Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1931. Various

Stevens place the Nereid at his disposal for visiting the depths at the foot of the plateau, where lay the capital of the empire, he said – a magnificent metropolis known as the City of the Sun and modeled after the great Atlantean capital, the City of the Golden Gates, and the depository of a treasure, the greedy German believed, that was the ransom of the world.

      The professor frowned, and for a moment Larry thought he was going to remind their host that this was not a treasure hunt.

      “Why,” he asked instead, “do you not use your own submarine for the purpose?”

      “Because for one thing, she will not stand the pressure, nor will our suits,” was the reply. “And for another, she is already laden with treasure, ready for an – er – forced abdication!” with a sardonic laugh.

      “Then have you not enough gold already?”

      “For myself, yes. But there are my men, you see – and men who have glimpsed the treasures of the earth are not easily satisfied, Professor. But have no fear. You shall accompany us, and, by your aid, shall pay your own ransom.”

      Von Ullrich made no mention of the alternative, in case the aid was refused, but the ominous light Larry caught in his cold gray eyes spoke as clearly as words.

      So, since there was nothing else to do, Professor Stevens agreed.

      Whereupon the audience terminated and they were led from the presence of this arrogant German to another apartment, where they were to meet Captain Petersen and the crew of the Nereid.

      As they proceeded toward it, under guard, Larry wondered why Von Ullrich had even troubled to make the request, when he held it in his power to take the craft anyway.

      But after the first joyful moment of reunion, it was a mystery no longer, for Captain Petersen reported that immediately upon their capture, the commander of the U-boat had tried to force him to reveal the operation of the Nereid, but that he had steadfastly refused, even though threatened with torture.

      And to think, it came to Larry with a new twinge of shame, that he had suspected this gallant man of mutiny!

      That very morning, while Professor Stevens and his party were still exchanging experiences with Captain Petersen and the members of the crew, Von Ullrich sent for them and they gathered with his own men in the small lock-chamber at the base of the pyramid.

      There they were provided with temporary suits by their host, since their own – which they brought along – could be inflated only from the Nereid.

      Beside her, they noted as they emerged in relays, the U-boat was now moored.

      Entering their own craft, they got under way at once and headed swiftly westward toward the brink of the plateau. Most of Von Ullrich’s crew were with them, though a few had been left behind to guard against any treachery, on the part of the now sullen and aroused populace.

      Slipping out over the edge of that precipitous tableland, they tilted her rudders and dove to the abysm below.

      Presently the central square of the illuminated panel in the navigating room showed three great concentric circles, enclosed by a quadrangle that must have been miles on a side – and within this vast sunken fortress lay a city of innumerable pyramids and temples and palaces.

      The German’s eyes flashed greedily as he peered upon this vision.

      “There you are!” he exclaimed, quivering with excitement. “Those circles, that square: what would you judge they were, Professor?”

      “I would judge that originally they were the canals bearing the municipal water supply,” Martin Stevens told him quietly, suppressing his own excitement, “for such was said to be the construction of the City of the Golden Gates; but now I judge they are walls raised on those original foundations by the frantic populace, when the submergence first began, in a vain effort to hold back the tides that engulfed them.”

      “And do you think they are of gold?”

      “Frankly, no; though I have no doubt you will find plenty of that element down there.”

      Nor was the prediction wrong, for modern eyes had never seen such a treasure house as they beheld when presently the Nereid came to rest outside that ancient four-walled city and they forced their way inside.

      Though the walls were not of gold, the inner gates were, and the temples were fairly bursting with the precious metal, as well as rare jewels, the eyes of a thousand idols gleaming with rubies and emeralds.