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would know！ Meanwhile let me give you to drink； great stranger； let me
get you something。〃
〃Well； then；〃 I laughed； 〃reach me down an antidote to fate； a specific
for an absent mistress； and forgetful friends。〃
〃What was she like？〃 said An； hesitating a little and frowning。
〃Nay； good friend；〃 was my answer； 〃what can that matter to you？〃
〃Oh； nothing； of course；〃 answered that Martian； and while she took
from the table a cup and filled it with fluid I felt in the pouch of my
sword…belt to see if by chance a bit of money was Iying there； but there
was none； only the pips of an orange poor Polly had sucked and
laughingly thrown at me。
However； it did not matter。 The girl handed me the cup； and I put my
lips to it。 The first taste was bitter and acrid； like the liquor of long…
steeped wood。 At the second taste a shiver of pleasure ran through me；
and I opened my eyes and stared hard。 The third taste grossness and
heavi… ness and chagrin dropped from my heart； all the com… plexion of
Providence altered in a flash； and a stupid irresistible joy； unreasoning；
uncontrollable took possession of my fibre。 I sank upon a mossy bank
and； lolling my head； beamed idiotically on the lolling Martians all about
me。 How long I was like that I cannot say。 The heavy minutes of
sodden contentment slipped by unnoticed； un… umbered； till presently I felt
the touch of a wine…cup at my lips again； and drinking of another liquor
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dulness vanished from my mind； my eyes cleared； my heart throbbed； a
fantastic gaiety seized upon my limbs； I bounded to my feet； and seizing
An's two hands in mine； swung that damsel round in a giddy dance；
capering as never dancer danced before； till spent and weary I sank down
again from sheer lack of breath； and only knew thereafter that An was
sitting by me saying； 〃Drink！ drink stranger； drink and forget！〃 and as a
third time a cup was pressed to my lips； aches and pleasures； stupidness
and joy； life itself； seemed slipping away into a splendid golden vacuity； a
hazy epi… sode of unconscious Elysium； indefinite； and unfathomable。
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CHAPTER V
When I woke； feeling as refreshed as though I had been dreaming
through a long night； An； seeing me open…eyed； helped me to my feet； and
when I had recovered my senses a little； asked if we should go on。 I was
myself again by this time； so willingly took her hand； and soon came out
of the tangle into the open spaces。 I must have been under the spell of
the Martian wines longer than it seemed； for already it was late in the
afternoon； the shadows of trees were lying deep and far…reaching over the
motley crowds of people。 Out here as the day waned they had developed
some sort of method in their sports。 In front of us was a broad； grassy
course marked off with garlanded finger…posts； and in this space rallies of
workfolk were taking part in all manner of games under the eyes of a great
concourse of spectators； doing the Martians' pleasures for them as they did
their labours。 An led me gently on； leaning on my arm heavier； I thought；
than she had done in the morning； and ever and anon turning her gazelle…
like eyes upon me with a look I could not understand。 As we sauntered
forward I noticed all about lesser circles where the yellow…girted ones
were drawing delighted laughter from good…tempered crowds by tricks of
sleight…of…hand； and posturing； or toss… ing gilded cups and balls as though
they were catering； as indeed they were； for outgrown children。 Others
fluted or sang songs in chorus to the slow clapping of hands； while others
were doing I knew not what； sitting silent amongst si… lent spectators who
every now and then burst out laughing for no cause that I could see。 But
An would not let me stop； and so we pushed on through the crowd till we
came to the main enclosures where a dozen slaves had run a race for the
amusement of those too lazy to race them… selves； and were sitting panting
on the grass。
To give them time to get their breath； perhaps； a man stepped out of
the crowd dressed in a dark blue tunic； a strange vacuous…looking fellow；
and throwing down a sheaf of javelins marched off a dozen paces； then；
facing round； called out loudly he would give sixteen suits of 〃summer
cloth〃 to any one who could prick him with a javelin from the heap。
〃Why；〃 I said in amazement； 〃this is the best of fools no one could
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miss from such a distance。〃
〃Ay but；〃 replied my guide； 〃he is a gifted one； versed in mystics。〃
I was just going to say a good javelin； shod with iron； was a stronger
argument than any mystic I had ever heard of could stand； when out of the
crowd stepped a youth； and amid the derisive cheers of his friends chose a
reed from the bundle。 He poised it in his hand a minute to get the middle；
then turned on the living target。 Whatever else they might be； these
Martians were certainly beautiful as the day… time。 Never had I seen such
a perfect embodiment of grace and elegance as that boy as he stood there
for a moment poised to the throw； the afternoon sunshine warm and strong
on his bunched brown hair； a girlish flush of shyness on his handsome face；
and the sleek perfection of his limbs； clear cut against the dusky
background beyond。 And now the javelin was going。 Surely the mystic
would think better of it at the last moment！ No！ the initiate held his
ground with tight…shut lips and retrospective eyes； and even as I looked the
weapon flew upon its errand。
〃There goes the soul of a fool！〃 I exclaimed； and as the words were
uttered the spear struck； or seemed to； between the neck and shoulder； but
instead of piercing rose high into the air； quivering and flashing； and
presently turning over； fell back； and plunged deep into the turf； while a
low murmur of indifferent pleasure went round amongst the onlookers。
Thereat An； yawning gently； looked to me and said； 〃A strong…willed
fellow； isn't he； friend？〃
I hesitated a minute and then asked； 〃Was it WILL which turned that
shaft？〃
She answered with simplicity； 〃Why； of coursewhat else？〃
By this time another boy had stepped out； and having chosen a javelin；
tested it with hand and foot； then re… tiring a pace or two rushed up to the
throwing mark and flung it straight and true into the bared bosom of the
man。 And as though it had struck a wall of brass； the shaft leapt back
falling quivering at the thrower's feet。 Another and another tried
unsuccessfully； until at last； vexed at their futility； I said； 〃I have a
somewhat scanty wardrobe that would be all the better for that fellow's
summer suiting； by your leave I will venture a throw against him。〃
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〃It is useless；〃 answered An； 〃none but one who knows more magic
than he； or is especially befriended by the Fates can touch him through the
envelope he has put on。〃
〃Still； I think I will try。〃
〃It is hopeless； I would not willingly see you fail；〃 whispered the girl；
with a sudden show of friendship。
〃And what；〃 I said； bending down； 〃would you give me if I
succeeded？〃 Whereat An laughed a little uneasily； and； withdrawing her
hand from mine； half turned away。 So I pushed through the spectators
and stepped into the ring。 I went straight up to the pile of weapons； and
having chosen one went over to the mystic。 〃Good fellow；〃 I cried out
os… tentatiously； trying the sharpness of the javelin…point with my finger；
〃where are all of those sixteen summer suits of yours lying hid？〃
〃It matters nothing；〃 said the man； as if he were asleep