Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-09


darics, and my veins tinolcd to be
once more back at the old trade and
to be doing my share.
But there was no chivalry about
the fellows who held me by my
bonds. They thrust me into n small
temple near By, which once had been
fame in much favor with travellers
who wished to show gratitude for he
safe journey TO the capital. but which
now was robbed and ruined: and they
,wung to he stone entrance gate and
barred it, leaving me to commune
with myself. Presently, they told
ne, l should be put to death by tor
nents. Well, this seemed to be the
new custom of Atlantis, and should
nave to endure it as best ] could. The
nigh gods, it appeared, had no fur
her use for my services in Atlantis,
lnd / was not in the mood then to
oitc very much at their decision.
What l had seen Of the country since
ny return had not enamored me very
much with its new conditions.
The little temple in which | was
gaolcd had been robbed and de-
spoiled of all its furnishments. But
he light Sits, where at certain hours
If the day the rays of our Lord the
sun had fallen upon the image OF the
god, before this had been taken
away. gave me vantage places from
which I could see over the camp of
hese rebel besiegers, and a dreary
prospect it was. The people seemed
10 have shucked off the culture of
centuries in as many months, and to
nave gone back for the most part TO
sheer brutishness. The ma iority har-
bored on the bare ground. Few
owned shelter, and these were merely
powers OF mud and branches.
/ They fought and quarreled among
themselves for food. eating their
meat. raw and their grain (when they
1ad IT. unground. Many who passed
NY vision l saw were even gnawing
the soft inside OF tree bark.
/ The dead ley where they fell. The
sick and the wounded found no hand
20 tend them. Great man-eating birds
lowered above the camp or skulked
about, heavy with gorging. among the
novels. and no one had public spirit
enough to give them battle. The
stink of the place rose up to heaven
as a foul incense inviting pcstilence.
There was no order, no trace of
strong command anywhere. With
900 well-disciplined troops it seemed
to me that | could have sent those
Door desperate hordes flying in panic
TO the forest.
However, there was no very
lengthy space OF time granted me for
thinking out the policy of this mat
Ter 10 any great depth. The attack
on the gate had been delivered with
suddenness; the rcpulse was not
slow. OF what desperate fighting
took place in the galleries and in the
circus between the two sets of gates
the detail will never be told in full.
At the first alarm the great cave
tigers were set loose. and these ragged
impartially against keeper and foe.
Of those that went in through the
tunnel. not one in ten returned, and
there were few Of these but what car
ried bloody wound. Some, with the
ruling passion still strong in them
bore back plumber; ono trailed along
with him the head of the captain OF
the gate; and among them they
dragged out two of the warders who
were wounded, and whom revenge
had urged them to take as prisoners
But for my part | saw nothing OF
this disgusting scene. I heard the
bolt CRATE stealthily against the door
of the little temple in which | was
imprisoned, and was minded to give
these british rebels somewhat of q
surprise. | had rid myself of my
bonds handily enough; | had rubbed
my limbs to that perfect supplenes'
which is always desirable before {
fight; and had planned to rush out
as soon as the door was swung, anc
kill those that came first with ifs
blows on the brow and chin.
They had not suspected my name
il was clear, for my stature and CARL
were nothing out OF the ordinary
but if my bodily strength and fight
ing power had been sufficient TO raise
me to a viceroyalty like that of Yucca
tan, and let me endure alive in tina