Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           Stillhere,uponthisdesolatesea,althoughthegiantlizardswerenewtome,itwasapleasuretopitmyknowledgeofwaragainsttheirbrutestrengthandcourage.Eversincethefirstmendidtheirbusinessuponthegreatwaters,theyfulfilledtheirinstinctsinfightingthebeastswithdesperation.Hidingcoward-likeinaholdwasuseless,forifthisenemycouldnotfindmenabovedeckstoglutthem,theywouldbreakashipwiththeirpaddles,andsoallwouldbeslain.Andsoitwasrecognisedthatthefightshouldgoforwardasdesperatelyasmightbe,andthatitcouldonlyendwhenthebeastshadgottheirpreyandhadgoneawaysatisfied.

           Itwasinaone-sidedconflictafterthisfashionthen,thatIfoundmyself,andfeltthejoyoncemoretohavemythewsinaction.Butaftermyaxehadgotinsomedozenlustyblows,which,foralltheharmtheydid,mighthavebeendeliveredagainstsomecitywall,or,indeed,againstthearkoftheMysteriesitself,IsoughtaboutmetillIfoundalance,andwiththatmadeverydifferentplay.

           Theeyesoftheselizardsaresmall,andsetdeepinabonysocket,butIjudgedthemtobevulnerable,anditwasupontheeyesofthebeastthatImademyattack.Thedeckswereslipperywiththehorridslimeofthem.Thecrewsurgedaboutintheirbattling,and,moreover,constantlyofferedthemselvesasarampartbeforemebyreasonofTob,thecaptain’sthreats.ButIgaveafewshrewdprogueswiththelancetoshowthatIdidnotchoosemywilltobeoverridden,andpresentlywasgivenroomformanoeuvre