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The Lost Continent-Part12_C.J.Cutcliffe Hyne(1865-1944)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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Atlantis, and do my poor best to prop it into full power. And here

at once there opened up another path in the maze: I had heard some



considerable talk of rebels; of another faction of Atlanteans who,

whatever their faults might be, were at any rate strong enough to



beleaguer the capital; and before coming to any final decision, it

would be as well to take their claims in balance with the rest. So



on the night of that very same day on which I had just re-planted

my foot on the old country's shores, I set out to glean for myself



tidings on the matter.

No one inside the royal pyramid gainsaid me. The banquet had



ended abruptly with the terrible scene that I have set down above

on these tablets, for with Tarca writhing on the floor, and



thrusting out the gruesome scars of his leprosy, even the most

gluttonous had little enough appetite for further gorging.



Phorenice glowered on the feasters for a while longer in silent

fury, but saying no further word; and then her eyes turned on me,



though softened somewhat.

"You may be an honest man, Deucalion," she said, at length,



"but you are a monstrous cold one. I wonder when you will thaw?"

And here she smiled. "I think it will be soon. But for now I bid



you farewell. In the morning we will take this country by the

shoulders, and see it in some new order."



She left the banqueting-hall then, Ylga following; and taking

precedence of my rank, I went out next, whilst all others stood and



made salutation. But I halted by Tarca first, and put my hand on

his unclean flesh. "You are an unfortunate man," I said, "but I can



admire a brave soldier. If relief can be gained for your plague,

I will use interest to procure it for you."



The man's thanks came in a mumble from his wrecked mouth, and

some of those near shuddered in affecteddisgust. I turned on them



with a black brow: "Your charity, my lords, seems of as small

account as your courage. You affected a fine disbelief of Zaemon's



sayings, and a simpering contempt for his priesthood, but when it

comes to laying a hand on him, you show a discretion which, in the



old days, we should have called by an ugly name. I had rather be

Tarca, with all his uncleanness, than any of you now as you stand."



With which leave-taking I waited coldly till they gave me my

due salutation, and then walked out of the banqueting-hall without



offering a soul another glance. I took my way to the grand gate of

the pyramid, called for the officer of the guard, and demanded



exit. The man was obsequious enough, but he opened with some

demur.



"My lord's attendants have not yet come up?"

"I have none."



"My lord knows the state of the streets?"

"I did twenty years back. I shall be able to pick my way."



"My lord must remember that the city is beleaguered," the

fellow persisted. "The people are hungry. They prowl in bands



after nightfall, and--I make no question that my lord would conquer

in a fight against whatever odds, but--"



"Quite right. I covet no street scuffle to-night. Lend me,

I pray you, a sufficiency of men. You will know best what are



needed. For me, I am accustomed to a city with quiet streets."

A score of sturdy fellows were detailed off for my escort, and



with them in a double file on either hand, I marched out from the

close perfumed air of the pyramid into the cool moonlight of the



city. It was my purpose to make a tour of the walls and to find

out somewhat of the disposition of these rebels.



But the Gods saw fit to give me another education first. The

city, as I saw it during that night walk, was no longer the old



capital that I had known, the just accretion of the ages, the due

admixture of comfort and splendour. The splendour was there,



vastly increased. Whole wards had been swept away to make space

for new palaces, and new pyramids of the wealthy, and I could not



but have an admiration for the skill and the brain which made

possible such splendid monuments.



And, indeed, gazing at them there under the silver of the

moonlight, I could almost understand the emotions of the Europeans



and other barbarous savages which cause them to worship all such

great buildings as Gods, since they deem them too wonderful and



majestic to be set up by human hands unaided.




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