursetomakethemwither。It’saleanenoughlivingwhenwarsandthepestilencehaveleftsofewpoorfolktoliveintheland。"
　　"DoyouvisitAtlantis？"
　　"NotI。Phorenicewouldhavemeboiledinbrine，living，ifshecouldlayeasyhandsonme。OurdaintyEmpresstoleratesnomagicbutherown。TheysaysheisforpullingdownthePriestsofftheirMountainnow。"
　　"Soyoudogetnewsofthecity？"
　　"Assuredly。Itismytradetogetgoodnews，orotherwisehowcouldItellfortunestothevulgar？Yousee，mylord，Idetectedyourqualitybyyourspeech，andknowingyouarenotoneofthosethatcometomeforspells，andpotions，Ihavenofearinspeakingtoyouplainly。"
　　"Tellmethen:Phorenicestillreigns？"
　　"Mostvilely。"
　　"Asamaiden？"
　　"Asthemotheroftwinsons。Tatho’sherhusbandnow，andhasbeenthesethreeyears。"
　　"Tatho！WhofollowedhimasviceroyofYucatan？"
　　"ThereisnoYucatan。Avastnationoflittlehairymen，sothetalegoes，comingfromtheWestoverranthecountry。Theyhadclubsofwoodtippedwithstoneastheironlyarm，butnumbersmadetheirchiefweapon。Theyhadnodesireforplunder，orthetakingofslaves，ortheconqueringofcities。ToeatthefleshofAtlanteanswastheironlylust，andtheyfolloweditprodigiously。
　　Theirnumberswerelikethebeesinaswarm。
　　"TheycametoeachofthecitiesofYucataninturn，andthoughthecolonistsslewtheminthousands，theweightofnumbersalwaysprevailed。Theyatecleaneachcitytheytook，andleftittothebeastsoftheforest，andwentontothenext。Andsointimetheyreachedthecoasttowns，andTathoandthefewthatsurvivedtookship，andsailedhome。TheyevenateTatho’swifeforhim。Theymustbecuriousperseveringthings，theselittlehairymen。TheGodssendtheydonotgetacrosstheseastoAtlantis，ortheywouldbeworseplaguetothepoorcountrythanPhorenice。"
　　NowIhadheardoftheselittlehairycreaturesbefore，andthoughindeedIhadneverseenthem，Ihadgatheredthattheywerealittlelessthanhumanandalittlemorethanbestial;alinksotospeakbetweenthetwoorders;andspeciallyheldincheckbytheGodsincertainforestsolitudes。AlsoIhadlearnedthatonoccasion，whenpunishmentwasneedful，theycouldbesetlooseasadevastatingarmyuponmen，devouringallbeforethem。ButIsaidnothingofthistothenymph，shebeingbutavulgarwoman，andindeedhalfsilly，asisalwaysthecasewiththeseself—styledsorceresseswhogulltheignorant，commonfolk。ButwithinmyselfIwasbitterlygrievedatthefateofthatfinecolonyofYucatan，inwhichIhadexpendedsuchaninfinityofpainstodomyshareofthebuilding。
　　Butitdidnotsuitmypurposetohavemynameandqualityblazonedabroadtillthetimewasfull，andsoIsaidnothingtothenymphaboutYucatan，butletthetalkcontinueuponothermatters。"WhataboutEgypt？"Iasked。
　　"Initsaccustomeddarkness，sotheysay。WhocaresforEgypttheselatteryears？Whocaresforanyoneoranythingforthatmatterexceptforhimselfandhisownproperestate？Timewaswhenthecountryfolkandthehuntershereaboutsbroughtmeofferingstothiscaveforsheerpiety’ssake。Butnowtheynevercomenearunlesstheyseeawayofgettinggoodvalueinreturnfortheirgifts。And，byresult，insteadoflivingfatandhearty，Imakeleanmealsoffhoneyandgrubs。It’sapoorlife，anymph’s，intheselatteryearsItellyou，mylord。It’sthefashionforallclassestobelieveinnokindofmysterynow。"
　　"Whatmannerofpestilenceisthisyouspokeof？"
