orenice
also seemed of this opinion, for (as she herself told me later) at the
moment that Tob's galley was reported as having its flank against the
marble of the royal quay, at that precise moment did she start out from
the palace. The gorgeous procession was already marshalled, bedecked,
and waiting only for its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had
mounted to her steed, trumpets gave the order, and the advance began.

Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who formed
the head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad street where
it left the houses. They marched straight across to give me the salute,
and then ranged themselves on the farther side of the square. Then came
the Mariners' Guild, then more soldiers, all making obeisance in
their turn, and passing on to make room for others. Following were the
merchants, the tanners, the spear-makers and all the other acknowledged
Guilds, deliberately attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make
a pageant; and whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly
rode on beasts which they had tamed into rendering them this menial
service.

But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling spectacle. From
out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into the open no less a
beast than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had sufficient surprise in it
almost to make me start. Many a time during my life had I led hunts
to kill the mammoth, when a herd of them had raided some village or
cornland under my charge. I had seen the huge brutes in the wild ground,
shaggy, horrid, monstrous; more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the
cave-bear; most dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion
of the earth, save only for a few of the greater lizards. And here
was this creature, a giant even amongst mammoths, yet tame as any
well-whipped slave, and bearing upon its back a great half-castle of
gold, stamped with the outstretched hand, and bedecked with silver
snakes. Its murderous tusks were gilded, its hairy neck was garlanded
with flowers, and it trod on in the procession as though assisting at
such pageantry was the beginning and end of its existence. Its tameness
seemed a fitting symbol of the masterful strength of this new ruler of
Atlantis.

Simultaneously with the mammoth, there came into sight that other and
greater wonder, the mammoth's mistress, the Empress Phorenice. The beast
took my eye at the first, from its very uncou