Atlantis The Book of The Angels
Atlantis The Book of The Angels
Atlantis The Book of The Angels
ATLANTIS
THE BOOK OF THE ANGELS
IXTERl'KKTED BY
D. BRIDGMAN-METCHIM
eHEAP EDITION.
LOXDON :
B-M.
—
4. 003
PREFACE.
This Interpretation is the fullest account we have yet of the
life ante-diluvium, filling in with apparent accuracy, as far as
I can judge, one of those many blanks in the earlier chapters
of Genesis, which, were they all to be so filled, would make
our great Bible several times greater without any good accruing
to our minds embryo formation of Earth and Man.
in learning of the
This is when
the history of the zenith of the early Adamites,
their superhuman attainments demanded their destruction and ;
to-day.
With the Flood the curtain falls, as it were, upon an inter-
rupted and unfinished act of the great drama of Man ; and
when we realise the sin of stoppage and the challenge of the
halt of progress, we stand appalled to watch the inevitable
result, and shudder as the elemental powers remove all traces
of rebeUion from before Heaven. And as the ages blot out all
D. Bridgman-Metchim.
544950
CONTENTS.
Page.
PREFACE. VII
LIBER I.
LIBER H.
I. PREPARATIONS iS^
II. THE SHADE OF HUITZA I59
LIBER III.
Pa^e.
I SAW IN THE NIGHT MANY SPIRITS DESCEND Frontispiece.
LIBER I.
INITIAL LETTER 3
THERE LAY ZUL !
7
THOSE WHOM GOD HATH CHAINED FOR EVER 22
SURAPA 26
IN THE HALL OF FEASTING 46
O HALLOWED MOMENTS THAT SO SWIFT SPEED TO THE GATES OF
doom! 55
ALL OVER THE LAND WERE THESE TEMPLES 66
HUITZa's TROOPS WERE COMING 72
BEFORE THE MIGHT OF TEKTHAH 85
AZTA CAST HERSELF NEGLIGENTLY ONTO THE SEAT 87
A GREAT SENSATION PASSED THROUGH THE IMPERIAL THRONG . . II7
LIBER II.
INITIALLETTER 151
WEEP WITH WONDERING ANGUISH 152
WHERE THE GREAT SERPENT KEPT WATCH 1 55
LIBER III.
Page.
INITIALLETTER 323
O DEPTHS OF HORROR OF SILENT KNOWLEDGE! 324
THE SMALL PEOPLE WHICH WHEELED UP AND UP INTO THE SKY . .
344
THE COLD FURY OF A WRATH WHICH WOULD HAVE BLASTED . . . 362
YET WOULD I NOT RELINQUISH MY LOVE 365
WITH BURSTING EYES GAZING INTO INFINITY 379
NOR DID THE WATERS QUENCH IT 40O
PIERCING THE DREADFUL CLOUDS WITH WONDROUS LIGHT .... 434
REINFORCING THE POWER OF THE FIRST MIGHTY DESTROYER. . .
439
LIBER I
THERE-WERE GIANTS- IN
THE EARTH IN THOSE
DAYS-AND-ALSO AFTER
THAT WHEN THE SONS
OF-GOD-CAME IN UNTO
THE DAUGHTERS- OF- MEN
AND THEY BARE CHILDREN
TO THEM THESAME
BECAME- MIGHTY-MEN
WHICH-WERE-OF-OLD
MEN- OF RENOWN-
GEN Yl 4
—
CAP. I.
THE TEMPLE.
of space and those far circles where the billows of Life broke
upon horizons beyond which flaming worlds fed the Immensity
with fire and light; sufficient was the song of endless spheres so
the Legenda Aurea, the Cherubim precede the Seraphim, and in the hymn o£
St. Ambrose they have also the precedence To Thee, Cherubim and Seraphim
contifiually do oy^ etc. ; but the authority of St. Dionysius seems to be admitted
paramount, for, according to the legend, he was the convert and intimate friend
of St. Paul, and St. Paul, who had been transported to the seventh heaven, had
where art thou now Wilt thou remember when we meet again ?
?
5
ATLANTIS.
when not applied in its own spirit — and learn, if but in a passing
flash of intuition, that misapplied Good begets a more powerful
evil than Evil itself can do.
But suddenly the brightness fled. The Earth rose above the
sun and there was darkness over everything. In eager haste I
mounted into the air and grasped the sword that lay along my
thigh, and soon I saw the burning planet and that half the
Earth was bright and half was not.
Curious, I lighted down again upon the dark part, near to
where I had at first come, and presently the moon shone with
a wonderful pure white gleam.
It was night. I stood on the sandy beach of the old sea, that
I knew was there long before man came, and that after in more
human nature I loved so well because of its restless sorrow; a
6
THE TEMPLE.
wonder, to the shapely masses rising from its plain, and per-
ceived a city.
monstrous forms and faces, crude clashing colours and rough or-
namentations.
The colossi exhibited and yet there
hideous deformities,
was nought to disgust. Nay I knew them
; although afterwards
in all their daring obscenity, all was so vast, so enormous,
and the grand columns clustered in such confusion of magni-
ficence, that the beastliness of some of their figures was forgotten
in tiie unblushing hugeness that exhibited the deformity so
openly. Vast, amorphous shadows formed a background to
gray, towering piles of such proportions that caused me to
marvel at their grand immensity square masses of brick and ;
oc Tlie arcli is known in early architecture, but only in a crude form —a beam
laid on the tops of two pillars, or the structure known as the " false arch," in
which bricks or stones project in each layer until they meet at llie top.
THE TEMPLE.
terror, and the occasional clash of arms. How well, ah, how
well was I to know that scene, and hear those sounds in days
to come that then I recked not of, being amazed and bewil-
dered by my tumult of emotions and delighted with the
strangeness of it all. It was so real, so oppressive and won-
« From the very earliest times we find a pyramidal form used in building,
probably not so much for the sake of the outline as for the fact that this form
aids the effort to obtain vast dimensions with perfect solidity; and the ruins
testifying to this are found in Babylonia, Egypt and America, while the form is
seen in India in her grandest temple, the great pagoda at Tanjore, rising in 14
stories to a height of nearly 200 ft. from a base 83 ft. square.
In Babylonia the great mound Babil among the ruins of the capital, represents
the temple which was a pyramid of 8 square stages with a winding
of Bel,
ascent to the top platform; and the mound of Birs Nimroud is all that is left of
the "temple of the seven spheres" which was but 156 feet in height, but wonderful
by reason of each of the seven stages being a mass of one colour different from
the others. Of this class we find temples built in stages of 3, 5, or 7, each of —
which numbers had a mystic significance. In Yucatan are found sculptured and
architectural monuments of a coarse character, temples (teocallis) elevated far above
the buildings on square basements, rising by huge steps to the
surrounding
summit form of a low truncated pyramid.
in the
The architecture of Egypt is too well known and too familiar to need any
ATLANTIS.
beneath me, the roar of the drum swelled louder and more
sonorous, reverberating through the quiet atmosphere; then died
slowly away in tremulous waves of sound most beautiful to my
cars as they floated afar.
And now the flame on the golden tower in which I was,
which stood in the centre of the topmost roof wafted by the
sea-breezes, seemed to have become absorbed in the glory of
the Sun and vanished in the splendour, and from the shadows
of the base of the tower a dark figure moved to the edge of
the platform facing the brightness. It was a man, and with a
great curiosit)- 1 gazed upon this one individual atom of the human
Life of Karth. that in manifested form could move apart from
the rest and live with his own separate functions. And methought
there was a strange sympathy between us, for he started and
gazed up towards where I hung in airy flame, and then turned
and looked long on the flashing beauty of the ocean and the
shades beneath. His attitude betokened adoration, and once,
twice, three times he bowed his whole body with outstretched
hands towards the glory of the sunrise.
Very far off inland I among golden fields
perceived mountains
of wheat, and otherand abundant verdure covered the
cities,
fair, shadowy Earth, where rivers ran and lakes reflected the
tiny pink clouds and the city walls and battlements. After, I
learned that the mighty piles were built by the enforced labour
of concjuered nations of physique and presence immeasurably
inferior to the white conquerors in their midst, and who had
10
THE TEMPLE.
250 ft. wide and 20 ft. high; the third terrace is 360 ft. long, by 30 ft. wide,
II
ATLANTIS.
were the temples ot Winged things, the Serpent, and the Moon.
I saw the fortifications stretching far as the eye could see, and
below, the cliff facing the sea, where it declined to the level
of the beach and formed a bay the harbour and water-way and ;
and 19 ft. in height. From the centre of the second terrace the upper part is
gained l>y a vast flight of well-constructed steps 130 ft. wide. This leads to the
temple the fagade of which is no
ft. long, but has not had a greater
less than 322
elevation than 25 ft., yet its grandeur
enhanced by the rich sculpture that
is
covers the upper part above a fillet, or cornice, that surrounds the whole building
at about half its elevation. The interior consists of two parallel rows of chambers,
eleven in each row. The front apartments are entered by eleven doorways,
enriched with sculpture, which give sufficient light to those rooms; but the posterior
row receives no light except what enters by their doors from the exterior rooms.
In the Central American architecture we have before us a very significant fact,
that llie chambers in the buildings, like the peculiar architecture of Assyria, have
generally a length disproportionate to their width, whereas the Egyptian halls
were s(iuare. One Yucatan building, for example, is in disproportion as 4 to I, the
halls of Assyria were 4 or even 8 times longer than wide, and in both lands the
thickness of wall is enormous —
from 15 to 30 ft. Also jhe Assyrian Iniildings
wt-re raised upon mounls and a[)pro.iched by great flights of steps.
12
THE TEMPLE.
hear all that they said. Beneath their feet plates of gold
gleamed sombre in the shadows cast; from their midst arose
the golden tower,pyramid of light, with the imper-
a
ishable flame waving like a vapour over it, in which I lay
entranced. Within this tower was the drum and also within
it was kept the victorious standard of the nation, the sacred
symbol of victory a Cross with four arms stretching horizon-
tally, signifying the national prowess North, South, East and
—
West the old, rough rally-signal carried by the Emperor
Tekthah from the North. Afterwards I knew that all the other
cities had, in their Temple of the Sun, that same emblem,
X The word Tzantan is probably the original of the Accadian Tur-dan^ a title
of the chief officer in the army. The name Tartan of the Holy Scriptures
(2 Kgs. XVni. 17) is the Hebrew form of this, and the Apache Nantan seems to
13
ATLANTIS.
X This custom was always practised as an invocation by the American tribes, among
whom tobacco smoking and chewing, (especially the former,) were universal
and
immemorial usages.
14
THE TEMPLE.
of joy, broke into a weird chant, and in the pauses the faint
echo of the distant myriads rose into the pure air with wonderful
beauty from below and afar. The god had arisen a thousand
I
15
CAP. II.
THE INTERIOR.
X There are four names by which God was known of old: Adonai, Lord or
Possessor: Shaddai, Almighty: Jehovah, the self-existing one; and Elohim, God,
the Covenant-keeper, and Lord of the Universe.
The word Elohim is probal^ly derived from the Hebrew word " Alah " to swear,
in supjKirt of which we have the Arabic "Allah", God, an almost identical word.
Our Lord's last words from the Cross also seem to indicate this meaning: "Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani ". That is to say, "My God, my God"... where is the
covenant! And in .S. Mark it is still nearer : "Eloi, Eloi . . . ". The word Elohim
or Elim is the plural of El, chief of the Piinenician divinities.
understand that the origin of the word "Javeh" or Jehovah appears to be lost
I
in but apparently indicates One who w, and is Eternal, and true to his
mystery,
covenant: and of these two names, wiiich are frequently used, each with its own
significance, Elokiin is regarded as treating natural, Jehovah revealed, religion.
i6
THE INTERIOR.
From every corner of the great city arose the voice of prayer
and praise, and now the High Priest descended from the central
tower to the platform. The wild clangour of a song boomed
and clashed out, and a silence of death lay over all.
It was the signal for a sacrifice. A death was to take place
up there in the pure, holy calm of the early morning, and
with that unappeasable appetite of the terrible human heart to
gloat over suffering,an appetite that never wearies, the mul-
titudes strained their eyes upwards to the temple platform, and
those too far off to see were yet pleasantly aware of what
was transpiring. For, despite bloody carnivals, brutal scenes
of torture and devilish butcheries on a ghastly scale, there was
yet something in the solemnity of the hour that startled the
ghoulish appetites and made the pulses beat with a pleasant
interest.
Up the came the Procession of Atonement, the
stairway
attendant priestsrobed in black, the victim in the middle, in
silence deep and profound, broken by a weird chant from the
priestesses.
The sad procession moved slowly and moved by an intuition,
;
17 2
ATLANTIS.
tore the pulsating heart. Raised aloft, the gory trophy, yet
oozing its living blood, was offered to the Sun, and a myriad
voices countenanced the murder.
A reproach entered my mind, a feeling of mortified annoyance
that I had allowed curiosity to so overcome my just interference.
downwards into the great cool chambers, dark after the morning
glow above, and whose thick walls kept out all heat of the
Sun, and noted the bold paintings therein. Here all was still
and silent; I was alone with those coloured portrayals that
spoke to me with an unknown tongue; but after, when 1
understood, I wondered at the daring audacit}- that conspired
to mingle Heaven and Earth in obscene confusion as there
represented. Together with the serpent, which was of that
species bearing upon its swelling neck the emblem of the Sun. ;;:
X This may in<licate a species uf cojjfa having; a ciixnilar inarlviiiL; iiiion ii-
••liood." or may refer lo the ••hood"' iuelf. Here we may note that the (Hily
difference between the Indian cobra and th,e I-'i^yptian hitjr i- i!\e --pectacledike
maikint; upim llie back of tlie former's neck, bolh s]n'cie> liavinL; tlie >kin of ilie
19
ATLANTIS.
20
THE INTERIOR.
"
which is in thee!
From the flame arose a white amorphous shape, vague and
horrible. The man had ceased to breathe and was gazing
with an intensity of soul on the spectral figure, that writhed
in horrible contortions, yet so indistinct that nought could be
seen of what it was. The Thing emitted
a very faint sound
and then appeared to dissolve in the shadows, and the High
Priest fell prone on the floor. The disc was darkening and
methought the life of the man was going with the brightness,
and I felt sad at the thought what the mortal part was so
frail. But, as I stood regarding him, he arose and retired to
his stone couch and laid himself thereon, murmuring many
things that I did not understand. So I left him.
The fourth chambers were around me, filled with warmth
and a deep lurid glow issuing from the centre of the floor
where yawned a square bright opening. I was filled with
mystery and awe, and the sensation that I was in unknown
depths, nor perceived any end to the other chambers stretching
right left. The one I stood in was immense, and columns
threw great shadows away from the central light that appeared
at times to flare more brightly. Pictures with bold, luminous
outlines stood out in the farther shadows, mystic representations
somewhat similar to those in the first chamber mostly, I found,
depicting the wondrous conception of Neptsis and labour with
the hermaphrodite Wild and horrible the phosphoric
Zul. <z
those giant forms, save only at times that weird sigh or moan,
or what it might have been, that seemed to come from nowhere
and return thither.
22
THE INTERIOR.
*
A me, a new strange feeling I had never known
fear seized
before, inclination to mount thence with speed and
and an
seek my native skies and yet I longed to see and know more,
;
23
CAP. III.
TEKTHAH.
Upon the north coast landing, with all their flocks and herds,
with cruel arms and many warriors advancing, taught of Azazel
in the art of war, the inhabitants were swept before them in
ruin and downfall
and along their path of dreadful conquest
;
they built great citadels where the ground was steep and high,
half hewn in the rock, half built above, terrace above terrace,
with galleries and corridors and ladders to climb upon, which,
being pulled up, rendered access impossible. These great Pallos
were as one huge fort, full of rooms and very strong, y and
Toltecs from the unknown Iluelme or Tlapallan, which they left in consequence
of a revolution but which event, however, is said to have taken place shortly before
;
the Christian era The account states apparently that seas and countries intervened
between them and their native land before they reached America.
y These most remarkable buildings, (i. e. those built of brick or stone,) are
apijarently in later history only found among the oldest Americans and we
24
TEKTHAH.
the chief of them was called Surapa, which was in the province
of Astra. Nor was there anything lost by so building, for it
was by this discovered where
the yellow gold and thelay
mines of gems, and where good stone was, and clay for making
bricks.
And thusexpanding minds they marched southwards
with
until they came to the
tall volcano that looked above the waters,
but I think this is highly improbable, as the wonder of such a construction would
be certainly greater than an ordinary city of scattered buildings; and it would have
taken cleverer men than the followers of Cortez and Piznrro to have fabricated
cities and polities like those of Mexico aud Peru.
The northern Indians, the Iroquois and Nez-Perces, also followed the com-
munistic idea in their "long-house." such as one described by Lewis and Clarke
on the Columbia river; a single house 150 ft. long, built of sticks, straw, and
dried grass, containing 24 fires, about doul:)le that number of families, and num-
bering about 100 fighting men. This represents a communal household of nearly
500 people, and another building of the same race (Nechecolees) was lar{;er, being
226 ft. long. Some tribes of the Amazon and of Borneo have such houses.
It is interesting to trace the etymology of the word Pallo, in Pueblo, palace?
and the Egyptian Pharaoh, which last word is very curious as embodying the
communistic idea, representing the Egyptian words Per-aa^ "great house [in which
men live]."
25
TEKTHAH.
X This name, and that of Avan, (p. 76), are the only names we possess of
any daughters of Adam, but an old tradition says he had twenty-three daughters
and thirty-three sons.
27
ATLANTIS.
28
TEKTHAH.
earth, and a navy was built which could sail round the moat of
Zul and across the sea to certain islands which lay upon the
horizon. The pleasant arts of peace were opened to all to
increase, and with security ended that slaughter of female
children (which was of necessity when useless mouths but
hindered warriors' progress). Yet none might say who was his
father, for every woman had many husbands; and indeed
wherever I looked the policy of man ran contrary to all natural
creation. And by many means the proportion of the females
very greatly increased, some being stolen away and sold to a
distant master, who disposed of the male offspring as slaves,
which soon died, and thus the women were preserved to the
great increase of the nation.
And before this had there sprung up a new race x by reason
of the Last-created taking unto themselves mistresses from among
the captives, and by indiscriminate misdemeanors, which offspring,
degraded, and unowned, became servants and slaves, being also
encouraged to multiply to aid the supply.
Tekthah, Tzan of Atlantis, with a brilliant court, led the nation
afar from its upright paths, followed willingly enough, for indeed
human nature ever sins naturally. The cities of the land followed
whatsoever the capital led.
The nation halted.
The
desire and instinct of progress and development, that,
formed by congregation and led by a few energetic minds,
precocious children in Life's nursery, manifested itself in the
eager restlessness, the collecting into potential communities and
the desire for civilization and its benefits, was satisfied with a
power that was able to supply itself with every need and luxury,
falling before the temptation of slothful enjoyment and turning
its vast warlike energies on the satisfaction of carnal lusts. The
X Here we have a plain statement as to the origin of a new race of mankind
which verifies the theory of Max Miiller. This distinguished scientist says, in the
—
course of one of his lectures "New mixtures of mixed or mongrel offspring with
other or with pure breeds will make confusion even worse confounded, and after
hundreds and thousands of years the very possibility of pure breeds may very
justly be doubted. How then should we dare in our days to classify mankind
according to such variable peculiarities as colour, skull or hair?" Personally I do
not quite agree in toto to this, but to a very great extent I think it to be correct.
29
ATLANTIS.
X Tile Atlantean religion wasin advance, perhaps we may say, of all traces
that understood of the religion of prehistoric times, which is supposed to be
are
Xature-worship alone, with no representations to aid the imagination. Rut that a
people so powerful and of such perceptions should conceive physical forms of
natural objects is scarcely surprising.
30
TEKTHAH.
3'
CAP. IV.
THE PALACE.
ing more than a mile from shore for fear it would get caught
in the current of the great cataract that everyone believed fell
over the edge of the world where the Sun rose and where the
great sea-animals lived that they saw occasionally monsters of —
the deep that reared like enormous serpents from the waves.
The ship entered the harbour, and still Tekthah mused; now
33 3
ATLANTIS.
34
THE PALACE.
oe, The particular style of the architecture of this apartment is perhaps like Assyrian,
as regards the oblong shape. The Assyrian roof was of thick layers of earth on
strong beams, the pavement of sun-dried bricks, or baked bricks, or of alabaster
slabs laid in bitumen and delicately carved. We find also carved alabaster dados,
many of which show traces of having been decorated in colours, and above them
baked bricks richly coloured and glazed. A vast amount of ornament is employed,
and doors were used, a piece of furniture we do not often find mentioned here,
save the great gates of the city and doors of the temple of Zul.
In China we find also in palaces and temples coloured glazed tiles, or the bricks
themselves were coloured and glazed.
^ The range of the genus Mastodon in time was from the middle of the Miocene
period to the end of the Pliocene in the Old World, when they became extinct
—
but in America several species especially the best-known, owing to the abundance
of its remains, which have been variously called M. Ohioticus^ M. Ainericanus and
M. Giganteus — survived quite to a late Pleistocene period. —Ency. Brit.
35
ATLANTIS.
the ladies also had each her cup-bearer and pipe-bearer among
the rest, and to every one there was a fan-bearer to brush
away flies.
Sumar lay at the feet of her mighty lord, and on her
Rhadaman, the firstborn by a concubine, leader of warriors,
whose name was known among all the tribes and among the
barbarian hordes afar off, cast a long stare of such a character
that, blushing, she averted her face. From her his glance
travelled to the Tzan, but as soon as he found he was in danger
of being observed he resumed his meal.
The Tzantan Huitza had observed both expressions with a-
frown, and I watched keenly, seated among the lower guests,
using my perceptions and power to understand all I saw and
gathering the meaning then and afterwards. I perceived that
he and Rhadaman were both bent upon obtaining sovereign
power, and that both as warriors were unequalled in the land,
being also greatly beloved by the populace. Yet lately Huitza,
ambitious and energetic, blotted out by strenuous works the
remembrance of his brother's past deeds, and nought but the
sire's power upheld above him the rival.
For Huitza had altered the fashion of war, making his troops
most formidable, and causing jealousy to the Tzan, and a great
unrest, (he loving not to see one too powerful).
Yet all my
regards went forth to the Tizin Azta, and at that
first mingling with human beings came my first intuition of
my mission, my first trial, my first rebellion.
X I read this as "ostrich", meaning a great bird with plumes; but it may be an
earlier species.
36
THE PALACE.
For of all that godless land Noah was the only just man,
being also governor of the province of Tek-Ra, under Huitza,
his lord. And it was shown to me that I should uphold Huitza
and cause him to become who was
the Tzan, whereby Noah,
much by him, would come into great power. Yet
entrusted
being greatly entranced by the beauty of Azta, methought I
might win her regards and do also as much good by aiding
her to gain the sovereign power, knowing nought of women
or why they were not as fitted to rule as men, and repressing
the voice that told me that the more earthly mould should
greatest excel upon Earth.
In sad mood I gazed around, hesitant, not at all willing to
abjure this woman and fulfil my mission unbiassed, but looking
upon her until her beauty drowned my reason.
O Azta, dear Love, how queenly wert thou, and how my soul
regarded thee! Thou didst not know how I watched thee
then, nor conceived the great love which I bore to thee.
To me everything was wondrous and strange and impressive,
nor can I tell the peculiar emotions I experienced on perceiving
For ever among the great ones of the land sat the mystics
who opened up to their mincls the hidden things. So that the
counsellors, judges, treasurers, privy officers and all rulers for-
bore to interest themselves in affairs of Earth, being greatly
captivated by strange arguments and visions of delightful things.
And especially the queens lent willing ears to such revelations,
fascinatedby the magic of those evil ones and the things of
marvel and awe which they revealed so that at last none of ;
37
ATLANTIS.
3«
THE PALACE.
39
ATLANTIS.
Lord Mehir overmuch." This she said to soothe Azta, for she
knew her regard for Huitza, and feared the wiles of Sumar.
Then, with one of those impetuous motions I learned to love
so passionately, Azta turned her lithe body over on the couch^
addressing old Na more than any other object in the landscape
but because she could speak. Her countenance unrelieved by
aught of colour save on the full lips, framed by waves and
masses of living gold, took on, apart from its usual serene calm,
a glowing vivacity, and her great eyes, yellow as the liquid
amber and lurid as fire, flashed in their vivid beauty, her
features expressing joyousness, contempt, savagery, hauteur,
and a wild reckless menace.
"Behold me!" she said; "am I not beautiful? who can
equal me in all Atlantis ? At my feet are all the princes, whom
I scorn, evenRhadaman the Superb — ha! //>, forsooth! There
is but one other who is equal to me; who is it, thou old one?"
" There is none. The only one who approaches thee is the
Lord Huitza."
Azta's eyes flashed at the name, and to me came an un-
comfortable idea.
"It is he, the Lord Huitza! Ay, equal to me, and excelling.
40
THE PALACE.
The Empress passed her hand across her eyes as if she would
awake from a vision. "It is enough," she said; "fan me, for
I would sleep."
41
CAP. V.
42
THE HAI.L OF FEASTING.
43
ATLANTIS.
little brutes that bit with their big yellow teeth and flung
themselves madly about, but whose flesh was very good to eat.
A clear and musical trumpet-call summoned all to the
banquet, lighted by torches after the sun had set, in order that
its pleasures might be kept up far into the night, for these
themselves only inflicted its degradation upon slaves and the lowest malefactors.
Hut persons were hanged on a tree as far back as the days of Joshua (VTII. 29),
and I understand that hanging was a very early Egyptian penalty.
Tlie jiunishment of liurning alive and the presence of women at feasts were
essentially Babylonian customs.
44
THE HALL OF FEASTING.
more than all; and next Sada and the Lady Pocatepa, who
was a priestess of Neptsis and knew much magic, wearing the
insigniaof the goddess to whom she administered in daring
blasphemy, as not being a virgin she should not have ministered.
Large circular bowls held wine, distributed among the revel-
45
THE HALL OF FEASTING.
a nation, living among the beasts, who had teeth like the great
apes and ate their own offspring; long histories that caused
Azta's eyes to glisten, of warUke women of the North and West,
who fought in battle like men and killed all theirmale children,
and whose husbands were captured in raids and afterwards
killed also. Whereat were many sayings, silenced sneeringly by
47
ATLANTIS.
Tairu she bade him speak of the Amazon warriors, and listened
attentively while drunken lords snored on their couches, and
wanton women twined garlands in their hair and decorated them
with flowers and feathers.
In view of the drowsy state of the warriors, Gadema, Tek-
thah's cupbearer, a youth whose white skin and fair proportions
had raised him to the rank of favourite, murmured a compliment
to Azta as he passed her intentionally, but she impatiently
repulsed him, not wishing for conversation with any, but sitting
silent until the feast ended, and such as cared, or were able,
retired to their apartments. The moon arose and her pale light
shone down on where behind coloured walls and
the city,
columns the citizens lay in wantonness and disorder working
their damnation. Shone on those mighty masses of man's
creation, silvering temple and palace and monument, lighting
up the gardens and scintillating in showers of prinkling points
on the waters that ever heaved so restlessly, and made the
forests stand out like gray masses of lava. Lighted a tall dark
figure that glided from the pylons and columns of the palace
likea shadow, and lost itself among the trees with the silence
and mystery of one.
48
CAP. VL
THE GARDEN.
sadly back to the days before ever this passion had possessed
me and I loved but Jehovah, loving Him with an enthusiastic
fervour of adoration for the wonder and the beauty of life
and health around. And full of my holiness and purity I yet
strayed to love one of Earth, and my love was as the breath
of a furnace that consumed me and would not let me go.
Would I had been warned by suspicions, but I would admit
none of them, pretending to believe that by indulging my pas-
sion for this fair woman I should be possessed of that know-
ledge of earth useful to the end of my mission. Judge me,
merciful Creator, that I sinned but by inviting a power too
strong to be overcome, and not for the lust of sin; nor judge
me harshly, O Thou who sinnest not, that the spirit of Heaven
in so fair a guise of Earth could cause me to embrace it.
It was Azta who stole out from the palace in the moonlight,
for I had cast my spirit over her that she should do this, and
she had wrapped about her a fine purple robe. To her couch
within the great arbour-forming vine by the fountains I drew her,
and thither she went, casting herself upon the cushions, her
full white bosom heaving under the sway of suppressed passions
ears shall sound the far-away thunder of the surf borne upon
the scented breeze, that ravished the soul with music, a
slumbrous background to the ripple of the fountains among
the water-lilies. And thou wert like the Queen of the night,
49 4
ATLANTIS.
the fires of Heaven and the dark Hereafter I swear it! Why,
why," she cried, shaking her hands and throwing herself
back on the cushions, "are women as nought but playthings
for the warriors? We, who solace their restless hours, who
nurse them in sickness and bear sons and daughters to them?
Why may we not be warriors too, companions in the field as
well as in the home ? Yet will I rule supreme in Atlantis
!
50
THE GARDEN.
loving her yet the more, " and of how Tekthah took thee as
Empress after that Atlace died, who lies in the pyramid near
to the temple of Neptsis. It is known to Us that thou bearest
features as she gazed, and I forgot all but herself and her beauty.
" My name is Asia," I said, enraptured with her exceeding
lovliness: "I am not of this Earth, being of the breath of
Heaven. Yet, Azta, I love thee as never yet a mortal man
could love." And, being full of passion towards her, bent my
head, thinking to salute her with a kiss, but she repulsed me.
At that wondered, knowing nought of women nor of the
I
51
ATLANTIS.
52
THE GARDEN.
in that moonlit night, and around her was a sublety that was
not of Earth.
"Thou art very beautiful! " I cried in rapture, — "too beautiful
for Earth 1" gazed on her with a passion of love, such
and I
53
ATLANTIS. #
Httle and waved with her hand as though to put it from her.
"Fear not," I said, "thou shalt not fall an thou wiliest, if I
am with thee." Yet I said no more, wishing her to love me
not only for an award so low.
"And thou lovest me?" she said, musingly; "whilst others
scorn; and I, Tizin of Atlantis!"
She laughed a rippling, scornful laugh. "To look on thee
is to forget," she said, more to herself than to me; and throwing
herself back, gazed with halfclosed eyes and a certain smile,
as she tried to read in my face the passion she could not
wholly understand.
"Fairest, the day will soon be here," I said, "and the night
passes."
"The night passes," she repeated slowly with deep emphasis.
"Wilt thou come here again to-morrow night?" I asked,
longingly.
She nodded abstractedly. With a tumult of joy I kissed
her hand again and again and she smiled Hke the Sphinxes
on the steps — serene, inscrutable.
" How I love thee !
" I cried — " never have I loved so before !
"
" Never before? Hast never felt the power of love and sought
for that of another?" she asked softly.
" There speaks thy beauteous sex, fair Azta," I answered
" ask thine heart the question."
"Nay, Sir," she said, haughtily, "I came not to thee:" and
with one finger on her lips she drew back, taking her hand
from mine.
I caught it again hastily, crying, "Sweetest, be not angry I
for we did nought but gaze into the other's eyes. She sighed
very softly, and still gazing upon me with that fixedness as
though she sought for something, said as speaking to herself,
"Methinks thou art my Ideal." I felt the warmth of her body
and cried in ecstacy, "How beautiful thou art!"
She lay still and offered no resistance to my embrace,
and emboldened by her sweet acquiescence I drew her
closer to me and pressed her to my bosom, feeling her
heart beat faster and faster with a wild joy as she yielded
to my love and lay peacefully in my arms with a happy
smile on her lips.
looked straight into her eyes, and she returned the look.
I
Ah, the electricity of souls The leaping fire that springs from
I
one to the other and wraps both in a mad whirl, melting two
into one with its hot embrace and ever burning more furious
with its own increasing passion. Brighter and brighter it grows,
and faster and more fast rush the streams of frenzy, mingling
and whirling and uniting in one great irresistible torrent of
ecstatic Life that leaves the body and soars to the skies. Our
lips met, and with the hot contact and with her arms about
me she closed her eyes.
