when the appointed day comes, I shall
fall and kiss my mother the Earth for the last time. You, so I am told,
have ambition for longer life."

He nodded. "Phorenice has found the Great Secret, and I am to be the
first that will share it with her. We shall be as Gods upon the earth,
seeing that Death will be powerless to touch us. And the twin sons she
has borne me, will be made immortal also."

"Phorenice is headstrong. No, my lord, there is no need to shake your
head and try to deny it. I have had some acquaintance with her. But the
order has been made, and her immortality will be snatched from her very
rudely. Now, mark solemnly my words. I, Deucalion, have been appointed
King of Atlantis by the High Council of the Priests who are the
mouthpiece of the most High Gods, and if I do not have my reign, then
there will be no Atlantis left to carry either King or Empress. You know
me, Tatho, for a man that never lies."

He nodded.

"Then save yourself before it is too late. You shall have again your
vice-royalty in Yucatan."

"But, man, there is no Yucatan. A great horde of little hairy creatures,
that were something less than human and something more than beasts,
swept down upon our cities and ate them out. Oh, you may sneer if you
choose! Others sneered when I came home, till the Empress stopped them.
But you know what a train of driver ants is, that you meet with in the
forests? You may light fires across their path, and they will march into
them in their blind bravery, and put them out with their bodies, and
those that are left will march on in an unbroken column, and devour
all that stands in their path. I tell you, my lord, those little hairy
creatures were like the ants--aye, for numbers, and wooden bravery, as
well as for appetite. As a result to-day, there is no Yucatan."

"You shall have Egypt, then."

He burst at me hotly. "I would not take seven Egypts and ten Yucatans.
My lord, you think more poorly of me than is kind, when you ask me to
become a traitor. In your place would you throw your Nais away, if the
doing it would save you from a danger?"

"That is different."

"In no degree. You have a kindness for her. I have all that and more for
Phorenice, who is, besides, my wife and the mother of my children. If I
have qualms--and I freely confess I know you are desperate men up there,
and have dreadful powers at your command--my shiverings are for them and
not for myself. But I think, my lord, this par