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The Lost Continent-Part5_C.J.Cutcliffe Hyne(1865-1944)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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the forepart of the vessel, and eject it with such force at the

stern that she is appreciably driven forward, even with the wind



adverse.

In another matter also has navigationvastly improved. It is



not necessary now, as formerly, to trust wholly to a starry night

(when beyond sight of land) to find direction. A little image has



been made, and is stood balanced in the forepart of every vessel,

with an arm outstretched, pointing constantly to the direction



where the Southern Cross lies in the Heavens. So, by setting an

angle, can a just course be correctly steered. Other instruments



have they also for finding a true position on the ocean wastes, for

the newer mariner, when he is at sea, puts little trust in the



Gods, and confides mightily in his own thews and wits.

Still, it is amusing to see these tarry fellows, even in this



modern day, take their last farewell of the harbour town. The ship

is stowed, and all ready for sea, and they wash and put on all



their bravery of attire. Ashore they go, their faces long with

piety, and seek some obscure temple whose God has little flavour



with shore folk, and here they make sacrifice with clamour and

lavish outlay. And, finally, there follows a feast in honour of



the God, and they arrive back on board, and put to sea for the most

part drunken, and all heavy and evil-humoured with gluttony and



their other excesses.

The voyage was very different to my previous sea-going. There



was no creeping timorously along in touch with the coasts. We

stood straight across the open gulf in the direction of home, came



up with the band of the Carib Islands, and worked confidently

through them, as though they had been signposts to mark the sea



highway; and stopped only twice to replenish with wood, water, and

fruit. These commodities, too, the savages brought us freely, so



great was their subjection, and in neither place did we have even

the semblance of a fight. It was a great certificate of the



growing power of Atlantis and her finest over-sea colony.

Then boldly on we went across the vast ocean beyond, with



never a sacrifice to implore the Gods that they should help our

direction. One might feel censure towards these ruggedmariners



for their impiety, but one could not help an admiration for their

lusty skill and confidence.



The dangers of the desolate sea are dealt out as the Gods will,

and man can only take them as they come. Storms we encountered,



and the mariners fought them with stubbornendurance; twice a

blazing stone from Heaven hissed into the sea beside us, though



without injuring any of our ships; and, as was unavoidable, the

great beasts of the sea hunted us with their accustomed



savagery. But only once did we suffer material loss from these

last, and that was when three of the greater sea lizards attacked



the "Bear," the ship whereon I travelled, at one and the same time.

The hour of their onset was during the blazing midday heat,



and the Sun being at the full of His power, our machines were

getting full force from Him. The vessel was travelling forward



faster than a man on dry land could walk. But for the power escape

she might as well have been standing still when the beasts sighted



her. There were three of them, as I have said, and we saw them

come up over the curve of the horizon, beating the sea into foam



with their flappers, and waving their great necks like masts as

they swam. Our navy was spread out in a long line of ships, and in



olden days each of the beasts would have selected a separate prey,

and proceeded for it; but, like man, these beasts have learned the



necessities of warfare, and they hunt in pack now and do not

separate their forces.



It was plain they were making for our ship, and Tob, the

captain, would have had me go into the after-castle, and there be



secure from their marauding. He was responsible to the Lord Tatho,

he said, for my safe conduct; it was certain that the beasts would



contrive to seize some of the ship's company before they were

satiated; and if the hap came to the Lord Deucalion, he (the






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