　　"Ihavenotseenit。ThanktheGodsithasnotcomethisway。
　　ButtheydosaythatithasgrownfromthefolkPhorenicehasslain，andwhosebodiesremainunburied。Sheisalwaysslaying，andsothebodiesliethickerthanthebirdsandbeastscaneatthem。Forwhichofoursins，Iwonder，didtheGodsletPhorenicecometoreign？Iwishthatsheandhertwinswereboiledaliveinbrinebeforetheycamebetweenanhonestnymphoftheforestandherliving。
　　"Theysayshehasputanimageofherselfinallthetemplesofthecitynow，andhasorderedprayersandsacrificestobemadenightandmorning。ShehasdecreedallotherGodsinferiortoherselfandforbiddentheirworship，andthoseofthepeoplethatarenotsufficientlydevoutforhertaste，havetheirhamstringsslitbytheirtormentorstoaidthemconstantlyintoadevotionalattitude。——Willyoueatofmygrubsandhoney？Thereisnothingelse。YourbackwasbloodywithcarryingmeatwhenImetyou，butyouhadlostyourload。Youmusteithertastethismessofminenow，orgowithout。"
　　Iharbouredwiththatnymphincavesixdays，sheusingherdrugsandcharmstocuremylegthewhile，andwhenIwasrecovered，Ihuntedtheplainsandkilledherafatcloven—hoofedhorseaspayment，andthenwentalongmyways。
　　Thecountryfromthereonwardshadatonetimecarriedasturdypopulationwhichhelditsownfirmly，and，asitsnumbersgrew，tookinmoreground，andbuiltmorehomesteadsfartherafield。Thehouseswereperchedintreesforthemostpart，astheretheywereoutofreachofcave—bearandcave—tigerandtheothermoredangerousbeasts。Butothers，andthesewerethebetterones，werebuiltontheground，oflogssoponderousandsofirmlyclampedanddovetailedthatthebeastscouldnotpullthemdown，andonceinsideahouseofthisfashionitsownersweresafe，andcouldprogueatanyattackersthroughtheintersticesbetweenthelogs，andoftenwound，sometimesmakeakill。
　　Butnotoneintenoftheseoutlyingsettlersremained。ThehousesweresilentwhenIreachedthem，thefire—hearthbeforethedoorweed—grown，andthepatchofvegetablestakenbackbythegreedyfingersoftheforestintomerescrubandjungle。Andfartheron，whenvillagesbegantoappear，strongly—walledasthecustomis，towardofftheattacksofbeasts，thelogswhichaforetimehadbarredthegatewaylaystrewninasproutingundergrowth，andnaughtbutthekitchenmiddensremainedtoprovethatoncetheyhadshelteredhumantenants。Phorenice’sinfluenceseemedtohavespreadasthoughitweresomehorridblightoverthewholefaceofwhatwasonceasmilingandaneasy—livingland。
　　SofarIhadmetwithlittleenoughinterferencefromanymenIhadcomeacross。Manyhadfledwiththeirwomenintothedepthsoftheforestatthebaresightofme;somestoodtheirgroundwithathreateningface，butmadenooffertoattack，seeingthatIdidnotoffertheminsultfirst;andafew，averyfew，offeredmeshelterandprovision。ButasInearedthecity，andbegantocomeuponmuddybeatenpaths，Ipassedthroughgovernmentsthatweremorethicklypopulated，andhereappearedstrongchanceofdelay。
　　Thewatcherinthetowerwhichissetaboveeachvillagewouldspymeandcry:"Hereisamasterlessman，"andthenthepeoplethatwerewithinwouldrushoutwithintenttospoilmeofmyweapons，andafterwardstoappointmeasalabourer。