O hallowed moments that so swift speed to the gates of
Doom ! O wondrous fire of Paradise that lights the Earthly
gloom! O Life that blasts the soul it leaves to dream upon
its bliss —the soul that gives up everything for one sweet
woman's kiss! O God, if all our Heaven's life might be that
holy joy when souls in purest unity are free from Earth's alloy,
moment of delight and then let all things cease
give us that
one moment in the living Fire, and then eternal peace.
Small wonder that the Angels need Eternity from which to
—
make a day, yet ah, this was sweeter than all the days of
Eternity
57
ATI.ANTIS.
A —
and increasing the crashing,
distant rolHnij^ uproar, swelling
roaring echoes of a huge drum, shattering and reverberating
and thundering, dispelled the Dream.
Azta's face was ghastly white, but the smile on her lips was
divine. She opened her eyes and laughed very softly, and I
gazed into her glorious eyes with a depth of ineffable love, and
smoothed her hair. Ah, those moments of damnable delight 1
58
CAP. VI I.
THE MARKET-PLACE.
not with her, and there were many there who gazed
truly,
curiously upon myself. I felt a new joy leap within me, yet
59
ATLANTIS.
his furious and impetuous nature that morning he had killed two
;
guilty terror, averted her eyes, and implored him with her gaze.
Tekthah's countenance grew livid with rage as he perceived
the rebellion in Huitza's heart, and the mute appeal of Fae
to him.
" A
report has reached us that our secrets are betrayed," he
hotly said; "that thou hast deserted thy chief lord the Tzan to
favour a subject, and may lead him to act to his detriment.
6i
ATLANTIS.
sound arose, and faint shrieks. Huitza leaped to his feet with
a shout of rage, and his spear was poised threateningly towards
the Tzan. There was a moment of thriUing stillness. A slave
clutched his arm the chief felled him to the earth, and then,
:
swinging him up, dashed him down among the viands, glaring
defiantly towards the dais.
A low murmur followed the act, a challenge to the sire's
wrath. Rhadaman uttered a surprised ejaculation intended to
encourage the monarch to protest.
The incensed chief turned on him furiously, correctly believing
him to be the instigator of it all.
" Thou spawn of a foreigner I " he roared ; for Rhadaman's
mother, Maroa, was from among the slave peoples of the west
" There is thine enemy, Tekthah; there is the traitor!"
" How " shouted the attacked warrior, grasping his spear and
!
rising in wrath :
" dost thou, rebellious one, dare to taunt me
who led the armies of warriors before thy whipling arm could
twirl a sling! By Zul, thou shalt not so dare again!"
Tekthah made a sign to the Guards, and the ominous clang of
arms sounded fearfully above the angry voice. Yet he Hked not to
deal too severely with the princes, preferring to calm them himself.
"Silence!" he commanded in a great shout, as the more
timid began to seek the exits " may we not administer justice
;
62
THE MARKET-PLACE.
rule, never set his power against anything that could have a
chance of being successfully opposed, keeping down such as only
a display of exhausting power could combat by hints that such
was objected to, so that his authority was never obtrusively
All this withdrew attention from me, for each one was too
engrossed to notice a stranger, and I had time to consider how
to remain unobserved.
Slaves carried out the dead woman, whose pouring blood,
running from the spear-point that came through her back, made
a long, horrid track.Mostly such of the Imperial household,
dead, were lowered arms of one of those awful idols
into the
that ever looked upon the majesty of the crater of Zul, and
were consumed so by the fires; the ashes being placed in the
temple whose Divinity they worshipped all but the heart,
;
63
ATLANTIS.
city, and were filled from the river without the walls, being
pumped up by slaves on the great wheels and conveyed across
the sea-moat in an aqueduct. There were many auctioneers
of wine also, for the grape was abundant in the land, and
was much cultivated.
In the centre of the Market-place was the sarcophagus of
Maroa, mother of Rhadaman which building was of the shape
;
ALL OVER THE LAND WERE THESE TEMPLES, AND, IN PLACES, COLOSSAL
STATUES HEWN FROM JHE LIVING ROCK.
Orders from the Museum of which the name signified the Secret
of God, where they were trained and instructed by the graven
tablets and oral teaching in dark mysteries of fire and the
cloven flame, x watched intently to learn what they might of
the arts exhibited to be used for their own ends. There were
those who prophesied of things to come, eating the leaves and
/3 and dentists and
roots of plants to increase their perceptions,
such as sold medicinaland wondrous nostrums were
plants
always surrounded by thronging crowds, who hoped to find in
their remedies some relief for disorders and pain, or increase
of beauty to stimulate their vanity. Poor human creatures
^ The berry of the laurel is said to greatly stimulate sleep-walking and prevision.
66
THE MARKET-PLACE.
on this one, sinless but by the sin of others, and it was healed
because of my sorrow. And the guards swept back the crowd
by reason of pressure on our march.
The houses, some of two storeys high, but most only one
from the ground, built of blocks of stone and not a few of
brick cemented with bitumen, /3 were painted in many wondrous
colours, and many had square columns in the front, leaning in-
ward from their bases, y and some sculptured with skill. On
either side of every doorway were the two images called the
Guardians of the entrance, and there was a goodly space
u. This colour, as highly esteemed in China, was limited there to the privileged
use of theEmperor. In all structures belonging to the throne the colour was
yellow, it being a capital offence for any other person to use it.
/3 This form is found in the buildings of Assyria.
y This follows the pleasing pyramidal idea, and was a form of portal used
among the Incas. But we learn that the Peruvian Aymaras, whose monuments
show a civilization more advanced than Palenque, have them perpendicular.
67
ATLANTIS.
produce was sold, brought in from farms without the walls, where
large flocks and herds roamed and fattened on the fine herbage,
and where all kinds of fruits, vegetables, meats and drinks were
exchanged for other commodities. And indeed, everything was
obtained by barter, save all things for the Emperor and lords,
which were given to them in proportions. There were the
offices of marble-merchants, stone-masons, builders and timber-
merchants, and beautiful open where
furriers and mantle-
stalls
68
THE MARKET-PLACE.
69
CAP. VIII.
70
THE MARCH OF HUITZA.
fire to leap from Azta's stormy eyes. " He is safe. Even now,
with his troops, he leaves the city. Rhadaman is thy slave
and Shar-Jatal thy tool. For his advancement by Rhadaman
he will destroy his master and thou shalt reign with thy
propitious lord whom thy tool will remove in season, leaving
thee Tizin of Atlantis in very truth."
And thus I heard. For Mah, deeming me of the fallen Ones,
scrupled not to voice his plans with an admirable ruffianism
that caused me to stare. Alone, for the most part, in the great
Temple, surrounded by the mystic shadows of the hierophantic
walls and the dark vaults of unknown sin and corruption, he
lived a life more of the spirit, yet dark and terrible, and as
yet I knew not how the throne of the land could please him.
In a thronging maze of new understandings and wonderings I
stood, forgetting my high mission in the interest of weighing
why this was and why that, and possessed of a great passion
for the lovely woman before me, who should work my ruin.
"Hearest thou these things?" she asked of me.
^'Yea, I hear," I answered; loving her that she did appeal
to my soul to commune with hers, and unheeding the sharp
command in her voice.
She upon me very thoughtfully, and the dreadful
looked
priest watched us both. I was minded to chide him, yet me-
thought not yet. He knew more of the ways of Earth than I,
and the time was not ripe for interference; neither did I know
by what reason to chide, save of evil of design.
"Dost approve the plan?" he asked of Azta.
" Yea," she answered, somewhat abstractedly.
71
ATLANTIS.
^-^1
"Nay, great Lady, 'twas but for thy convenience that this
was done," he said deprecatingly.
Yet she still frowned, and looking on the woman, addressed
her with scant courtesy:
"Soh! Hast heard of what we conversed?"
"Nay, O Queen."
Mah looked disturbed, yet I perceived he cared not to interfere
with Azta's humour. But I liked not the look in Pocatepa's eyes.
" 'Tis well. Return where thou camest until such time as I
shall send for thee," commanded Azta.
She stretched forth her hand. The figure of the woman faded,
72
THE MARCH OF HUITZA.
and vanished, and from the floor where she had stood rose a
greatmoth that sped swiftly into the shadows.
"Peace, my old father," she said to the priest. "Thou
seest she is in truth my handmaiden, even as thou didst say.
I go to consider this thing.'
We went, and as we traversed the streets there was a sudden
halt and a dispersion of the yellow robed crowds, Huitza's
troops were coming through the Bazaar to the fortifications, and
the Tzantan himself marched at their head.
Over his towering stature the golden vulture-wings rose from
his helmet, for as a son of Tekthah he wore the emblem to
signify that he might soar near the glory of Zul and still yet
not attain to it, the people of Earth delighting in such figures.
The Prince's expression was stern and terrible, and his great
red-brown beard fell over his breastplate in waves, nearly
hiding it.
73
ATLANTIS.
now eagerly discussing the passage of the troops and the pro-
spects of captives and women But I pondered how that, if
Azta became ruler of the land, I might fulfil my mission through
her; and was pleased by the thought that excused the love of
this woman to my soul.
The Tzan was disturbed in mind and bade Shar-Jatal attend
him by his favourite seat on the colonnade, to play chess with
him. Azta had me, and on the two men I centered my
left
to be one of Us.
The Representative of the People perceived a crisis. He
himself might not seize the throne at once, being restrained
by the priest Mah ; but if Azta became ruler the voice of the
nation would aid him to supplant her.
" Rhadaman is with us," he said, but Tektiiah's furious gesture
stopped him.
" Rhadaman is among his women," he said, with a sneer,
and conveying also one whom
he despised because
to Shar-Jatal,
of his effeminacy, beginning to fear treachery which could scarce
be defined; "he has given up the slaying for the production
of warriors."
74
THE MARCH OF HUITZA.
75
CAP. IX.
AZTA.
76
AZTA.
were upon me as I watched her. Ah, how lovely she was as she
looked about with her large yellow eyes in a deep thought, and
the molten gold ran in streams in her hair as her white fingers
ran through it. Ah, God, pardon for the earthly love that
fired my melting soul as I gazed upon her! There I saw a
Spirit clad in flesh of far more subtle mould than that of man,
and more lovely than any other woman; for at times one stands
preeminently above the rest. Yet still in my love was a great
fear and a knowledge that it was not right.
With heart on fire I watched her, yet sternly, for I liked not
the mention of Huitza's name. And suddenly looking up, she
beheld me, and dropped her eyes before my glance.
"And has my Love forgotten?" I asked.
" I have not forgotten," she said softly, in a very sad mood
for her, the red blood rushing to her face; "how may one
forget these things? But perchance they of Earth love better
their own kind."
"What can woman ask more than love?" I demanded, half-
amazed. " On woman did Heaven pour its choicest gifts of love,
and for love would she do anything, even sin to the peril of
her soul, to share a loved one's fate. And for no reward,
perchance : whilst I offer — nay, give thee, whether thou accept-
est it or leavest it to die —a love greater than thou couldst
dream of? Dost hear me, Azta?"
"I hear, my lord: yet can love be forced?"
" Forced !
" I cried, in tortured amaze, for verily here was a
barrier I could not understand. " Does not thy soul leap forth
to mine which loves it? Did not that bright flame spring in
full quivering beauty when first we met, when thou didst lie in
my arms and vow thou hadst never loved as then? Dost thou
forget, O Azta? Dost thou forget?"
She moved up her round, fair shoulders, while beneath her
fingers the vine-tendrils fell in broken fragments.
A sudden fear overcame me, a feeling of horror and despair.
"O Azta!" I cried, "thou dost not know what love is!"
She looked up fearfully, her lips parted, and I saw her shrink
77
ATLANTIS.
before my gaze. The light went from her eyes, and left them
dark and sombre.
" Oh, speak not in such a voice," she faltered. " How can I
78
AZTA.
"Thou art not the only one who has ever loved me," she
whispered; "but methinks thou givest more than is thine
to give."
I had: and I trembled also at her words. Yet there was
joy in her possession and I did but hold her closer to me.
I slowly pressed back her hair, exposing the broad, white
forehead, and fixed my eyes on hers so that my soul entered
into her.
" Did I not love thee so well, thou couldst not choose but
follow me," I said.
She did not shrink, but regarded me fixedly with fascinated
eyes, smiling and without fear.
"Wouldst thou force me?" she whispered; "wouldst thou
take me in a whirlwind into unknown regions and leave me
to perish in mid-air and return to Earth but in such fearful
'
79
ATLANTIS.
my arms, and sighing. Then suddenly she rose up, and placing
her hands upon my breast and forehead, said :
" Hast thou ever
yearned, as though thy soul wandered alone searching its breath
of life for that which shall satisfy it.' For the Ideal that at
times thou have found, yet doubting oft? And
thinkest to
having believed to have found it, perceiving to thy torment
yet others, but unwiUing to release thy soul's first love ? Wouldst
—
thou cast me from thee and ah, at times I dare not think of
what might befall if thou didst!" She shuddered and stopped.
"O Asia, what love?" she cried, piteously.
is
" My Azta, my
Love, I know not. Love is the Life of God,
and none can fathom it."
She threw her arms impetuously round my neck and kissed
me again.
How I loved her ! and yet was I unhappy.
"Fill thy soul with my love," I implored; "fill thy heart
and brain, that thou mayest be and remember." faithful
" I have prayed," she whispered, " yet nought but vague
hast looked upon the face of God ; and think now that thou
art subservient to a created being of Clay 1
THE THRONE.
the same entrance that exposed the stairway showed the sea
in the distance and the nearer tops of buildings and trees.
And before the throne lay the sceptre, symbol of Royalty and
conquest, shaped like the National Standard, four-armed and
cruciform, but surmounted by an orb of solid gold signifying,
the Sun.
The floor of the hall, of blocks of green marble with yellow
markings, lay smooth and reflecting as a lake, from whose depths,
in a square formation of great area, rose black marble columns
rooted in pediments overlaid with gold, supporting a ceiling
painted blue, in the midst of which was a rayed sun of gold,
hall was gloomy and magnificent, beyond all that had been
before or will be again.
Between columns stood massive iron braziers, to hold
the
the kindled on each side of the entrance lay a lion of
fires ;
sin without equal and never again will such sight be seen as
:
and many more, conspicuous among them being the giant Amal,
who had seven toes on each foot. I looked towards the tall
figure that sat upon the throne, holding the sceptre, and per-
ceived it to be Rhadaman; yet uneasy he was, doing a daring
thing in thus raising himself tothat seat on the square plinth,
one step high, that had never been mounted before save by
the Tzan and the Keeper of the Throne. But too often had
he rehearsed this scene in his mind to hesitate now; and now
must he strike a blow, or wait and be perchance supplanted.
With a flushed face he rose to his towering height, and of
a truth he was very pleasant to look upon. Yet his heart was
evil and his ambition overcame all else, for now that man had
gone astray from God it was each one's aim to be lord of all
the rest. A Httle energy, he cried aloud, a little bloodshed,
and the throne would be his by right of descent, and his friends
should not be forgotten. This he said very graciously and with
much meaning in his voice, and reminded all there that, should
83
ATLANTIS.
'
'^^'' '•^ *
,>v^r*"" '
''•--»"*'*''''-*->--'«^
••
"^••'-r-rt vilggUl^.
- .'v-,'0
THE THRONE.
^^
1
^w
'
^-:'N-i>
>»*-
U ^^^H
i
mm-
AZTA CAST HERSELF NEGLIGENTLY ONTO THE SEAT.
palace, with mane bristling and tail slowly waving from side
to side. The other one growled too, and suddenly, as the
knowledge of his sacrilege overcame the Tzantan, he hastened
to the rear of the throne and crouched down, as the pat-pat
of sandalled feet was heard on the very threshold.
One glance he gave over his shoulder to perceive if there
87
ATLANTIS.
was yet time to fly, but there was none. A figure entered
marble seat and patting the leopard-skin smooth where she had
pressed it; then, turning, she descended to the pavement and
glided out through the entrance, undisturbed by the lion guards
or the relieved chieftain.
He uttered a blasphemous oath as she disappeared. Then,
after waiting until she should be out of hearing, he, too, passed
the lions, who growled ominously, and with a sigh of relief
hastened after her.
THE THRONE.
89
ATLANTIS.
She bowed with a flattering smile, and her mood aroused him.
He surveyed her from head to foot with blazing eyes. His
manners were rough and impatient, and he suddenly caught her
in his his feelings not allowing time for tardy speeches
arms,
to lead up diplomatically to such an act.
"Dost know I love thee?" he said, kissing her Hps with
burning fervour in spite of her remonstrances and scarce could ;
I restrain my
wrath at witnessing this.
"Thou art in truth a rude suitor, by Zull " she cried angrily.
"Of old I knew it; thinkest I am such a fool as thou?"
The look of her yellow eyes made him uneasy, and the
pointed speech cooled his sudden ardour.
"Fool?" he said, with an awkward smile, relaxing his
embrace.
" Nay, take me not so seriously, it is not thy wont," she said,
still with that ring of sarcasm in her voice.
" I would wish to take thee seriously," he said hotly.
" Pshaw ! a serious woman is but a sorry thing," she laughed,
with ringing musical scorn.
" Azta, thou tormentest me!" he cried, as, half-encouraged
by her manner, he again caught her in an enraptured embrace.
She looked on him and laughed, a silvery, ripphng, mocking
laugh, that stung his ardour, but checked his purpose.
"/torment thee!" she cried. "It is thy country that should
torment. Thou, a Chief of armies; /, a mere helpless
—
"Say it not!" he cried passionately, kissing her with rude
rapture: "one moment of thee were worth all Atlantis!"
" Shame, shame What when the lord Huitza shall come
!
90
THE THRONE.
91
ATLANTIS.
arm and clenching his fist till the great muscles cracked, while
his eyes flamed with the deadly purpose of his mind " Thou
;
92
CAP. XL
NOAH.
Seeing me, Azta uttered a glad cry and threw herself into
my arms, so that my heart was glad, and I kissed her again
and again, perceiving her to be still under the influence of the
vision, and not accountable for her former words.
"Yet thou hast not done well," I cried. "Bad estate will it
be to thee, the toy of such an one as yon debauched chieftain,
and soon will he cast thee by as a flower that has ceased to
bloom. Hast thou not learned that the love of Heaven is better
than aught the Earth can offer?"
She answered not, but hiding her face in my bosom, burst
into a flood and sobbed violently. I was distressed
of tears
and amazed, not yet comprehending her nature, and believing
that I was the lord of her heart, and none besides. I com-
feeling sore.
"And so will I; and of thy might could'st thou not make
thyself Tzan of all the land?" shedemanded desperately and
imploringly; "thou, powerful, invincible? What could stand
before thee?"
I raised her up and looked into her eyes, that were as two
lakes overbrimming with fire.
"Not but in love may Heaven and Earth mingle, the adapt-
93
ATLANTIS.
able life of all Spirits," I said, "else, if this might be so, there
" Dear Love, thou could'st not understand what I could tell
94
NOAH.
flaxen hair and their large bodies. Everything was violent and
unnatural, and I, instead of elevating those who might purge
95
ATLANTIS.
the land of its folly and reinstate the nation in integrity, sought
with his wife Talasse, and his sons, great men and godly, and
their wives and families, lived in holiness and rectitude, each
man cherishing but one wife, and each woman owning but one
lord. Neither did they atyearn after the unnatural vanities
all
holy every seventh day, as was of very old legend. And Noah,
who was a judge over the people, was just and upright in his
judgments, not striving by the quarrels of others to seize things
for himself, nor treating his servants harshly or improperly,
striving to live inhonourable relations and preventing his sons
from inquiring into the hidden things which Kasyade the Angel,
taught concerning demons. But Ham was kept at Zul as a
secret hostage for the behaviour of his father.
To Tek-Ra I conveyed myself, wishing to see this man, and
thinking to behold a very godlike being. I chanced upon him
as he sat in the shade under a portico of his palace, and, per-
ceiving him to be small of stature, began to consider him of
less account than I had heretofore. Yet I saw that no weight
of years had quenched the fire of his bold, bright eye, and
after, when I knew him better, I perceived that he had a
sensitive spirit which by reason of its bent had been through
the furnace of criticism harsh and galling to it, and through
ridicule that toughened in bitterness what it failed in checking
that by the failure of heart- wrought effort and bright and
sanguine hopes his nature was crushed, but not annihilated,
rising, Phoenix-like, to fight again, fiercely and bravely, and
win at last.
Methinks now that ofttimes smallness of bodily stature conduces
to largeness of spiritual, for, perhaps, that when these smaller
beings have overcome difficulties made doubly arduous by this
96
NOAH.
etherial beauty that lighted her sweet face and gave to her
carriage an unearthly majesty of which her innocent smile gave
proof of no knowledge. This was Susi, the wife of Shem,
firstborn of the Patriarch, she being of Edna, the master of
Methusaleh through Lamech and Danaos the son of Lamech.
Stepping up to her father-in-law, she laid her hand caress-
ingly on his shoulder, looking into his face with a beaming
smile of love.
'•Thinking why there is no reward for sorrow, dear father,
when thou sayest Jehovah and He will
aloud, 'Trust in
97 7
ATLANTIS.
distressed ;
" was it not thyself who taught me that all shall
be well in the next life?"
"Ay," answered the sire, gazing into the blue sky; "and
yet it seemed as though I led an Angel's footsteps."
"Oh, father!" she cried, hiding her face, more distressed by
the praise.
"Hide not thy face, daughter," said the old man, very ten-
derly; "'tis candour of a graybeard and not the gallant
the
speech of a youth. Look yonder to where the towers of Zul
rise in daring wantonness to Heaven, look around at our own
tall battlements, and tell me, is not Sin hid under a fair dis-
" but it is like the wasp's nest and those bright beings like
the wasps."
Each was in perfect sympathy with the other; the fair
lady's soft, white hand resting on the old man's hard,
knotted one.
He sighed. "I make thee sad," he said more cheer-
fully.
99
ATLANTIS.
the Lord of each territory drew a yearly tithe, and all over
the land the Tzan drew one-twentieth.
The season had been bad and the tax-collectors were over-
bearing and insolent. Bad feeling was aroused and in places
resistance was offered, but Noah advised submission when his
son angrily stated the grievance. Their family was not popular
by reason of their religious opinions and intolerance of bloodshed,
and the people would not aid any measures fully. He reminded
liim of Mehir's raid on Aten, and Rhadaman's on Talascan,
which was the chief city of Atala, of which he was lord, to
avenge a furious resistance to their collectors; how the latter
had hanged the Governor and sacked the city, thereby
impoverishing himself and having to make certain grants to
induce people to go and live there again; which, however, would
not keep Tekthah from taking an excuse to destroy all Tek-Ra
to avenge himself on her rebellious lord, his son which would
;
The ways of God are perverted, and the Sons of God aid the
ruin of the Sons of Earth. A day shall come when the sins
of this people shall recoil in horror and destruction on their
heads, and they shall be destroyed to make way for a race
who shall carry out the end for which we are appointed!"
His words stung me keenly, yet without amaze I felt the
sting. The vision of Susi was fresh before me, and her sweet,
innocent beauty and in a turmoil of emotions I groaned in
;
horror and in terror. Kven now, even now could I have saved
my .soul
lOO
NOAH.
Concerning the meaning of the names of the sons of Noah there is much
controversy. One division, (the Elohistic, or priestly,) appears to assign to them
a significance relating to the geographical distribution of nations, and another
ethnographical. We
see in Oen. X. 7 Sheba and Havilah as grandsons of Ham,
and in ver.29 as descendants of Shem. But in these old histories there are
28,
many circumstances which alter apparent meanings; similarity of names, polyandrous
descent, supplanting of one by another, and other things that we do not know of
nor find mentioned.
Of Shem, Wellhausen thinks, taking the Hebrew meaning of the word — "Name"
— that "sons of name" as opposed to ''sons of no name," (Job XXX. 8, A. V,
"sons of base men") would denote the pure-blooded Hebrews in antithesis to the
subject Canaanites.
Of Ham, the Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that, "on the assumption that
these early genealogies are geographical rather than personal or even ethnological,
the name, which in Hebrew radically signifies "hot," would seem to indicate the
torrid zone; and this inference, though not supported, so far as has hitherto been
discovered, by any corresponding explanation of the names of Shem and Japheth,
at least harmonizes well with the fact that on the whole Shem seems intended to
denote the intermediate and Japheth the northern regions of the world as known
to the compiler of the book of Genesis."
With regard to the statement concerning the corresponding significance of the
names of Shem and Japheth to Ham, this appears to be modified by what Mr.
Gladstone tells us of the latter. He says^the Japhetites are those, (Japhah fair,) =
—
of fair complexion which I take to possess an ethnological and geographical
significance equal to that of Ham, " hot," and would probably indicate the Aryan
races, which in perfect keeping with the words of Gen. IX. 27, "God shall enlarge
Japheth", are to-day the dominant power of the world.
Yet, taking this supposition as correct, we find Japhetites subject to Gog, a
Scythian prince, in Ezek. XXXVIII., where Meshech, Tubal and Gomer are cited
as belonging to his great army which issues from the north. (V. v. 2. 6.) Now
Magog signifies the Scythians, who were a Mongoloid race. But there need be
no hesitation in saying that they were of a different race, for in V. 5 we find
Aryan Persians and the Hamitic Ethiopians and Libyans in the same army.
lOI
CAP. XII.
ness that rolled so gradually from the lurid glow of the pit,
and lost itself in the darkness.
And above, sat Acoa before the brazier, on which slowly
revolved a globe of lambent fire, clear as crystal, with a self-
contained light that cast no shadow on the dark priest gazing
upon it so earnestly. Above in the air tremulated Something,
that lived and moved and breathed, but what it was I knew not.
In the bright globe events were taking place and figures
moved. Forms and faces appeared and vani.shed and certain
things haj^pened with a sugge.stion of weird horror in them. I
1 02
A MAN AND A NATION.
X Uriel ?
103
ATLANTIS.
104
A MAN AT^D A NATION.
105
ATLANTIS.
107
ATLANTIS.
1 08
CAP. XIII.
THE CIRCUS.
109
ATLANTIS.
and astrologers, those tall dark men clad in flowing robes who-
advised him confidentially; and behind them were led in chains
four large lions, two slaves leading each. These men were
immense, as tall as the Tzan and of enormous development,
and from ear to ear their white teeth showed in dazzling contra.st
to their heavy, black features.
Then came the princes of Atlantis : Rhadaman with his great
winged helmet, Mehir, Nezca, Amal, Colosse and a hundred
other well-known figures conspicuously Shar-Jatal, the People's
;
I lo
THE CIRCUS.
who were there to claim the victims for the altars of the goddess
and all these, and many more, came in for open-mouthed
regards. One popular favourite was missing it was Fae. —
Attendant upon each person was the peculiar suite the ;
where the Tzantan sat, and wondered would he wait until the
prophetic third day before he took any steps.
A trap was opened beneath the seats and from it a horse
bounded into the vast arena, surveying the scene with startled
eyes and pricked ears, suddenly transferring his attention to a
great, lithe, catlike creature that leaped from another trap, and,
belly to the earth, crept swiftly towards him. As, with a snort,
he turned, the spotted leopard leaped towards him with three
lightning bounds, but the shying little savage of the plains
avoided the fate, and with a swing of his heels rolling the
leopard over, fled like the wind. He eluded another in like
manner was sent in to aid the first, and when the two
that
were aided al.so by a third and caught him, he killed one and
fought the remaining two with teeth and hoofs, but succumbed
at length.
Then the victors had to fight a lion, who vanquished them
and then killed a horse and a buffalo and was finally impaled
on the spear-like horns of a large antelope.
There were many more such combats, and some where numbers
of animals took part, all of which the crowds applauded or
I 12
THE CIRCUS.
X It is not stated how many animals were in the arena at one time. But in
the Roman amphitheatre, Scylla exhibited a combat in which lOO lions took part,
Cnesar 400, and Pompey 600. This is on the authority of Pliny, who informs us
that Quintus Curtius started the savage pastime.
113 8
ATLANTIS.
this thing, and I perceived how their eyes looked more inwardly
than on the arena.
The great bull leaped from the trap and Gadema sped ofif
and seen him falter, the glare of the sun prevented them from
seeing the reason for the door by which he might have escaped,
;
114
THE CIRCUS.
Dazed and trembling with terror and pain the youth again
fled, and the people roared to encourage him, various war-cries
and the shrill whistles of certain warriors of Atala rising high
above the din. Blinded and bruised he staggered on, and only
by falling escaped the auroch's charge. He clutched for his
knife, but it was gone; but as in that was his only hope he
rose up and, running with incredible swiftness, found it.
horns, went with the rush of a missile into the crowd, was a
lifeless one.
Ill would it have been for Shar-Jatal had Azta known of his
treachery to the boy, for methought her eyes flashed
hapless
furiously now that he was dead and that she repented of such
scene having transpired. Yet other events followed so rapidly
that there was not much time for thought, and I perceived
Rhadaman and the other conspirators to be more at ease as the
time went on. And that night Targul the pipe-bearer died by
violence, being secretly put away by he
Shar-Jatal's orders lest
might be terrified into secret to Tekthah.
confiding any
There followed terrible fights between men and beasts, in
which sometimes the men had arms, sometimes not; and occa-
sionally some godlike man would rend the beasts single-handed
by a wondrous exhibition of giant strength. A few, like Gadema,
ended an unequal combat by an easier death than any they
could receive from their brute antagonists; and at such a
culmination the multitudes cried out with rage and gnashed
their teeth.
Night came, ending the sports day and starting its
for the
own diabolical saturnalia, and in the sheer movements of crowds
many were killed. The next day was the same as the first, on
a grander and still larger scale; the third day was for human
combats only, to finish with that foretold scene when the
Champion of Atlantis should fight with an unknown person,
and —
And what! What would follow? I knew not.
115
CAP. XIV.
The morning of the third clay broke, the day of great events
and great expectations. For this day was proclamation of con-
cessions to be made to all the people by Tekthah to bind their
hearts to him and keep them from following after Huitza; and
it was to be of great moment to Rhadaman and a turning-
point of many things. For this day had many hearts waited,
and it had come— and now is it gone, gone by afar and for ever.
Mow eager they were in their strength and wickedness, those
lusty ones who watched the arena, where men wrestled in oiled
nakedness, armed or weaponless Huge spears, hurled by Ti-
!
Ii6
THE THIRD DAY.
117
ATLANTIS.
Il8
THE THIRD DAY.
her gaze on the stranger with her yellow eyes afire, her lips
drawn tight over her teeth, and her hands clenched to her bosom
as though to still the heart whose beatings I could almost
perceive.
In a deathlike silence the duellists faced one another. Then,
both turning, strode fifty paces apart and struck their spears
into the earth; and again facing, drew their swords and advanced
with uplifted shields.
At the display of knowledge as to the etiquette of the duel
on the part of the stranger a murmur arose. The Imperial
party leaned forward on their couches, watching anxiously, Azta
with the look on her face that she wore while she read the
vision. The combatants slowly circled the one round the other,
watching for the sHghtest opportunity to direct a blow, yet
Rhadaman seemed overbearing and confident, knowing the eyes
of his fondly-imagined mistress were upon him.
He suddenly leaped towards his opponent, and quick as
lightning his great blade circled and cut upward; with equal
rapidity it was arrested on the opposing shield, and he sank down
to escape a deadly sweep that flashed in an arc of light over
his own buckler. With a shout he leaped up and swung his
sword, it hovering in its mortal dartings right, left and in light-
119
ATLANTIS.
nm^ circles; and rapid strokes were given and parried, the
swords looking like lightning flashes; and the thud and clang
rose fast and loud in the intense silence.
I saw wagers being given and taken quickly as the stranger's
prowess became greatly apparent to all, but over the crowd a
vast silence lay for the most part. So great a display of swords-
manshii) had never before been witnessed, and all trembled to
perceive unknown champion in their midst who could thus
an
stand up against Rhadaman.
