The Author Becomes an Underground Monarch

When my speech was ended, they all cried out with loud voices: "We will have Pikil-Su, for emperor." When I heard this, I became terrified, and begged them, with tears in my eyes, not to forget the fidelity and duty they owed to the imperial family. But my words were of no use. They all approached me, and placed the crown upon my head, repeating the above-mentioned exclamation. I was then carried from the tent and proclaimed before the whole army, emperor of Quama, king of Tanaqui, Arctonia and Alectoria, and duke of Kispusianania. Afterwards we made a triumphal entry into the capital, where prince Timuso, himself acknowledged me for emperor. Thus, from a miserable, shipwrecked wretch, I became a great and powerful monarch. I soon married the daughter of the deceased emperor, for the people still loved and honored the old royal family. This princess was named Ralac, and

When I finished speaking, they all shouted, "We will have Pikil-Su as emperor." I was terrified when I heard this. With tears in my eyes, I begged them not to forget their loyalty and duty to the imperial family. But my words had no effect. They all came up to me and placed the crown on my head, repeating the same cry. Then they carried me from the tent and proclaimed me emperor of Quama before the whole army. They also proclaimed me king of Tanaqui, Arctonia and Alectoria, and duke of Kispusianania. Afterward, we entered the capital in triumph, where prince Timuso himself acknowledged me as emperor. And so I went from being a miserable, shipwrecked wretch to a great and powerful monarch. I soon married the deceased emperor’s daughter, because the people still loved and honored the old royal family. This princess was named Ralac, and

when I had reduced to order the affairs of the empire, and firmly established myself on the throne, I thought of new means, by which I might extend my dominions, and render my power fearful to the whole subterranean world. I turned my attention to a navy, and soon had a fleet of twenty ships on the sea.

Once I had put the empire’s affairs in order and firmly secured my throne, I began thinking of new ways to expand my territory. I wanted the whole underground world to fear my power. I turned my attention to building a navy and soon had a fleet of twenty ships at sea.

I soon came to regard myself an under-ground Alexander; and determined to make myself as famous as he had on our globe. I concluded to sail first for Mezendore and thence to Martinia. We set sail at that period of the year, when the planet Nazar is of the middle size, and in a few days came in sight of the Mezendoric coast.

I soon came to see myself as an underground Alexander. I decided to make myself as famous as he had been on our globe. I decided to sail first to Mezendore and then to Martinia. We set sail at the time of year when the planet Nazar was medium-sized. A few days later, we came in sight of the Mezendoric coast.

I immediately sent ambassadors to the imperial residence, of whom was demanded in the name of the emperor,

I immediately sent ambassadors to the imperial residence. There, a demand was made of them in the emperor's name,

The ambassadors answered:

The ambassadors replied:

and thereupon delivered to the emperor a letter of the following contents:

and then delivered a letter to the emperor, which read as follows:

In a few days our ambassadors returned with a bold and haughty answer. I made a descent upon the coast, placed my army in battle array, and sent spies to examine the condition of the enemy. The spies came back in great haste, and related that an immense army, of sixty thousand in number, consisting of lions, tigers, elephants, bears and birds of prey, was drawing towards us. We were soon apprised of their near approach, by roars, shrieks and terrific cries, commingling a devilish tumult. The combat soon commenced, and truly, 'twas one of the hottest and most contumaceous, in which I ever engaged: at last we put them to flight.

A few days later, our ambassadors returned with a bold and arrogant reply. I landed on the coast, drew up my army for battle, and sent spies to scout the enemy. They hurried back and reported that an immense army of sixty thousand was advancing toward us. It consisted of lions, tigers, elephants, bears, and birds of prey. Soon we could hear them approaching, their roars, shrieks, and terrifying cries merging into a devilish uproar. The battle soon began. It was truly one of the fiercest and most stubbornly fought battles I had ever taken part in. At last, we put them to flight.

In this engagement fell thirty-three thousand Mezendarians, and about four thousand were made prisoners. We followed our victory, and drew before the capital city; this we besieged both by land and sea. So energetic was our blockade, that the enemy quickly proposed a parley, and sent ambassadors to ask for peace on reasonable conditions. The emperor offered to me his daughter, the handsomest of the lionesses, in marriage, and the half of his empire as a dowry. These conditions, although very honorable, were very displeasing to me, for I considered it both unsafe and illicit to forsake my wife, whom I left behind in pregnancy, and marry a lioness. I therefore sent back the ambassadors without answer.

In the battle, thirty-three thousand Mezendarians were killed, and about four thousand were taken prisoner. We pressed our advantage and advanced on the capital, which we besieged by land and sea. Our blockade was so effective that the enemy quickly proposed a meeting and sent ambassadors to seek peace on reasonable terms. The emperor offered me his daughter, the most beautiful of the lionesses, in marriage. He also offered half his empire as her dowry. Although these terms were very honorable, they displeased me greatly. I thought it both unsafe and wrong to leave my wife, whom I had left behind pregnant, and marry a lioness. I therefore sent the ambassadors back without an answer.

I now ordered my cannon to be directed against the wall, which, although built of stone, was soon rent. The emperor lost all hope and surrendered himself together with all his lands. After putting a garrison in the capital, I took the emperor on board my own ship, and laid my course for Martinia, the coast of which we reached after a long but fortunate voyage.

I ordered my cannon aimed at the wall. Though it was built of stone, the wall soon broke apart. The emperor lost all hope and surrendered himself and all his lands. After leaving a garrison in the capital, I took the emperor aboard my ship and set sail for Martinia. We reached its coast after a long but fortunate voyage.

We obtained here the same success as elsewhere. When the Martinians submitted, I determined to include their neighbors under the same yoke. As I was preparing to effect this, ambassadors from four adjacent countries arrived, and voluntarily acknowledged allegiance to me. I now possessed so many kingdoms, that I did not deem it worth my trouble to ascertain the names of these; but included them all under the title of the Martinianic "dominion."

We had the same success here as elsewhere. After the Martinians submitted, I decided to bring their neighbors under the same rule. While I was preparing to do this, ambassadors arrived from four neighboring countries. They voluntarily pledged allegiance to me. I now possessed so many kingdoms that I did not think it worth finding out their names. Instead, I included them all under the title of the Martinianic "dominion."