Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
8. The Preacher From The Mountains
Thiswoman,Nais,interestedmevastlyoutofthecommon;themerepresenceofherseemedtowarmtheorgansofmyinterior;andwhilstshewasthere,allmythoughtsandsenseswerepresentintheroomofthecaptainofthegateinwhichwesat.
Butofasuddenthefloorofthechamberrockedandfellawaybeneathme,andinatumultofdust,andlitter,andbalesofthecaptain’splunder,Ifelldown(stillseatedontheflagstone)intoapitwhichhadbeendiggedbeneathit.Withtheviolenceofthedescent,andtheflutterofallthesearticlesaboutmyhead,Iwasinnoconditionforimmediateaction;andwhilstIwasstillhalf-stunnedbytheshock,andlongbeforeIcouldgetmyeyesintoserviceagain,Ihadbeenseized,andbound,andhalf-strangledwithanooseofhide.VoiceswereraisedthatIshouldbedespatchedatonceoutoftheway;butoneinauthoritycriedoutthat,killingmeatleisure,andasaprisoner,promisedmoregenteelsport;andsoIwasthrustdownonthefloor,whilstawholearmyofmentrodinovermetotheattack.
Whathadhappenedwascleartomenow,thoughIwaspowerlesstodoanythinginhindrance.Therebelswithmorecraftthananyonehadcreditedtothem,haddrivenagalleyfromtheircampundertheground,intendingsotomakeanentranceintotheheartofthecity.Intheirclumsyignorance,andhavingnooneofsufficienttalentinmensuration,theyhadbungledsadlybothindirectionandlength,andsohadendedtheirburrowunderthischamberofthecaptainofthegate.
