Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-17
CHAPTER III.
A RIVAL NAVY.

CHAPTER III.
A RIVAL NAVY.
| Now when we came up with the
coasts of Atlantis, though Tob, with
the aid of his modern instruments, had
made his landfall with most marvel
Gus skill and nearness, there still re-
NAMED some ten days mere journey
In which we had to re.race our course,
till we came to tiiat arm Of the sea
up which lies the great city Of Atlantis,
the capital.
The sight Of the land, and the breath
Of earth and heritage which came off
from it with the brAezes, were, be-
lieve, under the gods, the means of
saving the lives of all of us. For, as
is necessary with long cross-ocean
voyages, many of our ships companies
had died, and still more were sick
with scurvy through the unnatural
tossing, OF Gas some have it) through
the salt, unnatural food inseparable
from shipboard. But these last the
sight and the smells of land heartened
up In extraordinary fashion, and from
being helpless logs, unable to move
even under blows Of the scourge, they
became active again. able to help in
the shipwreck, and lusty (when the
time came) to Aght for their lives and
their vessels.
But when our navy had retraced
sufficiently the course that had been
overrun. and came up with the two
vast headlands which marked the en-
trance to the inland waters, there, q
bare two days from the Atlantis CAPT.
tai, we met with another navy which
was beyond doubt waiting to give us
q reception. The ships were riding at
anchor in a bay which lent them shell
ter, but they had scouts on the high
Land above, who cried the alarm of
our approach, and when we rounded
the headland, they were standing out
to dispute our passage.
OF us there were now but five ships,
the rest having been lost in storms,
| or fallen behind because all their
crews were dead from the scurvy;
and of the strangers there were three
fine ships. and three galleys of many
oars apiece. They We're clean and
bright and black; our ships were
| stormed-ragged and weatherworn
| and had bottoms that were foul with
trailing ocean weed. Our ships hung
out the colors and signs of Tatho and
| Deucaiion openly and without shame,
SO that all who looked might know
their origin and errand; but the other
navy came on without banner or
| antient, as though they were some low
| creatures feeling SHAME for their
birth.
Clear it seemed also that they would
not let us pass without fight, and
| In this there was nothing uncommon;
for no law carries out over the seas,
and brother in one ship feels quite
free to harry his brother in another
vessel IT he meets him out of earshot
| OF the beach-more especially if that
other brother be coming home laden
from foray or trading tour. So lob,
with system and method, got our YES
sci into fighting trim, and the other
four captains did the like with theirs,
and drew close in to us to form a
compact squadron. They had no wish
to smell slavery, now that the voyage
had come SO near to its end.
| Our Lord the Sun shone brilliantly.
| giving full speed to the machines, as
though he was fully willing for the
affair to proceed, and the two navies
approached one another with quick
ness, the three galleys holding back
to stay In line with their consorts.
But when some bare hundred ship
lengths separated US, the other navy
halted. and one of the galleys. draw
ing ahead, flew green branches from
her masts. seeking for parley.
The course was unusual. but we in
our sea-battered state were no navy
to invite fight unnecessarily. So in
hoarEe sea-bawls word was passed,
and we too halted, and Tob hoisted a
withered stick (Which had to do duty
Tor greenery), to show that we were
ready for talk, and would respect the
person of an ambassador.
The galley drew on, swung round
and backed till its stern rasped on our
shield rail, and one of her people
clambered up and jumped down upon
our decks. He was dandily rugged
out fellow, young and lusty, and all
healthy from the land and land victual,
and he looked round him with sheer
at our sea-tatteredness, and with a
fine self-coatidence. Then seeing lob,
he nodded as one who meets an ac-
quaintance. "Old pot-mate," he said,
/ your woman waits for you up by
the quay-side in Atlantis yonder,
| with four youngsters at her heels. |
1 saw her not half a month ago"
| You. didn't come out here to tell
me home news" said lob; shat III
be sworn. I've drunk enough pots
with you, Dason, to know your pleas
antries thoroughly"
Il wanted to point out to you that
your home is still there, with your
wife and children ready to welcome
| you"
Il am not man that ever forgets
IT." said lob, grimly; "and because
I've got them always at the back of
mind, I've sailed this ship over the
| top of more than one pirate, when,
it I'd been single man, might have
been cen content to take the hap of
| slavery"
"Oh, l know you're desperate
enough fellow" said Dason, land I'm
free to confess that if it does come
70 blows we are liksly to lose few