Yermah moved a little nearer, to enable him to follow the direction of the caduceus in Akaza’s hand. He saw that the horoscope was for Atlantis in the near future. “At the last vernal equinox the Lord of Day was about to leave the abode of the Lion. He now stands between this house and that of the Virgin in the celestial zodiac. In such aspect, he is approaching the fiery house of the Scorpion. When he has gone twenty-five times in the first lunation of cold and is still within two markings of the meridian, Poseidon’s reign will terminate.” “Dost thou mean that I am then to become an actual ruler?” was the first question which came involuntarily to Yermah’s lips. “Yes. The new moon at that time opens the way for the dispensation so long foretold by our prophets. We are about to see the literal interpretation of this revelation: ‘I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day. The moon shall change its laws, and not be seen at its proper period. Many chiefs among the stars of authority shall err, perverting their ways and works.’ “The comet, now faint above the horizon, comes forward with terrific force, and will cast its blight on Venus and Mars. Soon this portent will be discerned in the heavens and then the people must prepare for change. “At the time of the full moon, Saturn rises in the first house, in conjunction with the visitor—presaging a national calamity. The path of the vagrant is such as to form conjunction with Venus, and, finally, to reach the vicinity of Mars—the fiery planet which rules Poseidon’s land. “This configuration shows that the rulers have prostituted their authority, instead of leading men righteously by precept and example. “The minds of all the people have become intensely evil, and they have been given to all forms of wickedness. “The cohesive strength of Mars which binds the land, is broken and dispersed. “At the new moon, seismic disturbances will be of continual occurrence; and as Mars is in the watery sign, so there is war in the earth’s interior between uncontrolled water and fire.” “So,” said Yermah, “the elementals of earth, air, fire and water, that have been in sore bondage under black masters, are to gather and blend their forces to overthrow their former oppressors. So be it! Long hast thou waited for this.” “At the full moon, when she meets the opposition of the sun, these forces culminate. Then the crest of angry waters, which the elements have lashed into fury, sweeps grandly and majestically onward. The new moon is formed while the luminaries are in opposition to Jupiter and Neptune. This is but another indication of trouble in the country, because Jupiter and Neptune are in the fourth house.” Akaza indicated the places on the horoscope.