Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
3. A Rival Navy
And,finally,therefollowsafeastinhonouroftheGod,andtheyarrivebackonboard,andputtoseaforthemostpartdrunken,andallheavyandevil-humouredwithgluttonyandtheirotherexcesses.
Thevoyagewasverydifferenttomyprevioussea-going.Therewasnocreepingtimorouslyalongintouchwiththecoasts.Westoodstraightacrosstheopengulfinthedirectionofhome,cameupwiththebandoftheCaribIslands,andworkedconfidentlythroughthem,asthoughtheyhadbeensignpoststomarktheseahighway;andstoppedonlytwicetoreplenishwithwood,water,andfruit.Thesecommodities,too,thesavagesbroughtusfreely,sogreatwastheirsubjection,andinneitherplacedidwehaveeventhesemblanceofafight.ItwasagreatcertificateofthegrowingpowerofAtlantisandherfinestover-seacolony.
Thenboldlyonwewentacrossthevastoceanbeyond,withneverasacrificetoimploretheGodsthattheyshouldhelpourdirection.Onemightfeelcensuretowardstheseruggedmarinersfortheirimpiety,butonecouldnothelpanadmirationfortheirlustyskillandconfidence.
ThedangersofthedesolateseaaredealtoutastheGodswill,andmancanonlytakethemastheycome.Stormsweencountered,andthemarinersfoughtthemwithstubbornendurance;twiceablazingstonefromHeavenhissedintotheseabesideus,thoughwithoutinjuringanyofourships;and,aswasunavoidable,thegreatbeastsoftheseahunteduswiththeiraccustomedsavagery.