An upward cut from the unknown warrior was followed
instantaneously by a manceuvre so rapid that scarce an eye
perceived the masterly stroke that lopped one of the high wings
from his opponent's helm and crushed down the other one. At
the sight a subdued shout arose and rolled like thunder through
Ihe crowds ; half of interest, half of involuntary dismay. The
populace remembered the legends of gods on Earth, fighting
and although they worshipped such with much joyfulness and
sacrifice of the blood of men, they did not profess any wish
to risk such an experiment as having one as a ruler, now that
such contingency appeared possible. But their interest was
c[uickly absorbed in the rapid play of blade and shield as the
giants fought with labouring breath.
Presently blood flew into the air in a red flying circle from
a whirling murmur burst forth like the sound of
blade, and a
a stormy wind as every man bared his teeth and drew his
breath over them with a hiss. With anxiety they watched,
hoi)ing their champion would finally win, for no one knew what
the other portended, nor indeed did they care to know. And
the greater prowess of the stranger became apparent, the
the
less the people loved to perceive it, and the wildest guesses
were made as to whom it might be who thus dared their best
warrior to combat in their very midst. Would that
single
Huitza were here to engage the mighty champion!
Untiringly the combatants fought, their dreadful blows falling
with a might that caused wonderment at their being withstood.
The Tzantan back to where his spear was standing,
retreated
and suddenly reaching round, plucked the huge staff from the
earth, changing his sword to the hand behind the shield. Before
120
THE THir<D DAY.
god, now let him show his ^owerl And it was so that before
the vengeful sword of Rhadaman could fall, a mighty sword-
sweep from the prostrate unknown one shore off a foot at the
ankle and bit into his other leg, so that he fell on the other's shield.
Triumph was turned to dismay, victory to direst uncertainty,
as the transfixed warrior rose up, and shaking off shield and
spear .stood erect and apparently unhurt.
Rhadaman swept out at him in like fashion with his blade,
but this the stranger avoided by an upward spring; yet not
altogether, for a sandal flew off and a red .stream of blood
gushed from the wounded foot.
The fallen Tzantan crouched behind his shield, and the Im-
perial party groaned ;
yet not so did Azta, but gazed in marble
silence A hush as of death fell over the vast crowds, as with
suspended breath they crouched in nearly uncontrollable excite-
ment, craning their necks and exposing their teeth.
There was a stir in the Imperial party, hasty consultations
and violent gestures. Over the crowds swayed a sound like
the sound of a storm in the great forests, as they watched and
speculated while Tekthah hastily discussed if the usual law of
fight to a finish should be permitted. Whereat a smile passed
across the Tizin's fateful countenance, serene and deadly.
The stranger allowed no time for such argument. In turn
wielding his spear, the dreadful weapon transfixed the Tzantan's
shield through the centre of the solar ornament and bored the
sevenfold mighty buckler with irresistible force. Pierced through,
Rhadaman leaped up and back with a groan, and the noise
fell
121
ATLANTIS.
Quick as the vivid lightning smote the sword, and the head
with its battered golden helmet leaped from his shoulders and
fell, rolling and jumping, and spouting blood among the masses
of released hair that flew with its circling like a veil about it-
The giant body fell heavily, and the gushing blood rushed from
the arteries in red rivers.
Not a sound was heard. and terrific, over-
Curiosity, intense
came all other considerations, and now
would be for the
it
122
CAP. XV.
Coming
in such manner the hero returned, supported by the
love and strengthened enthusiasm of the people and without
;
the walls lay his army, a great part of which, disguised, was
among the crowding thousands in the Circus.
Acoa blessed the prince with impassioned fervour, proclaiming
him Champion and now indeed the fires in the mountains ceased,
;
the popular warrior. There were many who declared that the
Tzan should abdicate in his favour, for his supremacy had only
been by the voice of the nation, enthusiastic over a warrior
who had made the Empire and founded cities. Yet many again
loved Tekthah for the sake of the old days and although the
;
that Huitza was his son first-born by the Tizin Atlace (as he
believed), he hated and feared him, and preferred that Shar-Jatal
should hold power before him.
So bad man he confided his fears, reminding him that
to this
the Tzantan had many and influential friends the Tizin, Mehir, ;
that should strike terror to the hearts of all who dare cross
the path of Tekthah, and seat him more firmly on the threatened
throne.
Now to my Love had been born a little son, for whom she
claimed the Tzan as sire, he being ignorant to a great degree
of myself, nor imagining the love I had for Azta, and forgetting
in the number of his mistresses that she never suffered him.
124
THE CHILD OF DOOM.
a worthy !
thinkest thou?"
He tried to terrify her with his presence and bearing, and
the pointedness of his remark ; but her expression faltered not.
"Does Tekthah hearken to rumours?" she asked sneeringly.
125
ATLANTIS.
into its features that were framed with beautiful curls like untcr
Azta's,its eyes being also like hers, while the large, full limbs
thou and I, Love, will ever live together and I will show thee
more than ever thou dreamest of or ever could imagine. Yet,
Azta, troubles will come, and woe is me that I love thee so
well, for I fear greatly. Nay, gaze not so on me with those
eyes of fire, for perchance my might can prevail and much ;
126
THE CHILD OF DOOM.
great power of her eyes. To this end I bade her look upon
me, and gazed into her eyes so that her spirit came forth, and
in an intense concentration of feeHngs showed her wonders
that caused a cessation of carnal Hfe with a lightning increase
of perception, seeing the new power rushing in her veins,
potential and fearful.
She gave a little laugh and stretched herself. "Now am I
128
CAP. XVI.
noted sadly how the Tizin's eyes did feast themselves on the
great man below her, yet with a weird unrest, and that Shar-Jatal
ate with haste next to him. With a great perception I knew
that looked upon a feast where black Death sat by Tekthah
I
130
THE FEAST OF DEATH.
rushed in from all sides, the torches were swept from their
metal buckets either purposely or accidentally, and huge forms
131
ATLANTIS.
the swaying bodies, and great stone and metal axes crashed
through skulls and smashed bones, witnessed in terrific pantomime
through the awful twilight. As many as could find the exits,
fled; and many, lying down, pulled the dead or dying bodies
of others over themselves, hoping so to obtain immunity from
the sweeping butchers.
Upon Azta, sitting terrified but calm, a huge slave rushed
but with half the leg of an ox she felled him to the ground
at her feet. Acoa, his head buried in his mantle, sat regardless
of the terrors around him, as one himself dead, and to my
mind came a great consolation at the thought of Toltiah being
safe and far from this dreadful seat of sin.
The sounds were atrocious, and a rush of combatants swept
Azta and Acoa violently apart from one another and the corpse
of Huitza. I took my Love by the hand, more clearly now
perceiving what to do, and we went thence into the gardens,
among a terrified collection of women and slaves, huddled
together, most of them trembling and sobbing, their clothes gone
and their bodies wounded.
Some among these latter, however, unmoved by the murderous
horrors of the past few moments, were abominable in their
conduct carrying off, as the darkness allowed, some among the
:
have died proud Azta but that I stood by her, and ofttimes
warded off a death that hovered nigh. Yet her wild agony of
grief smote bitterly on my soul with a message I would not
132
THE FEAST OF DEATH.
rugs and broken crockery and bones and weapons they lay,
the corpses of nearly four hundred human beings and the lions,;
scenting the blood, roared all night long. All that could burn
flared and now that the need for light had gone the
redly,
bright flames began to throw their tongues of fire over the
scene of that carnival of Death. Running upwards upon a
hanging curtain they laid hold upon the rafters of the roof,
which fell crashing down and covered all with a dusty coverlet
of charred wood, clay, and tiles. But by reason of its sudden
fall, and being isolated, it caused no ignition to other roofs of
the palace.
It was a fitting floor-piece to the horrible paintings on the
walls, now more horrible by reason of gory patches and smudges
and the delineations being in places destroyed by Hnes of
smoking soot and the purifying flames and all night long unclean
;
dogs fought and fed and chased each other through the smoking
dust, disturbed by the roar of the lions, and flung red splashes
about.
133
ATLANTIS.
The Tzan and Shar-Jatal and many other influential ones had
bribed over a great part of the army to their side; and next
morning a herald was sent to the legions in the Market-Place,
yet heavy with great debauchery and surrounded by those bribed
ones, and demanded of them a fresh oath of allegiance to
Tekthah, new officers being appointed to them. For the old
ones of any importanee had been especially marked for slaughter,
and among these was Mico, the chief of the archers. And
many who survived were, seen no more,
also of the old officers
being secretly Vet the Imperial Guards, all young
put away.
nobles, though serving under a captain, were in their hearts
furious at the murder of many friends in that massacre; and
many also, perceiving that Shar-Jatal recovered, hated him as
representing in upstart guise the mass of the people, and being
now appointed next in power to Tekthah. Likewise a vast
feeling of insecurity was now engendered, for no one felt safe.
Azta being removed to a great tower by the Representative's
orders and there hidden, the rumour being spread that she was
dead. Alone, with but old Na to comfort her, she remained in
wild anguish, nor would permit me to approach her; so that
my soul fainted within me at the thought that she believed me
to be the murderer of her Love.
There was a time of danger from the enraged population, who,
shocked in their luxurious habits by the news of the massacre
(that was felt all over the land), gathered in crowds and had to
be dispersed by force of arms, and at times even the majestic
presence of Tekthah could scarce calm them. By degrees the
news spread to the farthest boundaries, and then a strong rumour
gained ground that their great chief would appear again, and
all Atlantis grew to believe in it and look for it. Which rumour
Acoa instituted and spread with furious zeal, yet in secret;
and I was bewildered at the mazes of results, of plot and
counterplot, vaguely perceived, yet not Also I
understood.
became possessed of a sad apathy, a heavy sorrow that
dull
dragged down my spirit, and I could not leaVe Azta, yet longed
in vain for herself to invite me to approach her.
134
THE FEAST OF DEATH.
Azta's death and the death of Toltiah, for those detailed for
this bloody deed dared not confess their errand unsuccessful.
And to farther increase his uneasiness, the body of Ham, the
son of Noah, could not be found, nor was any member of his
family be discovered for they had fled under cover of the
to ;
murderous attack and had gone to Chuza with the evil tidings.
Which, hearing, and knowing that now Huitza was dead the
people, who hated him, would rise against him, Noah fled with
speed, taking all his family and the boy Toltiah and no man
;
135
CAP. XVIL
she would thereby lose all chance of power that was very dear
to her, and the wild hope of vengeance.
And then I looked upon another phase. It was night on
Atlantis, a dark, troubled night, where voices seemed to cry in
the air and spirits floated like horrid larvai in the atmosphere.
Clouds were over the face of all the sky, and the long, flamy
streamers waved like fanciful human figures from high temples,
flung by the wind. The moan of the sea rose unceasing as
136
THE PASSING OF TEKTHAH.
^Z7
ATLANTIS.
138
THE PASSING OF TEKTHAH.
140
THE PASSING OF TEKTHAH.
terrified warriors, mounted the steps and fell at the foot of the
throne, where he perceived me, seated as a great moth, with
a grievous look of terror and despair, for I was the Divinity
of Azta.
But rising with a curse, he smote at me with his sword and
then turned to face his ferocious pursuers like a lion at bay,
looking eagerly to where he could hear the clash of arms and
the shouts Guards without. In a few moments these
of the
ceased and men began
to pour into the hall, while a bitter
groan fell from the Tzan on perceiving such conduct. The lions
roared aloud, and as though the sound were a war-cry of
encouragement to himself the old warrior raised his towering
form proudly and glowered over the crowd, that began to move
uneasily ; but the blood that fell from gaps in his head and
trickled through his teeth to the platform told how sorely he
had been wounded. His vast chest heaved convulsively: fury,
indignation, reproachful scorn and challenge flashed from his
glazing eye. His hand still held his mighty sword, crimson
from hilt to point; and a dreadful sight was that godlike man,
more grand in his robe of blood than ever in golden armour,
a king and a warrior to the last.
Awestruck stood the silent traitrous crowd, appalled by what
their word had caused, shrinking before the silent majesty that
seemed to breathe a curse from Heaven on them.
Shar-Jatal, white with terror and frantic with his baffled success,
yet perceived with quick diplomacy the spreading emotion, and
greatly feared lest triumph should be turned into disgust in its
infancy. So he raised his sword and leaped up the steps with
a shout, whirling the mighty blade in circles round his head.
An echoing shout answered, a roar of encouragement from
those evil ones who now wished to see such horror ended, and
fearing what would befall should Tekthah live.
The old warrior felt the hand of death on his heart, and
perceiving he could not cope with this unwounded antagonist,
he heaved up his great sword in noble wrath and hurled it
towards him, crying out that he loved not to fight with a
141
ATLANTIS.
so turned the whirling bolt that it smote off his left hand, which
fell with a spatter of blood; while the avenging sword trans-
fixed a guard's helmet and fell with it clashing to the floor.
The maimed chief, with a great oath, swept off the head
that sank in death before him, which, spinning and bounding,
fell down the steps, the horrified warriors scattering before its
progress.
Shar-Jatal raised his sword. In the silence that should have
been broken by shouts of victory a loud clang was heard, as
something that resembled a gleaming meteor fell from the ceiling.
It was the golden Sun, and a long, dismayed, shuddering
142
CAP. XVIII.
the one hand by the coast, and those of Axatlan, upon the other,
were agreed in aiding them, which it seemed they were.
Dismayed and furious, the half-crowned chieftain called a
council of war, and from the throne gazed over as goodly an
assemblage as ever met a leader's eye, for there were all the
Princes and Tzantans of Zul and the great men of the city.
And also were most of the Imperial Guards attendant on him,
ATLANTIS.
144
THE HALT OF TRIOMPH.
among them Mah, who held Pocatepa in his power and might
now scheme afresh; and to every man in Zul was given this
or that.
The rebellion cities caused great trouble to many,
of the
their resources danger by reason of it; yet the people
being in
of Zul could not be taxed as yet, which was an additional reason
for war, so that the rich cities might by sacked. Yet it was a
serious matter that those of Zul, although the greatest of the
land, should have to cope with the thousands of Atlantis, and
there were held many anxious consultations, and much time
passed.
But the new ruler wished also another thing, which was to
subjugate proud Azta to his will, and my resentment against
him waxed great on account of this. On those days of blank
horror I yet look with pain for, amazed and terrified, I hovered
;
145 10
ATLANTIS.
—
Love and all my hope alas, to say thus! came as a bright —
wondrous fly into the room and hovered above her, so that
she looked up and smiled, yet sadly.
As one who has been smitten the Tzan stared, with parted
lips, kneeling and petrified. His left arm fell involuntarily from
beneath his cloak, disclosing the under robe of yellow sown
with gems and golden symbols. The lady's eyes perceived the
mutilation and a great sneer curled her lip.
It recovered the astounded man, and with a dreadful oath
146
THE Malt of triumpm.
floor with a great crash. Old Na covered her face and also
fell down straightway, nor dared look up, so that none per-
ceived by what means I conveyed my Love away.
Yet it was so that when Shar-Jatal rose up he searched every
niche and corner for the Tizin and made strict enquiries of
the guards concerning her, but to no purpose.
Azta was gone.
147
LIBER II
GEN VI 12
CAP. I.
PREPARATIONS.
Builder of towers,
where are all thy
mighty works now,
and who knows thy
sons' names ? Men of
unsurpassed great-
ness were they, of
godlike presence and
terrible power, but
they are gone and none know ot them or of manner of their
passing. Only God lives on forever as at the beginning, perfect
and deathless Life and Love, awful in unswerving evolution,
passing onward through the centuries and long ages, sublime,
remorseless.
Thee would I contemplate in wondering awe, almighty and
mysterious, and feel with thrilling terror thy presence in all
atoms, of brightest deeps of immense space or darkest centres
of Worlds ; feel thy vast Life in the subtle air and flame and
the core of adamantine rocks Thine eve watches from leaf
151
ATLANTIS.
and stone and star, Thy voice speaks in all sounds, and I— fallen,
fallen !— tremble for ever in Thy constant and
unavoidable prftsence.
Thee would I contemplate when soft night throws her gemmy
WEEP WITH WONDERING ANGUISH THAT EARTH CAN ATTRACT A SOUL BY ONE BEWILDERING ATOM.
veil high over the Earth, and hear in the cool depths, unhindered
by details, the music of Thy Life that never sleeps, and weep
with wondering anguish that Earth can attract a soul by one
bewildering atom.
152
PREPARATIONS.
Yet is sorrow and remorse unceasing, and for ever and ever
might we fitly bewail our sins but thereby we should not
;
profit others, for each soul stands alone in its blindness and
will not see. And my Love, for whom I gave up all, could
not perceive until the Earth had passed and left the spirit
free ;and I know not if my state would have been different
if she had. O Aztal
There were long seasons that passed, and many who prepared
themselves in them for calculated results for after one great
;
blow had been struck there would not be left to the vanquished
aught but surrender. And thus they of Zul, and especially many
princes who wished to supplant Shar-Jatal, yet being fearful of
one another, spent many months in great works of war, manu-
facturing engines to batter in walls, and a great number of kites
wherewith to carry up injurious things to drop over the enemy.
Enormous quantities of all manner of arms were made, of swords,
spears, bows and arrows, bucklers and helmets. And as
particularly Talascan was wished to be seized, the warships
Tacoatlanta, Mexteo and others were looked to, and more built
for the city was most pregnable from the river front on the
Hilen river, and was a most strong centre for warlike operations.
The idols were greatly propitiated to grant success, the fish-god
by the waterway, which held in its hands the model of the
Tacoatlanta, being much entreated of all seamen. Acoa advised
long and careful preparations, and greatly hindered many things
by omens and feigned messages from the gods; also causing
an irksome taxation to be put on the people, so that, in spite
of the need, Shar-Jatal became unpopular.
Now Noah had fled with his family afar from Tek-Ra to the
mountains beyond Talascan, and hid himself so that none ever
chanced on him to where also I conveyed Azta. And there
;
was with them Nahuasco with his guards and the child Toltiah,
which one rapidly increased in stature and beauty and loved
the practice of arms, being held in some awe by reasons of
his strange monstrosity and the swiftness of his growth, having
a voice that was of a mighty volume yet as musical as a
woman's, and combining also a giant's strength and rudeness
of arrogance with a feminine grace and persuasiveness that
153
ATLANTIS.
envied her lord the possession of such an one! Why was not
my Love as this? And yet I too clearly perceived that it
fight for freedom and to aid one another, and the smallet
cities and villages had been deserted, their inhabitants aiding
to swell the fighting strength of the larger ones. Yet
what would have come had there been separate governments
granted to them then I know not, save much dissension,
and would have ever boasted herself
Zul all, and ruler of
become paramount by sin and by all the great ones flocking
thither.
Now concerning Talascan, the city lay on the farther bank
of the Hilen river from Zul, and behind rose the peaks of a
great volcanic range of mountains, trending to the west, then
south-west and south. Their lower hills at intervals lay on
the river banks, enclosing level tracts of land covered with
mighty trees, the territories of Atala and Axatlan. Through a
natural valley in the highlands of Astra, whose northern boun-
dary was thus terminated by it, the Hilen flowed into the sea
with a swift current, a great span in width at its mouth, between
two tall cliffs called the Gates of Talascan, and inland its
tributaries watered a great tract of country. Axatlan lay
farther to the west than Atala, and held the burning mountain
that so affrighted the people, where the great serpent Nake was
154
PREPARATIONS.
next news they heard of him, which thing many also perceived
with their own eyes, was that he had returned to Zul and had
slain the Lord Rhadaman in single combat.
The people were in high spirits, but the following news of
Huitza's death damped them. But Chanoc was ambitious and
stirred up the people to resistance, sending a secret invitation
for all who had loved the prince and wished for freedom to
come to them.
Still they feared the wrath of Tekthah, yet were they not
gold and gems; and as Mr. ]?uckland says, the deeper we delve into this mysterious
past, the more numerous and important do these serpent legends become, bringing
to our view —
whole tribes who were supposed to be half serpents kings and
heroes of semi-serpentine descent, and gods either serpentine in form, or bearing
the serpent as a sacred symbol; and it is a strange fact that all these gods and men
thus singularly connected with the serpent have ahcays some inexplicable relation
to precious stones, the precious metals, the dawn of science and of agriculture.
Hut this state of serpent-religion would ap])ear to have developed later, among
mythic histories of the Deluge and the legendary demi-gods. and a point might
well be argued as to the connection of serpent with seraph.
156
PREPARATIONS.
the river. Yet many feared another raid, remembering the day
when the legions of Rhadaman made a furious onslaught; when
the huge bulk of the Tacoatlanta, crashing through their little
fleets up to the landing-stage, disgorged its freight of fierce
warriors, and their streets ran red with blood. That day the
war-ship lay in a red harbour, and only night put a stop to the
fratricidal carnage.
Then came a rumour that Huitza would return again in the
flesh, and Tekthah was dead and Shar-Jatal reigned
after, that
the news that Izta had been created Lord of Atala. Now Izta's
reputation was an evil one, and, Tekthah dead, (whom all feared
yet reverenced,) it was determined that the greater cities should
remain free, offering to shelter and protect the inhabitants of
the smaller ones.
How greatly was I bewildered with it For Nezca sent
all!
157
ATLANTIS.
coming up, and the rows of idols on the walls were entreated
to prevent mishap, for all cities had these hideous creations
along the fortifications.
ing while they lasted, for none know all the Future save God alone.
And Toltiah grew more fond than was seemly of strong drink
and was also enamoured of the smoking-herb. By reason of
my virtue he had great knowledge of hidden things, pondering
deeply over all the instruction of Noah. And many things
such as should not be known he imagined, and was much exer-
cised in his mind concerning them searching into such that
;
concerned life and death, yet not with reverence, but with
curiosity. He grew tall and strong and greatly excelled in the
use of arms, being instructed by Nahuasco therein; while the
sons of Noah taught him many things in hunting and arts, so
that he became greatly accomplished, and far more than they,
becoming also taller than Ham, which was the tallest of them,
at the appointed time that was spoken.
158
CAP. II.
Yet being much smaller, Talascati was built after the fashion
of Zul : and the great ports, shut above the moat, bid defiance
to any attack from land, but the river front was open. The
architecture, though not equalling the massiveness or grandeur
of the capital, was nevertheless sufficiently remarkable. There
was a vast temple to the Lord of Light and many others also
the Governor's palace where also the Lord of the Territory
resided whenever he visited it; the Market-place by the river,
surrounded by bazaars and having a collection of deistic symbols
and representations and innumerable houses built of lava stone.
;
the west the thin vapour that ever wreathed the head of Axatlan
liftedat times to the rush of a column of fire that burst forth
with a roar and outpourings of rivers of gold, the people would
but offer up more victims and drench their idols with wine,
imploring them to hear and save them.
Large of limb and but half-civiHzed were most of the Talas-
cans, cursing the Lord Rhadaman and crying to the Sun to
burn him yet they went not elsewhere, because if the master
;
were not Rhadaman it was Izta or some other; and also the
human breast was strongly inclined not to leave the place of
its birth, thereby preventing some places
becoming overpopulous
1 60
THE SHADE OF HUITZA.
rivers, whose teeth were used for spearheads, while a very large
species of land-crab at times invaded them and covered the
earth with its multitudes. Eagles harried their flocks, and ser-
pents of vast length terrified them; a certain fowl, with a body
as great as an ox and formidable mandibles, furnished dan- ot.
gerous sport for the hunters, but was excellent to the taste as
meat ; and the fierce aurochs ran in dark herds on the borders
of Axatlan and to the south, many lives being lost in the pursuit
of such. There were lynxes and panthers that carried off the
domestic fowls, and also vexatious wild cats and dogs and
smaller vermin.
Yet the land was rich, and the people always had enough
wherewith to pay the taxes while by their prowess commanding
;
respect they were always well cared for and favourably noticed
at the Capital when they went up to trade or attend the Circus
festivals.
Out beyond the river-mouth and Astra lay the great pearl-oyster
beds, whose white gems were so much in request among the
belles and fair women of Zul, commanding great prices wherever
exhibited and being a valuable revenue to the land. And this
« Before such a statement as this we can but bow the head in silence. Neither
the oldest histories nor palaeontological researches have discovered so great a bird,
although there were of old larger animal forms than now. The Dodo, which,
classified among was a giant of its species 5 the gigantic ostrich-like
the pigeons,
Dinornis of New Zealand the Pelagornis, a winged monster of the albatross tribe
5
the Moa, the Gastornis Parisiensis^ whose remains have been recently found in
the Eocene conglomerates of Meudan —
all these as birds far surpass any we can
muster now, but would not furnish a parallel to the bird of Atlantis, although they
might prove the descending scale of size.
161 H
ATLANTIS.
had seen the prince himself This one was sent by Noah, for
the time appointed had arrived that Toltiah, being now grown,
should appear.
And manner the youth came to Talascan
in this Noah and
:
drunk with wine, and the large square of the Market-place was
full of revellers in a state bordering on insanity. They shouted
and shrieked, pouring wasteful libations over the bestial images
until they shimmered under the lurid glow of the fires, with
their trickling, odorous streams. Skin-clad hunters shook their
spears in the air, leaping like madmen with formidable cries^
some imitating the roaring of lions or the trumpet-call of the
deer; and women with dishevelled hair and bared bosoms ran
shrieking among them, their eyes flashing in the lights as they
rolled them with wanton glances. The banging of drums and
shrieks of whistles added greatly to the din, but the chiefs and
nobles discussed the advent of the great Huitza and wondered
what should come of it.
Myself, I dared not interfere. These mortals knew the
temper and inclinations of one another better than I, and surely
one born as Toltiah should be able to cope with matters
of Earth.
Thus the next day Noah came down to the Market-place
attended by Chanoc and his guards, with Nahuasco's troop,
his servants and his family, among whom was Azta. Mounted
upon a block, the patriarch stood elevated above the thousands
who came running from all around, leaving the walls and barri-
cades at the call of the Governor's trumpets, waiting to hear
what he might say to them and forgetting his corrective reputation
in the knowledge that he was the trusted vizier of their great
chieftain.
Among the crowds mingled warriors of the city guards, their
bright helmets flashing above the more sombre headdresses, and
shadowed by the beautiful plumes of the ostrich, which were
eagerly obtained, or that of the wild swan. None in all the
land wore the plumage of the peacock, fearing it with a great
superstition, and holding it as the emblem of the setting sun,
of which they supposed its spread tail to be a symbol.
Azta, in a slung carriage, commanded nearly as much en-
thusiasm as the expectation of Huitza, for there were weird
legends muchly connecting the twain, and all believed her to
be potential in the matter. Tall Shem stood impassive and
watchful, Ham and Japheth leaned on their spears, the former
163
ATLANTIS.
rolling his eyes with vast amusement over the crowd of whom
he stood one of the tallest. The women and children, among
whom stood the fair Susi, were timid and fearful of the multi-
and their God. Only I had
tudes, yet confident in their leader
no place there, and should scarce indeed have been there at all.
Beyond the rustling of the crowd and the occasional clang of
armour there was no sound. Noah began to speak, rousing the
people's anger against the usurper, Shar-Jatal, and all the evil
lords of Zul. But as yet he would not denounce the evil doings
of the land, preferring to wait until the monster of Sin with
bruised head should lay at his mercy; in which hope all my
soul was also, and I greatly dwelt on its fulfilment.
Now Toltiah lay in the midst of his people, hidden and as
yet unsuspected but after a prayer of exhortation from Noah
;
this one stepped forth and mounted on to the block which the
patriarch surrendered in his favour.
The crowd perceived a godlike beardless youth of vast
stature and splendid presence, with the ruddy hair and command-
ing eye of the great Chief. There, younger, taller and still
more majestic, he stood, a very miracle before their astonished
eyes, a dreadful beauty enstamped upon his features that were
like unto a very beautiful woman's. A golden plate covered
his chest, broad as an archangel's, and upon his head he placed
now the winged helmet.
The silence was broken up, and the air was rent by a vast
roar, deafening and prolonged. Four tall warriors, mounting
him on their shields, raised him high above the heads of the
people, shout on shout rolling to the sky, and Azta's child, in
the character of Azta's Love, seemed exalted to the altitude of
a god.
Those nearest to him noted that his eyes were yellow and
of great penetration, and his hair as dark molten gold. Never
had such perfection of form been seen before, such splendid
limbs and carriage, and I felt a great pride in my own sad
heart as I looked on him and wondered how so strange a being
would act. With enthusiastic shouts the people raised their
swords and spears, and the crowd swayed under a veil of tossing
yellow mantles. Young girls and children were lifted towards
164
THE SHADE OF HUITZA.
him, and in the deUrium of their joy even the abominable idols
were pulled down and abased before him, all manners of excesses
being committed in the frenzy.
And this was also my child, this strange, beautiful being 1
upon Azta, saw that her whole absorbed attention rested upon
that shield-borne Majesty that should drag Earth to its doom the —
consummation of her foolishness and mine.
Mine I could have melted with agony and then my attention
! ;
"
" The Tacoatlanta 1
1 66
CAP. III.
High above the cries of the people rang the voice of Chanoc,
claiming attention and distilling confidence. The women ran
to hide themselves in the houses, terrified and shrieking, while
Nahuasco and the city legionaries ran to repel what might
threaten.
There was no time to be lost. Messengers were despatched
to the garrisons round the walls to bid them be ready to
resist any attack by land, while bands of warriors sped to aid
them, and spies were sent to the highest roofs to give warnings
and issue directions.
With the guards, towering above all, ran Toltiah, with sword
and buckler, eager for the fray and recollecting now all that
he had heard of the war-ship and her manner of attack. But
most were sorely puzzled as to how the vessel had passed the
boom and why no warning of her approach had heen sounded.
The city was in an uproar, drums heating and whistles shrieking
above the long-drawn war-whoops.
Azta bade her bearers remain where they stood, her heart
too full for expression with unknown fears, as, astonished to
find the massive barricades opposed to them, the men on the
Tacoatlanta nevertheless ran her close up to the landing, with
a proud and ferocious confidence in the irresistibility of their
wild onrush and the moral eftect of their unshaken valour upon
those before them. Clustering upon the bulwarks, they prepared
to leap upon the defences when the great vessel could be
hauled near enough by the ropes attached to the grapplers,
aided by the slaves at the oars.
The defenders were scarce in time to repel them as in scores
they crowned the barricades. Toltiah waved his mighty blade
167
ATLANTIS.
1 68
THE RISING SUN.
169
ATLANTIS.
warship, for there are others that come;" and speeding swiftly
"
to the barricadesby the river, he cried, " Seize the Tacoatlantal
He was too late. With a confusion of cries, with trailing
rigo-ing and mingled oars the great warship was drifting sideways
down the centre of the stream and as the victors crowded
;
down to take her with the little boats that were leftunharmed,
the painted sail on the fore-mast was raised, the huge steering
oars were brought into play and, the other two sails being set
to the wind, the monster moved rapidly away, while the pursuers
hastened back on perceiving an armada approaching. For,
clearing the wreck of the enormous boom, three more warships,
towing rafts full of men, were approaching, but stopped on
perceiving the flight of the Tacoatlanta and the crowding foemen.
The victors were disappointed in this failure to take the
warship. Messengers were instantly despatched to warn the
Axatlans who held the fords, eight leagues above the city; for
beyond that to the West the mighty stream flowed through
defiles and deserts, prohibiting the passages of troops and stores,^
and even far-wandering hunters knew of no other place for
such purpose within any practical distance.
\'ct the warships could float over the fords, and therein lay
170
THE RISING SUN.
march for Talascan, four warships had started under the gover-
nance of Biidil, a son of Shar-Jatal and it was hoped that,;
future trouble, yet none could ever encounter the glance of those
yellow eyes without feeling a sensation of chill and fear.
Toltiah would fain have rested a while to form a court and
establish a household. and believing
Arrogant with victory
himself to be, as the people declared, a god, he wished to
enjoy those growing passions that possibilities bred and nurtured
but the savage impatience of Azta and the exhortations of the
171
ATLANTIS.
172
THE RISING SUN.
^72,
CAP. IV.
