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you； stranger？〃
〃Offend me； lady！〃 I laughed。 〃Why； had it been the blackest crime
that ever came out of a perverse imagination it would have brought its
own pardon with it； I； least of all in this room； have least cause to be
offended。〃
〃I risked much for you and broke our rules。〃
〃Why； no doubt that was so； but 'tis the privilege of your kind to have
some say in this little matter of giving and taking in marriage。 I only
marvel that your countrywomen submit so tamely to the quaintest game of
chance I ever played at。
〃Ay； and it is women's nature no doubt to keep the laws which others
make； as you have said yourself。 Yet this rule； lady； is one broken with
more credit than kept； and if you have offended no one more than me；
your penance is easily done。〃
〃But I have offended some one；〃 she said； laying her hand on mine
with gentle nervousness in its touch； 〃one who has the power to hurt； and
enough energy to resent。 Hath； up there at the cross…table； have I
offended deeply tonight； for he hoped to have me； and would have
compelled any other man to barter me for the maid chance assigned to him；
but of you； somehow； he is afraidI have seen him staring at you； and
changing colour as though he knew something no one else knows〃
〃Briefly； charming girl；〃 I said； for the wine was be… ginning to sing in
my head； and my eyes were blinking stupidly〃briefly； Hath hath thee not；
and there's an end of it。 I would spit a score of Haths； as these figs are
spit on this golden skewer； before I would relinquish a hair of your head to
him； or to any man；〃 and as everything about the great hall began to look
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gauzy and unreal through the gathering fumes of my confusion； I smiled
on that gracious lady； and began to whisper I know not what to her； and
whisper and doze； and doze
I know not how long afterwards it was； whether a minute or an hour；
but when I lifted my head suddenly from the lady's shoulder all the place
was in confusion； every one upon their feet； the talk and the drinking
ceased； and all eyes turned to the far doorway where the curtains were just
dropping again as I looked； while in front of them were standing three
men。
These newcomers were utterly unlike any othersa fright… ful vision of
ugly strength amidst the lolling loveliness all about。 Low of stature；
broad of shoulder； hairy； deep…chest… ed； with sharp； twinkling eyes； set far
back under bushy eyebrows； retreating foreheads； and flat noses in faces
tan… ned to a dusky copper hue by exposure to every kind of weather that
racks the extreme Martian climate they were so opposite to all about me；
so quaint and grim amongst those mild； fair…skinned folk； that at first I
thought they were but a disordered creation of my fancy。
I rubbed my eyes and stared and blinked； but no！ they were real men；
of flesh and blood； and now they had come down with as much stateliness
as their bandy legs would admit of； into the full glare of the lights to the
centre table where Hath sat。 I saw their splendid apparel； the great
strings of rudely polished gems hung round their hairy necks and wrists；
the cunningly dyed skins of soft…furred animals； green and red and black；
wherewith their limbs were swathed； and then I heard some one by me
whisper in a frightened tone； 〃The envoys from over seas。〃
〃Oh；〃 I thought sleepily to myself； 〃so these are the ape…men of the
western woods； are they？ Those who long ago vanquished my white…
skinned friends and yearly come to claim their tribute。 Jove； what hay
they must have made of them！ How those peach…skinned girls must have
screamed and the downy striplings by them felt their dimpled knees knock
together； as the mad flood of barbarians came pour… ing over from the
forest； and long ago stormed their cit… adels like a stream of red lava； as
deadly； as irresistible； as remorseless！〃 And I lay asprawl upon my arms
on the table watching them with the stupid indifference I thought I could
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so well afford。
Meanwhile Hath was on foot； pale and obsequious like others in the
presence of those dread ambassadors； but more collected； I thought。
With the deepest bows he welcomed them； handing them drink in a golden
State cup； and when they had drunk （I heard the liquor running down their
great throats； in the frightened hush； like water in a runnel on a wet day）；
they wiped their fierce lips upon their furry sleeves； and the leader began
reciting the tribute for the year。 So much corn； so much wineand very
much it wasso many thousands ells of cloth and webbing； and so much
hammered gold； and sinah and lar； precious metal of which I knew nothing
as yet； and ever as he went growl… ing through the list in his harsh animal
voice； he refreshed his memory with a coloured stick whereon a notch was
made for every item； the woodmen not having come as yet； apparently； to
the gentler art of written signs and symbols。 Longer and longer that
caravan of unearned wealth stretched out before my fancy； but at last it
was done； or all but done； and the head envoy； passing the painted stick to
a man behind； folded his bare； sinewy arms； upon which the red fell
bristles as it does upon a gorilla's； across his ample chest； and； including
us all in one general scowl； turned to Hath as he said
〃All this for Ar…hap； the wood…king； my master and yours； all this； and
the most beautiful woman here tonight at your tables！〃
〃An item；〃 I smiled stupidly to myself； for indeed I was very sleepy
and had no nice perception of things； 〃which shows his majesty with the
two…pronged name is a jolly fellow after all； and knows wealth is
incomplete without the crown and priming of all riches。 I wonder how
the Martian boys will like this postscript；〃 and chin on hand； and eyes that
would hardly stay open； I watched to see what would happen next。 There
was a little conversation between the prince and the ape…man； then I saw
Hath the traitor point in my direction and say
〃Since you ask and will be advised； then； mighty sir； there can be no
doubt of it； the most beautiful woman here tonight is undoubtedly she who
sits yonder by him in blue。〃
〃A very pretty compliment！〃 I thought； too dull to see what was
coming quickly； 〃and handsome of Hath； all things considered。〃
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And so I dozed and dozed； and then started； and stared！ Was I in my
senses？ Was I mad； or dreaming？ The drunk… enness dropped from me
like a mantle； with a single； smothered cry I came to myself and saw that it
was all too true。 The savage envoy had come down the hall at Hath's
vindictive prompting； had lifted my fair girl to her feet； and there； even as
I looked； had drawn her； white as death； into the red circle of his arm； and
with one hand under her chin had raised her sweet face to within an inch
of his； and was staring at her with small； ugly eyes。
〃Yes；〃 said the enjoy； more interestedly than he had spoken yet； 〃it will
do； the tribute is acceptedfor Ar… hap； my master！〃 And taking
shrinking Heru by the wrist； and laying a heavy hand upon her shoulder；
he was about to lead her up the hall。
I was sober enough then。 I was on foot in an instant； and before all
the glittering company； before those simpering girls and pale Martian
youths； who sat mumbling their fingers； too frightened to lift their eyes
from off their half…finished dinners； I sprang at the envoy。 I struck him
with my clenched fist on the side of his bullet head； and he let go of Heru；
who slipped insensible from his hairy chest like a white cloud slipping
down the slopes of a hill at sunrise； and turned on me with a snort of rage。