Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-05-03

the storm and the roof of the Sacred
Mountain would be at the open
mercy of the invader. If there was
any further thing to be done, it was
well that it should be set about
quickly while peace remained. 1t
seemed to me that the moment was
for prompt action, and the time for
lengthy pompous ceremonial was
done for good.
But Zaemon was minded otherwise.
He led me up to the Ark of the Mys-
teries, and chided my Impotence, and
waited till 1 had given it my rever-
entail kiss, and then he called aloud,
and another old man came out of the
opening which is in the top of the
ark, and climbed painfully down by
the battens which are fixed on it's
sides. He was a man 1 had never
seen before, hoary, frail and enact
ated, and he and Zaemon were then
the only two remaining priests who
had been raised to the highest de-
gree known to our clan, and who
alone had knowledge of the highest
| secrets and powers and mysteries.
"Looki" cried Zaemon, in his shrill
old voice, and swept a trembling fin
ger over the shattered city, and the
great spread of sea and country
which lay in view of us below. I fol-
lowed his pointing and looked, and
chill began to crawl through me.
All was plainly shown. Our Lord the
Sun burned high overhead in a sky
of cloudless blue, and day shimmered
in his heat. All below seemed from
that distance peaceful and warm and
still, save only that the mountains
smoked more than ordinary, and some
spouted fires, and that the sea boiled
with some strange disorder.
But it was the significance of the
sea that troubled me most. Far out
on the distant coast it surged against
the rocks in enormous rolls of surf;
and up the great estuary, at the
head of which the city of Atlantis
stands, it gushed in successive waves
of enormous height which never re-
turned. Already the lower lands on
either side were blotted out beneath
tumultuous waters, the harbor walls
were drowned out of sight, and the
flood was creeping up into the lower
wards of the great city itself.
"You have SEEM" asked Zaemon.
| st have seem"
| 'You underestimate"
''In part"
"Then let me tell you all. This is
the beginning, and the end will fol-
low swiftly. The most high gods,
that sit behind the stars, have limit
to even their sublime patience; and
that has been passed. The city of
Atlantis, the great continent that is
| beyond, and all that are in them are
| doomed to unutterable destruction.
] Of old it was foreseen that this great
| wiping-out would happen through
| the sins of men, and to this end the
Ark of the Mysteries was built I'M
| der directions of the gods. No NOR
tai implements can so much as
scratch it's surface, no waves or
rocks wreck it. inside is stored on
| sheets of the ancient writing all that
is known in the world of learning
that is not shared by the common
| people, also there is grain in store,
and sweet water in tanks sufficient
for two persons for the space of
four years, together with seeds,
weapons, and all such other matters
as were deemed fit.
''Out of all this vast country it
| has been decreed by the high gods
| that two shall not perish. Two shall
be chosen, a man and a woman, who
are fit and proper persons to carry
away with them the ancient learn
ing to dispose of it as they see best,
and afterwards to rear up a race who
shall in time build another kingdom
and do honor to our Lord the Sun
and the other gods in another place.
| The woman is within the ark al
| ready, and seated in the place ap-
| pointed for her, and though she is
daughter of mine, the burden of
her choosing is with you. For the
man, the choice has fallen upon your
self"
1 was half numb with the shock of
what was Detailing. Il do not know
| that [ care to be a survivor"
you are not asked for your
| Wishes" said the old man. "You are