And in the issue Lotis went forth with all the many thou-
sands that ran to join Toltiah.
How great an enthusiasm was there I The hope of sacking
Zul aroused their savage hopes to a terrific pitch, and the
name of Huitza was a power, in itself, promising a future
beyond all dreams of spoliation and rapine. The total effect
of the crowds was as of that great congregation which gathered
round the capital at the time of the Circus games for, stretch- ;
« The name Unicorn, as its etymology denotes, is given to any animal with one
horn, but generally, I believe, refers to the single- horned rhinoceros. In this case
it as probably indicates the antelope mentioned in chapter IX.
175
ATLANTIS.
scarlet, being plain but of striking effect among the other orna-
ments and trapping.
Abandoned women thronged to the camp, idols were set up
to be worshipped and propitiated, and some of the nomad tribes
who owned no god at all, were initiated into this or that belief.
Those from the southern plains were awe-struck by the moun-
tains, and worshipped the hill A.xatlan, visible on the very far
horizon ; and there were those who had never seen a city and
were terrified by the walls and the mighty uncouth colossi that
supported the buildings.
Some tribes of savages came in, but these were panicky and
fearful of their white companions, and were especially
awed by
the great city. There were many thousands in the great, roaring
camp, more and more arriving as the rumour of the gathering
and its object spread, and still the army of Izta came not, and
still the armada in the river waited. There were some terrible
peoples from the western wildernesses, some huge, some small,
all deformed and monstrous, who hung on the outskirts of the
176
THE CAMP OF TOLTIAM.
177 12
ATLANTIS.
this woman who dared to compete with men in war. This was
the Hfe that won her admiration, and now she wished that,
Tizin of Atlantis, she could be surrounded by such guards, their
Chieftainess. Vet she could but own herself scarce fitted for
Colosse and the giant Amal with the seven toes on each foot,
who had marched with the Tzan from the North. The witch
Pocatepa would raise the legions of the dead against them that —
black-eyed sorceress with the aquiline nose and voluptuous Hps
and perchance even Acoa would fight against his Sun-favoured
children, Azta and Huitza, and cause a terrible night to over-
spread them.
In spite of all the great preparations, a certain idleness was
already beginning to work mischief, and the chiefs advised a
speedy start before the masses should become demoralized or
lose their warlike ardour. Each night was a roaring saturnalia,
bonfire-lighted; and although reinforcements came in daily, there
were also vast desertions. Riots occurred and much wantonness
was committed through suppressed energy, yet the leaders could
178
THE CAMP OF TOLTIAH.
scarce deem such rabble as was most of that vast array prepared
sufficiently to conquer Atlantis.
All were inexperienced in the
storming of walls, and the chiefs feared terrible reverses.
. The thousands were ordered to make spear-heads, hatchets
and arrow-heads of bone and flint, while legions were raised
and practised in warlike manoeuvres. It was at length decided
to leave the rabble behind, for the greater part, while the
trained legions, with some thousands of hunters and some of
the more superior tribes, should cross the river, and, surrounding
and crushing the army of Izta, strike terror on the armada and
treat for its surrender.
To that end a great concourse of archers, crossing by the
fords to the opposite side of the river, so galled the ships
(who thus were enduring a storm of missiles from both banks
without being able to obtain immunity by the too-near centre
of the stream), that they moved away round a bend, sea-ward
and this prevention being gone, a great boom was constructed
across the river, made of trees fastened together with hide ropes,
below the city, so that the warships might not interfere- with
the passage of the troops. This work kept crowds employed
with great for some days, and the legionaries played
efforts
games of chance, exhibited their terrific muscular powers or
philandered with the women; hunted, fished in the river and
quarrelled. Not a day passed without some rupture, the outcome
of idleness not a night without some wild scene of debauchery.
;
The savages, made to work like slaves on the boom, and losing
many lives, deserted by the hundreds. Large rafts were con-
structed for transporting the troops,who were filled with a vast
enthusiasm and were confident of victory, causing a danger by
their very confidence. Their leaders were not so ready to leave
the city in the face of the armada that ever menaced, for their
only trust was in Nezca's guards, the Talascan legions, the
Amazons and a few warlike tribes. The rest would only bear
the brunt of the carnage and serve as a hindrance to the enemy
by disjointed and persistent attacks.
But was the only thing to be done. The army could not
it
revealed a long, low shape with three bare poles rising from
it; and again arose the dismayed cry of "the Tacoatlantal"
as, slightly heaving on the waters, the warship lay as though
1 80
CAP. V.
THE TACOATLANTA.
i8i
ATLANTIS.
moving mass, leap to the shore and secure it with the aid of
those others.
All eagerly waited for the night, yet fearing it, because of
the demons of the waters and the reptiles that lay beneath
them. The gods were propitiated in trust that they might aid
the attack,much sacrifices being offered to them ; and in the
temple of the Moon Azta prayed, invoking all the spirits of
night to aid, and such as flew in winged shape.
182
THE TACOATLANTA.
184
THE TACOATLANTA.
1 86
THE TACOATLANTA.
sails, while, abandoning the grapplers, the oars beat the water.
187
CAP. VI.
swarmed over the bulwarks, and but for the authority of the
chiefs she would have been sunk by sheer weight of numbers.
The crew landed, among them being a few of the notables
of Zul, come on what they had deemed a pleasurable trip.
Not a few were wounded by the fury of the night-surprise and
the ceaseless missiles of the army; most of these were secretly
murdered and with those who were already dead thrown over-
board while the warriors, enraged by the mischief wrought,
;
hanged the Captain Budil from his own masthead. The body,
barbarously profaned in the market-place, had the head struck
oft", the which was sent by a tall hunter to be cast into Zul in
token of what would befall when Toltiah were master. A score
of the Mexteo's crew, clinging to their wreck, were killed with
sling-shots and arrows; while, under pretence of enrolment with
the conquering legions, all the crew of the Tacoatlanta, together
with those notables, were overcome by violence and murdered
in a place beyond the walls.
And now all was bustle again and a rush of preparation for
the interrupted passage of the army to be continued before the
other war-ships might appear. All thoughts of gratitude to the
gods were forgotten. Boats carried ropes across the river from
bank to bank, and the wrecks of the two booms were by them hauled
together and secured. Nezca's spies, looking in far-reaching
circlesfor Izta, gave yet no sign of his approach and now, ;
i88
THE FIRST STEP OF FAME.
one, albeit disciplined and terrible, lost its sting. The ill-fated
Mexteo, smashed and waterlogged, was drawn up to the waterway
and secured, to be raised again as soon as preparations were
ready; while a catapult was fitted on the Tacoatlanta and her
masts replaced, the body of Budil being suspended by the heels
from the foremast. Her management was left to the Talascans,
who were used to the sea and river, and Akin commanded
them.
The boom was crowded with arrogant conquerors, and in the
sunny streets of Talascan women and swarmed again, the
children
fear of violence removed. They laughed and chatted and gazed
with awe on the tall catapults, revering them as gods. To the
populace the name of Huitza was a power in itself, for besides
being that of a popular hero, it was, with Tekthah and Rhadaman,
one of the three that reminded the people of the old days and
the glory of the land. Shar-Jatal was hated as a brother who
had objectionably seized a sire's power, and Izta, his right hand,
was hated likewise for his upstart insolence and tyrannies while ;
189
ATLANTIS.
and the other galley. The landing at the fords had been bar-
ricaded with pointed stakes and piles of wood, which in places
showed where the devices of the enemy had fired it. These,
believing the approaching ships to be full of their friends, shouted
to them, and the crews replied; the while surrounding the galley,
which was named the Tzan, the one captured being named
Tizin. The vessel, being thus hemmed in, would have surrend-
ered, but the savage attackers would take no tameness like this,
and pouring over the sides, killed every man on board. Yet
they too suffered in a great measure, for the Tzan's crew fought
furiously as long as there was a man left.
The Axatlans and those which were sent down to aid
all
them were greatly enthusiastic seeing how things ran, and began
to pour missiles upon the crowded rafts, of which there were
three. These, with hot haste, began to make for the farther
bank, but the crew of the Tacoatlanta, perceiving this, prepared
to fall upon them, fitting also a missile on the catapult. This
plunged between two of them, causing a great wash of water
and much consternation but they redoubled their efiforts to
;
and by the crew going astern, in order to raise the long bows,
the second raft was completely submerged beneath the mighty
bulk of the vessel.
The river was crowded with heads and shoulders. Half-
drowning men plunged about in their harness, making for the
farther bank but mad with excitement, the light warriors of
;
Axatlan swam like fierce sharks after them, and the Mexteo and
Tizin, victorious, came along, towering from the crimson waves.
1 he high lacoatlanta bore down on the third raft, and its crew,
190
THE FIRST STEP OF FAME.
them they leaped like cats upon the sides, or, clinging to the
oars, thrust their spears through the port-holes to slay the rowers.
So furious was the attack and so desperate were the doomed
warriors that, had there but have been the Tacoatlanta to con-
tend with, the chances would have halted for a space. But the
Mexteo and the Tzan bore down among the strugghng men,
and the fierce Axatlans swam and dived among them, stabbing
their bewildered foemen on all sides, and many a haughty
legionary died there in the crimson water. Not one escaped,
for the swimming pursuers darted about and cut off every fugitive
that the warships, awkwardly handled and fouling one another,
could not get near.
Joyful messengers carried news of the victory to Toltiah, and
vast rejoicings celebrated the return of the warships. The
conquest of Zul appeared to be but a little thing to all that
had been already accomplished, and it was greatly wished that
Izta's army would appear.
Arrangements were made for the great march to the capital
a large guard being left behind for the protection of Talascan, and
another at the fords, in the event of Izta slipping past their flank.
Messengers were sent to all the cities far and near to bid as
many as were able to come from their walls, to join the march-
ing army; and these spread the certain news of the coming of
Huitza and of the great successes that had attended him thus
far. The armada was to stay in the river, guarding causeway
and and the former was not to be destroyed unless very
fords,
seriously aiding a siege. Indeed it was well defended, for in
addition to the catapult below the city that would keep rafts
—
from coming up the river unless, comprehending it, they forsook
the centre of the stream for the farther side —
there was that
one in the midst of it, now faced to the shore from the city,
that threw many bolts at once. Also messengers could always
be landed by night to carry news to the army if necessary
yet those left behind thus were greatly discontented, and only
on agreement of equal shares of spoil with the rest would they agree.
But the army refused to move without its women, loud demands
191
ATLANTIS.
being made to bring them out from the city and the camp,
and mocking insolence being cast at the leaders, who had
brought their harems with them. The hunters and the more
savage tribes were particularly clamorous, and the more degraded
thousands became riotous. In vain their leaders explained the
hindrance of a female following; they swore by all their gods
they would not march without them, nor were the trained legion-
aries less obstinate. A body of the rabble suddenly attacked
the camp of the Amazons, where was Azta with the wives and
mistresses of Chanoc, Noah, and other chiefs, and this resulted
in a furious and determined battle on both sides, which might
have ended with dire results, for the rabble was largely rein-
forced continuously.
The Amazons fought with a noble fury free from any trace
of fear, defending their terrified charges well and dealing death
with their great axes ;
yet, fearful, I summoned Toltiah, who
with his and Nezca's warriors, propitiated, attacked the
chiefs
rebels in the rear and drove them before their onslaught on to
the vengeful weapons of their foes in front, all who escaped
being publicly tortured before the army as an example to others.
Hut advised by Azta, Toltiah gave the army its women,
which as they came over made a large crowd of themselves.
There was a great wonderment at the delay of Izta's army,
and the Tzantans wished to wait for it, feehng secure with the
catapults and warships behind them, and mistrusting the quality
of their vast armament. In the centre were the guards of
Nezca and Chanoc, the Amazons were to the rear of these.
Right and left were immense bodies of archers, spearmen and
slingers, and unnumbered tribes and thousands of irregular
warriors, hunters and savages. The forests here would prove
a fearful trap for the advancing army, but by no signs of the
flights of birds or animals, nor by far-circHng scouting-parties
could they perceive it.
192
THE FIRST STEP OF FAME.
touched, and these the dark beings, rooting Hke hogs in the
putrid mass, pulled forth and ate.
At length a captain of the archers, by name Maxo, dis-
appeared, and the fear of what inaction would lead to terrified
the leaders, so that the order was given to march. With
scouts and flanking parties and a loose array of thousands of
the irregular warriors leading, to throw the enemy into con-
fusion when they came upon him, the forward movement began.
Drums beat and whistles and trumpets shrilled above the shouts
and songs, as with the war-cry of " Huitza
!
193 13
ATLANTIS.
such an one as Susi, whose pure face was ever before my mind
with its deep, serious eyes, chiding my presence here. Yet
with a fierce pang of anguish I turned me to contemplate Azta,
my Love I would not own to my mind that she did not love
!
me. and thus I ever hoped and believed in a lie and, yearning
;
for the innocent and mighty joy and power of past times, could
not leave her. What should happen now.-^ I dared not consider
the apparent character of Toltiah, her son and mine, nor what
should come of it I dared not pray to that Throne that ruled
;
greatly upholding his power by her arts. More than all the
rest was she disturbed at the rumour that Azta was in Talascan,
because she knew Shar-Jatal loved the Tizin and that her power
was very great in the land, all believing her to be under the
special protection of Zul, and a goddess thus, inwardly deplor-
;
195
ATLANTIS.
Yet the Tzan's love for his mistress grew colder as a horror
settled down upon him and a great distrust to every person.
For Pocatepa warned him of Acoa, whom he relied upon greatly,
and the thought came to him that the falling of the Solar symbol
upon the throne had turned the regards of this one against
him. Of a night the spirit of Azta appeared to him and fearful
larvae haunted his dreams the shade of Huitza threatened him
:
vently and the evil crowds bowed down before their divinities,
performing those rites which were abominable and obscene,
prostituting themselves to their own foul creations. In the
silence they perceived an approaching Terror, and committed
vast excesses, hoping to make up by the exhausting and reckless
enjoyment of to-day for what awful thing might come
to-morrow.
And Mall, mindful also of his ambition to become ruler in
Zul and the first of a Priestly line, persuaded to his scheme a
great multitude of other j^riests and as many foUoweis as they
could collect for the purpose of seizing the power when oppor-
tunity offered, which plan came to the ears of Acoa, who
was not unwilling that there should be dissension in the city,
for the army there was very strong and there was much mate-
rial of war and many engines; so that any civil strife would
greatly weaken them. And the plan being ripe, Pocatepa was
196
MUITZA AND TERROR.
197
ATLANTIS.
caused this, and on her wrinkled face was a smile as she waited
what should come.
"Come hither," said Pocatepa, her harsh voice attuned to
sweetness " come and drink to my lord and me from this
;
His mistress cast herself upon him, kissing his lips and caress-
ing him. " Fear not," she said, " the danger is passed, and
what might have come to thee love hath turned aside": and
to him she revealed the heavy plot of Mah while I, watching
;
almost visible, and the throne-like settee, from which they had
arisen, stood out gradually in fearful relief against a background
of phosphorescent light in which circles seemed to revolve all
ways. To their sudden fright at such proximity they perceived
a figure seated there, which forbade them to stir directing their
;
199
ATI.ANTIS.
vague shadow slowly took shape and form and the outlines
appeared, human, yet how vast and unnatural These contracted !
200
HUITZA AND TERROR.
201
ATLANTIS.
202
CAP. VIII.
A VISION OF WARNING.
203
ATLANTIS.
her, the army being encamped among uncouth ruins that caused
much amaze, herself being beneath a canopy. All around
blazed the innumerable fires of the multitudes, who pulled down
the luxuriant vegetation hiding up the old places that but few
of the hunters even knew of; and among the high mounds
many believed there lurked the larvse of that ancient people
whose existence they perceived in the ruins by sundry rude
weapons of war.
I looked upon my Love with the same wild, deep yearning
for the heart that is not fully given is not given at all, and
though for a few brief moments our souls mingled, yet thou
canst never love me."
"Yet do love thee. Beloved." Her words faltered under
I
and impotent ideas that now will be fulfilled. For see, poor
Love, in this strange being that is our child hast thou given
me an accomplished ambition to thine own disastrous cost, for
also as thou art ever before my mind's eye, majestic, silent and
204
A VISION OF WARNING.
205
ATLANTIS.
not thy making; naked, than didst not clothe thyself; mighty
or of no account, it was written so in Heaven; dead, thou
canst not aid thy Soul, nor will thy God-given Talents do aught
but demand of thee for why they were used this way or that,
save it is in the way of the meaning of thy Creator, to whom
thou art in debt for all."
206
A VISION OF WARNING.
to evil and to the working of iniquity, and how can the purpose
of God be fulfilled when His laws are set at nought?"
Then appeared a great shadow, moving rapidly upon the
earth, and looking up they perceived a winged creature of the
shape of the animals that lived in the Hilen river. Azta cried
put to me to save them, while Toltiah loosened his sword and
grasped his spear firmly, advancing his shadowy buckler.
"Fear not," I said to my Love; "yet now does thine heart
know that I can protect thee more than this one which is half
of Earth."
"In thy love I trust," she said.
"It is answered her; "and ever in thy nature shall
well," I
there war distinctly the Spirit and the Flesh. Yet watch further."
The inhabitants of the stone city had all vanished as the
winged beast swooped. It was a marine animal, /3 and Azta,
looking through an opening in the masses of stone, perceived
X This third optic has been often stated by modem writers to have existed in
archaic man, the seat of it being the pineal gland. Dr. Carter Blake of the
London Anthropological Society tells us that Palaeontology has ascertained that
there was actually a third real organ of vision among the animals of the Cenozoic
age, and especially the Saurians, a fact upheld by Sir Richard Owen, who points
out its presence in many fossil animals.
^ An entirely unrecognisable species. If allied to the Pterodactyle, it would
carry man's antiquity very far back,
'
207
ATLANTIS.
208
A VISION OF WARNING.
209 14
ATLANTIS.
Another race of men was there, filling all the Earth and
wondering and flower-
at the great collections of piled-up rocks
grown mounds that no records told of. A camp the army —
the dawning day and remembrance of the march on Zul.
"Now write it in your hearts," said I, "that thou hast looked
upon the primitive Man, that might have developed and
grown to give great praise to his Creator, but was hindered by
his own folly and weakness and was destroyed before he could
stray yet farther. Unto whom also came Adam, the Last-
created Man, to lead the way to Heaven. And having thus
"
seen, beware !
2IO
CAP. IX.
Thus with great joy was the march resumed, and the kites
and eagles fed full on the bodies that stayed upon the field.
The savages were forced to move the engines, being also the
carriers of stores and to the farthest parts were sent more
;
212
THE MARCH OF TOLTIAH.
land and then had vanished, and no man might tell whence
their footsteps had gone. And in the desert were great refuse
heaps of encampments and vanished towns of the nomad tribes,
and tall mounds that were like the Pyramids, yet being formed
of piled-up rocks and stones, upon which many of the army
that were of the plains cast more stones. And these I learned
were the rude mausoleums of departed chiefs, and beside them
were the smaller ones which rose above their wives, being thus
in the pair, male and female, which God had ordained. And
the stones, being first cast above the Clay to prevent the wolves
carrying it off, were greatly added to by all who passed by,
until at length they became of great height and pyramidal.
Thus were they copied in such form in stone of comely propor-
tions for a symbol and a thing of awe for indeed there rested
;
213
ATLANTIS.
such people, cultivating the soil and being always upon the
same place, (whereby they could easily be found), were preyed
upon by any nomads who chose. Yet within the strong citadel
they were safe, for it was well stored with food and watered
by a stream to which a tunnel led. And these Toltiah compel-
ling to promise aid in case of retreat, left in safety.
Past the cities of En-Ra, Sham, and strong Surapa, which
were in Astra, they went with much misfortune to the inhabi-
tants and detriment to the flocks and herds. And in those
214
ATLANTIS,
and they swung their great arms like birds soaring for flight
as they looked on the walls that stood between them and their
desires, nor saw in imagination those walls splashed horribly
with blood —their blood — neither perceived their souls going'
up to the Sun in the smoke of Zul's diabolical flame.
Marisa and her warriors gazed with intense curiosity on those
far walls, laughing with childish glee over the beauty of the
towering architecture, beating their shields with spear and axe-
head and smiting their bosoms with open palms in ferocious
gladness.
But with what emotions Azta gazed, believing she could
perceive the long red building that lay beneath the Temple and
the gardens w^here the fountains played Where were the old !
faces now? where old Na? When would it be that she should
rule the land from that red palace? By her stood Toltiah and
the family of Noah, Chanoc, Nezca, Nahuasco and many
Tzantans, and to such as were ignorant of the walls she pointed
out where the great ports lay, and where the larger buildings.
The
stragglers were hastened up, and the haulers of the huge
engines sweated at their task with a joyful knowledge that
soon it would be over. Nearer and nearer they drew until at
evening time the gods that sat in rows on the walls could be
perceived where the Sun gilded them in the clear atmosphere,
and the dark waving line of thousands of human beings; and
216
THE MARCH OF TOLTIAH,
217
CAP. X.
sayings that led his own self captive, yet rebelling in obstinate
pride.
"And who art thou?" he asked.
" Iam of Acoa and am even as thyself," answered the bright
218
THE NIGHT OF SPIRITS.
219
ATLANTIS.
a sweet voice.
"Is there none to plead with this Soul?" it asked in thrilling
niournfulness " behold, it is a Soul that lives and will live
:
'
for ever.
But a great voice answered the sweet pleader
"The soul of Man on Earth belongs to Man, neither can
aught direct it, save communion with God which is its Father
and itself."
"Mayit not pray for guidance and be guided?"
221
ATLANTIS.
222
CAP. XI.
themselves safe from Huitza, and still more would they have
feared had they seen where the workmen of godly Japheth
collected materials for the building of catapults, and understood
the omen.
The beleaguering thousands were eager for a storming attack,
and by morning they were still nearer the walls, that they might
look upon their prey and feast their eyes upon her fatness.
The busy councils determined that the building of the far-spread-
ing entrenchment might well be delayed until force of arms
was powerless, when they could replenish their power while
impoverishing the city. Within easy recognition from the walls
were the standards of the cities of Atala, Chalac, Trocoatla,
Axatlan and Astra the dragon token of Talascan, the vulture
;
and Mutasara, towns of the sea. Before the eyes of the anxious
people in the walls stalked Toltiah in all his pride of great
"
stature and beauty, amid frenzied shouts of " Huitza 1 Huitza I
There was a hill between the city and the far forest, and
upon the summit was a vast skeleton of some unknown animal
that lay half-embedded. On this hill, among all the impedimenta
of the army, Azta encamped with the women and such as took
no part in warfare, watching the preparing of engines of war and
the placing of such as were ready. Machines for the scaling
of walls were made, and the aqueduct which crossed the moat
for the conveyance of fresh water to the city was broken down,
large wooden causeways being made for crossing the moat.
These would be conveyed across by levers thrust into the farther
224
THE HOUSE DIVIDED.
side and pushed upward from the hither yet could the enemy
;
the moat. Then, if possible, they would open the ports and
lower the causeway by its levers and vast ropes of hide, and
the army which Toltiah promised to hold in readiness would
follow up the confusion in its pouring myriads.
Thus all the trained legions were moved to the front, and
Shem and Ham, Toltiah's instructors in many manly exercises,
had also obtained the leader's promise to head storming-parties
when the causeways were built upon the morrow. They rejoiced
to think of the time that saw them the first to smite the evil-
doers, nor dreamed of the preference being given to a woman
in the field of arms.
A certain exultation entered the hearts also of the warriors
of Zul at the prospect of imminent war, notwithstanding its peril
Around lay many dead and dying, so furious was the conflict,
and Marisa, perceiving how powerless she was to accomplish
her errand, uttered the long-drawn whoop that commanded
retreat. Before her, bounding through the ranks of her warriors,
appeared a huge Tzantan wielding a spear, the blow of which
she escaped but by an active leap, leaving her shield transfixed
upon the ground. She swung her axe upon him and the
weapon bit deeply, but as, carried from her balance by the
fury of her attack, she fell, his buckler that would have crushed
her beneath its vast weight, fell also with a hollow clang by her
side, the warrior falling upon it and covering her with blood.
The legions of Toltiah, apprised by the leader of what was
taking place, looked eagerly for an opportunity to attack the
walls also, and could scarce be restrained from rushing into the
moat to swim across. The Amazons, as they could, regained
the summit of the wall, but some half-dozen, perceiving in the
faint light the plight of their Queen, dashed upon the enemy
with ready weapons, and clearing a space by the impetuosity
of their attack, carried her off. The warriors of Zul made a
rush to secure one whom
took to be a chief of note,
they
possibly Huitza himself, but a tempest of spears and axes beat
• them back, and a tall Amazon, wrenching one of the hideous
gods from its pedestal, hurled the uncouth mass towards them,
as a missile from the twisted strings of a catapult. Running
upon the walls they also poured upon the citizens their own
preparations, a few keeping back the warriors until their com-
rades should have recrossed the moat, and then themselves
crossing.
Thus bruised and bleeding they wrathfully retired, hurling
insults upon the foe, and casting a certain discouragement upon
whom also the Tzantans were furious at prefer-
the besiegers, of
ence being given to a woman, but Toltiah declared it to have
been unknown to himself.
The high-spirited chieftainess replied haughtily to his enquiries
as to how she had fared, nor would she hear of any things
Her people loved not to be repulsed, nor did
of soft meaning.
they think of aught but blows when in war. Of intercourse
with man they knew not save through the medium of axe and
227
ATLANTIS.
228
THE HOUSE DIVIDED.
though the enemy had also set himself upon action, for one
of the prepared wooden bridges was thrust across the moat by
the great gates through which the warriors of Zul were preparing
to pour which was also secured to the walls, despite a down-
;
appalling sound as the great idol over the port, smashed into
a myriad flying splinters by the missile from the catapult, flew
into their midst, and the bounding rock cleared a bloody lane
for itself until it fell against a wall.
229
CAP. XII.
With the shot from the catapult the besiegers started into
motion. From the lines of their encampment issued a mob of
rushing thousands, and standards waving. Two
chiefs leading
tall warriors led theone waving the National Standard,
rest,
X The description would nialce this weapon appear to be the prototype of the
Mexican Maquahuatl.
230
THE WOOING OF ZUL.
Rari x flew like winged missiles into the thronging foemen and
caused horrid wounds. Yet up come the enemies with dreadful
bravery, undaunted, pyramids of men climbing upon one another.
There fought the swift Amazons with spear and reeking axe,
yonder the terrific war-cries of Chalac and Trocoatla rose like
the sounds of savage animals amidst the din, as, beaten back
continuously, the assailants flew at the walls with desperate
valour, opposed by glittering Adar, Izaland Coyo-Lote, and the
legions of Hoetlan, Saman and Bel, Oris, Uta, Ataleel and Hammur.
Derion's archers pour over the walls their death-dealing
shafts, the piercing cries spearmen of the Owl tribes
of the
sound like a wild song Azta, like a goddess in her majestic
;
fury, cheers them on, and Toltiah points to where the leaders,
fighting upon the walls, stand within a bloody circle of foemen,
red from crest to heel. Would that the gate would yield that
he might lead the chafing thousands to victory With mighty 1
X I'liis would describe eciually tlie Zulu Knobkeri ic or the Australian boomerang,
which latter weapon w as at one time more universal than might be supposed, one
form of it being found among the Hindoos and another among the ancient
Egyptians. The throwing stick is also used by the Andaman Islanders aud the
Ks(juiniaux.
232
THE WOOING OF ZUL.
.the fires of Hell. The sharp sounds that rose at the com-
mencement have lulled to a long roaring growl and moan as the
red weapons flash and circle and fall in deadly onslaught.
Still up they go and now men fight on mounds of dead bodies,
while choking dust rises thickly, and Shar-Jatal from the highest
roof of Zul can scarce discern how the battle goes.
Another shot from a catapult spHnters on the crest of the
wall, smashing men like flies, and afar the engines hurl their
masses pregnant with death, and the great beams fall upon the
stubborn gates. Azta gazes with her yellow eyes ablaze, her
deeply stirred by the brave sight.
fierce spirit
The are all red now, the moat in places exposes the
walls
half-submerged heaps, and above the death-locked masses rush
the bolts from the engines and the unceasing hail of smaller
missiles. The palaces and all those buildings near the walls
are chipped and redly spattered, and the streets and squares
are full of mangled bodies and debris. From near roofs rains
233
ATLANTIS.
234
THE WOOING OF ZUL.
Noah and Chanoc and Nahuasco, nor were wanting the voices
of Japheth and Marisa.
Thus it was resolved, and messengers were sent to bring up
the rearmost troops and to hasten the savages and hunters and
such to the front, for it was thought that these less valuable
warriors could exhaust the enemy and prepare the way thus
for a most formidable onslaught of the more trained legions.
And from the dark encampment there sailed up over the city
a great kite which rained fire and poisons above the houses.
And others sailed high in the air, until it seemed as though
the Heavens rained horror upon the doomed city, scattering
fiery death and pestilential atmosphere all around. Many were
transfixed by arrows and brought down, yet the sending them
back over the besiegers was of small avail, (which had no houses
to fire). In fainting horror people died, racked with the deadly
poisons, while the city was lighted by flaming roofs that blazed
in all directions and fell Yet Tunipa, a
in upon the people.
mighty archer, caused the downfall of many of the fatal destroy-
ers by rending them with arrows, while upon their arms the
foemen slept, exhausted, save those who had taken no part in
the fight, which ones kept watch to preserve the camp from
an attack.
235
CAP. XIII.
The fires flared redly in Zul all night, and on top of the
great temple the horrified watchers could perceive a ghastly
holocaust being proceeded with, in fancy hearing the screams of
agony of tortured wretches suffering horribly. The topmost
flame spluttered and burned redly, flaring with the oil of con-
suming hearts torn wholesale from breasts throbbing with hideous
tortures, and the odour of burning flesh reached even to the
camp of the besiegers, and sent the blood in curdling streams
to the hearts of the watchers, who deemed that such might bev
their fate on the morrow.
All through the night that bloody work went on, regardless
of the flying terror of the kites, and Noah cursed the evil-doers,
and particularly Shar-Jatal and Acoa, by Heaven and Hell and
all that was upon the Earth, but Azta, with a little bitter laugh,
threatened them with like treatment when she should hold them
in her power. Toltiah answered her laugh with one as menacing,
for the teachings of Noah affected him not.
The morning came and those who slept awoke And coming
from a far hiding-place, where he had fled from the cruel wrath
of Tekthah, great Mehir joined Toltiah, eager for the fray. Both
sides beheld the rising of the Lord of Light with forebodings ;
236
THE HILL OF THE TALCOATLA.
trumpets and drums and shells raised their voices of death, and
the anxious watchers of Zul perceived that they were to en-
counter another furious attack, as band on band and army
on army moved slowly towards them and the engines were
manned.
There were no shoutings and insults this day, only a grim,
horrid silence seemed to brood with bated breath over all.
Shar-Jatal cried to the gods to aid the city Pocatepa consulted
;
arising from the moat, and, as the shots flew, a buzzing veil
of flies hid the view of the walls for some while.
Like black clouds, thousands of hunters and savages leaped
towards the walls. All the women gathered round Azta and
Noah, with their hands raised in supplication to the Heavens.
They watched the multitudes dash at the walls, scrambling and
slipping, while high in air the missiles from the engines flew
in volleys and by single masses, bearing crashing doom and
destruction. Hunters and slingers, heaving stones and sharp
pebbles, streamed across the horrid moat, while swarms of savages
raced before them, and upon the other side of the city the
hordes of nondescripts were driven upon the walls.
A wild prolonged medley of shouts, shrieks and whistles
rent the air as the masses splashed and plunged through the
red horrors, many with feet entangled in protruding ribs falling
to their doom. Showers of boiling metal flew among them,
causing ghastly wounds, but the booming thunder of drums
drowned for awhile their shrieks of agony. Yet greatly defended
by their rearward artillerists until they gained the crest of the
walls, they there encountered the full fury of the flying atoms
and fell back in numbers, pierced and dying. Beneath them,
on the awful mound of human bodies, men wriggled, impaled
on bones of corpses or writhing with dreadful wounds inflicted
237
ATLANTIS.
by the molten metal that bit deep into their flesh. Yet in
reckless madness the attackers struggled up, inflamed by the
shouts of those behind and in the encampment, who harassed
the city with noxious kites.