　　Ihadnodesiretoslaythesewretchedfolk，beingfilledwithpityatthestatetowhichtheyhadfallen;andoftenwordsservedmetomakethemstandasidefromthepath，andstarewonderinglyatmyfierceness，andletmegomyways。Andwhenatothertimeswordshadnoavail，Istrovetostrikeaslightlyascouldbe，myobjectbeingtogetforwardwithmyjourneyandleavenounnecessarydeadbehindme。Indeed，havingfoundthemodernwayofthesevillages，itgrewtobemycustomtoturnoffintotheforest，andmakeacircuitwheneverIcamewithinsmelloftheirgarbage。
　　Similarly，too，whenIgotfartheron，andcameamongstgreatertownsalso，Ikeptbeyondchallengeoftheirwalls，havingnomindtoriskdelayfromthewhimofanynewlawwhichmightchancetobesetupbytheirgovernors。Myprogressmightbeslinking，butmypridedidnotupbraidmeveryloudly;indeed，thefeverofhasteburnedwithinmesohotandIhadlittleenoughcarryingspaceforotheremotions。
　　ButatlastIfoundmyselfwithinahalf—day’sjourneythecityofAtlantisitself，withtheSacredMountainanditsringoffiresloominghighbesideit，andthecallforcautionbecametreblyaccentuated。Everywhereevidencesshowedthatthecountryhadbeendrainedofitsfightingmen。EverywherewomenprayedthatthebattlesmightendwiththeroutofthePriestsorthekillingofPhorenice，sothatthewretchedlandmighthavepeaceandtimetolickitswounds。
　　AnarmywasinvestingthesacredMountain，anditsoneapproachwasmostnarrowlyguarded。Evenafterhavingjourneyedsofar，itseemedasifIshouldhavetosithopelesslydownwithoutbeingabletocarryouttheorderswhichhadbeenlaiduponmebytheHighCouncil，andearntherewardwhichhadbeenpromised。
　　Forcewouldbeuselesshere。Ishouldhaveonegoodfight——agorgeousfight——onemanagainstanarmy，andmyusefulnesswouldbeended……No;thiswastheoccasionforguile，andIfoundcovertintheoutskirtsofawood，andlaytherecudgellingmybrainforaplan。
　　Acrosstheplainbeforemelaythegrimgreatwallsofthecity，withtheheadsofitstemples，anditspalaces，anditspyramidsshowingbeyond。Thestep—sidesoftheroyalpyramidheldmyeye。Phorenicehadexpendedsomeofhernew—foundstoreofgoldinoverlayingtheirformerwhitenesswithsheetsofshiningyellowmetal。Butitwasnotthatchangethatmovedme。Iwasrememberingthat，inthesquarebeforethepyramid，therestoodathroneofgranitecarvedwiththesnakeandtheoutstretchedhand，andinthehollowbeneaththethronewasNais，mylove，asleeptheseeightyearsnowbecauseofthedrugthathadbeengiventoher，butalivestill，andwaitingforme，ifonlyIonmypartcouldmakeawaytotheplacewhereZaemondefiedtheEmpress，andannouncemycoming。
　　InthatcovertofthewoodsIlayadayandanightragingwithmyselffornotdiscoveringsomeplantogetwithinthedefencesoftheSacredMountain，butinthemorningwhichfollowed，therecameamantowardsmerunning。
　　"Youneednotthreatenmewithyourweapons，"hecried。"I
　　meannoharm。ItseemsthatyouareDeucalion;thoughIshouldnothaveknownyoumyselfinthoseragsandskins，andbehindthattangleofhairandbeard。YouwillgivemeyourgoodwordIknow。
　　Believeme，Ihavenotloiteredunduly。"
　　HewasalowerpriestwhomIknew，andheldinlittleesteem;
　　hisnamewasRo，agreedyfellowandnotoverworthyoftrust。
　　"Fromwhomdoyoucome？"Iasked。
