All gazed upon what certainly seemed to be a mighty1 city, built upon a plain.
Mighty buildings lined wide streets, which traversed the plain in every direction.
There were minarets2 and spires3, domes4 and obelisks5 and huge public squares with giant statuary.
The city, buildings, streets, and all, were as white as driven snow. It was a most bewildering sight.
But all was as quiet and deserted6 as the tomb.
It was a city without people.
Frank brought the Dart7 to a stop, and all gazed upon the scene for a time with deep interest.
“The lost Atlantis!” declared Prof. Von Bulow. “It is not a myth, after all.”
“Do you suppose there is any treasure in the place?” asked Captain Bell, with sudden inspiration.
All laughed at this, and Frank said:
“Bell, you will yet gain the reputation of treasure hunter.”
“That is what I am,” acknowledged the captain. “I have been hunting for a fortune all my life, and I mean to have it before I die, if I have luck.”
“Which I hope you will.”
“I shall not give up trying.”
“Well,” said Von Bulow, wistfully, “are we to pay a visit of exploration to that city or not?”
“I think we will,” replied Frank. “I shall sail the Dart down into that large square in the center. It looks like a central point.”
“So it is,” cried the scientist, joyfully8. “Oh, what a splendid opportunity to advance exploration now!”
No time was lost.
The Dart was allowed to sail down into the large square in the heart of the sunken city.
Here it was securely anchored, and all the explorers were now brought in close proximity9 to the buildings.
And these were of a wonderful style of architecture, and their white color did not arise from the nature of the stone employed, but, as was now seen, owing to a thick formation of coral which encrusted all.
It was a scene of great beauty, and all gazed upon it spellbound.
But Von Bulow was anxious to begin work at once.
So after arrangements had been hastily concluded the party donned diving suits and set out for a “walk about town.”
Only one was left aboard the Dart, and this was Pomp.
Truly it was a novel experience to walk the streets of a submarine city, but such it was.
The city was evidently constructed long before the days of Moses and the patriarchs, and was an excellent bit of proof of the existence of quite an advanced stage of civilization in that part of the world at that time.
The explorers could almost fancy the shops still filled with rich goods and stuffs in vogue11 then.
They could imagine the appearance the city must have borne when its streets were thronged12 with busy people, and all was life and activity.
Truly it was a wonderful thing to think of.
But that such a state of affairs did once exist there was no doubt.
Across the great paved square the explorers walked.
Before them swam beautiful vari-colored fish.
At their feet crept crabs13 and shell fish of a strange and beautiful variety.
Before them was a mighty building which seemed to have once been a palace or temple.
“Let us explore that,” said Von Bulow, in signs.
The others nodded an acquiescence14.
Frank and Barney, armed with axes, led the way into the temple. They passed through a high arched door.
It was a mammoth15 hall with high pillars of stone which they now stood in.
There was a grandeur16 about the mammoth structure which reminded one of the Roman temples in Italy.
The hall had evidently been some sort of a public auditorium17 or council chamber18.
At the lower end was a dais of stone, and upon it was a high chair or throne of the same material.
But all articles of furniture or decoration which had been made of wood or the metals were gone.
Undoubtedly19 the worm of decay had long since eaten them up.
Neither were there any skeletons or like remains20 of human beings to be found.
When it was remembered that this city was perhaps twenty centuries old, this was not to be wondered at.
Passing through the temple, the explorers came to a spacious21 court, beyond which was a peristyle.
Whoever the inhabitants of the ancient city had been, they were certainly a people of gifts and much genius.
This was evident in the construction and architecture of the city.
It was a magnificent monument to their great talents, and though buried under the sea many leagues would yet exist through all time.
Beyond the peristyle court the explorers came to a mighty marble paved basin, which had evidently been a bath or large lake.
From one part of the sunken city to another the explorers wandered.
Upon every hand new sights were seen and new wonders unfolded.
Upon one building was a marine10 growth greatly resembling English ivy22. It had a most beautiful effect.
Every building had its colony of submarine creatures.
