“Let me explain,” the official continued, impatiently. “You yourself of course can do nothing. But you come from a people who, to judge from your writings, have developed remarkable engineering and mechanical skill. I am hopeful that their science may be able to devise some means of saving us, and for that reason I am planning to send you above seas for help. What do you think of the idea?” “Why, I--I think it might be worth trying,” was all I was able to gasp in reply. “Your friend Xanocles also thinks it worth trying,” proceeded the Adviser suavely. “Now I personally have always been against the policy of Emergence; but it is imperative to try new measures; and at a time like this, fortunately, the law empowers me to take any action on my own initiative. And so I sent for Xanocles today as one of the most prominent local members of the Emergence Party, and when I asked whom he would advise me to appoint as special envoy to the upper world he had no hesitation about mentioning you.” “But why me?” I demanded, doubtful of my qualifications for so high an office. “Well, to be sure, you were not the only one,” stated the Adviser. “He also recommended a certain Gavison, but we have decided to hold him in reserve, and if you do not return in a few days we will send him out with a second submarine. Meanwhile, if you would care to accept--” “Why, of course--of course I’ll accept--if it is for the good of Atlantis,” I declared. “But just what would you expect of me?” “One of our submersible vessels, with a crew of four men, will be in readiness at the docks early tomorrow morning. You will board it, and it will bear you out through the eastern valve and to any part of the upper world you may direct. But you are to waste no time about informing your fellows of the menace that confronts Atlantis. They too have submersible vessels, as your arrival here proves--let them send some of their ships down here, if they can, with materials to repair the wall. But above all things, you must remember not to delay, not to delay!” “I will do my best,” I promised. “But let me not hold out any false hopes--I am not sure that the upper world will be able to assist.” “At any rate, you can try,” sighed the Head of the Atlantean government. “It is a chance worth taking. We lose nothing by the attempt.” And then, fixing on me that powerful magnetic glance common to all the Atlanteans, he demanded, “You will spare no effort?” “I will spare no effort,” I solemnly vowed. “Then the fates be with you!” And the High Chief Adviser rose and firmly took both my hands; and I thought that just a trace of emotion dimmed his eyes as he fervently continued, “I need say no more. You know as well as I how much depends upon this. Above all things, Harkness, you will make haste, you will make haste, will you not? Good-bye--and good fortune will be yours!”