　　"Zaemonlaidacommandonme。Hecametomyhouse，thoughhowhegotthereIcannottell，seeingthatPhorenice’sarmyblocksallpossiblepassagetoandfromtheMountain。ItoldhimIwishedtobemixedwithnoneofhisschemings。Iamapeacefulman，Deucalion，andhavetakenawifewhorequiresnourishment。Istillserveinthesametemple，thoughwehavesweptouttheoldGodsbyorderoftheEmpress，andputherimageintheirplace。Thepeoplearetidilypiousnowadays，thosethatareleftofthem，andthelivingisconsequentlyeasy。Yes，Itellyoutherearefarmoreofferingsnowthantherewereintheolddays。AndsoIhadnowishtobemixedwithmatterswhichmightwellmakemebedeprivedofasnugpost，andmyheadtoboot。"
　　"Icanbelieveitallofyou，Ro。"
　　"ButtherewasnodenyingZaemon。Heburstintooneofhisblackfuries，andwhilehespokeatme，ItellyouIfeltasgoodasdead。Youknowhispowers？"
　　"Ihaveseensomeofthem。"
　　"Well，theGodsaloneknowwhicharethetrueGods，andwhicharetheothers。Iservetheonethatgivesmeemployment。ButthosethatZaemonservesgivehimpower，andthat’sbeyonddenying。
　　Youseethatrighthandofmine？Itisdeadandparalysedfromthewrist，andthatisagiftofZaemon。Hebestowedit，hesaid，tomakemecollectmyattention。Thenhesaidmorehardthingsconcerningwhathewaspleasedtotermmyapostasy，notlettingmeputupawordinmyowndefenceofhowthechangewasforceduponme。Andfinally，saidhe，Imighteitherdohisbiddingonacertainmattertotheletter，ortakethatpunishmentwhichmyfallingawayfromtheoldGodshadearned。’Ishallnotkillyou，’
　　saidhe，’butIwillcoverallyourlimbswithaparalysis，suchasyouhavetastedalready，andwhenatlengthdeathreachesyouinsomegutter，youwillwelcomeit。’"
　　"IfZaemonsaidthosewords，hemeantthem。Soyouacceptedthealternative？"
　　"HadI，withawifedependingonme，anyotherchoice？I
　　askedhispleasure。Itwastofindyouwhenyoucameinherefromsomedistantpartoftheland，anddelivertoyouhismessage。
　　"’Thentellmewhereisthemeetingplace，’saidI，’andwhen。’
　　"’Thereisnoneappointed，noristhedayfixed，’saidhe。
　　’Youmustwatchandsearchalwaysforhim。Butwhenhecomes，youwillbeguidedtohisplace。’Well，Deucalion，IthinkIwasguided，buthow，Idonotknow。ButnowIhavefoundyou，andifthere’ssuchathingasgratitude，IaskyoutoputinyourwordwithZaemonthatthisdeadnessbetakenawayfrommyhand。It’sanawfulthingforamantobeforcedtogothroughlifelikethis，fornorealfaultofhisown。AndZaemoncouldcureitfromwherehesat，ifhewassominded。"
　　"YouseemstilltohaveaveryfullfaithinsomeoftheoldGods’priests，"Isaid。"Butsofar，Idonotseethatyourerrandisdone。Ihavehadnomessageyet。"
　　"Why，themessageissosimplethatIdonotseewhyhecouldnothavegotsomeoneelsetocarryit。Youaretomakeagreatblaze。Youmayfirethegrassesoftheplaininfrontofthiswoodifyouchoose。Andonthenightwhichfollows，youaretogoroundtothatflankoftheSacredMountainawayfromthecitywheretherocksrundownsheer，andtheretheywillloweraropeandhaulyouuptotheirhandsabove。"
　　"Itseemseasy，andIthankyouforyourpains。IwillaskZaemonthatyourhandmayberestoredtoyou。"
　　"Youshallhavemyprayersifitis。Andlook，Deucalion，itisasmallmatter，anditwouldbelesslikelytoslipyourmemoryifyousawtoitatonceonyourlanding。Later，youmaybedisturbed。Phoreniceisboundtopullyoudownoffyourperchuptherenowshehasmadehermindtoit。Sheneverfails，onceshehassetherhandtoathing。Indeed，ifshewasnoGoddessatbirth，sheismakingherselfintooneveryrapidly。ShehasgotalltheancientlearningofourPriests，andmorebesides。ShehasdiscoveredtheSecretofLifetheserecentmonths——"