Again was that echoing horror of shouts, groans and shrieks-
Men, pierced through the head, cried shrilly and fell on their
faces, and many who were wounded whooped to encourage
their comrades. Ah, those ghastly wounds! Ears were smitten
off and eyeballs burst by the sling-shot that smashed skulls
and scattered brains. Some, struck in the throat, grunted hide-
ously, and from crushed limbs the purple blood oozed in great
gouts, dropping like a heavy rain.
" Now up, ye braves of Toltiah Forward for Zul and Atlantis!
!
clung to her warrior; how could she let him go? what shoulc^
aught befall him The sacred instinct rose superior to consider-
I
ations of glory and yet he must go, and she, his mother, must
;
not be the one to hinder his triumph, though her heart break
and her spirit faint in worse than death.
" (io and conquer, son of Asia!" she cried, "and the Spirits
who love thee watch and protect thee. Zul awaits her lord
and Victory crowns thy standard. Yet kiss me once more,
O my child, for thine own sake and for his whose likeness is
stamped upon thy brow. Go, my brave I shall not survive thee " ; !
"Fear not, Lady," said the gentle voice of Susi at her elbow,
as she stood like a statue of marble, gazing after her retreating
warrior; "the God of battles is upon our side and the doom
of Zul is spoken. For last night a fearful Vision hovered over
her towers —
a great angel with streaming mane of fire and waving
a sword of flame. From Mount Axatlan he came, and from
his hand fell a bolt; before him went the lightnings. Didst
thou not also see it, my Empress?"
Azta, still gazing, shook her head. The dark clouds of the
legions were in motion! A great cry of despair came from
the city, thrilling and prolonged.
238
THE HILL OF THE TALCOATLA.
239
ATLANTIS.
240
THE HILL OF TliE TALCOATLA.
241 16
ATLANTl!^.
Yet now was the Present and the voice of Death, and she
looked for Toltiah with a terrible yearning love. Half-way up
the slope he stood, surrounded by his chiefs and warriors,
exhausted but unvanquished while urged on by their leaders
;
with blood and dust, and Toltiah's helmet has gone, his ruddy
mane flying loosely. Nezca alone appears unharmed.
Sullenly and vengefully they grapple with their foes, but a
great rush drives them yet farther up the slope. They fight
now in fierce despair and the women cry miserably.
In agony I called upon Heaven, descending with a fiery
rush of flame to fight by the side of Toltiah and to protect
my Love. Toloc with two giant chiefs, Oris and Bel, rushes
up the slope, impatient of victory. Azta with deadly terror in
her heart advances towards her son, and the battle closes furi-
242
THE MILL OF THE TALCOaTLA.
ously as the red swords clash and spHnter and the battering
bucklers meet. Toloc, smitten by my will, falls like a blasted
tower with clanging arms, and Coyo-Lote, rushing upon Nezca,
receives a great blow upon his crest and falls dead. But in a
pool of blood Toltiahand Bel's great sword had
slipped
then and there ended his career and perchance have saved
Atlantis; but smiting up the blade with his own, Alam
leaped upon him, bearing him to the earth beneath his buckler,
(which warrior was that son of Pharno whom I had seen
aforetimes).
Now from the city a great roar proclaims the victory of the
attacking legions of Toltiah, and now from every port their
blood-stained columns race through lanes of death to the perceived
imminence, and, rushing back from the walls, the fiery Amazons
leap upon the enemy's rear and with their axes drive them
into a dense crowd.
Downward the blood flows in long streams, but the high,
clear whoop of the rescuers is as a voice from Heaven rising
above the horrid uproar; and, closing in from both flanks, the
vulture of Chalac flies above its crested bearers upon Zul, with
the serpents of Trocoatla and Lote and the fish-tailed gods of
Astra, as streaming hosts pour upon the remainder of Shar-
Jatal's legions.
"Go, my child," I cried to Toltiah, "thine is the victory!" and
the mighty youth rushed upon the foe, cutting down all before him,
while Nezca's battle cry called the legions to the charge. Shem,
lying prone in Susi's arms among the riot, shouts jubilantly as
the enemies melt away before the rushing legions and men haul
the remnant back as prisoners.
The battle was over. The sun had nearly set, but still his
bright beams lighted upon the Hill of the Talcoatla and shone
on pools of coagulating blood. Bodies of men, not all still,
lay in masses along that terrible path leading from the gate
of Zul, and cumber the slope of the hill on whose summit
the women weep for joy and Noah and his family pray over
Shem and bathe the wounds of the others, praising Heaven for
the victory. The Amazons stand in groups, dark against
the sky, here bending over a dead or dying comrade, there
243
ATI.ANTIS.
This successful storming of so strong a fortified city is, I suppose, the quickest
event of the sort on record, but carrying by storm was not often attempted on
such a scale.
The siege of Jerusalem occupied about four months altogether, various positions
being carried by assault, and finally the central citadel. The siege of Troy is stated
to have lasted ten years, but this long time is eclipsed by the siege of Ashdod
by Psammetichus, who, according to Herodotus, invested it for twenty-nine years.
—
Tyre resisted Nebucliadnezzar for thirteen years (587 574 B.C.), and then pre-
sumably capitulated on favorable terms; but was again besieged by Alexan'ier and
taken by storm after seven months, in July 332 B.C.
244
CAP. XIV.
245
ATLANTIS.
of rotting bodies.
Partly within and partly without the city the victorious army
was encamped. In the red palace were now Toltiah and Azta,
some of the great Tzantans, and Noah, whose family were given
palaces of nobles to live in. In one of the apartments Marisa
lay, recovering from severe wounds, whom Azta spent long
times with and now the former occupants, Shar-Jatal and Poca-
;
Each day disbanded troops which were from all the cities of
the territories marched back with songs and rejoicings, pleased with
the liberality of the Tzan and glad to return to their families;
yet there were many who preferred to remain in Zul, having
with them their mistresses. And also such of Shar-Jatal's army
as preferred to swear allegiance to Toltiah were permitted
so to do, and among these the greatest was Iztli, who in the
days of Tekthah had conquered Trocoatla.
And swift runners went afar to Akin, who held the fleet
before Talascan, that he should chase and capture those six
vessels which had fled from Zul; and while the aqueduct was
being mended to supply the city with water, it was discussed
among the chiefs as to disbandment, and also the restoration
of buildings.
Now there was much discussion concerning that army which
was of the savages and the wretched peoples from afar, because
so great a host, notwithstanding that many had been driven
to a death within the moat and their murdered bodies lay in
hundreds piled against the walls, caused a scarcity of food,
and it was wished to send them away yet was this also a
:
247
ATLANTIS.
demands asked.
Loads of presents were sent out to their encampment, and
any rebellious signs were quelled by the chiefs, who recounted
the awful grandeur of the city and the fear they themselves
had passed through in the interview with the Tzan. Contented
with the presents, they departed with shouts and yells, leaving
the hordes of their more wretched compatriots to treat for
themselves.
These miserable people caused no fear, and but for the fact
of their destructivenumbers laying waste the land, would have
been forcibly dispersed. Half-witted, deformed, undersized and
loathsome, they were merely formidable by the movement of
their numbers, gaping foolishly at the multitudes on the walls
248
THE SHAME OF THE STRONG.
before them who shook their fists and cursed them. Hungry
and helpless, they committed cannibalism in its worst forms,
and in a day all the albinos disappeared. They devoured their
new-born children and all the young ones, for now, under
orders, the warriors of Zul penned them in and prevented
their hunting for food, enraged at the extortion inflicted by
their powerful and departed aUies. There was no gratitude
felt for their help and no pity for their wretchedness, and it
was resolved that they should render another service and then
die. Toltiah manifested yet another characteristic, for as the
tiger that has tasted blood, he longed to see more flow, with
a terrible and evil appetite.
The manner of their riddance being decided upon, their
thousands were first compelled at the point of cruel weapons,
and instructed by hunters who comprehended their manners,
to clear the long moat of its foul contents and cast all such
into the sea; and then, driven within the city through every
gate, the ports closed upon their doomed multitude.
The unhappy beings stared at the masses of architecture
around them, gazing in fear upon all, as they had need to
and inside, they were forced to remove the rotting corpses and
things too foul for name, and cast them over the low cliffs into
the waters at the foot of the palace gardens, carrying up
dreadful loads on litters borne by many from the uttermost
parts of the city. Those who, starved and emaciated, dropped
at their fearful task, were killed and cast upon the load, and
their women and children were compelled to aid also in the
carriage.
Gradually as the troops surrounded them and penned them
up, following in the cleared tracks, they became herded into
a dense crowd on the low cliffs and shore around and above
249
ATLANTIS.
God, that such should be! and I, chained and speechless, was
compelled to witness what I had ventured through my sin.
The bloodthirsty warriors jumped upon them, smashing their
helpless bodies; kicking and clubbing, impaling and strangling,
heaving up the writhing bodies in their great muscular arms,
and dashing them down on others swinging them into space ;
250
THE SHAME OF THE STRONG.
251
ATLANTIS.
252
CAP. XV.
eyed Tamar sorrowed disconsolate for dead Izal. Yet long would
live those great deeds of might, when thou, Astrobal, sought,
Uruk and Arvath
yet unavailing, to stem the rush of Zul, with
and how Dakka of Bitaranu fought hard against the might of
Toloc. The youths of Bitala will look in vain for thee, Azebe
nor more will Napal, Roga, Nit, and Derion clasp their fond
mistresses to their breasts ; yet rejoice to-day, mortals, for now
is the time of Earth's gladness ; but, alas 1 that it should have
been so foolish.
In the waters by the city lay the Tacoatlanta, and behind her
the Mexteo, Tzan and Tizin, gaily decked out with yellow, but
not one of those other ships, which indeed were heard of no
more. In the cleared Market-place the idols had heen reset
up by their various worshippers, whom Azta supported, for
Toltiah owned no restraining superstition of any sort at all,
worshipping Zul alone to the oblivion of all Noah's teachings.
Azta had instituted new priests and had piously restored the
pyramid wherein rested Atlace, the mother of Huitza. For this,
being before the temple of Neptsis, had suffered somewhat in
the siege. All buildings that had been damaged were renewed,
and from arches that spanned streets hung masses of flowers
in the midst of which concealed birds sang merrily. All the
253
THE GREAT FISH-GOD WAS DECKED WITH ORNAMENTS.
THE JUBILEE OF ZUL.
the warriors who had taken part in the cruel massacre of the
savages died of wounds inflicted by the poisoned hands of their
victims. And in the Circus were many wretched captives who
cried and bemoaned their fate, whose number was now in-
creased by several chiefs of the departed savages and many of
their followers overtaken by the vengeance of the city and
brought back to cruel deaths. For all of these were being
saved to administer sport to their masters at the great feast to
be held in the evening at the palace and in the gardens, and
jeering crowds mocked their sufferings with insolent speeches.
Among the idols on the walls the great catapults were placed,
and on the flowing moat were cast baskets full of flowers and
leaves and bushes of pomegranate, roses, and sartreel, so that
the sweet smell rose up to Heaven. A great feeling of security
reigned, and luxurious wantonness took the place of all the
hard life of the long time past; Toltiah, and all at the palace,
glutting their souls and bodies with grandeur, power and pleasure.
Companies of beautiful girls, flower encrowned, danced hand-in-
hand along the streets, breaking up the mirthful crowds
gathered around jugglers, musicians and astrologers and captiv-
ating the spectators with daring exhibitions of sensuous charms.
The drum of the temple of Zul called to worship and cere-
mony, and with fervour the multitudes repaired to the roofs,
and the Court and notables to the temple. Amaziel was the
High Priest, who had come from the Sun in a miracle of
splendour, in place of Acoa who had vanished, not being appointed
by any of Earth yet I perceived much evil in his shining
;
255
ATI.ANTIS.
who were pardoned when the city was taken, being among
them all of Tekthah's household, who joyfully welcomed him
whom they believed to be Huitza and sickening of the upstart
Shar-Jatal.
There were men, women and youths, noble and great, children
of Tzantans and Chiefs, Queens and Princes; old men who had
grown gray in Tekthah's wars, venerable tribe-leaders who had
followed the four-armed Cross of Atlantis from the north-east
to the hill of southern Zul and beyond. With tears of emotion
they witnessed the consecration of their Emperor, and when
all was over a vast shout arose " The Tzan, the Tzan Huitza
: !
256
THE JUBILEE OF ZOL.
and Zul!" and as Azta stepped forward and saluted him with
a kiss, yet wilder rushed the swelling roar to Heaven, as vic-
toriously they shouted her name, calling her Tizin and goddess.
How wonderful she looked, raised above human passions and
vibrating with a new life as she stood with head thrown back,
her swelling throat alone showing the emotion that nigh over-
came her Entranced by her beauty and unearthly majesty
1
people were very like to tigers at play, yet without the natural
restraints of such forbidding unseasonable coarseness.
In the palace matters of state progressed. Toltiah, upon the
throne of marble and ivory, supported by the princes, council-
lors, captains, astrologers and such as knew every detail of every
thing for settlement, the geographers, judges, and rulers of tribes
and cities, divided the lands and appointed to coveted posts, dis-
tributed and regulated laws. Only to such as formerly
taxes
owned to Shar-Jatal were no rewards given, but to
allegiance
all that besieged the city was granted something. This one
was appointed governor of this city, another of that: Chanoc
was appointed Lord of Astra, (Raim, a favourite chief of the
Talascans, being appointed governor of Atala in his place)
Iru, Lord of Tek-Ra; and Nahuasco, of Trocoatla. Atala, neigh-
bouring to Axatlan, was given to Nezca, Lord of Axatlan,
who was much beloved by Toltiah for his beauty and loyalty,
Alam being made the governor of Talascan for saving the life
of Toltiah and Chalac was restored to Mehir. Marisa, who
;
257 17
ATLANTIS.
sundry. The taxes were arranged and the code of laws revised,
and at evening all was completed and the drums and trumpets
gave the signal for the feast.
The palace had been renovated and the dining hall restored,
the old marks of violence cleared away and the frescoes touched
in with fresh colours, between which the polished mirrors reflected
everything with wondrous brilliance. All the notables of the
land were to come and every citizen of Zul, with
as guests,
the Amazons and all the armies and the crews of the warships
and the gardens of the palace were prepared for the reception
of the guests, many trees being cut down to leave open spaces, in
which the carpenters made platforms of wood to form level surfaces
for the viands and bowls of wine, which were in great abundance.
And how stared those warriors who were from the borders
at all that they perceived, at the delicious fare so different
from their rude victuals, and the manner of the serving.
Mingled with the sweet odours of dying flowers were the odours
258
THE JUBILEE OF ZUL.
of the feast, for among piles of fruits of every sort were steaming
joints of meat and whole animals roasted; panthers, bears,
horses, aurochs, antelopes, all yielded up their delicacies to fill
259
ATLANTIS.
Tua was there, coquettishly veiling her soft blue eyes with
their long lasheswhenever they encountered the admiring gaze
of some chief, which was not a little often; Sumar was there,
and southern Emarna, with her red complexion and large bold
eyes, was among them also, gazing with love upon Ham, not-
withstanding that his espoused wife Ru reclined by him; and
upon these soft, luxurious beauties the Amazons looked scornfully
and jeered, noting the powder upon their faces and the flaming
jewels in their teeth, while with no less curiosity did the queens
note where Marisa reclined, and mark her masculine beauty.
Large black slaves assisted the menials in handing the great
joints of meat and other things, and walking freely among the
viands poured forth the wine from the amphoras into drinking
horns and cups of shells of turtles and vegetables, particularly
of certain sorts of large nuts. They handed round the scented
smokingherbs, while the music of a hundred instruments swelled
high and drowned for a time all other sounds, the multitudes
listening in admiration to the strains.
But before the eating and wine-bibbing started, and when all
were seated, Nezca arose with a huge horn of wine, crying to
them to pledge the Tzan, and like the rush of an army the
warriors leaped up, shouting: "The Tzan! The Tzanl Huitza
—
!
And then the feast began and the people did nought but
eat and drink and smoke continuously, ravening like animals
that were starving. Lying flat on their bellies they gorged
themselves, and Noah and Shem, with their women, went out
to their apartments, not liking the licentious doings of many.
Such as had never before seen the interior of the palace
stared at the wonders around, drinking in the pictured concep-
tions with joy and awe, the Amazons gazing coldly upon the
portrayals of huge and unrestrained imaginations. The wavy
lights danced brightly on weapons and gemmy tiaras, helmets
and armlets, and turned the great amphoras of wine into craters
of blood as the viands disappeared. Full stomachs began to
crave less haste in satisfaction, and, adding to the minstrelsy,
snatches of songs arose, ribald and coarse, as the wine bred
bravado and merriment. The women sang also, and bright
eyes grew brighter and glances more daring as here and there
one danced among the viands with tossing hair and wanton
gestures.
Tairu, sweetest of musicians, declaimed in a clear space in
the midst of the tables, singing the glories of Atlantis and of
her present Ruler. He narrated from the beginning' the history
of the Earth, from when the huge egg formed in the surround-
ing dark waters, impregnated by demons and monsters, product
of Neptsis. ix He sang of the beauty of Azta and the ladies of
the Court, the prowess of the Tzantans and warriors, while
strains of sympathetic minstrelsy added an undertone to his
a This doctrine of the Mundane egg indicates what, for want of a better word,
I must call Turanian ideas, and belongs to the most archaic cosmogonies. The
egg is a common mythical element, found in Egypt, Phoenicia, India, China,
Finland, and Polynesia, but wherever such is found it may be traced to that old
•* Turanian" cosmogony which makes the world resemble an egg, formed in the
water. To our day the old veneration lingers in the Easter egg, symbolical of
the Resurrection.
The idea of an aqueous origin of everything is also very old. Lenormant tells
us that the Akkads, whose mythology passed into that of the Semitic Babylonians,
"considered the humid element as the vehicle of all life, the source of all genera-
tion;" and several myths, of which the sea-birth of Venus is the best known,
testify to the prevalence of the idea. The Frog symbol and the creative Frog
Ptah of Egypt undoubtedly indicate the same.
F"or later science of the subject see Appendix § 23.
261
ATLANTIS.
262
CAP. XVI.
"
"O TERQUE QUATERQUE BEATI— !
that man should work to his own undoing and of his own
Heaven-free volition.
And so I watched, sick at heart with what I scarce knew
was coming; and while shuddering wretches were being bound
to the crosses and saturated with fat and oil, a captive, chained
to a negro guard, was led into the clear space among the
viands before the dais.
Tall and of an ashen pallor, this was Shar-Jatal, whom Toltiah
did not know, but Azta he brought back vividly the last
to
time that she had eaten in that hall. Again she appeared to
feel the curious sensation of impending catastrophe, and looked
around as she had done then to see if anyone else shared her
fear.
It was the same scene ! There were the gaudy frescoes, the
263
ATLANTIS.
264
"O TERQUE QUATERQUE BEATI — !"
265
ATLANTIS.
266
" O TERQUE QUATERQUE BEATI — I
"
the skulls devour the brains, and tearing out the quivering
to
hearts, raised them upon their spear-points in derision and then
devoured them likewise. Their eyes swam with maddest excesses,
and their mighty limbs were almost beyond control.
The work of slaughter continued until not one of the hapless
prisoners remained alive, and well might those tortured wretches
envy the fate of those who fell on the walls and in the fierce
battles before Zul, and cry aloud with great yEneas yet long
unborn: "O thrice and four times happy, whose fate it waste
fall before your fathers' eyes by those high walls!"
268
CAP. XVII.
upon the latter's words and of how the powers of Heaven fought
against the Earth for to destroy it. x^nd this one strove hard
to recover from the blasting oblivion into which he had been
plunged, and had in a great measure recovered some of the
past glory by which he could farther work the will of the
master-mind of great Satan in the undermining of Heaven.
For although I will not, nor indeed could I, tell of the stu-
pendous economy of God, yet there is the perfection of tiniest
atoms that which builds up the grand whole, and who may tell
how far a canker will spread ? And in this dire plot to wreck
Earth was a danger, menacing indeed, that could not be sup-
ported, and my thoughts sped out with eager wings to find
the reasons of why such could be permitted and why sin could
be allowed, and returned trembling to see the certain end of
it all.
269
ATLANTIS.
270
THE INFERNAL COUNCIL.
Leira sighed, and a tear fell from his eyes. " Thy words are
bitter," he said, "yet to our great end nought could have worked
better than that Azta had been born to me, for I fear the might
of Asia. And had not that accursed Shar-Jatal, whom I have
undone, slain my son Huitza by his foul designing, he would
have overcome the Earth by force of bloody arms, and falling
into some fair devil's power have spread a veil of ruin over all."
" Yet Azta loved him well and would have taken him to
herself?
"Truth! and in good time they twain would have wrought a
mighty evil when the arms of Atlantis were carried in red
victory to the ends of the Earth, and the race of Adam, weakened
by wars and intermarriage, should no longer be of use for a
leaven of holiness and wisdom. But then came Asia, and for
him I reserved Azta, to hold him in chains lest he wreck
our plans."
They sat and gazed, the one upon the other, and in the great
shadows I perceived many forms that lowered above the un-
conscious multitude. Couldst thou have seen thy doom, O Man 1
And, my Love, didst thou know thy dread descent and of what
awful sin came this offspring of ours?
I had wrought confusion with the daughter of a devil, and
upon my soul the accursed knowledge fell as a thunderbolt.
"And where hast hidden Mah?" asked Hesorio.
" Pholia rests in Zul. Too ambitious ever is he for Earthly
glory ;
yet he serves."
" And thus we work ! and in my friendly care Toltiah rests
in careless trust, subservient to my have
secret councils which
caused my mortal guards to fall from the high path that they
would wish to tread."
They both laughed scornfully, their merriment echoing in the
272
THE INFERNAL COUNCIL.
— gave way with one fell rush of deadly fright and terror and —
intremendous amaze cast headlong, we were reduced to this. Stand
"
firmly and trust in me, and step by step we will regain our heights !
275
CAP. XVIII.
against their new Ruler, for under his government the lands
were taxed heavily, regardless of all statutes, and the Lords
of territories followed the example and became greatly oppressive.
The promised aid of the capital was withheld from the re-
builders of those towns of Hava and of Tek-Ra, which had
been destroyed, to the great discontent of such as were inter-
ested in it; and Iru, the Lord of Tek-Ra, scarce restrained
his annoyance and rebellion. The grossest superstitions fell on all,
and abominations were set up to be worshipped for, while Man ;
276
THE VISION OF thp: p:arth.
The
nation fell into despair. No other Huitza would arise
to freethem from an increased yoke, and as what they sowed
to-day would be reaped by a tyrant's hand to morrow, they
ceased to give thought to the future and revelled in evils that
were forcibly obtained.
Noah and his family were looked upon with disfavour in Zul
because that they held themselves apart from evil. The patri-
arch did not hesitate to boldly rebuke Toltiah, who would have
stood such from none other, yet his words were of no effect.
Surrounded by concubines and favorites the young chief led a
voluptuous existence, and Azta, cold, continent and masterful,
was the real leader in Zul for although at every festival
;
277
ATLANTIS.
give thee pain, thou dost not wound thy friends in its possess-
ing, the more thou hast the greater the horizons open around
thee, and what is thine none can rob thee of."
"
" How great a thing, then, is Knowledge !
278
THE VISION OF THE EARTH.
*'
My name is what thou choosest," I answered.
*'
But, O my Beloved, what is that which fascinates before
speech in the outer person, the entering fire of the eye that
we have never seen before, that binds the soul to itself?"
" It is the love of Earth, perchance unknown and unacknow-
ledged, that strangely binds the mortal eye by its revelation
of the Hfe of Heaven. But, as all of Earth, it lessens ; or is
only given by one of the two who loves with a better love.
Seldom indeed, two mortals love equally."
" My Ideal, then, was a reflection of something far away
methinks thou thyself, for strangely at times my soul mingles
with thine in more perfect happiness than words can tell. Say,
art thou my Love?"
I folded her to my breast. "How can I answer thee?" I
cried.
"Show me thy wisdom," she implored, looking into my eyes.
I kissed her lips. "What shall I show thee?" I asked.
" Show me the Earth," she said.
For awhile I pondered. Not for me was it to show those
mysteries which have never been spoken, nor to say under
what form this thing moves, or that. Nevertheless I consented,
and in visions taking her hand we moved from where we stood,
going from the busy sounds of life to a place where a great
silence reigned a place of awful silence, where the soul feared
:
279
ATLANTIS.
dark all around ; and in a long, slow circle, yet moving with
terrific speed, it travelled with the noise of a great storm.
Far, very far, moved other starry points of light, and in the
the Ivarth grew cooler and cooler, seas and oceans formed in
the hollows made by the rising of the dry land.
The Creator breathed upon it and the atoms of Life leaped
forth at his bidding, and a carpet of verdure covered the
uncomely nakedness of the rocks.
Strange indeed appeared the planet ! In the silent emptiness
it rolled its mass, as yet not fully lighted by the nebulous Sun,
X The I-'iniiameul:
280
THE VISION OF THE EARTH.
281
ATLANTIS.
skies; weird creatures flew in the heavens and all life was
282
THE VISION OF TH?: EARTH.
Man and civilize them, teaching them of God and many arts.
283
ATLANTIS.
"And why," she asked, "was all this life that died and was
tormented in the living? Tell me, what is Life?"
" Life is Love, the Being of God the power of creation that ;
ever lives and begets more life, wherein Evil wars with Good,
causing suffering and some joy. The finer the Soul, the more
capable of feeling and of more fiery life. There is nought
around thee but lives and see, from the dead comes life, for
;
pentiii'; we are told of Satan when he templed Eve, to account for the
form, like
>traiij,'c which the reptile obtained over the minds of men, (see footnote, cap. l).
liold
The serpent was the emblem of Christ as well as of Satan, of Esculapius as of
the Gorgon.
Of ("herubim, Dr. J. Kelly Cheyne, Oriel Prof, of Interpretation of Scripture,
tells us :
••
The Psalmist gives a version that the Cherub was either an eagle or a quad-
ruped with eagle's wings: (Ps. XVIII. lo and precisely the same 2 Sam. XXII. ii).
This would seem to justify connecting the word with the Assyrian Kiirubu^ a
synonym of Kurukkii or Karakkii^ the "circling" bird, i.e.^ according to Friedrich
Delitisch. the vulture. But elsewhere the Cherub is described more as the attend-
ant and guard than as the bearer of duty (Gen. III. 24).
Kinihu is a synonym for the Steer-god, the winged bull. We should therefore
••
connect the word Chcruli primarily with the Assyrian Kirttbu^ but also with
A'uriihu."
So mucli for Dr. Cheyne. The vulture, as we have seen in Cap. ii. lib I, was
regarded as sacred, whether in connection with Cherubim or not I cannot say. It
is very curious that the names of two of the orders of angels should be given to
—
two animals of earth or rather, should be connected with them— especially if the
footnote of Cap. i. lib i. is correct in the statement that these two orders are not
only the lii;,die-,l. but have no communication with the earth. Hut the statement
of the te.\t is very significant.
2S4
THE VISION OF THE EARTH.
learn of another's teaching, for the elder cannot tell the young-
er every little thing that has built the sure foundations of
his power by careful trial and collecting from all places and ;
not complete until the ends meet. These are hard things to
understand."
"But where is the justice of God that such can be?"
"The justice of God is too instantaneously comprehensive to
be at all thought of by Man, who, indeed, cannot be just
because his nature is bent to a strong line of action. I will
show thee things among thine own people concerning this."
Now there was a governor named Sapalel, which one was
also a judge over the people, and to him was offered certain
desirable things to tempt him to do that which was unjust.
The which he would have refused save but for the sake of his
wife and children, (he not being a rich man). But in the sight
of Man there was nought to mitigate so great a crime, they
saying he sold his conscience : which perchance he did. Yet
who who weighs the littlest thought?
could judge him but God,
And I showed her in spirit where Myra wept for the love
of Alam, the governor of Talascan, who once loved her with
so great a love, yet she not knowing aught of such feeling
285
ATLANTIS.
286
CAP. XIX.
to see him rule, yet would not influence him to her own
detriment. Towards me, his father, he manifested a great
impatience, gazing upon me with a sinister expression that spoke
of repulsion, questioning and fear, at such times that we were
together; as a very Spirit of evil that upbraided and scorned,
the while challenging and towards him my
forbidding. And
mind ever appeared by a great gulf that
as though separated
no thought nor speech could bridge over, neither was I able
to attempt to lead him from the evil which I was ever com-
pelled to helplessly witness. And at times this strange being,
as an angel taking his pleasures equally with man or woman,
born in the carnal manifestation of an hermaphrodite and dis-
charging the functions of both earthly sexes, I say this strange
being affrighted me. And gleefully aiding him in frowardness,
the great lords committed all manner of wantonness, while to
secure them to her support Azta permitted their allegiances, so
that there were many jealous quarrels. The Court became one
wild whirl of devilry and the whole city followed suit, an ex-
ample that farther corrupted all the land so that all day the
;
people slept, and all night they danced in fevered vice, abandon-
ing the temple services save when a hecatomb of victims brought
the crowds to witness it. They believed large offerings were
as acceptable to the gods as their presences, and indeed it
mattered nought if they worshipped such or refrained.
The more degraded had scarcely the energy to eat or drink,
and lay about in the streets in obscenity and drunkenness,
worried by dogs and vultures and robbed by the legionaries,
287
ATLANTIS.
not bring thee under my entire sway, what would befall? Eheu 1
Yet ah the
1 fevered grandeur of that strange time of Earth,
when Man at the zenith of his youth, with the great, vague,
untried ideas of youngness, strove mightily to compass works of
wonder and awe, excited by competition and success. Com-
panion of devils, with the fearful experiences of long perverted
life, how wast thou suffered at all before Heaven? O vision
of shadowy cyclopean halls rising in their painted arrogance,
from pavements of crushed and dead flowers, echoing the crash-
ing minstrelsy that roared in blasphemy to the skies I O
splendid mortals whose dishonoured clay was all too beauteous
and worthy for such dreadful spirits, congregating in such
bravery of magnificence round thy fatal Chief, with attendant
trains and armed guards gorgeously apparelled O splendour 1
288
THE HEART OF THE WORLD,
proved her.
" Call me not thy lord, Beloved ; he is but thy lord who can
command thy heart. It is not I."
She looked quickly upon me. I laid my hand very gently
upon her head, and she caught it and clung to it.
"O pity me that I love another," she wept, "for of a truth
I love thee well, also. Thou knowest I love theel"
" Love that will not give up all is not love ; and, alas ! that
I love thee, for because that thou hast been preferred before
Heaven am I accursed ; and I, who love with the passion of
souls, cannot be satisfied, and burn in the fire that I have
lighted."
For a space she was silent, then she said very softly :
" What
is love?"
"Thou askest 'What is love?'" I said; "love is an instinct,
which is to say a sensation of the spirit, my Beloved, not only
an enthusiasm of the mind born of contiguity. Love dreams
ever of its object, nor absence can dull it; because the spirit
is there. It is the mystery of amalgamation, the union that
begets life, and everything must love, for without it comes lust
and disorder. Hadst thou loved as I, perchance would it have
been well, but thou, not loving, shouldst not have suffered me
for also I have sinned in this thing, my Azta, and punishment
is upon us. Yet canst thou save thyself and me perchance,
and to this end I am minded to show thee what manner of
love thou bearest for another."
Her eyes blazed and her face lighted up with what emotions —
I knew not. " Show me more of thy great wisdom," she cried,
" and fill me with power that I may rule the land in wisdom
and raise it from its sin."
"Sweet Spirit," I cried with joy, "I would take thee to
where from the centre of the Thought of God spring in un-
289 19
ATI.ANTIS.
