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should bring home； or guard the city walls against all enemies；for I
suppose； An；〃 I said； putting down my knife as the cheering thought came
on me；〃I suppose； An； you have some en… emies？ It is not like
Providence to give such riches as you possess； such lands； such cities； and
not to supply the anti… dote in some one poor enough to covet them。〃
At once the girl's face clouded over； and it was obvious a tender
subject had been chanced upon。 She waved her hand impatiently as
though to change the subject； but I would not be put off。
〃Come；〃 I said； 〃this is better than breakfast。 It was the one thing
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this unknown enemy of yourswanting to lever the dull mass of your too
peacefulness。 What is he like？ How strong？ How stands the quarrel
between you？ I was a soldier myself before the sea allured me； and love
horse and sword best of all things。〃
〃You would not jest if you knew our enemy！〃
〃That is as it may be。 I have laughed in the face of many a stronger
foe than yours is like to prove； but anyhow； give me a chance to judge。
Come； who is it that frightens all the blood out of your cheeks by a bare
mention and may not be laughed at even behind these substantial walls？〃
〃First； then； you know； of course； that long ago this land of ours was
harried from the West。〃
〃Not I。〃
〃No！〃 said An； with a little warmth。 〃If it comes to that； you know
nothing。〃
Whereat I laughed； and； saying the reply was just； vowed I would not
interrupt again； so she wont on saying how Haththat interminable Hath！…
…would know it all better than she did； but long ago the land was overrun
by a people from beyond the broad； blue waters outside； a people huge of
person； hairy and savage； uncouth； unlettered； and poor An's voice
trembled even to describe them； a people without mercy or compunction；
dwellers in woods； eaters of flesh； who burnt； plundered； and destroyed all
before them； and had toppled over this city along with many others in an
ancient foray； the horrors of which； still burnt lurid in her people's minds。
〃Ever since then；〃 went on the girl； 〃these odious terrors of the outer
land have been a nightmare to us； making hectic our pleasures； and filling
our peace with horrid thoughts of what might be； should they chance to
come again。〃
〃'Tis unfortunate； no doubt； lady；〃 I answered。 〃Yet it was long ago；
and the plunderers are far away。 Why not rise and raid them in turn？
To live under such a nightmare is miserable； and a poet on my side of the
ether has said
〃'He either fears his fate too much；
Or his deserts are small；
Who will not put it to the touch；
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To win or lose it all。'
It seems to me you must either bustle and fight again； or sit tamely
down； and by paying the coward's fee for peace； buy at heavy price；
indulgence from the victor。〃
〃We；〃 said An simply； and with no show of shame； 〃would rather die
than fight； and so we take the easier way； though a heavy one it is。
Look！〃 she said； drawing me to the broad window whence we could get a
glimpse of the westward town and the harbour out beyond the walls。
〃Look！ see yonder long row of boats with brown sails hanging loose
reefed from every yard ranged all along the quay。 Even from here you
can make out the thin stream of porter slaves passing to and fro between
them and the granaries like ants on a sunny path。 Those are our tax…
men's ships； they came yesterday from far out across the sea； as punctual
as fate with the first day of spring； and two or three nights hence we trust
will go again： and glad shall we be to see them start； although they leave
scupper deep with our cloth； our corn； and gold。〃
〃Is that what they take for tribute？〃
〃That and one girlthe fairest they can find。〃
〃Oneonly one！ 'Tis very moderate； all things considered。〃
〃She is for the thither king； Ar…hap； and though only one as you say；
stranger； yet he who loses her is apt sometimes to think her one too many
lost。〃
〃By Jupiter himself it is well said！ If I were that man I would stir up
heaven and hell until I got her back； neither man； nor beast； nor devil
should stay me in my quest！〃 As I spoke I thought for a minute An's
fingers trembled a little as she fixed a flower upon my coat； while there
was something like a sigh in her voice as she said
〃The maids of this country are not accustomed； sir； to be so strongly
loved。〃
By this time； breakfasted and rehabilitated； I was ready to go forth。
The girl swung back the heavy curtain that served in place of door across
the entrance of my chamber； and leading the way by a corridor and marble
steps while I followed； and whether it was the Martian air or the meal I
know not； but thinking mighty well of myself until we came presently
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onto the main palace stairs； which led by stately flights from the upper
galleries to the wide square below。
As we passed into the full sunshineand no sunshine is so crisply
golden as the Martianamongst twined flowers and shrubs and gay； quaint
birds building in the cornices； a sleek youth rose slowly from where he
had spread his cloak as couch upon a step and approaching asked
〃You are the stranger of yesterday？〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered。
〃Then I bring a message from Prince Hath； saying it would pleasure
him greatly if you would eat the morning meal with him。〃
〃Why；〃 I answered； 〃it is very civil indeed； but I have breakfasted
already。〃
〃And so has Hath；〃 said the boy； gently yawning。 〃You see I came
here early this morning； but knowing you would pass sooner or later I
thought it would save me the trouble if I lay down till you camethose
quaint people who built these places were so prodigal of steps；〃 and
smiling apologetically he sank back on his couch and began toying with a
leaf。
〃Sweet fellow；〃 I said； and you will note how I was getting into their
style of conversation； 〃get back to Hath when you have rested； give him
my most gracious thanks for the intended courtesy； but tell him the
invitation should have started a week earlier； tell him from me； you
nimble… footed messenger； that I will post…date his kindness and come
tomorrow； say that meanwhile I pray him to send any ill news he has for
me by you。 Is the message too bulky for your slender shoulders？〃
〃No；〃 said the boy； rousing himself slowly； 〃I will take it；〃 and then he
prepared to go。 He turned again and said； without a trace of incivility；
〃But indeed； stranger； I wish you would take the message yourself。 This
is the third flight of stairs I have been up today。〃
Everywhere it was the same friendly indolence。 Half the breakfasters
were lying on coloured shawls in groups about the square； the other half
were strolling offall in one direction； I noticedas slowly as could be
towards the open fields beyond； no one was active or had anything to do
save the yellow folk who flitted to and fro fostering the others； and doing
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the city work as though it were their only thought in life。 There were no
shops in that strange city； for there were no needs； some booths I saw
indeed； and temple…like places； but hollow； and used for birds and beasts
things these lazy Martians love。 There was no tramp of busy feet； for no
one was busy； no clank of swords or armour in those peaceful streets； for
no one was warlike； no hustle； for no one hurried； no