The Lost Continent | Page 6

brilliant throng of courtiers, and
chiefs, and statesmen. The roof-beams quivered to the cries of "Long
Live Tatho!" "Flourish the Empress!" which came forth as in duty
bound, and the new ruler acknowledged the welcome with stately
inclinations of the head. In turn he went to the three lesser thrones of
the lesser governors--in the East, the North, and the South, and received
homage from each as the ritual was; and I, the man whom his coming
had deposed, followed with the prescribed meekness in his train.
It was a hard task, but we who hold the higher offices learn to carry
before the people a passionless face. Once, twenty years before, these
same fine obeisances had been made to me; now the Gods had seen fit
to make fortune change. But as I walked bent and humbly on behind

the heels of Tatho, though etiquette forbade noisy salutations to myself,
it could not inhibit kindly glances, and these came from every soldier,
every courtier, and every chief who stood there in that gilded hall, and
they fell upon me very gratefully. It is not often the fallen meet such
tender looks.
The form goes, handed down from immemorial custom, that on these
great ceremonial days of changing a ruler, those of the people being
present may bring forward petitions and requests; may make
accusations against their retiring head with sure immunity from his
vengeance; or may state their own private theories for the better
government of the State in the future. I think it may be pardoned to my
vanity if I record that not a voice was raised against me, or against any
of the items of my twenty years of rule. Nor did any speak out for
alterations in the future. Yes, even though we made the circuit for the
three prescribed times, all present showed their approval in generous
silence.
Then, one behind the other, the new Viceroy and the old, we marched
with formal step over golden tiles of that council hall beneath the
pyramid, and the great officers of state left their stations and joined in
our train; and at the farther wall we came to the door of those private
chambers which an hour ago had been mine own.
Ah, well! I had no home now in any of those wondrous cities of
Yucatan, and I could not help feeling a bitterness, though in sooth I
should have been thankful enough to return to the Continent of Atlantis
with my head still in its proper station.
Tatho gave his formal summons of "Open ye to the Viceroy," which the
ritual commands, and the slaves within sent the massive stone valves of
the door gaping wide. Tatho entered, I at his heels; the others halted,
sending valedictions from the threshold; and the valves of the door
clanged on the lock behind us. We passed on to the chamber beyond,
and then, when for the first time we were alone together, and the forced
etiquette of courts was behind us, the new Viceroy turned with meekly
folded arms, and bowed low before me.

"Deucalion," he said, "believe me that I have not sought this office. It
was thrust upon me. Had I not accepted, my head would have paid
forfeit, and another man--your enemy--would have been sent out as
viceroy in your place. The Empress does not permit that her will shall
ever be questioned."
"My friend," I made answer, "my brother in all but blood, there is no
man living in all Atlantis or her territories to whom I had liefer hand
over my government. For twenty years now have I ruled this country of
Yucatan, and Mexico beyond, first under the old King, and then as
minister to this new Empress. I know my colony like a book. I am
intimate with all her wonderful cities, with their palaces, their pyramids,
and their people. I have hunted the beasts and the savages in the forests.
I have built roads, and made the rivers so that they will carry shipping.
I have fostered the arts and crafts like a merchant; I have discoursed,
three times each day, the cult of the Gods with mine own lips. Through
evil years and through good have I ruled here, striving only for the
prosperity of the land and the strengthening of Atlantis, and I have
grown to love the peoples like a father. To you I bequeath them, Tatho,
with tender supplications for their interests."
"It is not I that can carry on Deucalion's work with Deucalion's power,
but rest content, my friend, that I shall do my humble best to follow
exactly on in your footsteps. Believe me, I came out to this government
with a thousand regrets, but I would have died sooner than take your
place