291
ATLxVNTIS.
ing and expanding fire. Like to the bright Vision she had
seen on the palace roof that had flashed from Heaven on the
swift lightning, this had the same animated features and super-
abundant life, and the glowing eyes burned with a wonder of
perception that was terrible to encounter. The nostrils, expand-
ed, exhaled pure flame, and around the whole figure was a light
of most subtle and most wondrous splendour. Never still for
an instant, the form undulated and swayed, clothed in that
transcendent light that enwrapped it as with a mantle, and about
its feet the swift lightnings flashed incessantly as the rosy waves
encircled it.
292
MULTICOLOURED BLAZES OF GLORY WHERE THE SHATTERING ECHOES MET.
ATLANTIS.
with its fearless eyes upon the Horror, and Azta would fain
have gathered it to her bosom but a loathly form enveloped
;
it and it was no more; but in its place was a great skull, and in
294
THE HEART OF THE WORLD.
with parted lips and white face, her glorious beauty more etherial
than aught of wholly mortal could be, as the vapoury wonder
rose and grew large in the lurid atmosphere. It burst and there
stood revealed a beautiful woman of majesty nigh unto herself,
and very wondrous as she stood in quivering light before us.
It was that Atlace, bride of Tekthah, who, in evil compliance
to Leira, had cheated her lord and wrought confusion. Of a
truth, beautiful she was, a very Queen of Hell and small wonder
;
"My mother!"
"The same!"
Azta reeled for a moment and placed her hands to her heart.
Then she laughed, a mocking laugh with a note of triumph
little
and challenge in it, and in despair and rage I cast the flashing
lightning upon the Shade and by a whirlwind conveyed my
abandoned Love from the place.
i:
295
CAP. XX.
296
THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS.
297
ATLANTIS.
298
THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS.
For now it was with respect that the people watched them as
they stalked proudly through the city with their great axes
beneath the wolf-skin shields, splendid Marisa not deigning to
notice the populace, despising their manners and softness of
living.
With unavaiHng passion Toltiah pressed his suit to her, yet
now to Azta's jealousy. The Amazon, beyond her personal
attractions, gave her no cause for complaint, but
however,
became restless; as most of her warriors, tiring of a life
for,
299
ATLANTIS.
slaves for the Circus, and hybrid creatures of great size and
strength.
To attract the nobles Azta held many brilliant gatherings in
the Hall of the Throne, compeUing homage
to be rendered to
herself and Toltiah from the wish of perceiving a vast concourse
to bow the knee and her proud bosom heaved with joy as
;
and gold dust in his hair, sitting like a dark king of the lower
world above the awed crowds, upon which he gazed with a
dreadful sarcasm, jealous at any preference being granted to
Azta. Furious at any restraint, vain and debased, he always
held the orbed sceptre but Azta was the one who commanded
;
occurred to many that they should turn and reenter that land
of T^den x whence their race had been expelled; the couch of
the bright Sun, from which he arose each day to smile upon
them, and to which he would surely welcome Azta, his beloved.
tliere the largest examples of life. The elephant, the giraffe, rhinoceros, gorilla,
chim|>anzee. lion, leopard, camel, buffalo, ostrich, antelope, all are the largest of
their species: and there are also the ordinary examples in the zebra and all kinds
of birds, as well as some to be found nowhere else, as the gnu.
CAP. XXI.
303
ATLANTIS.
Shcni, which one, studious and thoughtful, bent long over with
Noali, scrutinising and hazarding guesses as to their origin.
304
THE DEAt-NESS OF THE NATION.
Man to strive to force that which God hath closed against him,"
Toltiah laughed scornfully, handing his pipe to the bearer,
that he might the better converse. " Old father," quoth he,
"thy gray hairs cover a cautious brain. Do not the wise ones
tell of a Tree of Life, which, being possessed of, how can aught
hurt us? There is our birthright, old one, and who more fit
to lead the warriors of Atlantis than 1 1 What when I reign
thence —thou shalt see!"
305 20
ATLANTIS.
306
The deafness of the natIoN.
" beautiful that thou art, how could I ? Yet is a woman's heart
307
ATLANTIS.
rumbling, faint but vast, appearing to shake the sea to its lowest
depths; and suddenly a long low wave broke on the shore in
a rush of creamy foam.
Shouts arose, and the masts of shipping rolled in circles against
the sky, while a storm of flapping wings told of seabirds dis-
turbed from their rocks and holders amid the refuse of the harbour.
Azta nestled closely to me, and I felt her gracious form tremble
in my embrace. I also trembled, for I perceived in the dark
Heavens that which she could not see; yet I felt the thrill of
the fair woman's glorious beauty, more lovely in her abandon-
ment because so unconscious. Mine was the joy of the splendidly
rounded limbs, the beauty of the full round breasts that heaved
so tumultuously upon her swelling bosom, spreading in its white
glory to the throbbing ivory-tinted neck, as a column rising from
a garden of lotus-flowers and in the midst of that mystic fear
;
308
n
but they ceased as the first dawn of day began to appear and ;
as the fire- tower of Zul flashed into light the drum rolled its
reverberating echoes like thunder from the skies, reassuring and
emboldening. Reechoed from the other temples, from Neptsis,
the Moon, and a score of others, the sounds aroused the whole
city, awakening such as slept.
Rut few attended the services, for on all hearts the feeling
of superstitious dread mocked the futility of hypocritical cere-
monies. Unrest was in the atmosphere, and all believed the demons
from Axatlan to be the spell-workers ; the fear of their rumour
now increased by another, concerning a vast lurid cloud that
hung above the burning mountain.
In the palace Toltiah lay bound and ashamed, a hindered
interloper, in Marisa's apartments. The Queen had gone with
her warriors, passing through the city and away by force of
arms. Her armlet glittered on Toltiah's wrist, a token and a
keepsake, and her mighty axe had lain by his head all night,
significant of what could have been done.
By the waterway the shipping was in confusion, the warships,
with dragged anchors, grinding their sides in the midst of skiffs
and ruined raft-gardens. The beach was strewn with a ghastly
line of skeletons and bones, among which two or three large
sharks, not yet dead, lay grounded and monstrous; while above
the waves the Fish-god was leaning dangerously, with the arm
that held the model of the Tacoatlanta lying, with its burden,
in pieces at its feet.
310
THE DEAFNESS OF THE NATION.
that dread couch in all the beauty of its lissom curves mute ;
311
CAP. XXII.
SUSI.
312
SUSI.
"Nay, nay, child!" she said swiftly. "I have told thee that
I am a woman too, with a woman's and I will help
heart,
thee. Is it of some false beloved that thou wouldst speak?
Confide in me, sweet one, I will help thee."
Susi's face flushed a rosy red of embarrassment and annoyance.
" Ah nay " she said, "
1 man and have never
I love but one
suffered any but my lord "
At which words Azta loved her
!
yet the more, looking upon her very softly and wistfully in
silence for a short space.
"Speak on, fair one, after what fashion thou wilt," she said;
and then, happening to cast her eyes upon me and observing
with how much attention I gazed on Susi, a petulance fell upon
more spiritual mould might lead the soul of Man without straying.
And, as the teachers know, this one disobeyed the command
of the Creator and did that which was unseemly in the sight
314
SUSI.
of Heaven, nor did woman aid his soul longer for, falling, and ;
of more spiritual mould, she fell deeper than he, for the greater
the height the greater also the fall. And it is told of sin in-
creasing and growing more abominable and evil, for to aid the
forbidden knowledge of Earth does Woman suffer the sons of
Heaven approach her, pulling the ruin of Evil still deeper
to
over herself, and them also."
Azta's bosom heaved and an angry light gathered in her
eyes but she was silent, not knowing by what power Susi
;
also. And moral Man was as wax in her hands, and physical
Man in poor avenge enslaved her body by force to compel her
to his will in this. And she bore offspring to celestial lovers,
which by reason of sin and being of finer mould sinned yet more
deeply, until Mankind becomes an eyesore and a menace to
Heaven."
"Stop!" cried Azta in a terrible voice, not being able to
support such things being put before her in set speech. " To
what end is this?" she said in an insufferable voice; yet Susi
quailed not.
"Thou askest. To what end?" she cried, with splendid fire,
her brave blue eyes meeting Azta's unflinchingly now, and the
high beauty of an Angel in her face. Hearken Thou art the
" !
315
ATLANTIS.
and lead back Man to the old worship. Mediator between God
and Man shall Woman be, Medium of Heaven and Earth, body
of Man and soul of Angel 1"
Her arms were raised, and her eyes, marvellously beautiful,
seemed to pierce the sky. She appeared not to breathe, and
a subtle light surrounded her and kissed her red lips into a
divine smile of rapture and prophecy, as she stood scarce resting
upon her feet.
Azta gazed half in fear, yet the poison of jealousy of her
fair teacher cooled any enthusiasm, and she but felt angered
that such should reproach her who had seen the hidden things
and was so great and powerful. Therefore she said coldly,.
" Thou art presumptuous."
" Forgive me, my Queen," said Susi, with majestic dignity,
"if my words are unpalatable; I do but speak with the voice
of the Spirit within me, and willingly would I lay down my
life for thine honorable promise of reformation."
316
SUSI.
ment, and laughed. "Little fooH " she said; yet the words
found no echo in her heart.
Susi retraced her silent steps through hall and corridor,
accompanied by the bright bird that had sung so wondrously,
which left her as she passed through into the outer court. Stand-
ing in the midst of the great terraces of steps, she gazed upon
the inscrutable face of one of the andro-sphinxes that looked so
impassively into space.
"What dost thou see?" she whispered.
A great voice at her elbow startled her, saying, " And so my
shy sweetheart has come to visit me?"
She looked round quickly, and perceived Toltiah, beautiful
in his vast symmetry and majestic in his godlike carriage and
presence, as an Infernal god in might; and behind him came
his pipe-bearer. startled woman gazed long, unable to
The
remove her eyes from the great ruddy mane and turquoise-
studded teeth and the orbs that were so like Azta's.
The reniembrance of former persecutions and knowledge of his
terrible character filled her with dread, even as a small antelope
quails before the swift ocelot, and her eyes sought the terraces
and colonnades for aid. The giant, perceiving her terror, smiled,
a drear grin of horror, waving away the slave.
"Art afraid of thine old playmate?" he said in jest, albeit
his voice rich and strong, yet falling as a note of doom.
was very
" I am going to my husband," answered Susi, with a desperate
fear in her eyes, seeking vainly for help, while her tongue clave
unto her throat.
"Sweet Susi, thou wert ever wayward! Why fear me? Behold,
I will give thee gifts suitable for a queen, and load thee with
gems," he said; yet perceiving how her frightened eyes roamed,
he became angry.
"Fool that thou art to spurn my lovel" he cried. " By Zul,
thou shalt repent it, and now!"
"Toltiah, remember that thou art a man and I but a weak
woman. Force me not against my will, for no good will come
of it; for I have a husband, and there are others far more
suited to thee than I."
"Sweet fool, what are others to me?" he cried, his passion
317
ATLANTIS.
but aroused by dalliance. " I love thee, Susi, and sure 'twere
not to be despised what I offer."
With the words he laid his hand on her soft round arm, and
shook it angrily as he felt her tremble.
"Think, think!" she cried piteously. "I have a husband
^w
Jf 1 * ^ / jr J
^
rh "X
;
(i 'M I
<
^>''Py^ >
i 1
*^\iii
\_j\ ]
J
\\ Jr^^
r
'S^SS*^^'^
\ Jj K==i-^
^ vV
and love none but him. Shame not thyself and me, ruler of
7\tlantis! What am I for such as thee?"
"I love thee!" he cried in a fury; "it is enough; I honour
whom I choose."
Drawing her to him rudely, he imprinted an unchaste kiss
on her lips. She shrieked and gasped, and, fainting, would
have fallen, but the chief boisterously lifted her up into his
318
SUSI.
great arms, gloating over her charms and his mastery over her.
He kissed her again and again ferociously, crushing her soft body
against his and still willing to play more with the lovely victim.
A stifled sob burst from her, and a terrified wail of anguish,
as she cried to Heaven to save her, struggling desperately in
the brutal arms of her captor. Toltiah but laughed grimly and
scanned her hssom form with delight, baring his teeth and
smacking his lips in lewd enjoyment.
A dull rumbling sound shook the atmosphere and caused a
sickening sensation of dread and premonition of coming peril.
The earth rolled, and a noise, increasing to the appalling roar
of heaviest thunder, swayed it with a heaving movement. The
terrified dropped his victim, as a dreadful convulsion
chieftain
rent the terraces in sunder; there puffing up from the dread
chasm a cloud of dust that darkened the air. As the heaving
waves of the sea the ground rocked, and distant confused sounds
of panic and uproar arose, with crashing sounds of falling masses.
Then a flash of dark lightning leaped upwards from the cavernous
gulf and all was still.
The dust settled and the sky was clear but for a small heavy
cloud that rose up and up swiftly. Toltiah lay prone and
terrified upon an edge of the dark pit, on the opposite side of
which stood Susi.
"Farewell," she said, with a world of sadness in her voice
as she slowly departed; and, without a single backward glance,
disappeared.
319
LIBER III
THE-EARTH IS FILLED
WITH -VIOLENCE -THROUGH
THEM AND BEHOLD WILL I
321 21
CAP. I.
Is it that vengeance
shall never be ap-
peased, and that for
the offender is no
forgiveness? Look,
Elohi, upon the Earth,
lying upon the fleecy
clouds, bride of the
Elements, and say
why is sin within her,
O Sinless Creator I
the deep, deep feelings and knowledge of the heart, the know-
ledge of Heaven and of hidden things, that sees so awfully
clearly, but that cannot speak in tongues of man, and is speech-
323
ATLANTIS.
less before its own depths of sight! That sees, but cannot,
cannot describe
Because, even as the visions pass the power of remembrance
and of descriptive speech fades away, nor tongue can ever tell
the spiritual inwardness of it.
324
THE CLOUD ON THE EDGE OF THE STORM.
beyond all speech, mingled with the awful knowledge that for
no recompense had I sinned more damnably than any of the
evil ones. The great love that should have exalted Heaven
and saved Earth fell in its unconquerable might into evil paths,
begetting sin and more great confusion and now I looked upon ;
—
Lalande's calculation may be taken as correct that the approach of a Comet of
the same size as the Earth within 13,290 miles would raise the ocean 2000 fathoms
and thereby produce a deluge.
It is probable that some great disturbance took place by which the balance of
the earth was upset, for as we hear of the Rainbow being manifested for the
first time at the period of the Flood, we may imagine that the Sun was brought
the clouds, above forests of tall trees that sheltered the wild
doves and myriads of apes and large bats, and among which
ran the tusked boar and the lithe and beautiful ocelot, while
by cool lakes and rivulets the anaconda coiled in deadly length
its folds of yellow body, disputing its prey with great animals
that had hard spikes upon their scaly harness, and huge teeth,
akin to the monsters of the Hilen, In caves lived fierce bears,
and soaring eagles built on the higher peaks, swooping upon
rabbits and small animals below for their sustenance.
In the more southern forests lived baboons and enormous
apes, and serpents as large as trees flocks of brilliant macaws
;
327
CAP. II.
Day by day
the structure grew. Solid and vast, careful in
every and little part, it progressed slowly but surely,
detail
surrounded by splinters and fragments and exhaling a fresh
resinous odour. Three hundred cubits in length it stretched, and
the proudest giants of the western forests made that length.
Right and left it lay for fifty cubits, a mammoth house, tower-
ing thirty cubits high from the earth x, the joints secured by
wooden pins and sturdy thongs of leather, whose responsibilities
were lightened by nice balance of straining angles. The form
took that of a boat, slanting upwards from its base and over-
hanging at the ends and sides, (as a vessel is built to lessen
the submersion caused by a
ladders gave roll or pitch). Rough
access topmost timbers secured from side to side by
to the
great beams, knees and staunchions holding the ribs to the
bottom, and as long tendrils the pulley-ropes hung about the
skeleton, like the coloured festoons of climbing plants in the
valleys and groves of trees.
Long timbers, fitted with care, began to cover up the inter-
lacing view of crossed beams with smooth white walls of wood,
on one side a scjuare door being left, near the top, and the long
windows for permission of air, through which, when the Sun
« 'I'lie measure call a cubit, remenihering the Mosaic description, with which
I
it would tally. This, t.akeii at eighteen inches, would make the ark of Noah four
huiidied and t^ifty feet long hy seventy-five hroad and forty-five feet high.
I >r.
J. Muehleisen Arnold and Science" says: Lest it should he
in ''Genesis —
dccincd that those ilivinely-given proportions were offensive to the eye it may he
added that all the normal proportions of the human body can he tracetl in it.
The length is to the breadth as six to one. and the breadth to the height as five
to three, so that the ark alloat upon the waters represented the form and dimen-
sions of the human liody in a lying ])osition.
THE ICY WARNING OF DOOM.
had set and the flame of Axatlan became visible, the children
would peep, shrinking with pleasant fear as they perceived the
dark vault within, where they dared not venture save in the
brightness of the day.
Inside the large structure foundations were laid for
two floors,
huge columns of wood forming the strong supports being
solid
wedged up and fixed securely under the unhesitating directions
of the two advisers, whose mandates were implicitly obeyed.
And, although hidden within their modest bosoms, the cu-
riosity of the women was intense concerning this thing, nor was
it by any means lessened by their husbands' protestations that
able use amidst the mountains, and but marvelled so much the
more. Ham, jeering and insolent, suggested that perchance it
was granted to them to be the forerunners of their nation and
sail through the sky to Eden, but the sire sternly reproved
his levity.
The wonder of it was upon all, pleasing and terrifying by
turns, and imparting a tentative feeling of sojourning until some-
thing great should happen and many would wish to return to
;
Zul and be among the crowds of their fellows, and away from
here, from Axatlan and from the terrifying signs of Heaven
and vague fear of what the building portended.
And especially the women sighed for the palaces and gorgeous
sights they had been constrained to leave behind, and per-
chance there were regretful memories of courtly admirers whose
smiles left favourable impressions. Well they remembered that
their own blooming charms were superior to the faded roses
of the beauties of Zul, and what woman could forego admira-
tion without a sigh?
So they dreamed of the past as they watched the progress
of the great wooden structure, shyly and blushing at their own
thoughts, pertimes half-guiltily, and again relieved that here
were no temptations. So insidious is sin and the contemplation
of itl Still upon their round limbs glittered the golden rings,
heavy and curiously wrought, set with precious stones that had
been found in digging foundations, and supposed to be born
331
ATLANTIS.
they wrapped around them the grand cloaks that would have
graced the painted halls of Zul, and with them the men here
preferred to cover their heads instead of with massy helmets.
Occasionally tremors shook the earth, causing dismay and
terror, and an icy breath went abroad over the world, such as
had never been known of before. From the north and from the
east came that cold terror, with the legions of the hail and the
pains of death, so that many died and all were afraid. To these
workers in the mountains also came great fear, perceiving how
the leaves of the trees withered and the sartreels and ferns and
palms and roses died, but the strangers reassured the frightened
people and urged on the workmen. The long floors were placed
on their foundations and secured, each having apertures through
which a gentle slope led to the lower storey, faintly illumined
by the light through the apertures. Every part was finished
with the utmost care it was for life they worked, and no haste
;
must imperil it. And the more they wondered as the work
progressed, and the two floors divided the internal space into
three storeys, dark and mysterious, while the deck-like roof
began to close over the whole, sloping like a turtle's back, or
like that of the monsters of the deep that wallowed upon the
waves occasionally. In the centre of the deck also another
window was formed, a hatchway that rose above the white
exi)anse. There was no confusion, no hesitation as to the plan.
The strangers advised and directed, and Japheth designed, him-
self working with the rest, splitting wood and adzing the planks,
lifting, pulling, hammering and fixing. And every night came
that cold breath, causing a veil of gleaming silver to spread
over all things, and sealing up the fountains of water. And
being so strange it caused uneasiness and no small discomfort,
and the ship-like building also was covered with that white
beauty. x
On every seventh day the workers rested from their labours,
and led by the sire raised their voices in prayer and praise.
They prayed for Atlantis, for Zul, for all those gay princes and
ladies, and Susi prayed for Azta. She believed her to be cap-
able of anything, regarding her (as indeed did everyone else)
as a supernatural beingwho could influence any way she chose.
She prayed for Toltiah and pleaded his high birth before Hea-
ven and raised her sweet petition for me, which was so
;
333
ATLANTIS.
thyself, dear lady, and for thy people, for sin is not far from
some among you."
Startled at these words Susi looked up, fear dilating her starry
eyes ; but encountered a glance so beautiful and holy and full
of heavenly love that she ceased her fear and dropped her lashes
with modest joy.
The stranger went forth and Susi pondered long and deeply
upon On her knees she considered, yet not daring
his words.
to pray now, neither to strive against the spoken Word. Her
mind, innocent as a child's, dwelt in awe upon these things, and
she was silent.
take them it would have been but of little avail, being readily
consumable by fire. But so much the more the inflexible reality
of some dread purpose overcame her with fear, and for a space-
her mind reeled beneath the certainty of doom, and her eyes,
large and vague, rolled round in horror.
At the evening meal when they gathered round the wel-
come fire she recounted the words of the stranger, that were
so pregnant with implacable vengeance upon Man; and the sire,
listening with his eyes closed and brows contracted with pain
under the white cowl of his robe secured round his head, caressed
the brown hair of his favourite in silence. But her words caused
uneasiness, and confirmation of a suspicion came with sensations
of terror upon all.
Ham laughed defiantly, yet not with mirth butShem andjapheth
;
were silent and the women paled with fear. The shadow stayed
with them, and Susi's tragic words cast a gloom over the little
tribe. What was happening now in Zul? Did those gorgeous
halls still reecho the wanton laugh and drunken altercation, the
shouts of warriors and the silvery merriment of the fair ladies }
Did the magicians still dare to show the hidden mysteries and
the dreadful crowds still dance in the Market-place round their
fires, in the face of dread signs in the Heavens and upheavals
of the Earth? Could their terrible human nature still dare? Did
334
THE ICY WARNING OF DOOM.
335
CAP. III.
336
THE FOLLY OF THE LAND.
the evil flame waved ; and in fancy stood revealed the torch-
lighted hall of the palace, the roar of wanton voices and the
occasional growl of the lions. There recHned Azta and Toltiah,
and outside lay those stony figures with the mute impassive
features. If they could but speak but warnl —
A slight cry from Susi caused me to awake from the painful
dream. She was gazing to the north, to Mount Axatlan, with
a terrified trembling, and moved by her distress I revealed my-
self, and bade her fear not, remembering how Heaven would
protect her. And so, holding the hand of the fair being, we
watched; and as we gazed a huge splendid meteor traversed
the sky and rested over the burning mountain, lighting the whole
Earth with a wonderous glamour of brightness, while among the
clouds the echoing thunders rolled. Upon the path of that bright
glory hung a and motionless, and thence also
veily cloud, still
not withstand the might of observation that rested upon us, and
the orbs of horror that met my reproachful and defiant challenge.
But for my supporting arm she would have fallen, her eyes
closed and her bosom rising and falling quickly.
The voice of Arsayalalyur the Archangel bade her be of
good courage and watch; and as, fearfully, she looked upon
the distant glory, my eyes met his that were full of a great
sorrow and compassion.
"What dost thou here, Asia?" he asked.
"I look upon the Future," I answered, "and it is very dark."
Perchance the despair in my voice answered more than any
words. The bright Angel was silent, courteously deprecating
his interference with a wave of the hand. It seemed as though
three of Us stood there, so ethereal was Susi the destroyer, ;
337 "
ATLANTIS.
and fain would I have cast myself down and told her with
passionate grief how I had erred and been chained in spirit,
watching with agony that which I had caused beyond all pre-
vention, yet still remaining stiff-necked and rebellious. Yet I
but groaned and was speechless.
Susi was of smaller frame than Azta, and I felt to her all
the tenderness of a father as I comforted her fears and restored
her to her frightened relatives, bidding the recital of all that
she had seen that they might be the more ready to conform
to whatsoever the future might bring to them.
« We may here consider the agony of our Lord as the time for his approaching
physical death drew nigh. What but the mystic meaning of the above words
could cause the Son of God to fear a doom of earth? We cannot guess what
tile words mean; we can only l)elieve that the mystery is "very terrible".
THE FOLLY OF THE LAND.
339
ATLANTIS.
the people, and any who were bitten by them were esteemed
to be beloved of the god. The birds and beasts also, which
preyed upon these reptiles, were destroyed, so that their num-
bers were very great, and those who died of their poison were
cast upon the furnace. Nor were there few of such, and at
the season when the serpents by reason of nature were full
of frenzy, the people held great festivals and died in numbers;
and he who killed a snake by accident or design was hamstrung
and placed in a certain spot where dwelt a great white anaconda
which all believed to be the Spirit of the image upon the hill,
that it might deal with him as it pleased. .
And when these people observed the signs which were over
all the Earth they believed the god to be angry with them,
and making themselves drunk with the juice of the vines (which
grew abundantly about them), they offered monstrous sacrifices
to the earth-formed image, sacrificing their children and mis-
tresses with dreadful burying some alive within it and
rites,
340
THE FOLI.Y OF THE LAND.
341
CAP. IV.
had appeared off the coast for some days, fearful of aspect and
prodigious of bulk; while the black storm from Axatlan had
covered the city and the waves with ashes, and there were
rumours of many new volcanoes and appearances of meteors.
Toltiah associated these things with the curse of Noah, and,
mad with a feminine terror and fury, caused the guards of the
gates to be massacred to a man, supposing them to have slept
while he passed forth.
The earth tremor was followed by two others, so that half
the great city was nearly in ruins. From the walls every idol
had been shaken down, and the Fish-god by the landing-stage
in the harbour lay submerged in the deep water, appearing by
342
THE CURSE OF ATLANTIS.
And more came and yet more, and there was no end to
forth,
the silent exodus of the small people which wheeled up and up
into the sky and departed over the sea with such silent ordering.
As I watched I marvelled, and ever issued the winged shadows,
without squeak or any sort of sound, and the mystery of it lay
heavily upon me. Also the sea moved with a different fashion
to its usual wont, hurling great waves to the shore and swirling
in vast eddies while from it seemed to rise unceasingly a
;
moaning and weeping sound, and the dense clouds covered all
the sky with darkness, and a leaden horror of night.
343
THE SMALL PEOPLE WHICH WKEELEDj^UP AND UP INTO THE SKY.
THE CURSE OF ATLANTIS.
345
ATLANTIS.
hid and darkness is over all? Long hast thou been absent, and
my heart has waited in sorrow for thee, my Beloved."
She wept and clung about me, and in grievous pity for her
I wept also. Whereat she took courage and said, " If thou
lovest me as thou hast said, it is well."
These words struck my mind in such fashion that I laughed
with scorn and blaspheming merriment.
"Yea, in very truth, it is well!" I cried; " Love is the greatest^
thing in Earth and Heaven; it creates and then ruins, and
laughs at the wreck. Love sits in Heaven and nourishes the
Earth, making it large and fat for the sacrifice, punishing aught
that unwittingly crosses its caprices with unrelenting hate. We
two can laugh at all that may come, because we love soaring ;
346
THE CURSE OF ATLANTIS.
that light from the Paradise of fools 1 Accursed, aye, and twice
and thrice accursed be the Love that can so destroy its own
children and drive them from the brightness of morning to the
dark of night! Accursed be the Love that can see its penitent
worshippers writhe in flames of Hell and take no heed of their
remorseful sufferings! Accursed be that Heaven that can create
and continue creating evil for to destroy it in weltering misery,
that can raise its own chaste head above the abominations of
"
its womb and trample its own creations under foot I
The woman wept and our tears mingled, terrible burning drops
as of hot lava.
"What can I say to thee?" she sobbed desperately.
" Love, no word of thine could remove the dread fiat of sin,"
I said ;
" nought now that thou couldst say might blot out the
347
ATLANTIS.
past, the period of sin that has left its mark upon us both, nor
bring back that which can never be restored. For even couldst
thou love me now, yet couldst thou never restore the peace of
mind that was aforetime, and the purity of the past before sin had
passed over, norfully remove all doubts which prey upon the soul."
Azta wept in despair, and I could but love her for it, and
spoke words to comfort her.
" I know not what portends, yet know that whatever shall
come, to thee am I ever true, and doubt not that I love thee
more than my own immortal soul, O my fair Love. Too well
I love thee, too well for both of us yet blame me not that
;
yet where thou art there also am I and should aught perchance
;
separate us I will wait for thee, through all the bitter pain of
knowing that thou wouldst follow another, until haply we meet
again. I live in Hell for thy sake, nor will I, craven, enter
Heaven without thee. Kiss me, my dear Love, and let us not
spend the shortness of time in such sad misery."
She lay back in my arms, regarding me with half-closed
eyes, her hands clasping me.
"How wonderful thou art!" she murmured.
I kissed her fondly, and, embracing one another, we sat watching
Noah and of his people, and thou, his father, art holy. What
better examples could he have? For I, even I, am not as most."
"Alas, poor Love," I answered her; "it is nought to do with
example nor has example any power, methinks, save evil example.
;
Yet if thou sowest tares, (and also if thou sowest them not,)
tares arise in abundance, but the beauteous sartreels require a
certain care, and also the roses, and even then they may never
appear. But here it was the previous error that but reaped
its sure harvest."
Azta perceived as in the unravelling of a skein the process
of sin, where a fallen Angel and a fallen mortal had raised a
being who causedthe nation to stray more than all the times
before. She perceived approaching the vengeance of God upon
the fearful mixture of the sins of mind and body, and simply
and despairingly she said, " We have both erred."
I answered not. I only drew her head on to my breast and
349
CAP. V.
351
ATLANTIS.
likewise at the mouth, roUing his eyes and waving his arms,
red with blood to the elbows, frantically in the air.
Azta, standing in the midst of a group, among whom were
also Toltiah,Nezca, Chanoc, Adar, Tua, Emarna and other
great ones,watched with a slight sneer upon her face while
the bloody work continued, frowning occasionally when some
pretty chubby infant was murdered. Her heart felt very dark
and evil more than all this wickedness was it evil. For on the
;
part of those around her and of the crowds beneath it was but
wild, unthinking wrong, while her heart spoke to her of delib-
erate spiritual sin and a wantonly strangled conscience.
A slight tremor shook the earth and a quavering moan of
fear rose like a long muffled roll of thunder, echoing for miles
from every quarter of the vast city. In the great spaces beneath
the temple that weird cry of fright vibrated fearfully in the close
atmosphere, rising and falling in mournful cadence, and by
reason of the varying distances obtaining a marvellous effect.
Amaziel brought out from the central tower the sacred symbol
of Atlantis, the four-armed Cross, that had led the nation under
great Tekthah to its victorious empire, and with a shout lifted
it towards the sky.
352
THE SHAME OF ZUL.
353 23
ATLANTIS.
and spiders dashed madly over the burning embers to fall and
wriggle and leap, crackling and agonising, in the flames.
But after a time any misgivings were lost in the frenzy of
wine and excitement, as the deviHsh priests bade them fear
only Zul. There were great vats full of wine placed at different
spots, and from these the people drank, dancing and shouting
and falling upon the ground. The gathering was the greater
for the reason that many houses were untenable, and the level-
ling influence of the terror and sacrifices caused many of the
princes and nobles to mingle with the mad throngs of warriors,
traders, merchants and women. These last were greater in number
than the men, and being more abandoned increased the evil of
all, flashing their wanton eyes among the dark masses of hair that
354
THE SHAME OF ZUL.
Amaziel. Now alone she stood, and far below upon the one hand
was the moaning sea, upon the other the moving bonfire-lighted
brawlers. Above, the low clouds rolled awfully in vast evolu-
tions, and thunder, audible at intervals, sounded in sublime
contrast to the howls and shrieks below that filled Azta's spirit
with a great unrest to hear. Her eyes glowered red from her
shadowy form, and were as lions' eyes in the dark, nought but
two round discs of flame that looked out over the far crowds
and flashed at the sounds of martial strife as Nahuasco dispersed
them by violence.