There were all manner of rainbow-hued fish, and monster eels23 like huge serpents wriggling24 in the sand. But thus far nothing had been encountered of a dangerous size and character.
For miles the explorers walked in the glare of the searchlight, which quite illumined the whole city.
At length, however, it was decided25 to return.
Von Bulow was highly delighted with the result of the expedition.
He had recovered many valuable specimens26 and was in high feather.
But Captain Bell was disappointed.
There had been no sign of a treasure about the sunken city.
If gold had ever existed there, time and the water had consumed it, beyond a doubt.
Without mishap27 the party reached the Dart in safety.
Pomp had a rousing, hearty28 meal ready for them, of which all partook with avidity.
Then they fell to discussing the situation.
“It is established beyond all doubt,” said Von Bulow, “that this part of the Atlantic was once a continent above the sea.”
“That seems certain,” agreed Frank; “and it was undoubtedly inhabited by a most powerful nation.”
“But though we may see this evidence of their handiwork, we do not know how they may have looked.”
“I imagine that they resembled the ancient Greeks,” said Captain Bell; “though I have no particular reason for that idea.”
“There was an old tradition among the Mediterranean29 sailors that to the west of the coast of Spain was a great continent known as Atlantis, and inhabited by a powerful and intelligent race of people.”
“Then it was no myth, but the truth,” cried Von Bulow. “We have indeed found the lost Atlantis.”
“Be not so sure,” said Frank.
“Why?”
“The continent may have been only an island, and this is possibly the only city upon it.”
All reflected that this might be true.
Thus the discussion progressed for some time, no definite conclusion being reached.
At length it was decided to leave the sunken city and proceed on the way to the end of the valley.
Accordingly Frank went into the pilot-house and started the Dart.
The submarine boat floated away over the housetops and soon left the sunken city behind.
As the Dart went on now many traces of a once powerful civilization were to be seen.
There were many buildings which might have been country houses or farms once.
Also there were actually seen traces of roads and paths and many other things to prove that this had been a nation above the surface.
For many miles this sort of thing continued.
Then the Dart came once more to a wild and desolate30 expanse of sand.
It extended many miles.
Frank held the Dart down for a close run over this.
He hoped then to reach a point in the Atlantic Valley which was merely an island in the midst of the vast water.
On the chart the island was known under the name of Gull31 Island. Here Frank had thought of going to the surface for a brief time.
For hours the submarine boat ran on at full speed.
The bed of the sea here afforded no new features for study, and Von Bulow had no desire to stop.
So the Dart kept on until at length the end of the plain was reached.
Then there came a rocky and rough region entirely32 different from that which Frank had expected.
“How is this?” he exclaimed, in surprise. “Where is Gull Island?”
Once more he examined the chart.
As near as Frank could reckon, he ought to be just at the spot where Gull Island should be.
But instead, the water seemed deeper here than anywhere else. There surely was no sign of an island.
Of course it was not possible to take bearings in the usual way, being so far under the sea.
“Bejabers, it’s off our course we are, Misther Frank!” said Barney.
“I’m afraid you are right, Barney,” agreed the young inventor. “What shall we do about it?”
“Go to the surface and make sure where we are,” said Von Bulow. “It won’t do any of us harm to take another look at the sky and the outer air.”
“You are right,” said Frank, with sudden decision. “We will do it.”
With which the young inventor went into the pilot-house and opened wide the pneumatic valve, which expelled the water from the tank.
This should cause the Dart to at once rise to the surface. But it did not.
It arose twenty feet or more, and then stopped with a jar. Frank was dumbfounded. What did it mean?
Again he opened the valve.
But it was of no use. The boat would not go up a single peg33 further. Here was a dilemma34.
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1
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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2
minarets
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| n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 ) | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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4
domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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6
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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9
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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10
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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11
Vogue
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| n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的 | |
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12
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
crabs
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| n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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15
mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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16
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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17
auditorium
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| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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19
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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20
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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22
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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23
eels
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| abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system） | |
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24
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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25
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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27
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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28
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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29
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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30
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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31
gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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32
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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33
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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