The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-02-13

pOlicies. i freely cOnIebH 10 my own
inaction and limpncss; by II was an
deliberate. The old III of duty
seemed los:, or at least nj ked In one
another. Beforetime, toi servs the
king was TO serve the d Of the
priests. from which he hnd been
chosen, and whose head I constitut-
ed. But Phorenice was Sc. lmade, and
appeared to be n rule unit herself; II
Zaemon was TO be trustedvh he was the
mouthpiecc of the priestS and their
clan had set her at defadk y; and how
was n mere honest man choose on
the instant between the ko7
But cold argument told me that gov
ernments were set up folr the good of
the country ut large. and Isaid to my.
self that there would be spy choice; I
must find out which rule promised
best for Atlantis, and do my poor be at
to prop IL into full powek. And here
mt once there opened up Ianother path
in the maze; had heard some consid-
cradle talk Of rebels; on another fac
tion of Atlnnteans who whatever
their faults might be. we're az any ratio
strong enough to beleaHuer the capi-
tai; and before coming to sry final de-
cision. IL would be as wei to take their
claims in balance with tller rest. So, on
the night of that very same day on
which had just replanti id my foot ON
the old country's shoresi, ] set out to
CLEAN for myself tidings On the matter.
No one inside the rdnl pyramid
gainsaid me. The bnnqbet had ended
abruptly with the terrible scene that
l have set down above orr these tablets,
for with Tarca writhinH on the floor,
and thrusting out the g&uesome scars
Of his leprosy, even thf most glut-
tonous had little enough appetite for
further gorging.
A score Of sturdy fellpws were de-
tailed off for my escort, a I'd, with the m
In n double file on eit1er hand,
marched out from the close perfumed
air of the pyramid into the cool noon
light Of the city. II was my purpose
to make tour Of the walls and to ind
out somewhat Of the disposition Of
these rebels.
And SO in time the wihdinys of the
street brought us to tlhe wallis. and.
coursing beside these and irving fit
ting answer to the sentries who beat
their drums rs we passed. VIZ came In
time to that great gate whieh was q
charge to the captain of the garrison.
Here II was plain ,here Was some
special commotion. 4 noise of laugh.
ter went up into the still night air, and
with II now and again the snnrl and
/ "a Il
again the shrek Of hurt man.
} My escort made outEry with the
} horn which hung fromths W, w,all invit.
J ing such a summons. bud a warder
: came to IN arrow-slit, and dill inspec.
tion of our persons andbusin-ss. 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
then the wardsr with his machines
pulled to the valve which had been
opened. and came to me again through
the press of my escort, bowling low ia
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 l should first announce my
lords presence. There isa batting go
ing forward In the circus. and the
tigers are rs yet mere savages, and
no respccters of persons"
"The what?"
"The tigers, II my lord will permit
the name. They ore batting a batch
J. Of prisoners with the two great
] beasts which the empress (whose
, name be adored) has sent here 20 aid
us keep the gate. But II my lord will!
there are the wnrd.rooms leading OF
= this passage. and the galleries which
/ run out from them commanding the
!. circus, and from there my lord can see
y the sport undisturbed."
Now, the mere lust for killing ex
l. cites only disgust In me. but l suspect
u ed the orders Of the empress In thii
manner, and had q curiosity to see hei
scheme. So l stepped into the warder'i
lodge, and on into the galleries which
e commanded the circus with their ar
q row-slits. The old builders of the place
e had intended these for second line o
I" defense; for, supposing the outel
doors all forced, an enemy could b,
q speedily shot down In the circus, with
y out being able TO give blow In return
and SO would only march into n death
y trap. But rs gazing place on spec
q tacle they were no less useful.
a The circus was brigh, III by tn,
moonshine, and the air which came II
to me from II was acid with the reel
!" OF blood. There was no sport In wha
was going forward; us I said, IL wer,
% mere killing, and the sight disgustet
u me. ! am no prude about this matter
W Give n prisoner his wea pons, put him II
y pit with beasts Of reasonabl,
u strength, and let him fight to finisi
- IL you choose, aud can lool
g. on there and applaud the strokes
The war prisoner, being pris
oner, has earned death by natur
" al law, and prefers to get his las
~ stroke In hot blood than 10 be knocke,
&c down by the htadsman's ax. And Il
- - any brave mans luxury either to hell
~ or watch iusty fight. hut this bal,