The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-01-16
By CUTCLIFFE HYNE.
CHAPTER I.--CoNIiNuEn.

dcposed Zaemon from his govern
ment In name rs well as in fact, and
the news was spread, and the Priest
ly elan rose In its wrath. The two
neighboring governors were hidden
to join forces, take her captive, and
bring her for execution. Poor men!
they tried to obey their orders; they
attacked her surely enough, but In
battle she could laugh at them. She
killed both, and made some slaughter
among their troops; and TO those
that remained alive and became her
prisoners she made her usunl offer
the sword or service. Naturally they
were not long over making their
choice: to these common people one
ruler In much the same as another;
and SO again her army was reen-
forced.
"Thrcc times were bodies OF SOL
iiery sent against her, and three
times was she victorious. The last
was final effort. Before. IL had been
customary to despise this adventur-
.ss who had sprung up SO suddenly.
But then the priests began to realize
their peril, to dee that the throne IT.
self was in danger. and to know that
u she were to be crushed they would
have to put forth their utmost. Every
man who could carry arms was
pressed into the service. Every known
nrt of war was ordered to be put
into employment. II was the largest
army, and the best equipped army
that Atlantis then had ever raised.
h. D.s. 81 NxS s.N L.,
supreme command their general, Ta-
tho"
"You!" I cried.
"Even myself, Dcucalion. And
mark you. I fought my utmost.
was not her creature then; and when
I set out (because they wanted to
spur me to the uttcrmost) the high
council Of the priests pointed out my
). prospects. The king we had known
SO long, was ailing and wearily old;
he was SO wrapped up In the study
Of mysteries, and the Joy OF closely
. knowing them, that earthly matters
had grown nauscous to him; and ut
any time he might decide to die. The
Priestly clan uses It's own discretion
In the election of n new king, but II
takes note of popular sentiment; and
q general who Mt the critical time
could come home victorious from q
great campaign, which moreover
would release harnssed people
from the constant application oi
arms, would be the idol OF the mo
ment. These things were pointed
out to me solemnly and In full coun
cil."
"what! they promised you the
throne?"
Even that. So you see set out
with n high stake before me. Phor
enice had never seen, and I swor'
TO take her alive, and give her to b'
the sport Of my soldiery. ! had I
fine confidence In my own strateg,
then, Deucalion. But the old gods
In whom trusted then. remained old
and taught me no new things.
drilled and exercised my army nc
cording to the forms you and
learned together, old comrade, nn'
In many tough fight found to serv
well; I armed them with the choices
weapons we knew Of then, with slim
and mace, with bow and spear, wit
ax and knife, with sword and tn
throwing fire; their bodies covere
with metal plates; even their BELLE
I cared for, with droves OF cattl
driven In the rear OF the fghtin
troops.
"But when the encounter cam'
they might have been men of stra'
for all the harm they did. Out q
her own brain Phorenice had mad
fire,ttibcs that cast n dart whic
would kill beyond two bowshots, an
the fashion In which she handled he
troops dazzlcd me. They threat
ened us on one flank, they hnrasse
Us on the other. 1t was not war n
we had been accustomed to II.
was u newer and more deadly game
ana had to watch my splendid arm
eaten away as waves eat n snnd-hil
Never once did J get u chance q
forcing close action. These new tas
ties that had come from Phorenicc'
Invention were beyond my art to NEE
or understand. We were eight to he
one, and our close-packcd number
only made us so much the NOR
easy for slaughter. A panic cam,
and those who could fed. Myself,
had no wish to go back and earn tn
ak that waits for the unsuccessful
general. tried to die there fghtin
where ! stood. But death would no
come. II was n fine melee, Deuca
ion, that last one"
"And so she took you?"
~ stood with three others, back I
back, with ring of dead round M
and a ring OF the enemy hemming u
In. We taunted them to some on. Bu
at hand-to-hnnd courtesies we ha
shown we could hold our own, an
so they were calling for nre-tube
with which they could strike us dow
In safety from q distance. Then u
came Phorenice. What is this tC
doY says she. We seek to kill Lor
Tatho, who led against you,' say
she. "A fine figure of man. indeed
and pretty fighter, seemingly, afte
the old manner. Doubtless he Is on
who would acquire the newer meth
od. See, now. Tatho, says she. 4
In my custom to offer those I van
quish either the sword (which. be
lieve me, was never nearer your nee
than now) CIR service under my ban
ner. win you make u choiceY'
"'Woman.' ! said, 'fairest tina
ever I saw, finest general the worl
has ever borne, you tempt me sorel
t.., ..n,,. ..nultst.a h,.t thar. Ia N