Below, the sound of the wind among the dead trees sounded
Hke weeping voices, and the woman, gazing into the darker
shadows of land and sky and sea, thought she perceived legions
of dreadful figures and forms of monstrous shapes. To her
came the horror of the central cavern where lay the Heart of
the World as she watched them where weirdly they swayed
and amalgamated, floating high above the Earth, their eyes,
as saurians, filmy and vague, seeming to gaze towards her.
Then the moon shone out, and as in a dread vision the
forms changed into clouds, through which the scenery below
showed as through a veil. The walls and towers and pylons of
the palace sprang like unearthly monuments from the darkness,
and all the vast architecture of the matchless city was visible in
wondrous and enormous. A sound smote the
distance- fading array,
quick ear of Azta, and looking, she perceived a large dark crea-
ture of hideous shape drag itself above the edge of the roof
and advance towards her, the attenuated Hmbs scarce able to
support its gross trunk. Exaggerated by the light to large
dimensions, gasped loudly with a whining cry, and scarce
it
355
ATLANTIS.
out with a hideous yell as though racked with pain, and then
fell furiously upon the prostrate parent, biting and clawing at
it and finally devouring it.
Azta hid her face in horror and nausea, and the beast reared
itself up and stood upon two legs, tearing at the bloody remains
hanging from its jaws with claw-like hands. A great light caused
her to look up, and she perceived a form of fire descend swiftly
upon the lightning. From its outstretched hand flew a bolt that
fell upon the dark horror, consuming it with a crackling sound
356
CAP. VI.
357
ATLANTIS.
craving and never satisfied ! The more the thoughts strove the
more lost in inextricable problems they were, until the soul
writhed in flame of agony that wrapped it in their fevered
horror — the unquenchable fire of Hell.
I considered the state of the fallen Ones and compared my
ambition with theirs, I thought of them and of their conver-
sation aforetimes, the pondering upon those shadowy vague
ideas some grand scheme whose glimmering beauties they
of
thought they could perceive, and the power to execute which
they believed themselves to possess some grandeur that would :
359
ATLANTIS;
our triumph would have been the defeat of another, and sorrow
to us over the sorrow that it caused."
" It is the voice of our failure that speaks, O Asia " cried
1
but in thyself thou hast sinned. Look upon the Earth and tell
me for what are its mortal beings created? Thou canst not."
I looked upon Mankind. I saw its children, born in sorrow,
sinless save but by the sins of others, yet eagerly embracing
frowardness as soon as the dreadful human nature overcame
the spiritual.
"Are they not but mortal?" he pursued; "and thou hast
given thy love to one of such. Yield it up 1 In the contem-
plation of a mortal is vexation, disappointment, and sadness,
360
THE WAR OF THE SPIRIT.
that had looked upon the face of God swept upon me with the
cold fury of a wrath which would have blasted a lesser being.
From his thigh flashed forth the desolating sword, falling amain
upon me through the firmament, and rising in storms his rolling
crest lowered above his buckler seven-fold and vast. But front
to front in elemental war my unslung shield parried the thun-
dering death, and rising high in the might of Heaven, though
sadly dimmed, I cast upon the dread Prince the hissing horrors
of my spear x to which the tallest tree of Earth was but as
a splint of wood to itself.
Shelach^ a dart.
361
ATLANTIS.
ing god rising high so that his impious crest touched Heaven,
bore hard upon me. and buckler to buckler we stood with
his uncovered portion and cast him with dreadful violence upon
his crest so that his arms rang out upon the plain and lay
prone in dire disorder.
Nor words can tell the rage that now filled the bosom of
the fallen god He roared, so that his roaring shook the skies,
1
were hidden for a while. But rising with renewed force, I stood
against him, marvelling that so I was enabled and in furious ;
363
ATLANTIS.
And there was silence in Heaven. Through all the vast ex-
panses not a sound ruffled the awful stillness that lowered before,
the frown of God. But one long look of longing rage my
erstwhile opponent cast upon that bright vision, and then with
routed arms fled as a dark thought flies before the smile of joy.
But I, abashed and irresolute, stayed in my place before the
Presence of Him who cannot be named, the Spirit of the Heart
of Flame, nor dared to raise my eyes to the Holiness for the ;
3^4
THE WAK ()]• Till". SI'IKir.
i'\nd a<^ain the voice spake, filling- all space with soni^, and
fallini;' with thrilling mournfulness upon my respectful ear.
^'ct ill would it become me
speak of the communications
to
of Spirits; for thtxse things which are rather expressed in silence
of subtle understanding which is neither of the human heart
or brain, it is not tlccent to frame in speech.
And how canst thou comprehend God, () man! Thou who
ATLANTIS.
3^6
CAP. VII.
within my arms and thought. Sure here all was fair, yet there
hung a menace in the atmosphere as amid tumultuous clouds
behind a veil sun set red, and raising my
of lava-dust the
countenance gazed upon the scene.
I
of Man lay there upon it, and among the thick growth of dead
flowers and ferns and stately trees crowding in their luxuriant
array yet brown and pinched by the cold winds, rose tall
broken columns and piles of scattered masonry, thrown thus by
earthquakes and the hand of Man. There were bones and
skeletons and all the wreck of households from which rose
in shattered fragments those dreadful idols that were ever
apparent.
Presently the moon arose, a vast angry globe of light among
the massy clouds; and moving through trees and dead palms
that once shaded the ruined courts with grateful coolness, I
presently arrived upon a river, edged by graceful willows and
whispering rushes, whose waters the rocks and masonry fretted into
silver, where fish leaped and enormous saurians breathed with
their nostrils just above water —
their long, slimy bodies lying
on submerged wreckage.
Upon the farther bank two tall figures sat upon pedestals, as
brooding over the scene, which was soothing to my spirit lying
in ruins like those buried steps and temples. In quiet majesty
they sat above their dead, unhurt by the ruin that had spread
over the hither city, and there was no man to disturb them;
but their heads were the heads of eagles which lifted themselves
367
ATLANTIS.
with gleaming eyes like coals of fire. Serpents crawled over the
blocks of masonry and piles of bones, anacondas dragging their
yellow length of columnar body from buried vaults and damp
courts hidden beneath withered vegetable luxuriance, where also
rats and vermin lived in myriads, and upon branches of trees
and tall cross-beams sat rows of roosting vultures.
Thus lay Chuza. And crowning her high places stood the
shadowy figure of a very large lion, motionless and terrific,
watching a moving shape that hovered among the shadows and
paused among a row of columns that marked the outer court
of the temple dedicated aforetimes to the river-god Nop. In
a little while I perceived, despite the grotesque outlines of furry
ears and swinging claw-fringed flaps, the splendid carriage an<4,
presence of the masterpiece of God : Man. It was Ham, the
son of Noah.
Without any signs of fear the monarchs of men and beasts
gazed the one upon the other, and then the lion turned slowly
away and disappeared among the tangle of bush, fern and ruins.
A mass of clouds, tinged with the red of volcanic furies,
were creeping up over the moon. Because of Chuza lying in a
valley the farther mountains could not be perceived, but the fires
threw their weird light on the high clouds, reflected afar, and the
Earth took a certain crimson tint by reason of them. The tall
warrior, holding a spear, came forth and stood upon a crumble
of steps from which he looked long over the shadows as though
expectant of something, surveying with close scrutiny every
point. A long shadow flowed over the heaps from behind him
as he thus stood, and he looked round swiftly to learn the
reason of it, fearing the attack of some beast of prey.
was a woman who approached, of tall stature and majestic
It
368
THE r.EAVEN OF SiN.
reason of which the altars of all the temples run with the blood
of endless sacrifices, yet the cold wind breathes with the whisper
of doom, and the flocks and herds are perishing so that there is
but little to eat. Even Huitza is moved and Azta is distressed,
and there are those who would fain lay hands upon Noah and
you, his sons, because of a rumour that 'tis Susi who caused
these things on account of a foolish act of Huitza."
"Let Huitza beware!" cried Ham: "let the shade of Maxo
the Archer whisper in the ear of the foolish one." For Maxo
had secretly disappeared when the army marched upon Zul
369 24
ATLANTIS.
and lay inactive upon tiie banks of the Hilen, being slain by
Ham for an insult.
370
THE LEAVEN OF SlN.
And then came thick darkness through which arose the sound
of flowing waves, and a wind, cold and spray-laden, swept upon
him. Upon an ocean the dawn arose, and on a rock he stood
alone in the midst of the waters.
17^
ATLANTIS.
ably sad, as only perception of the soul aiding the ear could
make it.
The voice came from the waves, yet nought was visible.
Amazed, the man looked around. "How can I go?" he said.
Then before him swam the Mexiah, as a saviour upon the
face of the waters; and, as awaking, he perceived the Sun to
rise over a snowy land of forests and mountains, in the midst
of heavy storm-clouds, wakening also the world with its liff
and tinting beauteously the high points. Soon the lower lands
would catch the glow and all would be bright. The warrior
rose up upon his elbow and shivered by reason of many things,
looking to where Emarna slept, her brown bosom rising and
falling regularly under her breathing. His heart being tender
with love for her, he stooped and kissed her lips, sensuously
beautiful and full in their soft curves, and smiling in her sleep
she exposed her gemmy teeth. Yet even as she smiled a sob
arose in her throat, and opening her eyes which were very
large and brown, she sought for her lord where he leaned upon
his elbow regarding her curiously, and much tossed in his mind
concerning her.
"I have dreamed a strange dream," she said, turning and
leaning upon her elbows while the shadows of sleep lay within
her eyes. "I am disturbed because of it, my Love, for in a
vision I saw thee so tall and beautiful, and one came between
us and bade me depart and leave thee."
Her voice rang deep with anguish and her bosom heaved.
She fell upon her side, clasping her breast, the tears gathering
in her eyes and sobs choking her voice.
372
THE LEAVEN OF SIN.
by my God, and may I not follow thee? How can the world
live without the Sun, and how can the desolate heart live
without the love that bade and look upon lifer"
it rise
She turned to Ham, where he sat frowning and plucking at
the fur of the mantle. "Thou now, my heart," she
art here
whispered, pitifully touching his garment, "but what when thou
art gone? Wilt thou remember Emarna and of how she left
all to follow thee? How she cherished thee on her bosom and
braided thy hair? Wilt thou think, when thou meetest thy
espoused wife, of another who loves thee more, and will die
when thou art goner"
The man groaned and sank his head. " Thou dost not un-
derstand; thou wilt be happier in Zul," he said.
"I cannot return thither," she said in a despairing whisper;
and then as the knowledge of his feelings came to her sad
heart she fell in a sudden swoon and lay as one dead.
For thus is love, that knows that no return can be forced,
and dies at the thought of its self-raised horrors.
The warrior arose and looked upon her pityingly. He lifted
his spear and turned away, slowly moving forth into the light
of the day and disappearing with but one backward glance over
the frosty ruins.
And I wept that such sad woe should be able to be caused
by so worthless an object.
373
CAP. VIII.
How changed now was that Zul from when I first beheld
her greatness ! The bright days had changed to gloom and
terror, the starry nights to dark periods of cold and horror and
dreadful manifestations, where meteors flew through lurid clouds,
with loud explosions. Her palmy courts were covered in debris
and ashes, and her pleasant fountains ceased to sound their
music upon the air the roses and the water-lilies were dead.
:
In ruin lay her palaces and temples, and fallen were statues
and columns and shady colonnades, burying many in suffoca-
ting death. -
starving children waged war with dogs and vultures for the
carrion remains. Some killed and ate the beasts themselves,
and the more abandoned kidnapped children and devoured
them. Even now were there reckless ones who took advantage
of the terrors to their own advance, entering mansions and
palaces, stealing riches and abducting women whom they after-
wards murdered, and, sitting upon piles of ruins, cast the dice
for division of spoils.
374
THE ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE.
375
ATLANTIS.
1>7^
THE ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE.
Azta's fiery glance flitted over the boy and rested with a
piercing look upon Toltiah.
"Fool!" she said, in a deep, terrible voice; and the chief
turned, and dragging after him the black-haired boy, re-entered
the palace.
And Amaziel the high Priest was in the temple before the
earthquake shook it, with him being also that Mah, who, in the
person of a slave-dealer, had wrought much confusion with his
women by leading astray the minds them.
of the men through
They spake together slowly and because of the ap-
in fear
proaching horrors, not knowing yet what form they would take
or what should happen to themselves. For having taken on so
substantiallyan Earthly form, each was in a measure greater
or bound to the Earth and subject to what should befall
less
it, which was a great fear to them.
us for ever from the Earth. For now is the time accomplished,
and now enter the Worlds of fate upon the final revolution of
doom, and for a space is a dread crisis hovering over all life,
the which shall go hard with us. In the revolutions of Uranus
our doom is written, and in the Heavens is hung the Balance."
And Mah, which was also Pholia, a Spirit of small power in
Heaven, was greatly terrified, crying aloud " Behold, what shall
:
blame for that thou didst lead me and instruct me in all the
ways of evil And now thou but smilest upon me and
I utterest
platitudes instead of extending aid!"
But Leira answered not. With folded arms he stood gazing
upon the walls of the chamber and the mystic courts beyond
with a dreadful scorn upon his lips. There was triumph in his
377
ATLANTIS.
filled the place, the noise of falling ruins mingling with the faint
murmur of a mighty concourse of people, and great pufls of
dust and smoke filled the chamber, blown from outer courts,
as in that terrific movement fell column and colossi, and bulging
floors permitted the walls to fall inward.
And ah, what were revealed, coming from
fearful things
hidden places, which were the handiwork and experiments of
Leira Misshapen horrors of some unknown life, monstrous
1
37«
THE ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE.
barrier that lay intangible but potential above the hidden bolts
of Life I
But the Spirit fled, pursued by the Seraph, which had order
to bind such; and as a wind-blown wraith before the sword
of flame he went, casting over in his hasty mind what he
should do. And in dark places among weeds and short trees
grew strange plants, into one of which he entered, hoping thus
to escape; but the swift pursuer espied by how he entered the
plant, and bound him therein until certain revolutions and a
cycle of revolutions had passed.
380
CAP. IX.
with robes of splendour and adorning their limbs with all that
the Earth could produce of flashing gems, sank down and
moaned, being seized in the intestines of a vile cramp whereby
they gnawed their flesh and all things of leather until such also
were gone.
The desolation was dreadful, but the moral condition of the
381
ATLANTIS.
people was worse ; and nothing was left now to fly to for pro-
tection from the terrors that devastated
land. All in the
authority appeared equally helpless, and only once of late had
Azta's slung coach passed before their eyes, moving at a swift
pace with drawn curtains, its guards not daring now to wan-
tonly interfere with the dreadful creatures who and
sat stark
starving, glaring upon their full persons with the lust of hungry
lions. There was no wine in which their misery could be
drowned, and groups sat
silent in terror and only shuddered
when the earth shook, dying in the fatal cold of the nights.
Their numbers were augmented by discharged domestics and
slaves, as the nobles found themselves unwilling to endanger
themselves by feeding useless mouths; and these unfortunate
people, being fat, and also by reason of remembrance of past
arrogance, were killed and eaten. And this hostile feeling was
also extended to such of the nobles themselves who were not
too powerful,and at times the passage of such was violently
obstructed; while a madman attacked furiously the Lord Nezca,,
only being struck down when he had killed two of the guards.
Having commenced such outrages, the starving populace
turned with fury upon their superiors, accusing them of causing
their miseries and forgetful of own evil. Leaders arose
their
among them, principally of those who had been cast forth
from great establishments and knew of stores of hidden pro-
vender, stirring them up to sack the palaces of the nobles.
Even those at the Red
became alarmed at the aspect
palace
of the people, whowere taught that the gods required
also
the death of the mighty ones of Zul which had grievously
sinned against them. In dreadful swarms they surrounded the
more isolated mansions and entered them by storm, sacking
them and compeUing their inmates to disclose where food was
hidden; jeering with brutal taunts at the plump beauty of high-
born ladies dragged before their dreadful ranks in whom no
passion but for food was left. Little fat babies were instantly
slaughtered by the ravening multitudes and devoured in their
blood, and older children also; but this dreadful food (they
being unused to it) brought on diseases and death.
And particularly the indignation of the people burst furiously
382
THE SCORPION WHIPS OF GOD.
383
ATLANTIS.
great drain upon the food supply left for its needful maintenance
and of such as were in the palace. Touching which, Nezca
"Wherefore hesitate ye, lords of Atlantis? Thence ye came,
and now what shall prevent your return? Is it not a very
desirable land, nor having been, by any known testimony,
removed from where it stood nourishing also the Tree of Life
;
and that dire plant which now might prove acceptable. Nor
are the Angel guards to be feared, for we have tested the
virtue of such, and methinks great Azta were match for aught
that wears the guise of man. Why should ye tarry longer
where Famine reigns and unseen Death is lord?"
Discreet messengers were sent to the cities near and far,
to bid their governors lead forth all they could save to the
north, where under their king, who would also arrive there,
they should leave their unfavorable land, desolated by Zul, and
retake their old places. For it was necessary that they should
go in as strong guise as possible, remembering their brothers
and all those families of Adam
which they had parted from ,
removing even the official mediums of the gods thus the last —
thing left to them — the chaos of mental nothingness into which
they were plunged would be unendurable. Why might not they
also go to this which they were sprung,
pleasant land from
that the superior knowledge of their lords told them of, they
said, regretful that such as had aroused the legions of Heaven
against them should now depart and leave them to face the
heavy judgment deserted also by those magicians of wicked
;
384
THE SCORPION WHIPS OF GOD.
385 25
ATLANTIS.
came their fears and delicacy, they smote hard and fast in
dread of being overcome.
There fought with Toltiah all the men of note which were
in Zul, whose towering crests were known of all, and upon
the high terraces and roofs appeared those queens whose fames
were upon all tongues, to look with fear upon the near battle-
They read in those bright arms and splendid mantles and
jewellery the fate of the lower city, and dismay was upon them
to perceive the dreadful ravages of a famine that had not as
yet touched themselves. The humming of the sling-shot was as
the sound of bees where in deadly strife men fought, and
limbs, dismembered, flew into the air. Sword-blades, splintered
at the point of furious contact with shield or metal harness,
hurtled dangerously, transfixing opponents while beneath,
far ;
the stabbing spears and knives of obsidian and copper did their
deadly work. Arrows, sent above the battle by both sides, fell
among the swaying heads, and long thrilling shrieks of agony
arose as they pierced them. The Lord Chanoc, governor of
Atala and Lord of Astra, who was sojourning in Zul, hewed
his way to the front with an Amazon's axe, where fought
Toltiah with Marisa's broad cleaver towering high above the
thickest fight. Around them fell many, beaten down by clubs
and pierced with spears, and the dead and dying lay Hke
autumn leaves where Nezca fought, his great sword carrying
destruction in its sweeping death. Backwards and forwards
swayed the dense crowd, too earnest in fight to cry out, but
the women screamed shrilly, and such as through weakness
fell never rose again, being trampled and smothered.
Around them were masses of ruins and debris, and in the dust
of fallen arches and pylons they fought. The low walls that had
been around the gardens before the earthquakes were now
heaped up above their ruins by heaps of dead bodies, which
386
THE SCORPION WHIPS OF GOD.
also fell among the trees and reddened the fountains with their
spouting The red terraces were dotted with bodies
blood.
where the fight waged thickly, the guards now being driven
back by their opponents. Oris, giant warrior, fell over a dead
body and pitched his whole length down the steps, falling
among the opponents. Ah, luckless chief! Nor was he ever
to rise again, for seized of numerous hands the cruel weapons
beat his life from him so that his blood ran down the steps
and mingled with the rest. And nearly also had Nahuasco
died, for, stooping above a foeman, a huge toothed club smote
upon his back and he fell groaning; but Toltiah rushed upon
his foes, bearing them down by his great size and the strength
of his arm, and rescued the old warrior. Many in such manner
were smitten down as they stooped to take the rich ornaments
from their vanquished opponents and thus went the fight, the
;
387
CAP. X.
388
THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.
the icy winds that shrivelled the stately palms and ferns which
were away from such kindly shelter; and to such haven came
herds of animals, indeed every sort of them appeared to flock to
the hills; which also was a phenomenon causing no little
wonder and uneasiness, as Ham reported the absence of them
upon the lower lands. Thus all day were carried in piles of
all manner of fruits and vegetables in rush baskets woven by
the women, and great cakes of bread prepared with honey
and in earthern vessels of rude manufacture water was stored
and sealed up. But of a night, when the black deck cut clear
and sharp against the dull red clouds, and the blacker shadow
of the door was displayed in the fire-illuminated side, the quiet
people marvelled at the structure and the preparations, and
thought in awe upon the nameless sins of Zul and those in
high places, and the mighty wonders wrought of the towering
sons of God. Yet their minds being either pure or simple it
came not to them to argue upon the mysteries of generation
beyond what was meet and comely, and the dread sins whereby
came such future doom being impossible and unsupportable, Man
becoming as a vast beast that wrought confusion without power
to govern or limit its appalling powers.
Now upon a certain day, (the ship being completed,) Noah
built within it a temple wherein to worship fitly the Lord God
Jehovah, and made within it an altar, upon which he sacrificed
in the presence of all his family and the two strangers. And
when they were gathered together it was dark, but there
descended upon the altar a soft light that illuminated the place,
and a chord of music sounded upon the air. Low, beautiful
and wondrous, it seemed to gather from a great distance
until in a sweUing note of marvel it vibrated all around, and
as the harps of the Angels swept by the wings of rosy dawn
to the voice of myriad stars it fell upon the ears of the adoring
sons of Earth.
A broke from Susi, but Ham, sinking his head
cry of joy
upon deep chest, durst not raise his eyes; yet prayed fer-
his
vently. There was an awful silence, and methought it seemed
as though a Hand had been placed upon each bowed head,
from which sprang a light of exceeding beauty. Upon the
389
ATLANTIS.
the earth, and subdue it : and have dominion over the fish of
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living
thing that moveth upon the Earth."
It ceased. The bright light faded and a flash of lightning
consumed the offerings which were upon the altar; while from
great spaces came an echoing chorus, most beautiful and sweet,
"Go forth!"
And the two strangers, which had knelt in most holy a(^or-
ation, arose; "Go forth!" they said; "trust, and all shall be
well with and hinder nought that shall come. Servants of
you :
390
THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.
with their vivid eyes and gleaming teeth Hke demon forms
horses snorted by the side of terrified crouching panthers and
ferocious aurochs, a cayman pushing its fearful muzzle through
a great crowd of rabbits, wild swine, porcupines, tortoises, conies
and timid gazelles. A
form showed among them, whose
fearful
tiny eyes, twinkling and
and the long horn upon its head
evil,
multitude.
There appeared no elucidation of such a perplexing mystery,
nor could the man's expanded nostrils discover aught but the
animal odours. There was no smoke by which he could read
of burning forests, whose abundant herbage should have sufficed
the beasts in satisfaction, not yet being withered.
The muffled thunder of a lion's roar vibrated the atmosphere,
and as at a signal, and without a sound, they were gone
fox, mastodon, pig, deer, rabbit — all gone. Those lithe forms
that would sweep along with the speed of a tempest, those
gigantic shapes that would rush with the terrors of an earth-
quake through the forest, had vanished without a sign, a sound.
The two watchers sat there for long, thinking and wondering.
Upon the clouds the manifested fury of the volcanoes was mag-
nificentand awful, and Susi wondered if again that figure
hovered above Axatlan in flaming majesty holding the sword
of fire.
glad to leave even Earth's joys for pleasant sleep; when with
their little plump limbs deserted by their spirits, folded softly
within their tender mother's arms, they slept that mystic rest
they cared not to enquire of in quiet peace until bright dawn
kissed them into new life of Earth. Little living forms with
souls of Angels, until one day a wonder grows upon them, and
an awakening, as the body grows and the germs of Earth grow
within them and awaken to life and the voice of their mother
Earth.
Fondest of all was I of Huri, a tiny daughter of Susi, and
oft would beguile her baby hours with pleasant play, and guide
her feet to where the water-lilies grew in shady brooks, where
careless of harm she wandered, until the cold came and the
little brooks were sealed up and the lilies died. And always
did I look in longing for her to come and play and with her
baby laughter to drive away the load of sorrow in my heart
for a while, as in loving guise 1 held her little hand, or carried
392
THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.
her within my
broad arms where she lay and gazed so strangely
upon me my nature. And one night I found
as half-divining
her alone in that temple within the Mexiah, where in dread
contemplation my feet had led me and as she stood there in ;
the awful shadow of the Holy of Holies, lifting the veil in her
hand, not a doubt clouded her baby face overspread with
little
purity, it is meet; for ever thine Angels pray for thee before
393
CAP XL
394
THE NAVEL OF THE Cr.OUDS.
live."
He kissed her lips passionately, while she clung to him with
a fast embrace though fearing he would go from her as he
as
did before. But the great man dandled her in his arms and
swore he would never leave her again though all the Angels
demanded it, saying that now he would return to the camp and
get her some food. But she forbade him, praying that he would
not leave her for a little, because that she had rather gaze into
his eyes than feed her body.
Whereupon, nothing loath, he sat with her, laughing and
talking in merry humour and pinching her cheeks; but she,
filled with sadness and forebodings, would have preferred him
395
ATLANTIS.
flee were vain Kill me and then thyself, and in one another's
!
"
arms will we die!
The chief sat motionless, with great eyes staring at the darkly
awful form that swept along the path towards them, swung
from the clouds. As the woman had commotion
said, a terrific
was about it; cyclones eddied around and around it the
its feet
lightnings, as fiery serpents, played, while afar sounded the
roar and shriek of an hundred tempests.
Yet, brave in her despair, the woman kneeled and bared her
bosom, pulling aside the mantle that the invited stroke might,
be sure.
"Strike, my lord!" she cried, lifting the spear and placing
the point against her round breast so that the cold bright point
was buried in the softness of it. Her lips were white, her eyes
desperate and her bosom heaved with wild pantings. " Cause
me not to suffer thus!" she cried piteously "it is cruel, dear ;
"
Love, and I am but a woman. Be brave, my Love, and strike 1
thou art swift and strong! Ely, oh fly, and hasten! It comes!"
The warrior rose up hurriedly, and with a glance of abject
terror made a leap towards the higher land tlie foot-hills of —
396
THE NAVEL OF THE CLOUDS.
397
ATLANTIS.
cally. Wonder it was that heart or lungs did not burst in that
dreadful struggle for life, as before his eyes the landscape reeled-
and swirled. Death seemed to He both before and behind, yet
that behind was more certain than that in front, and the mortal
instinct bade continuous action.
Over his wide shoulder he cast a fearful glance, perceiving
thereby a horror of night in which opened a roaring, seething
inferno. His feet gave way and his joints were loosened, so
that falling down he lay still and panted as an hunted animal,
until a wave of water lapped over his feet. Whereupon he
leaped upright, perceiving a great and dreadful spectacle where
the tempest in all its fury raged.
There the clouds shut out all light, driven before the storm,
and enormous waterspouts ran in gliding circles that shone wan
and ghastly against the thick darkness. Torn and shattered
by the wind the vast clouds moved in swift battalions, swinging
funnel-shaped trunks to the earth that was rapidly disappearing
under torrents of water, surging and eddying, cascading over
rocks and filling hollows with swirling pools. It seemed as*
mangled body whirled and tossed upon the waves, and there
were others also borne upon the swift tide.
Like the horror of a fearful dream it passed before his eyes,
and then he turned and continued his flight, leaping upwards
and onwards, searching with straining vision for the place of
the village of his people. Fearful voices followed him and fast
behind him the relentless waters rose, as fast as he himself fled
from them. There was only safety in the mountains, and so
great was the pressing peril that the man gave no thought
to the great phenomenon behind him, but only stumbled
39«
THE NAVEL OF THE CLOUDS.
onward with panting breath and bursting veins towards the heights.
Confused and weary he ran onward, at times walking per-
force, and then as fear possessed him afresh, racing with speed.
He passed a large tree and for an instant hesitated, thinking
to climb up into safety, but instinct bade him continue on lest
he be cut off from all escape. Higher and higher he climbed
in a horrid twilight, each step now being nearer the desired
goal, (for the ground was rising sharply,) yet feeling pains all
over him and perceiving his limbs to be cut and bruised and
covered with blood. Torn and gashed by thorns, briars and
rocks and many fallen branches, he marvelled that he had so
escaped, as he sank down in a patch of fern high above the
boiling flood and gasped in a great self-pity. Nor did it to
him occur that, fleeing one day from the punishment of his sins,
he might not haply so escape when the gates of Death were
closed upon him entered within them, and the Tribunal was set.
Yet also other eyes had witnessed that dread scene without
understanding it. For Azta, watching the lowering masses
over the land, had seen, as it were, a world burst in the heavens
with an outpouring of thick horror, and shapes descending
therefrom in the cyclones and dark night, and from very far
had come the voices of the storm while yet in Zul there was a
suffocating calm. Covering whole horizons the clouds nearer to the
city appeared to fall as in a vortex to where the awful gatherings
rolled, rent by lightnings and bursting with thunder that shook
the suspended Earth while as a palace of Infernal wonder and
;
magnitude the varying columns and roofs and rolling pillars of cloud
stood, fading into the illumined distances. From Earth to immense
heights rose those awful galleries across halls of purple and dark
;
399
ATLANTIS.
a great feast to all who should set forth with to-morrow's light
in the desperate retreat from a doomed land, and fly to carry
sinand all evil imagining over all the world so that there should
be no end to the* wickedness of it all.
And I,what should I do? With my Love would I go, still
hoping against hope that I might cause her to rule in holiness
from another throne that would arise amid the same conditions
as the present one was deserted in. But standing with her on
that last night of sorrow by the cliff that overlooked the seS,
we perceived a star to fall from Heaven into the waters. Down
it fell, and ever downwards, nor did the waters quench it or
400
THE NAVEL OF THE CLOUDS.
401 26
CAP. XII.
The Hall of Feasting was crowded and the granaries and all
roar of the lions that guarded the Hall of the Throne caused
them to tremble uneasy omen and its nearness to them.
by its
402
"FOR TO-MORROW WE DIE."
403
ATLANTIS.
nor even freedom from care, for there were many there with
sore wounds received in the recent furious battle with the
people, and all knew it was a farewell banquet fed from their
terrible scarcity, perchance the last meal they would eat or
could be able to obtain and the people gazed upon one
;
405
ATLANTIS.
406
" V()\< TO-MORROW WK DIK."
dance, the warriors seizing upon scenic by force, which being wives
and mistresses of merchants caused many combats and murders.
Azta, hke an Infernal ([ueen, drank with an>' chief wlio
petitioned her, and Iru, in the l)lood of two servants whose
heads smashed together, drank to the conciucst of luleii,
he
caUing upon the warriors to remember the northern phice of
gathering. The dazzhng mirrors into.xicated the drunken senses
of all, and not a few raised their shaking bowls with lewd ex-
pressions and drank to the obscene frescoes amid roars of mer-
riment. The time sped in outrageous pleasures, and still that
wild saturnalia continued as the Devil's brood danced to its doom.
The licences were degrading in their daring extremes as the wine
was drained its dregs, and men and women, sunk below the level
to
became mingled in a dreadful whirlpool of disgrace.
of the beasts,
Suddenly a gloom fell over the light, and all believing the
torches to be becoming exhausted, the dances and revelries
became more frenzied still. A current of icy atmosphere entered
the warm chamber, and savage curses were shouted against the
return of the day that should end the joy of that
dreadful
foolishness. With a last diabolical effort the music banged and
crashed and in dilirious mazes the dancers leaped, clasped in
each other's arms, in the fading light, j)anting in the dust and
heat and falling in confusion over prostrate bodies. Then came
a sound echoing through the va.st hall and stilling all else. It
ioy) because the Present even now is the Past, antl the Past is
;
for ever gone from us. nor is its enjoyment active, being but a
memory; for we can never recall the joy of the Xow, but in
preparing a pleasant Future we lay a golden road of ever Present.
