Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-13

box TO reight the fallen lamp, and
so we had to endure blindly what
was dealt out to us The waves tossed
us in merciless sport, and chung on
by the side of Nais, holding her to
the bed. We did not speak much. but
there was full companions ship in our
bereavement and our silence.
When Atlantis sank to form new
ocean-bcd. she left great whirlpools
and spoutings from her drowned fires
ms a fleeing legacy to the gods of
the sea. And then, I think Though
in tie black belly of The ark we
could not see these things), vast
hurricane ~ wind must have come
on next so as to leave no piece of the
desolation incomplete. For seven
nights and seven days did this dread
FIJI turmoil continue as counted for
lie afterwards by the rcckoner of
hours which hung within the ark and
hen the bowling of the wind depart
cd. and only he roll Of long stu
swell remained. II was regular and
il was oily, as ! could tell by the diff
ference OF the motion. and then for
stair and open and found the gate they
bit against was deserted.
The sweet salt air came gushing
down 20 freshen the foulncss within,
and ae he ark rode drylv over the
seas, went below and brought up
NaiS to gain refrcs hment from the
curing rays Of cur Lord the san. Duly
the pair Of us adored him, and gave
thanks for his great mercy in com
ing to light another day. and ther We
laid ourselves down where we were
TO doze. and take hal easy rest which
We 50 urgently needed.
Yet. though ! was tired beyond
words. for long enough sleep would
not visit me-. YEARLY stared out over
the oily Sun-lit waters. No blur OF
land met he eye. The ring OF ocean
was unbrollcn on every side. aud ever
| head tine vault of heaven remained uu-
changed. The bosom of the deep was
/ Uttered with the poor wrcckage of
! Atlantis, TO remind one. il there had
been need. that what had come
/ about was fact, aud not some horrid
: dream. Trees. squared timber, a
smashed and upturncd boat Of hides.
and here and there the rounded corpse
Of a man or beast shouldered over the
swells, and kept convoy with our ark
rs she drfted on in charge Of the gods
and the current.
Eut sleep came to me al last, and
dropped off into unconsciousnes
/ holding the hand Of Nais in mine. and
when next I woke 7 found her open
eyed also and watching me tenderly.
We were finely rested. both Of MS. and
rest and strength bring one com ia-
ccncy. We were more ready now 10
accept the station which the high gods
/ had made for US without repining.
/ and so We went below again into the
/ belly of the ark to eat and drink and
maintain strength for ne new life
which lay before us
\ wonderful vessel was this ark,
now We were able to see it al leisure
/ and intimately. Although for Inc first
time now in all its centuries Of lie
il SWAIN upon the waters. il showed no
leak or sun-crack. Inside, even It's
floor was bone-dry. That it was bui't
from some wood. one could see by the
Craiuiugs. but nowhere could one find
suture or Joint. The living timber.
had been put in place and then grown
together by an art which we have lost
to-day, but which the ancients knew
with much perfection: and afterwards
some treatment, which is also So.
crct Of those forgotten builders. hal
made the wood as hard as metal and
impervious to all attacks OF the
weather.
In the gloomy cave Of its belly were
stored many matters. At one end. in
great tanks on either side of central
alley. was a rrodigious store of grain.
Sweet water was in other tanks a.
the other end. In another place were
drugs. and simpes, and essences Of
the life Of beasts; all. these things
being for use while the ark roamed
under the guidance OF the gods on
,he bosom of the deep. On all the
walls OF the ark. and on all the par
tjons of the tanks and the other
woodwork. there were carved in the
rude art of bygonc times representa-
tons of all the beasts which lived in
Atlantis; and on these | looked with
o hunters interest, as some OF them
were strange TO me, and had died out
with the men who had perpetuated
them in these sculptures. There was
a good store of weapons, and the tools
for handicrafts.
Now for many weeks our life en-
dured in his ark as the gods drove II
about here and there across the face
of the waters. We had no government
over direction; we could not by 70
much as hairs breadth day in
crease her speed. The high gods that
had chosen the Two of us TO be tn,
only ones saved out of all Atlantis, hac
sole control of our fate, and into then
hands We cheerfuly resigned our IN
ture direction.
or that land which We reached in
due time, and where we made our
abiding-place. and where our children
We're born, I shall tell Of in its place
but since this chronicle has proceeded
so far in an exact order of The event!
as they came to pass, il is necessary
first TO narratc how we came by hs
sheets on which it is written.
In a great Golfer, in the center o.
the arks floor the whole of The myS
1cries learned during the study ot
ages were set down in accurate writ
| IN | r1, Of bn.