Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
3. A Rival Navy
Amancanneverhavetoomuchexperienceinfightingenemies,whetherhumanorbestial,andtheattackofthesecreatureswasnewtome,andIwasfaintolearnitsmethod.SoIgavethecaptainalettertoTatho,sayinghowthematterlay(andforwhich,itmaybementioned,therudefellowseemedlittleenoughgrateful),andstayedinmychairundertheawning.
Thebeastssurgeduptouswithchampingjaws,andalltheshipmenstoodarmedontheirdefence.Theycameupalongside,twofemales(thesmaller)ontheflankoftheship,thegiantmalebyhimselfontheother.Theirgreatheadsswoopedabout,ashighastheyardsthatheldthesails,andthereekfromthemgaveonephysicalsickness.
Theshipmenfacedthemonsterswithasturdycourage.Arrowswereuselessagainstthesmooth,bull-likehides.Eventhethrowingfirecouldnotsomuchassingethem;nothingbuttwentyaxeblowsdeliveredonanattackingheadtogethercouldbeatitback,andeventhesesucceededonlythroughsheerweightofmetal,anddidnotmakesomuchasthescratchofawound.
Duringalltimebeastshavedisputedwithmanthemasteryoftheearth,anditisonlyinAtlantisandEgyptandYucatanthatmanhasdaredtoholdhisown,andfightthemwithamindmadestrongbymanypreviousvictories.InEuropeandmid-Africathegreaterbeastsholdfulldominion,andmanadmitshispunynumberandforce,andlivesinearthcranniesandthehighertree-tops,asafugitiveconfessed.Anduponthegreatoceans,thebeastsarelords,unchecked.