　　"Shehasfoundthat？"Icried，fairlystartled。"How？Tellmehow？OnlytheThreeknowthat。ItisbeyondourknowledgeevenwhoaremembersoftheSeven。"
　　"Iknownothingofhermeans。Butshehasthesecret，andnowsheisasgoodanimmortal（soshesays）asanyofthem。Well，Deucalion，itisdangerousformetobemissingfrommytempleoverlong，soIwillgo。Youwillcarrythatmatterwespokeofinyourmind？Itmeansmuchtome。"——Hiseyewanderedovermyraggedperson——"Andifyouthinkmyserviceisofvaluetoyou——"
　　"Youseemepoor，myman，andpracticallydestitute。"
　　"Somesmallcoin，"hemurmured，"orevenalinkofbronze？I
　　amatgreatexpensejustnowbuyingnourishmentformywife。Well，ifyouhavenothing，youcannotgive。SoI’lljustbidyoufarewell。"
　　Hetookhimselfoffthen，andIwasnotsorry。IhadneverlikedRo。ButIwastednomoreprecioustimethen。Thegrassblazedupforasignalalmostbeforehistimorousheelswereclearofit，andthatnightwhenthedarknessgavemecover，Itooktheriskofwhatbeastsmightbeprowling，andwenttotheplaceappointed。Therewasnoropedangling，butpresentlyonecamedownthesmoothclifffacelikesomeslendersnake。Imadealoop，slippeditoveraleg，andpulledhardasasignal。Thoseabovebegantohaul，andsoIwentbacktotheSacredMountainafteranabsenceofsomanytoilsomeandwarringyears。Therewerenonetodisturbtheascent。Phorenice’stroopshadnothoughttoguardthatgaunt，bare，seamlessprecipice。
　　Themenwhohauledmeupwereold，andpantedheavilywiththeirtask，and，untilIknewthereason，Iwonderedwhyaknotofyoungerpriestshadnotbeenappointedfortheduty。ButIputnoquestion。WithusofthePriests’ClanontheSacredMountain，itisalwaystakenasgrantedthatwhenanorderisgiven，itisgivenforthebest。Besides，thesepriestsdidnotofferthemselvestoquestion。TheytookmeoffatoncetoZaemon，andthatiswhatI
　　couldhavewished。
　　Theoldmangreetedmewiththeroyalsign。"AllhailtoDeucalion，"hecried，"KingofAtlantis，dulycalledtheretobytheHighCouncilofthepriests。"
　　"IsPhorenicedead？"Iasked。
　　"Itremainsforyoutoslayher，andtakeyourkingdom，if，indeed，whenallisdone，thereremainsamanoraroodoflandtogovern。Thesentencehasgoneoutthatsheistodie，anditshallbecarriedintoeffect，eventhoughwehavetosetloosethemostdreadfulpowersthatarestoredintheArkoftheMysteries，andwreckthiscontinentinoureffort。WehavebornewithherinfamiesalltheseyearsbycommandsentdownbythemostHighGods;butnowshehasgonebeyondendurance，andTheyitiswhohavegiventhewordforhercuttingoff。"
　　"YouareoneofthehighestThree;IamonlyoneoftheSeven;
　　youbestknowthecost。"
　　"Therecanbenocountingthecostnow，mybrother，andmyking。Itisanorder。"
　　"Itisanorder，"Irepeatedformally，"soIobey。"
　　"Ifitwerenotimpioustodoso，itwouldbeeasytojustifythisdecisionoftheGods。Thewomanhasusurpedthethrone;yetshewasforgivenandbiddenruleonwisely。Shehastamperedwithourholyreligion;yetshewasforgiven。ShehaskilledthepeoplesofAtlantisingreedyuselesswars，anddestroyedthecountry’strade;yetshewasforgiven。Shehasdesecratedtheoldtemples，andlatterlyhassetupinthemimagesofherselftobeworshippedasadeity;yetshewasforgiven。ButatlastherevilclevernesshasdiscoveredtoherthetremendousSecretofLifeandDeath，andtheresheoversteppedtheboundaryoftheHighGods’
