Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-01-18
o . The . 3
Lost Continent
By CUTCLIFFE HYNE.
Pub by Harper Bros Copyright ieOi by Cutcls Hyns
CHAPTER V.-CoNTINUED.
Pub by Harper Bros Copyright 1901, by Cutelifs

CHAPTER V.-CoNTINUED.
The old man found his voice, thin
and high and broken. another crime
half your army could have hindered
my entrance had I wished to come,
and let me tell you that I am here
to bring you your last warning. The
gods have shown you much favor.
They gave you merit by which You
could rise above your fellows, till at
last only the throne stood above you.
cred Mountain to let you have this last
ambition, and sit on this throne that
has SO long and honorably been filled
by the ancient kings Of Atlantis"
The empress sat back on the divan
smiling. 81 seemed to get these things
as chose, and in spite of your friends
teeth. I may owe to you, old man, a
small parcel of thanks, though that I
offered to repay; but for my lords
the priests, their permission was of
small enough value when it came. I
would have you remember that [ was
as firm on the throne of Atlantis as
this pyramid stands upon its base
when your WORKOUT priests came up
to give their lettering benediction."
The old man waved aside her inter
ruption. "Hear me out" he said. 81
am here with no trivial message.
There is nothing paltry about the
threat I can throw at you, Phorenice.
With your fire tubes, your handling
of troops and your other fiendish clev-
erness, you may not be easy to over
throw by mere human means, though,
forsooth, these poor rebels who zap
against your city walls have contrived
to hold their ground for long enough
: now. It may be that you are becom-
ing enervated; do not know. It may
be that you are too wrapped up in
your Hastings, your dressings, your
pomps and your debaucheries, to find
leisure to turn to the art of war. 1t
may be that the mans spirit has gone
out from your arm and brain, and you
are woman once more-weak and
pleasure-loving; again I do not know.
''But this must happen: You must
undo the evil you have done; you must
give bread to the people who are starv-
ing, even if you take it from these
gluttons in this hall; you must restore
Atlantis to the state in which It was
intrusted to you; or else you must be
removed. It cannot be permitted that
the country should sink back into the
lawlessness and barbarism from
which lis ancient kings have digged it.
You hear, Phorenice. Now give me
true answer"
speak him fair. Oh, for the sake
of your fortune, speak him fair!''
came Ylga's voice in hurried whis-
per from behind US. But the empire SIS
took no notice of it. She leaned for
ward on the cushions of the divan with
a knit brow.
"Do you dare to threaten me, old
man, knowing what 1 amp"
81 know your origin he said, grave
ly, ''as well as you know it yourself.
As for my daring, that is a small mat
ter. He need be but timid man who
dares to say words that the high gods
put on his lips"
81 shall rule this kingdom as /
choose. I shall brook interference
from no creature on this earth, or be-
meath it, or in the sky above. The gods
have chosen me to De their regent in
Atlantis, and they do not depose me
through such creatures as you. Go
away, old man, and play the fanatic in
another court. 1t is well that l have
an ancient kindness for you, or you
would not leave this place unframed"
"Now, indeed, you are lost" heard
Ylga murmur from behind, and the
old man in front of US did not move
step. Instead, he lifted up the symbol
of Our Lord the Sun, and launched his
curse. "Your blasphemy gives the re-
ply | asked for. Hear me now make
declaration of war on behalf of those
against whom you have thrown insults.
4ou shall be overthrow and sent to
the neither gods. At whatever cost the
land shall be purged of you and yours,
and all the evil that has been done TO
1t while you have sullied the throne of
its ancient kings. You will not amend,
neither will you yield tamely. You
vaunt that you sit as firm on YOUR
throne as this pyramid reposes on its
base. See how little you know of what
the future carries. l say to you that.
while you are yet empress, you shall
see this royal pyramid which you have
polluted with your debaucheries torn
tier from tier, and stone from stone,
and scattered as feathers spread be-
fore the wind"
you may wreck the pyramid said
Phorenice, contemptuous'v 81 my
self have some knowledge of the earth
forces, as l have shown this night.
But though you crumble every stone
above us now and around into grit and
Gust, | shall still be empress. What
force can you crazy priests bring
against me that l cannot throw back
and destroy?"
we nave a weapon that was forged
in no mortal smithv" sbrilIal tho old
man, whereof the key is now lodoed
in the Ark of the Mysteries. Rut tba.
weapon can be used only a. a las+re-
source. The nature of it even i 80
awful to be told in words. Our otber
powers will be launched againct Won
first, and for this poor countrv.s sale
! pray that they may cause Won to
vince. YET rest assured. Phorepi.e
that we shall not step aside once we