Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-27
CHAPTER WI.

Ak4A 0AA1xSS oP WAklsH,
Here then was the manner Of my re-.
ception back IN the capital of Atlantis.
and some first glimpae at her new
policies. I freely CONFESS to my own
inaction and impness, but it was all
deliberate. The old ties OF duty
seemed lost, or at least merged In one
another. Beforetime, to serve the
king was to serve the clan Of the
priests. from which he had been
chosen, and whose head he constitut.
ed. But Phorenice was self-made, and
appeared to be rule unto herself; II
Zaemon was to be trusted. he was the
mouthpieoe Of the priests. and their
clan had set her II defiance, and how
was mere honest man to choose on
the instant between the two?
But GOLD argument told me that gov
ernments were set up for the good Of
the country at large, and said to my.
self that there would be my choice; !
must fnd out which rule promised
best for 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 consid-
ereble talk Of rebels, of another fac
ton Of Atlanteans who. whatever
their faults might be. were at any rate
strong enough to beleaguer the CAPT.
tai; and before coming to any final de.
cision, it would be as we'll to take their
claims in balance with the rest. So, ON
the night of that very same day on
which had just replanted my foot Oh
the old country's shores, set out to
CLEAN for myself tidings on the matter.
No one inside the royal pyramid
gainsaid me. The banquet had ended
abruptly with the terrible scene that
have set down above on these tablets,
for with Tarca writing on the floor.
and thrusting out the gruesome scars
Of his leprosy, even the most glut-
tonous had little enough appetite for
further gorging.
A score of sturdy fellows were de.
tailed of for my escort, and, with the m
in double file on either hand, |
marched out from the close perfumed
air of the pyramid into the cool moon
light Of the city. 1t was my purpose
to make tour of the walls and to find
out somewhat of the disposition OF
these rebels.
And SO in time the windings of the
street brought us to the walls, and,
coursing beside these and giving fit
ting answer to the sentries who beat
their drums as we passed, we came In
time to that great gate which was a
charge to the captain of the garrison,
Here it was plain there was some
special commotion. A noise of laugh.
ter went up into the still night air, and
with 1t now and again the snarl and
roar of great beast, and now and
again the shrek of hurt man.
My escort made cutlery with the
horn which hung from the wall invit.
ing such summons, and warder
came to an arrow-slit, and did inspec.
ton of our persons and business, His
survey was according to the ancient
form of words, which is long. and this
was made still more tedious by the
noise from within, which ever and
again drowned all speech between us
entirely.
But at last the formalities had been
duly complied with, and he shot back
the massive bars and bolts of stone,
and threw ajar one monstrous stone
valve of the door. Into the chamber
within-a chamber made from the
thickness of the wall between the two
doors-I and my fellows crowded, and
ha rla
pulled to the valve which had been
opened. and came to me again through
the press of my escort, bowling low to
the ground.
81 have no vail to give you" said
abruptly. Get on with your duty
Open me that other door"
with respect, my lord, it would be
better that should first announce my
lords presence. There is batting go
ing forward In the circus, and the
tigers are as yet mere savages, and
no respecters Of persons"
"The what?"
'"The tigers, if my lord will permit
the name. They are batting a batch
of prisoners with the two great
beasts which the empress (whose
name be adored) has sent here to aid
us keep the gate. But IL my lord will,
there are e-ward-rooms leading off
this passage, and the galleries which
run out from them commanding the
circus, and from there my lord can see
the sport undisturbed."
.