Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-04-23
around compelled some of my atten-

to give their minds wholly up to
matter parochial to The priesthood,
was not so, stoical. And, moreover.
I was filled with other anxicties and
thoughts concerning Nais. Yet I
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 we're 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. Phorcnice's
conquering legions swarmcd 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 all con-
troi. 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.
1t began to come to my mind that
if the ceremony did not very short
ly terminate, the further part of the
plan would stand very small chance
of completion, and I should come by
my death after all by fighting to
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 ringcd 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 SO
| much as Il fly to buzz an Interrupt
| ton.
But at last an end came to the
ceremony. ';knecl," cried Zacmon,
land make o3eisance 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 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
I 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
you our farewells, and promise to
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 &C.
cept challenge Or provocation to fight
on any pretext whatever. But as
long as may be done i'm safety, you
may look out upon Atlantis in her
dea -throes. 1t is very fitting that
one of the only two who are sent
hence alive should carry the full Yale
of what has befallen."
I went to the top of the Ark Of
Mysteries then, climbing there l>y
the battens which are fastened t.
the sides, and then descended by the
in a little chamber waiting for me.
II 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
Hc is very ungentlc, that father OF
mine, but I think he has kindness
for us both, and anyway he is my ia.
Their and I cannot help loving him.
Is there no chance to save him from
| what is going to happen?"
''He will not come into this ark
for I asked him. 1t has been OF.
dained from the ancient time when
first the ark was built that when the
day for its purpose came, one WON
an and one man should be it's 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 message to be denvered to the
gods, and Cf T know him at ally he
grudges every minute that is lost III
carrying it to- them"
Ileft 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 aud the level lands
were foaming lakes. The great city
of Atlantis had vanished eternally
The mountains alone kept their heads
above the flood, and spewed out rocks
and steam and boiling stone, or burst
when the waters reached them, and
created great whirlpools of surgine