Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-05-03

intimate with all the others. Even
the tremendous circumstances which
hemmed them in could do nothing to
make these frail old men forget the
Difference which was due to the high
est order of the Clan.
For myself, 1 will freely own I was
less rapt. / stood there bareheaded
in the heat, man trying to concen-
trate himself, and yet torn the while
by thousand foreign emotions. The
awful thing that was happening all
around compelled some of my atten-
ton. A continent was in the very
act and article of meeting with COM
plete destruction, and if Zaemon and
the other priest were strong enough
to give their minds wholly up to
matter parochial to the priesthood,
| was not so stoical. And, moreover,
[ was filled with other anxieties and
thoughts concerning Nais. Yet 1
managed to preserve a decent show
of attention to the ceremony, MAX
ing all those responses which were
required of me, and trying as well as
might be to preserve in my mind
those sentences which were the keys
to power and learning, and not mere
phrasings of grandeur and devotion.
But it became clear that if the
ceremony of my raising did not soon
arrive at it's natural end, it would
be cut short presently with some
thing of suddenness. Phorenice's
conquering legions swarmed out on
the crest of the mountain, and now
carried full knowledge of the dread
full thing that was come upon the
country. They were out of ali con-
troll, and ran about like men dis
| tracted; but knowing full we'll that
the priests would have brought this
terrible wreck to pass by virtue of
the powers which were stored with
| in the Ark of the Mysteries, it would
be their natural impulse to pour out
final vengeance upon any of these
same priests they could come across
before it was too late.
II began to come to my mind that
il the ceremony did not very short
| iy terminate, the further part of the
| plan would stand very small chance
| of completion, and L should come by
my death after all by fighting to a
| finish, as had pictured to myself be-
fore. My Pickering attention saw
the soldiers coming always nearer in
their frantic wanderings, and saw
also the sea below rolling deeper and
deeper in upon the land.
The fires, too, which ringed in half
the mountain, spurted up to double
their old height, and burned with an
| unceasing roar. But for all distrac-
ton these things gave to the two old
priests who were raising me, we
might have been in the quietness of
some ancient temple, with not 50
much as a fly to buzz an Interrupt
ton.
But at last an end came to the
| ceremony. ''Kneel," cried Zaemon,
land make obeisance to your mother
the earth, and swear by the high
gods that you will never make i'm
proper use of the powers over her
which this day you have been
granted"
When I had done that, he babe me
rise as a fully installed and duly
initiated member of the three. "You
will have no opportunity to practice
the workings of this degree with
either of US, my brother" said he,
''for presently our other brother and
go to stand before the gods to de-
liver to them an account of our
trust, and of how we have carried it
out. But what items you remember
here and there may turn of use to
you hereafter. And now we two give
commend you highly to the gods
when soon we meet them in their
place behind the stars. Climb now
into the ark, and be ready to shut
the door which guards it, if there is
any attempt by these raging people
to invade that also. Remember, my
brother, it is the gods direct will
that you and the woman Nais go
from this place living and sound, ard
you are expressly forbidden to ac-
cept challenge or provocation to fight
on any pretext whatever. But as
long as may be done in safety, you
may look out upon Atlantis in her
death-throes. It is very fitting that
one of the only two who are sent
hence alive should carry the full tale
of what has befallen.''
I went to the top of the Ark OF
Mysteries then, climbing there by
the battens which are fastened 10
the sides, and then descended by the
stair which is inside and found Naia
in little chamber waiting for me.
81 was hidden stay here By
Zaemon,", she said, "who forced me
to this place by threats and also by
promises that my lord would follow.
He is very ungentle, that father nf
mine, but 1 think he has a kindness
for us both, and anyway he is my fe-
Their and 1 cannot help loving him.
Is there no chance to save him from
what is going to happens"
HE will not come into this ark,
for I asked him. 1t has been or
dained from the ancient time Wien
first the ark was built that when the
day for its purpose came, one won1-
an and one man should be its only
tenants, and they are here already.
Zaemon's will in the matter is not
to be twisted by you or by me. He
has a message to be delivered to the
gods, and Gf I know him at alb he
grudges every minute that is lost in
carrying it to them"
l left her then, and went out again up
the stair, and stood once more on the
roof of the ark. On the mountain top
men still ran about distracted, but
gradually they were coming to where
the ark rested on the highest point,
For the moment, however, I passed
them lightly. The drowning of the
great continent that had been spread
out below filled the eye. Ocean roared
in upon it, with still more furious
waves. The plains and the level lands
were foaming lakes. The great city
of Atlantis had vanished eternallv.