Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Itcametomymindnow,thatifIcoulddestroythispath,wemightgainabreathingspaceforfurthereffort.

           Theideaseemedgood,oratleastnootheroccurredtomewhichwouldinanywayrelieveourdesperatesituation,andIlookedaroundmeformeanstoputitintoexecution.Upanddown,fromthemountaintotheplainsbelow,Ihadtraversedthatnarrowstairofapasssomethousandsoftimes,andsoinamannerofspeakingkneweverystone,andeveryturn,andeverycutofitbyheart.ButIhadneverlookeduponitwithaneyetoshavingoffallroadwaytotheSacredMountain,andsonow,eveninthismomentofdreadfulstress,IhadtotraverseitnolessthanthreetimesafreshbeforeIcoulddecideuponthebestsitefordemolition.

           Butoncethepointwasfixed,therewaslittledelayingettingtheschemeinmovement.AlreadyIhadsentmentothestorehousesamongstthePriests’dwellingstofetchmerams,andcrows,andacids,andhammers,andsuchothermaterialaswasneeded,andthesestoodhandybehindoneoftheuppergates.Iputoneverypairofhandsthatcouldbesparedtothework,nomatterwhatwastheirageandfeebleness;yes,ifNaiscouldhavewalkedsofarIwouldhavepressedherforthelabour;andpresentlycarvedbalustrade,andwaysidestatue,togetherwiththeletteredwall-stonesandthefoot-worncobbles,roareddownintothegulfbelow,andaddedtheirdintotheshrieksandyellsandcrashesofthefighting.Gods!Butitwasahatefultask,smashingdownthatsplendidhandiworkofthemenofthepast.