-grown,
and the patch of vegetables taken back by the greedy fingers of the
forest into mere scrub and jungle. And farther on, when villages began
to appear, strongly-walled as the custom is, to ward off the attacks of
beasts, the logs which aforetime had barred the gateway lay strewn in
a sprouting undergrowth, and naught but the kitchen middens remained to
prove that once they had sheltered human tenants. Phorenice's influence
seemed to have spread as though it were some horrid blight over the
whole face of what was once a smiling and an easy-living land.

So far I had met with little enough interference from any men I had come
across. Many had fled with their women into the depths of the forest at
the bare sight of me; some stood their ground with a threatening face,
but made no offer to attack, seeing that I did not offer them insult
first; and a few, a very few, offered me shelter and provision. But as
I neared the city, and began to come upon muddy beaten paths, I passed
through governments that were more thickly populated, and here appeared
strong chance of delay. The watcher in the tower which is set above each
village would spy me and cry: "Here is a masterless man," and then the
people that were within would rush out with intent to spoil me of my
weapons, and afterwards to appoint me as a labourer.

I had no desire to slay these wretched folk, being filled with pity at
the state to which they had fallen; and often words served me to make
them stand aside from the path, and stare wonderingly at my fierceness,
and let me go my ways. And when at other times words had no avail, I
strove to strike as lightly as could be, my object being to get forward
with my journey and leave no unnecessary dead behind me. Indeed, having
found the modern way of these villages, it grew to be my custom to turn
off into the forest, and make a circuit whenever I came within smell of
their garbage.

Similarly, too, when I got farther on, and came amongst greater towns
also, I kept beyond challenge of their walls, having no mind to risk
delay from the whim of any new law which might chance to be set up by
their governors. My progress might be slinking, but my pride did not
upbraid me very loudly; indeed, the fever of haste burned within me so
hot and I had little enough carrying space for other emotions.

But at last I found myself within a half-day's journey the city of
Atlantis itself, with the Sacred Mountain and its ring of fires