Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
4. The Welcome Of Phorenice
Thebleak,unstableelementwhichsurroundedus;theswayingdecksonwhichwefought;thethrowingfire,whichburntfleshandwoodalikewithitshorridflame;thegreatgluttonousman-eatingbirdsthathoveredintheskyoverhead;theman-eatingfishthatswarmedupfromtheseasaround,gnawingandquarrellingoverthosethatfellintothewaters,allwenttomakeupacircumstancefittodauntthebravestmen-at-armsevergatheredforanarmy.
Butthesetarryshipmenfaceditallwithanindomitablecourage,andneveracryofquailing.Lifeontheseasissohard,and(fromthebeaststhathauntthegreatwaters)sofullofsavagedangers,thatDeathhaslosthalfhisterrorstothemthroughsheerfamiliarity.Theywerefellowswhofrompurelustforafraywouldfighttoafinishamongstthemselvesinthetavernsashore;andsohere,inthisdesperatesea-battle,thepassionforkillingburnedinthem,asafirestonefromHeavenragesinaforest;andtheytookeventheirdeath-woundslaughing.
Onoursidethebattle-crywas“Tob!”andthenameofthisobscureship-captainseemedtocarryaconfidencewithitforourowncrewsthatmanyawell-knowncommandermighthaveenvied.Theenemyhadadozenrallyingcries,andtheseconfusedthem.Butastheirothership-commandersonebyonewerekilled,andDasonremained,activewithmischief,“Dason!”becametheshoutwhichwasthrownbackatusinresponsetoour“Tob!”
However,Iwillnotloadmypagewithfartherlongaccountofthisobscuresea-fight,whoseonlyglorywasitsferocity.