407
CAP. XIII.
'
a spirit so madly beloved, and so disastrously.
A wind swept along, chill with an indefinable horror of death
and corruption, and a low sound of mortal terror followed it.
All below the dais cast themselves down, save Nezca; and the
knees of Toltiah shook with fear.
A flash of vivid light cleft the dark obscurity, and there
appeared a Hand holding a four-armed cross, like to their
standard. In full view of all it appeared, and many believed
it to be a recognition of their symbol by the gods but Azta;
408
"
"MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN.
no longer endurable and the word is spoken that you shall all
die. The tree is evil and the branches spread, but the axe is
laid at the root and it shall cease. Thus is it spoken! And
you, the shining ones, that stand so boldly now, beware I
For you also are words spoken that cannot alter. By the curse
of this people shall thy curse be doubled, Hesorio; and what
shall be done unto thee, O Asia? Not for thy forgetfulness of
that dear love extended to thee, for which in exact measure
art thou repaid, but for the havoc and confusion that thou hast
wrought must thou account. Kneel!"
The lightning sprang towards us and all was dark. Nor in
words were these things spoken to us, but by the perfect com-
prehension of Justice, which is of the all-understanding and all-
seeing Spirit and is not biassed by deeds or manners nor bound
by any fear of varying criticisms to pass its sentence upon the
motive of every act. The only unforgivable thing is disobedience,
whereby superior guidance is stultified.
Sounds were in the atmosphere, sounds of grief and waiHng
unutterably sad and mournful, but below reigned the silence of
death and each man wondered if he were the sole survivor of
a nation. Presently the darkness broke and the light of that
last day of horror crept in over the prostrate multitude. Heads
were raised fearfully, and soon, believing what they had seen
to be the result of their furious revels, many shamefacedly
arose, yet carrying within their souls a dread presentiment of
coming doom.
With a terrible anguish I raised up Azta, pressing her pas-
sionately to my bosom while the bitter tears fell fast.
"I cannot part with thee, my Love! Thou art all I have!"
I cried, with intense agony *'
O Hesorio, can nought be
;
'
done ?
410
"MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN."
walls of the fourth storey which faced the palace fell in ruins,
carried away by the torrential masses from above so that the
central chamber was exposed in which were the dark mysteries
of Neptsis and Zul displayed in fire upon its walls. From the
square space in the midst shot up a strange dull-red flame, and
methought there were awful figures which moved in dismayed
fashion within the brightness around. And crowning the horror
sat the stern majesty of WAEF, the Accuser, looking upon the
ruin of Earth ; sublime in immovable majesty, awful in inflexible
testimony.
Azta shrieked in my arms, hiding her face in my bosom, not
wishing to longer view that god and those awful
portentous
ruins where, flung afar, the golden fire-tower gleamed amid the
dark heaps. Protected by all my diminished power she had
no hurt upon her body, but in her mind was helll And to add
terror to terror the two great lions which guarded the Hall of the
Throne came bounding with broken chains among the people,
half-starved and of ferocious appearance. Unheeding all else,
they leaped straightly to the dais and with a great spring hurled
themselves at once upon Toltiah. The mighty being fell beneath
their weight, and with a roar one of the brutes smote the
grand Solar crown from his head. Azta with a shrill scream
of anguish leaped forward and attacked the brutes with a dagger,
but before she could avail and before I could hasten to the
rescue they bounded off" among the panic-stricken people, biting
and roaring savagely, disembowelling with tremendous blows
and bearing all before them.
But Azta cast herself by her so strangely regarded offspring
in a passion of anguish. She gazed with madness in her eyes
upon his countenance and shuddered with a dreadful moan as
she perceived that his skull was broken, blood and brains
oozing in ghastly flux between the shattered bones and among
the ruddy masses of hair. His hand fell as lead from her
horrified grasp, and with a panting cry she fell as one dead.
I gazed wildly around over the poor wretches fleeing from
that place of death, and saw how Iru rent one of the beasts
with his godlike strength and that the other lay pinned to the
earth by a spear. What would happen now r Too well I knew
411
ATLANTIS.
there was no escape from the pronounced doom, yet could not
my power prevail aught to save this one who lay unconscious
atmy feet?
Nezca moved measured strides. " Fare thee well
off last with
for a space, Prince of Heaven/' he said, raising his great spear
in salutation towards me: "We shall meet again when these
have passed."
He was gone, all that remained now were dead, save only
Azta and myself. Upon my heart lay an icy horror. "For
you also are words spoken that cannot alter," Yet not even
now for myself I feared, but I knew that if my Love loved
me not we should be parted for ever; and the thought bowed
me beneath its weight of agony with a torture that would have
annihilated me could I but have died. In an agony too keen
for words I stood in so fiery a hell of suffering that my soul
fainted within me.
Monarch of the dead I stood my murdered victims
; Around !
threes and dozens and scores, and from far distances sounded
the rustle of the myriad-footed rush. And then above all rose
an appalling sound that reached even Azta's dull ears and
caused her to lean upon me, trembling, her eyes, widely open,
gazing with a dreadful dark void from her ashen face.
The great and the huge tank of the Baths had
reservoirs
burst and suffered a mighty wave of water to leap like a solid
cataract down the terraces, sweeping all before it and carrying
hundreds of the fugitives to whirling destruction. As flies
before a hurricane they went, dashed against impediments and
flung headlong, crimsoning with their blood the Hquid mass
that swept a path of ruin from the hill of Zul to the battlements,
and through, plunging with a torrent of foamy uproar into the
waters that surrounded the city.
414
CAP. XIV.
415
ATLANTIS.
But some pushed her down and she fell into the water;
whereon, rushing through the waves, a black shark leaped,
sweeping some refugees from their feet and vanishing with her
amid screams of terror.
Now scores of frantic hands clutched the ship's side, whicb
by reason of the multitude already on board leaned dangerously
and offered a large sideto the outer waves. Those within her
slashed at unhappy wretches, and as the last restraining
the
rope was severed at length the vessel began to move from the
waterway under the hauling of those on the anchor ropes.
But clinging hands held still, and others clutched them and, ;
falling upon the side, a wave rolled the great ship so that the
gunwale dipped down, plunging the miserable beings below the
water, and by the movement causing to fall the stowed sails
and bursting the lashings of the catapult which was amid-
ships.
Relieved from the overbalancing weight for a moment by the
water floating it thus, the Tacoatlanta rose with a heavy roll
nearly upright; weight pulled from the waves caused
but the
her to dip again more violently than before, and those who
would have cut away the strangling mass had enough to do to
save themselves. Long dark forms threshed through the water
as the fierce sharks swept towards their prey, and the waves
were topped by triangular fins.
The ship rolled up once more, and then, as with a sickening
416
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.
lurch the catapult and all loose things fell down the slope
caused by the downward roll, the people within fell down over
one another headlong into the waves heaving red and terrible.
For an instant, so compact was their mass, it appeared as
though they struggled upon a flooded pavement, but they
spread abroad and sank, and the red water rose among them.
Some sharks, overwhelmed and surrounded by their victims,
leaped up through them, falling upon the dry and solid masses
and struggling ferociously until they fell through.
Nor availed the godlike power of physical man where the
Tacoatlanta wallowed, the bulwark high above water,
farther
the hither supporting a struggling mass to which breaking
waves, dashing over in a falling mass of foam, added confusion
to hideous confusion. Solid red patches rose up horribly through
the water, breaking into pink froth upon the waves, above which
tossed a forest of arms, legs and heads of the weltering wretches
who strangled and fought, those who wore harness sinking like
lead when support was removed.
The crowds at the waterway watched with blanching faces.
A was upon them and they stood as though carved
silence
in stone, gazing on the frightful scene before them. The tangle
of rigging, the floating spars and oars and enveloping sails,
the seething mass of humanity, appeared* like a vision of
dilirium, and among the writhing masses the long gleaming
forms of the terrible fish dashed swiftly. Gorged and satisfied
they bit right and left, gouging out bloody masses of flesh
and severing limbs from trunks, while, below, the congers
and water-snakes tore the unhappy beings, their graceful forms
at times appearing above the water. Limbless bodies were
tossed about and a headless trunk was pushed upright high above
the rest, a hideous sight with the spouting blood. From far
Earth that should have been rendered but to God, would not
now cry to that forsaken One to aid me. And of Earth, it is
the nobler nature that flies to God in joy, and not in sorrow
for when all is dark the recreant soul cries for aid in its ex-
tremity to a Heaven that is all forgotten in the bright day,
but the noble nature praises the generous hand that it will not
unworthily petition.Yet a wild prayer burst from the depths
of my heart that Omnipotence would help the woman I loved
not wisely but with such devotion. Let me bear her punish-
418
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.
ment, but let her go free ; for it was through me, and me alone,
that this had come to pass.
Yet there was no sign. The rain poured down and the great
hall was awash, streams occasionally bursting with a rush through
dams of wreckage and carrying the debris swirling to another
level where pools were formed by water that trickled in all
around the walls, in which the livid and swelling corpses rocked
hideously. Azta noted nought as she sat in a stupor with a
dull weight of aching horror on her that numbed her senses;
she, who had seen the mysteries of the worlds, who in daring
wantonness had stood face to face with God and laughed. The
splendid dark golden masses of hair flowed in their glory among
the strings of pearls and gems, but she had cast down the
sheltering mantle from her head and the rain fell unheeded
upon her. Raising Toltiah's buckler I held it above her so that
the water fell from it in a pouring cataract around, and at
times the lightnings played upon its vast surface as thunder-
storms added their majesty to the elements. In sad mockery
the gems which Azta wore gleamed
and flashed, splendid
glitterings of bright coloured lights that were so contrary to the
desolation around, and yet seemed to find weird company in
other glancing points where from dusty pools came the reflected
lightning from great gems that ornamented some poor Clay
half-submerged. Or a bright circle of light upon the buckler
of a once godlike chieftain, smitten all amazed in his mortal
frailty, who perchance esteemed himself imperishable in his
O to be free!
To wrench from out our hearts
The sad remembrances of days gone by;
Past— ah, God! Lost! And ne'er shall come again
Bliss that was ours for such a little while
Bliss that was given us but to destroy!
O stars of light that mock us as we weep
Tranquillity that mocks our wild despair
419
ATLANTIS.
Creator! (iod!
Hear us and lielp us of Thy love! Thy Lover
Is it Thy L(jve.- And do we hear aright?
\'eiigeanceis sweet, sweet for intended wrongs,
420
CAP. XV.
421
ATLANTIS.
422
"BEHOLD, I WILL DESTROY."
wave of the Ocean even such towns that lay upon hills were
swept away or so surrounded that all escape was cut off from
the inhabitants. Such as dared to attempt flight upon logs
found themselves afloat upon an interminable sea agitated by
violent currents and whirlpools and ever rising higher and higher,
the air also being poisoned by the fearful odours of corruption,
as corpses, swollen to bursting, floated upon the waves, dotting
the watery plain with myriads of points. There were the huge
bodies of mastodons floating in the company of human corpses
and dead sharks, and millions of smaller creatures emitted
poisonous gases from their rotting bodies. The sea-animals
were the most odorous, some of them being of enormous bqlk
and shape, floating like islands upon the expanse of water that
the rain beat into fretted hollows. By such forests as remained
from storm and wave these floating things collected in shoals,
causing many hunters who had taken refuge among the branches
to fall down unconscious and meet their death in the waters by
reason of the effluvia.
The territories of Atala, Axatlan and Tek-Ra were entirely
submerged, and great regions in Chalac and Hava were flooded.
The highlands of Astra had disappeared beneath the waves,
sunk by earthquakes and landslips and topped by fathoms of
vast)' waves, that washed the high walls of Zul, and all her cities
save Surapa, which lay inland upon a hill, were swallowed up
and drowned.
Every hill appeared to become a volcano round which storms
raged and thunders shook the Earth, while the clouds carried
the reflected light from the eruptions far out over the waters,
giving them a terrific appearance as of deep places of storms.
It was all one dread night now, traversed by terrors of elemental
424
"BEHOLD, I WILL DESTROY."
nearly all being along the Hilen. Driven to the higher storeys
of mansions and temples by the deluge of waters, the thousands
of these were plague-stricken by the stench of the floating
cities
the gases to escape so that they sank quickly and some few ;
425
ATLANTIS.
tall cone lifted her crest of flame, and the fiery waters appeared
to burn with a glow of their own under the lurid reflections.
In fancy the people perceived figures rise from the fires and
others descend into them, and, smitten with a despairing terror,
dared whatsoever would to fall upon them.
And by reason of this violent mountain the volcanic dust lay
many cubits deep in places, formed into a deadly mass by the
waters, wherein people perished miserably. At length the far
ranges of volcanoes beyond Axatlan became violently disturbed,
communicating from the fires lighting
afar their travail, the glare
the clouds with and rending them with electric
fearful effect
explosions. The new hill burst into eruption more greatly than
before, whereby huge rocks were hurled into the air to fall
again in every direction while the whole great basin from the
;
and the most tenible of American volcanoes. At the time of Alvarado's expedition
it was in a state of eruption, the earliest instance of the kind on record, (1534)
tliough doubtless not the earliest. Since that period it has been in frequent com-
motion, sending up its sheets of flame to the height of half a mile, spouting forth
cataracts of lava that have overwhelmed towns and villages in their career, and
sliakingthe earth with subterraneous thunders, that at the distance of more than
100 leagues sounded like the reports of artillery " !
Dr. Samuel Kinns in "Moses and Geology" tells us that during the last erup-
tion of this volcano in 1741 the column of ashes and vapour is said to have risen
a mile above the cone, and in 1533 a mass weighing 200 tons was hurled from
it a distance of 10 miles. TJie volcano Coseguina in tlie Andes threw its ashes
700 miles w itli a noise that v as heard 1000 miles away, after being dormant for
26 years.
426
"BEHOLD, I WILL DESTROY."
falling waters and debris mingled with red showers and human
remains while a wave, raised by the vast upheaval, sped over
;
with incredible speed, pregnant with its rolling masses and rushing
majesty of destruction ; to cast its trophies with a seething roar
at the foot of the walls of distant Zul, where it broke in a
majesty of foam and flung its spray over the remains of the
temple crowning the doomed heights of the last city of Atlantis.
427
CAP. XVI.
428
THE TRAVAIL OF EARTH.
terrors. And they who watched upon the deck perceived many
to ascend within the ship by the long gangway which reached
from the earth, and enter in by the door such as were already :
429
ATLANTIS. ;^
a long vague object rose up even to the deck and then vanished,
and wonderingly the watchers lay with their hands upon ready
weapons and covered with cloaks because of the spray of the
deluge and the cold wind. From behind them the dull, lurid
glow from the volcanoes only made the darkness in front the
more conspicuous and vague, but a great blue reflection of
lightning that lay upon the clouds, as though a very bright
moon had shone upon them, brought instantly into relief the
ground, the gangway and the animals.
There crouched horses, deer, cattle and many felines, their
ears lying flat and fangs exposed in a sudden snarl of fear as the
bright light startled them, and many other animals of all kinds,
among which anacondas and smaller serpents recoiled with the
swiftness of the light itself, hissing loudly, their movements,
combined with the sudden brightness, causing a whirling ap-
pearance to all around. Instantly a myriad gleaming eyes sprang
into prominence, and on the farther boundary of a dark mass
of animals stood many forms of vastness appearing as dark
cliffs rising above a sea; some by the curling glories of their
430
THE TRAVAIL OF EARTH.
were gone and not one remained, although no eye had seen
and no ear detected the sign of their retreat. Upon the horizon
Axatlan raged furiously and it was evident that an eruption
of more than usual magnitude was taking place. Weary and
awe-struck, all gathered upon the deck to witness what might
happen, with prayer upon their trembling lips, perceiving how
as a temple of blood-red flame the aisles and domes of cloudy
vapour extended even to them, so that the surrounding scenery
was as one Infernal hall where a throne of fire raised itself at
the distant end in a horror of revolving flames and as a curtain
:
of luminous gold the pouring hail fell before all the scene.
Around them an electric deluge heightened the waste of waters,
where, rising from their deep fathoms, only the tops of hills
and remains of lofty forests showed, surrounded by their putrid
gatherings.
Suddenly a far disturbance shook the floating storms where
that spurt of watery steam that spoke the doom of Aten rent
the tempests. The waves separated to right and left in steamy
hissing spray as a ridge of earth, running swiftly as a serpent
rising from the ocean, appeared above their troubled expanse
with sounds of explosions and rendings. A
cry of terror broke
from all as the circling volcanoes burst into a fury of fire and
uproar and the heavy clouds rolled into worlds of light, while
with a stunning majesty of sound came to their ears the noise
of the awful explosion that had hurled the proud city in wreck
and flying horror to the sky. Great Axatlan trembled and reeled,
vomiting blood-red matter, and then the high cone vanished in
a bed of fire.
masses seemed about to fall and bury them with their disturbed
spheres, torn by lightning and thundrous tempests. The watchers
fell down and cried to Heaven from the depths of the great
431
ATLANTIS.
432
THE TRAVAIL OF EARTH.
"O Sirs!" she cried, her sweet young face radiant with
enthusiasm, "we are but
and the storms terrify us.
mortals
Leave us not, for we know whom ye are and whence ye come,
and in your hands are the directions of the God which we know
and love."
The greater spirit laid his hand very tenderly upon her head.
"Kneel not to us, sweet one," he said: "yet are we verily
come to thee and you have trust and faith, for
to thine to bid
in the eyes of the Lord Jehovah are you blessed, and He will
preserve you. Arise, old servant of our Lord, and hearken to
the word that bids thee persevere in thy righteous course
which has found high favour in the sight of Heaven. For to
thee is given the task of again raising thy race which perishes,
(save thy family,) this day to the uttermost one, to which ones
saved thou shalt preach their mission, which is, to go abroad
over all the Earth and lead the heathen to knowledge of God.
For a space. Fare thee well and fare you all well, O chosen
;
433 ^
ATLANTIS.
434
THE tRAVAtL OF EARTJt.
435
CAP. XVII.
From the darkness they came, these poor waifs, carried upon
the mountains of water that cast their dreadful trophies far and
wide, to speak with their dead presences of a doom of vengeance
falling and to come.
But in some of the palaces yet standing men feasted on hidden
stores of meat and wine and lay drunk and dying of desperate
excesses, and songs, awful in their unheeding recklessness, were
shouted in the face of Death. In such places men and women
danced in hideous revelries, stabbing each other to the heart
and shrieking curses and blasphemies to the last. But most
sat in mute despair in the deluge of hail and rain and awaited
what should come.
A madman clambered up to where the fire-tower of Zul lay
upon its heaps of ruins, and for the last time the great drum
436
THE GATES OF DEATH,
rolled out its sonorous echoes, scarce heard among the noise of
the elements. Azta heard it, crouched there upon the dais, and
I heard it For both of us there was a voice in the deep
also.
booming sound, recalling the remembrance of a calm moonlit
night; bidding a long, long farewell. A sob of agony burst
from my soul, but Azta sat there as silent as the dead figure
whose hand she held. My perceptions, more sensitive and deep,
received a greater impression than hers and indeed, could mortal
;
have felt that stab of keenest horror he would not have survived
it, so bitter was it in its depths of sadness. Yet from her eyes
ran two great tears that trickled over her arm and splashed
upon the floor; tears of a sorrow that was nigh all too grievous
for her to support and well the gloom and the rolling thunders
:
the weird cry of fright cried out also from a sensation of unknown
dreadfulness leaping upon them.
The crowds facing the sea and those crouched upon the red
terraces of the palace steps and among the gardens perceived
rolling upon them from the ocean a long floor of moving water,
437
ATLANTIS.
making the eye giddy with the rapidity of its onward move-
ment as though under that vauhed roof, whose vast domes of
;
43«
REINFORCING THE POWER OF THE FIRST MIGHTY DESTROYER.
ATLANTIS.
dais with a giddy rushand then swept away the tottering wall.
Azta looked up slowly as she heard the crash, and saw the
coloured ruins melt away in the churning white foam. But a
littleway beneath surged the waters of a level ocean, flattening
under the deluge from the clouds and lighted up, until it appeared
like a sea of molten gold, by the electric glories, that, quivering
in bright paths of light or reflected in dreadful gorgeousness
on the black and indigo vault, showed where the rolling gates
of thunder opened to a wonderland of cloudy horizons. Against
this bright background stood the bare black crater, steaming
but silent, the last point of Atlantis, but above it appeared to
gather rolling spheres, and among them moved great bodies,
bursting and filling the air with molten lines of electricity.
Opposing forces met and exploded all around the cloudy Inferno,
currents and cross-currents of furious wind tore them, and,
reflected gloriously in the flowing water, the great serpents of
firesped crackling from point to point of thunder.
There were skeletons in the water, now shimmering far down
as they sank, and returning currents brought bones still covered
with flesh, and bodies to which clung costly draperies floating
with others bloated and emitting poisonous odours. Afar sailed
a log of wood
which the
to last efforts of love had secured a
fair young girl, now lying beneath it, because the branches had
with a true and sad foreboding that for them no Sun would
rise again. How touching a sight it was to see how love
manifested itself thus, strong before the majesty of Death; and
to me it came with a wild sorrow, for ever was I moved by
440
THE GATES OK DEATH.
441
ATLANTIS.
wander over the gay happiness, albeit of sin. She felt again
the pang of unrequited love, that appeared to instantly change
to a sudden wild joy as she gazed steadfastly upon the great
War-chief of Atlantis and then looked beyond to where sat the
Emperor and the gleaming Guards. The music fell upon her
ears; sad, splendid strains of wondrous harmony, far beyond
the performer's usual powers. She felt within her the pleasure
of the mystic potency bestowed by myself, and looked over
to the captain of her guards, Nahuasco, and next to Shar-Jatal
with the hooked nose. He spoke softly to Sada, and she
wondered what he said to her. There were Nezca, Mehir,,
—
Axazaya, Azco, Toloc, Tua, Pocatepa so many that she
knew Old Na stood by her, and there was the young frivolous
!
442
THE GATES OF DEATH.
felt that she was an intrudier in the presence of the wrath of God.
443
ATLANTIS.
444
THE GATES OF DEA'III.
was mine, mine with its beauteous eyes and expanding sweet-
ness, won at such dire cost; yet as I folded her to my breast
and pressed my lips to hers with a long kiss of love I only
grieved that I had sacrificed more than
had a right to. I
445
ATLANTIS.
FLMS.
446
APPENDIX.
§ 2. — All
very ancient legend and the most rudimentary his-
tory, the vagueallusions of Plato, Aristotle and Seneca, speak
of a country in the Western Ocean, which would scarcely be
likely to be the distant Americas; and I think we may accept
those legends as to a land existing in what is now the Atlan-
tic Ocean at about the period discussed in § 4, remembering
that after all legend is oral history and starts with some found-
ations. This land, stretching from Florida, probably included
above-sea portions of Europe and of Africa, the latter supposed
to be the birth-place of the Adamites; (see note, end cap.
XX., lib. ii). All theories as to what was land and what was
water at those remote epochs must be more or less suppositious,
and as geological results are not at all analogous we cannot
say for certain what has been, and we may remember Darwin's
—
words: "I look upon the geological record as a history of
the world imperfectly kept and written in a changing dialect;
of this history we possess the last volume alone, relating to
only two or three countries, of this volume only a short chapter
here and there has been preserved, and of each page only here
and there a few lines."
447
ATLANTIS.
3.
>/ —
Truly, an examination of the bed of the Atlantic Ocean
does not seem to indicate a sunken land over which a sea more
or less shallow flows. Indeed we learn that, from the appear-
ance of the continuity of animal life on the Atlantic sea-bed
from the Cretaceous epoch to the present time, that the great
basin was practically the same as now at that far back later
Secondary period but although Sir Chas. Lyell points out the
;
2, the hlood.
I. of Man is mentioned in two places, Gen.
The creation
i. and ii. 7 and in this second place he receives the breath
26, ;
448
APPENDIX.
within the most northerly lands discovered, but the fossil flora
of these lands is found to include plants semi-tropical in character,
and which could not thrive or produce seeds with the amount
of light now received in those regions, even if they could by
increase of habit have borne a considerable increase of cold."
The Arctic regions would now indeed seem to be passing
through their first Glacial epoch.
I
6. — Thus Buckland. And
that the Flood was a very real
and very supported by Lenormant in his "Les
terrible event is
§ 7. — What
pre-Adamite man was like we do not know, but
believe him have been a huge ape-Hke creature, similar to
to
those of cap. viii., lib. ii. Of such probably was Cain afraid
(Gen. vii., 14). Although of course the family of Adam by this
time would by itself have comprised a great mumber of people
Dr. Kinns thinks 20,000 and of such were probably the
01,
450
APPENDIX.
'i
8. — —
On the long and short skull theory dolichocephalic and —
—
brachycephalic French anthropologists of this school hold the
origin of man to be in the Pliocene or even Miocene ages to allow
time for the two types although authority for this is doubtful (and
;
see § 1 6.) But Buckland tells us that implements of Man are found
associated with the bones of extinct mammalia which carry back his
antiquity with certainty to the close of the Glacial period, if not
to its commencement. Agassiz estimates human remains found
in the Florida reef to be 10,000 yrs. old; and Mr. Dowler found
a skeleton beneath four buried forests in the delta near New
Orleans said to be 50,000 yrs. old. Man's association with the
mammoth would take him back to the Pliocene group.
§ 10. —Again —
Buckland: "We see everywhere primitive man,
a naked savage, devoid of every art except those necessary to
451
ATLANTIS.
§ 1 1 .
— But as there were human beings before xA.dam, and our
human race to-day is no differently constructed to any animal,-
except in manner consequent upon environment, we may take
it, I thmk, that the creation of Adam was a moral and not
physical, with a consequent immense improvement. Man, as
the physical animal, is the same, and it is pointed out that the
practical identity of gesture signs among races so unlike as the
English and Australians indicate extreme closeness of mental
similarity throughout the human species.
—
12. •! see nothing in Man
§ —
except from a moral stand-point
to warrant any claim to an especial creation. As a primeval
animal he did not equal the ant or the bee in organized intel-
lect, and there is reason to believe that he had no speech.
Adam appears to have been endowed with the gift, as also
God-like perceptions, and to him was given the naming of
animals.
Man is distinctly an animal, apart from his moral perceptions
452
APPENDIX.
are placed in the highest rank of all brutes, and excepting man,
are generally taken to be the most perfect animals of the mam-
malian may be questioned, however, whether, if the
class. It
animal man had
never existed, this place would be assigned
them by an observing intelligence. The half-apes, or Lemurs,
commonly placed in the same order with them, are certainly
inferior mammals and it might be contended that the perfection
;
§ 14. — With
reference to § 1 1 we again quote Buckland: —"If
we are to maintain a belief in the unity of the human race,
we must suppose them to have crept to their present position
with the singular and ancient fauna and flora of that far-off
— —
land" Australia "from a common centre, at a period when
Australia formed part oi a vast continent since submerged.
There are many who hold the belief that in this submerged
continent was the cradle of the human race that there, beneath
;
of the animal Man, and I think the peculiar idea of descent from
a totetn points to a knowledge, or theory, of such an advancement.
453
ATLANTIS.
g 6. 1 —
With regard to the two forms of skulls found in connec-
tion with the earliest human remains known, a curious fact is
noticed by M. Hovelacque in his work entitled " Notre Ancetre."
—
He writes "a very striking fact is this, the anthropomorphic
apes of Africa, (gorilla, and chimpanzee) are dolichocephalic,
as are the African negroes and the Bushmen whilst the anthropo-
;
§ 17. —
With moral perceptions and imagination man far surpassed
the other animals of Earth, becoming their head, and triumphing
in organized cooperation over disunited and ignorant efforts.
454
APPENDIX.
incarnated spirit. We
cannot discuss here the fact, stated and
legendary, of carnal conception by mental stimulation, nor argue
"the adaptable life of all spirits" of cap. x., lib. i, wherein all
perceptions mingle.
g 20. — In
consideration of the fact that the physical atoms of
Man, the Earth, and the Planets are the same, it is not perhaps
so very extraordinary that under some conditions the mind of
man should conceive strange ideas of analogy. see in our- We
selves the seasons of the year manifested, and our written
symbols of speech probably originated in natural figures, as
— —
J L 1 r parts of the square of Orion, and the mystic alphabet
contained by || and =
which, crossed, contain nine spaces ft. A
volume could be written upon the relation of human and world atoms,
and the curious soul-perceptions of the inwardness of everything,
§ 2 1
.
^J. —
Muehleisen Arnold thinks the question worth considering
as to whether the fall of angels did not tend to materialization
of some sort, and if this is so, then Man, led by his perceptions,
would move in inverse ratio, and when the superhuman had
entered into his nature we may believe his destruction was
necessary. And it is necessary to consider the majesty of years
of the antediluvian Adamites, which, together with supernatural
perceptions, would bring a vast experience that generations of
ordinary men could not attain to now.
455
ATLANTIS.
of this.
" That such was their origin is confirmed by the fact that some-
times one or more of a third series of teeth become developed,
"
while the careful observer Leche has seen traces of teeth pre-
ceding even the milk teeth,
"Thus in beasts actually of our own day, we have vestiges
of four successive series of teeth, though, with the rarest excep-
tions, it is only the second and third of them, (' milk ' and
'permanent',) which now come into existence."
Prof. H. G. Seeley says :
—
" There is no doubt that the
mammals have lost the composite structure of the lower jaw,
which is found in reptiles and reptiles have lost the greater
;
456
APPENDIX.
rica and Madagascar have once been very widely spread, and
have since become restricted to the regions where they are
now found.
yet were not satisfied. For, is the tremendous ending, all their
wisdom could not conceive a Cow.
At many periods of history the line between Revelation and
Imagination has been cut away, and all the records of the
grandest history of earth, the Bible, have been Hghtly put down
to the latter. It is to the modern tendency that Mr. Gladstone
refers, as a state of things " peculiar and perhaps without
example, in which multitudes of men call into question the
foundations of our reHgion and the prerogatives of our sacred
books, without any reference to either their capacity or their
opportunities for so grave an undertaking."
Imagination could not have compiled a history that every
discovery proves, and after every great attack the Bible remains
the same and triumphant. J. Muehleisen Arnold, in his preference
to "Genesis and Science", says respecting the theories of a
number of the leading naturalists, physicists and theologians of
the continent, among whom such well-known names as Cuvier,
Arago, Pasteur, Agassiz, Kepler, Liebig, Humboldt, Virchow,
Burmeister, and Mtiller appear: —
"where I could not adopt their
arguments or make their conclusions my own, I endeavoured to
show, from what are deemed authoritative statements, how great
is the confusion among themselves, and how utterly without
weight and value, in consequence, must be the assertions hazarded
by scientists against the book of Genesis."
"Theological ethnology" is referred to in a manner calculated
to suggest to the public mind a somewhat fanciful study and ;
458
APPENDIX.
459
ATLANTIS.
460
APPENDIX.
thought may ripen, though not into propositions, yet into acts.
" My belief is that at this moment these unspoken and un-
tested movements not so much of mind, as of appetite, or, to
use a milder word, of propensity, pressing upon mind, these
not thoughts, but rudiments of thoughts, are at work among
us, and within us; and that, were they translated or expanded
into words, their sense would be no more and no less than the
old vulgar sense of those who in every age have held that
after all this world is the only world we securely know; and
that the only labour that is worth labouring, the only care worth
caring, the only joy worth enjoying, are the labour, the care,
and joy that begin and end with it."
The italics are mine. The meaning, in a nutshell, is what
so many of us feel, that we preach God with our hps, but our
careless actions betray the consciousness given by those " embry-
onic forces" that v^^ feel the earth and nought besides.
... " The nobly candid admission of Mr. Darwin {Analogy
part ii., chap, vii)," says Mr. Gladstone, " respecting the possible
atrophy, through disuse, of the mental organs on which our
higher tastes depend," would blind our eyes to things super-
human, and "Among those organs I cannot but include the
organ of belief."
461
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