Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-02

Ia
being an Atlantean, should go be-
reft Of the dignity of clothes, as
though she was a mere savage from
Europe; and so sought about among
the captains spoil for garments that
would be BETTING.
But, as I busted myself in this
search for raiment, rummaging
among heaps and bales, with a hand
and eye little skilled in such BUSH
ness, I heard sound behind which
caused me to turn my head, and
there was the woman with dagger
she had picked from the floor, in the
act Of drawing it from the sheath.
She caught my eye and drew the
weapon clear, but seeing that | made
no advance towards her, or move to
protect myself, waited where she
was, and presently was took with
shuddering.
"Your designs seem somewhat OF
riddle" I said. AT first you wished
to kill me from motives which you
explained, and which I quite under
stood. II lay in my power next to
confer some small benefit upon you,
In consequence of VIII oh you are here,
and not-shall we say?-yonder in
the circus. Why you should desire
now to kill the only man here who
can set you completely free, and be-
yond these walls, is a thing it would
crafty me much to learn. l say
nothing of the trfle of incratitude.
Gratitude and ingratitude are of lit
tie weight here. There is something
far greater in your mind"
She pressed hand hard against
her breasts. "You are Deucalion,"
she gasped; IT heard you say it,"
II am Deucalion. SO far, have
known no reason to feel shame for
my name"
And l come of those" she cried,
with rising voice, who bite
against this city, because they have
found their fate too intolerable with
the land as II is ordered now We
heard Of your coming from Yucatan.
10 was we who sent the fleet to take
you at the entrance to the gulf"
your fleet gave us pretty fight"
"Oh, l know, / know. We had our
watchers on the high land who
brought US the tidings. We had an
omen even before that. Where we
lay with our army before the walls
here, we saw great birds carrying off
the slain to the mountains. But
where the feet failed, l saw a chance
where |, a woman, might"
"Where You might succeed? I sat
RE down on a pile of the captains
stuffs. 1t seemed as if that here at
last | should find a solution for many
things.
"Iou carry name?' ! asked.
"They call me Nais."
"Ah!" | said, and signed to her to
take the clothes that | had sought
out. She was curiously like, so both
my eyes and hearing said, to Ylga,
the fan-girl of Phorenice, but as she
had told me of no parentage l asked
for none then. Still her talk alone
let me know that she was bred of
none of the common people and l
made up my mind towards definite
understanding. Nals, L Sald, you
wish to kill me. At the same time
/ make no doubt you wish to live
on yourself, if only to get credit from
your people for what you have done.
SO here | will make contract with
you. Prove to me that my death
is for Atlantis good, and | swear by
our Lord the Sun'to go out with you
beyond the walls, where you can stab
me and then get you gone. Or else
II will not be your slave"
81 do not ask you for service. er
else, | wished to say, ] shall live so
long as the high gods wish, and do
my poor best for this country. And
| for you'll shall set you free TO do
your best also. So now. | pray you.
speak"
1