Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           YourbackwasbloodywithcarryingmeatwhenImetyou,butyouhadlostyourload.Youmusteithertastethismessofminenow,orgowithout.”

           Iharbouredwiththatnymphincavesixdays,sheusingherdrugsandcharmstocuremylegthewhile,andwhenIwasrecovered,Ihuntedtheplainsandkilledherafatcloven-hoofedhorseaspayment,andthenwentalongmyways.

           Thecountryfromthereonwardshadatonetimecarriedasturdypopulationwhichhelditsownfirmly,and,asitsnumbersgrew,tookinmoreground,andbuiltmorehomesteadsfartherafield.Thehouseswereperchedintreesforthemostpart,astheretheywereoutofreachofcave-bearandcave-tigerandtheothermoredangerousbeasts.Butothers,andthesewerethebetterones,werebuiltontheground,oflogssoponderousandsofirmlyclampedanddovetailedthatthebeastscouldnotpullthemdown,andonceinsideahouseofthisfashionitsownersweresafe,andcouldprogueatanyattackersthroughtheintersticesbetweenthelogs,andoftenwound,sometimesmakeakill.

           Butnotoneintenoftheseoutlyingsettlersremained.ThehousesweresilentwhenIreachedthem,thefire-hearthbeforethedoorweed-grown,andthepatchofvegetablestakenbackbythegreedyfingersoftheforestintomerescrubandjungle.Andfartheron,whenvillagesbegantoappear,strongly-walledasthecustomis,towardofftheattacksofbeasts,thelogswhichaforetimehadbarredthegatewaylaystrewninasproutingundergrowth,andnaughtbutthekitchenmiddensremainedtoprovethatoncetheyhadshelteredhumantenants.