　　forbearance。
　　"Imyselfwenttocarryafinalwarning，andoncemorefacedherinthegreatbanqueting—hall。SolemnlyIrecitedtohertheedict，andshechosetotakeitasachallenge。Shewouldliveoneternallyherselfandshewouldshareherknowledgewiththosethatpleasedher。Tathothatwasherhusbandshouldalsobeimmortal。
　　Indeed，ifshethoughtfit，shewouldcrythesecretaloudsothateventhecommonpeoplemightknowit，anddeathfrommereagewouldbecomealegend。
　　"ShecarednowithowshemightupsetthelawsofNature。ShewasPhorenice，andwasthehighestlawofall。Andfinallyshedefiedmethereinthatbanqueting—hallanddefiedalsotheHighGodsthatstoodbehindmymouth。’Mymagicisasstrongasyours，youpompousfool，’shecried，’andpresentlyyoushallseethetwostandsidebysideupontheirtrial。’
　　"Shebegantocollectanarmyfromthatmoment，andweonourpartmadeourpreparations。Itwasdiscoveredbyourartsthatyoustilllived，andKingofAtlantisyouweremadebysolemnelection。
　　Howyouweresummoned，youknowasnearlyasitislawfulthatoneofyourdegreeshouldknow;howyoucame，youunderstandbestyourself;buthereyouare，mybrother，andbeingKingnow，youmustorderallthingsasyouseebestforthepreservationofyourhighestate，andweothersliveonlytogiveyouobedience。"
　　"ThenbeingKing，Icanspeakwithoutseemingtomakeuseofathreat。ImusthavemyQueenfirst，orIamnotstrongenoughtogivemywholemindtothisruling。"
　　"Sheshallbebroughthere。"
　　"So！ThenIwillbeaGeneralnow，andseetothedefencesofthisplace，andviewthemenwhoareheretostandbehindthem。"
　　Iwentoutofthedwellingthen，Zaemongivingplaceandfollowingme。ItwasnightstillbutthereisnodarknessontheupperpartoftheSacredMountain。Aringoffires，fedeternallyfromtheearth—breathwhichwellsupfrombelow，burnsroundone—
　　halfofthecrest，lightingitalwaysasbrightasday，andinfactformingnosmallpartofitsfortification。Indeed，itissaidthat，intheearlydawnofhistory，menfirstcametotheMountainasastrongholdbecauseofthenaturaldefencewhichthefiresoffered。
　　Thereisnobridgingtheseflamesorsmotheringthem。Oneithersideoftheirlineforahundredpacesthegroundglowswithheat，andamanwouldbeturnedtoashwhotriedtocrossit。
　　Roundfullone—halfthemountainslopesthefiresmakearampartunbreakable，andontheothersidetherockrunsinonesheerprecipicefromthecresttotheplainwhichspreadsbeyonditsfoot。ButitisonthisfarthersidethatthereistheonlyentrancewaywhichgivespassagetothecrestoftheSacredMountainfrombelow。Runningdiagonallyupthesteepfaceofthecliffisagiganticfissure，whichsucceedingages（asmanhasgrownmoreluxurious）havemademoreeasytoclimb。
　　Lookingattheadditions，intheancientdays，Icanwellimaginethatnonebutthemostdaringcouldhavemadetheascent。
　　Butonegenerationhasthrownabridgeoverabadgaphere，andanotherhascutintothelivingstoneandwidenedaledgethere，tillintheselatteryearsthereisapathwithcutstepsandcarvedbalustradesuchasthefeeblestormostgiddymighttraversewithlittleeffortorexertion。Butalwayswhentheseimproversmadesmooththeobstacles，theywerecarefultoweakeninnopossiblewaythenaturaldefencesbutrathertoaddtothem。