11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers

           Amurmurquicklyspranguproundme,whichgrewintoshouts.“Kneel,”onewhispered,“kneel,sir,oryouwillbeseen.”Andanothercried:“Kneel,youwithoutbeard,anddoobeisancetotheonlyGoddess,orbytheoldGodsIwillmakemyselfherpriestandbutcheryou!”Andsotheshoutsaroseintoaroar.

           Butpresentlytheword“Deucalion”begantobebandiedabout,andtherecameamoderationinthezealoftheseenthusiasts.Deucalion,themanwhohadleftAtlantistwentyyearsbeforetoruleYucatan,theymightknowlittleenoughabout,butDeucalion,whorodenotmanydaysbackbesidetheEmpressinthegoldencastlebeneaththecanopyofsnakes,wasapersontheyremembered;andwhentheyweigheduphispossibleabilityforvengeance,theshoutsdiedawayfromthemlimply.

           Sowhenthesilencehadgrownagain,andPhoreniceturnedandsawmestandingaloneamongstalltheprostrateworshippers,Isteppedoutfromthecrowdandpassedbetweentwoofthegreatstones,andwentacrossthecircletowhereshestoodbesidethealtar.Ididnotprostratemyself.AttheprescribeddistanceImadethesalutationwhichsheherselfhadorderedwhenshemademeherchiefminister,andthenhailedherwithformaldecorumasEmpress.

           “Deucalion,manofice,”sheretorted.

           “IstilladheretotheoldGods!”

           “Iwasnotreferringtothat,”saidshe,andlookedatmewithasidelongsmile.

           ButhereYlgacameuptouswithafacethatwaswhite,andahandthatshook,andmadesupplicationformylife.