Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           IsitwishedIsendsomeofthethrowing-firedownyonder,onthechancethatitdoessomeharm,andatthesametimelightsuptheplace?Orisitwilledthatwewaitfortheirsurprise?”

           “Sendthefire,”Isaid,“orwemayfindthatPhorenice’sbrainhasbeenonetoomanyforus.”

           Thecaptainofthegatetookoneoftheballsinhishand,litthefuse,andhurledit.Thehorridthingburstamongstamassofmenwhowerelabouringwithahugeengine,sputteringthemwithitsdeadlyfire,andlightingtheirgarments.Theplanoftheengineshoweditselfplainly.Theyhadbuiltthemavastgreattower,restingonwheelsatitsbase,sothatitmightbypushedforwardfrombehind,andslantingatitsfoottoallowforthesteepnessofthepathandleaveitalwaysupright.

           Itwasstoreyedinside,withladdersjoiningeachfloor,andthroughslitsinthesidewhichfacedusbowmencouldcoveranattack.Fromitstopagreatbridgerearedhighaboveit,beingcarriedverticallytillthetowerwasbroughtnearenoughforitsuse.Thebridgewashingedatthethirdstoreyofthetower,andfastenedwithropestoitsextremetop;but,oncetheropeswerecut,thebridgewouldfall,andlightuponwhatevercamewithinitsswing,andbeheldtherebythespikeswithwhichitwasstuddedbeneath.

           Isaw,andinwardlyfeltmyselfconquered.TheclevernessofPhorenicehadbeentoostrongformydefence.Nowar-engineofwhichwehadcommandcouldoversetthetower.Thewholeofitsmassivetimberswerehungwiththewetnew-strippedskinsofbeasts,sothateventhethrowing-firecouldnotdestroyit