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down the slopes of a hill at sunrise； and turned on me with a snort of rage。
We stared at each other for a minute； and then I felt the wine fumes
roaring in my head； I rushed at him and closed。 It was like embracing a
moun… tain bull； and he responded with a hug that made my ribs crackle。
For a minute we were locked together like that； swinging here and there；
and then getting a hand loose； I belaboured him so unmercifully that he
put his head down； and that was what I wanted。 I got a new hold of him
as we staggered and plunged； roaring the while like the wild beasts we
were； the teeth chattering in the Martian heads as they watched us； and
then； exerting all my strength； lifted him fairly from his feet and with
supreme effort swung him up； shoulder high； and with a mighty heave
hurled him across the tables； flung that ambassador； whom no Martian
dared look upon； crashing and sprawling through the gold and silver of the
feast； whirled him round with such a splendid send that bench and trestle；
tankards and flagons； chairs and cloths and candelabras all went down into
thundering chaos with him； and the envoy only stayed when his sacred
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person came to harbour amongst the westral odds and ends； the soiled
linen； and dirty platters of our wedding feast。
I remember seeing him there on hands and knees； and then the liquor I
had had would not be denied。 In vain I drew my hands across my
drooping eyelids； in vain I tried to master my knees that knocked together。
The spell of the love…drink that Heru； blushing； had held to my lips was on
me。 Its soft； overwhelming influence rose like a prismatic fog between
me and my enemy； everything again became hazy and dreamlike； and
feebly calling on Heru； my chin dropped upon my chest； my limbs relaxed；
and I slipped down in drowsy oblivion before my rival。
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CHAPTER VIII
They must have carried me； still under the influence of wine fumes；
to the chamber where I slept that night； for when I woke the following
morning my surroundings were familiar enough； though a glorious maze
of uncertainties rocked to and fro in my mind。
Was it a real feast we had shared in overnight； or only a quaint dream？
Was Heru real or only a lovely fancy？ And those hairy ruffians of whom
a horrible vision danced before my waking eyes； were they fancy too？
No； my wrists still ached with the strain of the tussle； the quaint； sad wine
taste was still on my lipsit was all real enough； I decided； starting up in
bed； and if it was real where was the little princess？ What had they done
with her？ Surely they had not given her to the ape…mencowards though
they were they could not have been cowards enough for that。 And as I
wondered a keen； bright picture of the hapless maid as I saw her last
blossomed before my mind's eye； the am… bassadors on either side holding
her wrists； and she shrink… ing from them in horror while her poor； white
face turned to me for rescue in desperate pleadingoh！ I must find her at
all costs； and leaping from bed I snatched up those trousers without which
the best of heroes is nothing； and had hardly got into them when there
came the patter of light feet without and a Martian； in a hurry for once；
with half a dozen others behind him； swept aside the curtains of my
doorway。
They peeped and peered all about the room； then one said； 〃Is Princess
Heru with you； sir？〃
〃No；〃 I answered roughly。 〃Saints alive； man； do you think I would
have you tumbling in here over each other's heels if she were？〃
〃Then it must indeed have been Heru；〃 he said； speak… ing in an awed
voice to his fellows； 〃whom we saw carried down to the harbour at
daybreak by yonder woodmen；〃 and the pink upon their pretty cheeks
faded to nothing at the suggestion。
〃What！〃 I roared； 〃Heru taken from the palace by a handful of men
and none of you infernal rascalsnone of you white…livered abortions
lifted a hand to save hercurse on you a thousand times。 Out of my way；
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you churls！〃 And snatching up coat and hat and sword I rushed furiously
down the long； marble stairs just as the short Martian night was giving
place to lavender…coloured light of morning。 I found my way somehow
down the deserted corridors where the air was heavy with aromatic
vapours； I flew by cur… tained niches and chambers where amongst
mounds of half… withered flowers the Martian lovers were slowly waking。
Down into the banquethall I sped； and there in the twilight was the litter of
the feast still aboutgold cups and silver； broken bread and meat； the
convolvulus flowers all turning their pallid faces to the rosy daylight；
making pools of brightness between the shadows。 Amongst the litter
little sapphire…coloured finches were feeding； twittering merrily to
themselves as they hopped about； and here and there down the long tables
lay asprawl a belated reveller； his empty oblivion…phial before him； his
curly head upon his arms； dreaming perhaps of last night's feast and a
neglected bride dozing dispassionate in some distant chamber。 But Heru
was not there and little I cared for twittering finches or sighing damsels。
With hasty feet I rushed down the hall out into the cool； sweet air of the
planet morning。
There I met one whom I knew； and he told me he had been among the
crowd and had heard the woodmen had gone no farther than the river gate；
that Heru was with them beyond a doubt。 I would not listen to more。
〃Good！〃 I shouted。 〃Get me a horse and just a handful of your sleek
kindred and we will pull the prize from the bear's paw even yet！ Surely；〃
I said； turning to a knot of Martian youths who stood listening a few steps
away； 〃surely some of you will come with me at this pinch？ The big
bullies are very few； the sea runs behind them； the maid in their clutch is
worth fighting for； it needs but one good onset； five minutes' gallantry； and
she is ours again。 Think how fine it will look to bring her back before
yon sleepy fellows have found their weapons。 You； there； with the blue
tunic！ you look a proper fellow； and something of a heart should beat
under such gay wrappings； will you come with me？〃
But blue…mantle； biting his thumbs； murmured he had not breakfasted
yet and edged away behind his com… panions。 Wherever I looked eyes
dropped and timid hands fidgeted as their owners backed off from my
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dangerous en… thusiasm。 There was obviously no help to be had from
them； and meantime the precious moments were flying； so with a
disdainful glance I turned on my heels and set off alone as hard as I could
go for the harbour。
But it was too late。 I rushed through the marketplace where all was
silent and deserted； I ran on to the wharves beyond and they were empty
save for the litter and embers of the fires Ar…hap's men had made during
their stay； I dashed out to the landing…place； and there at the hythe the last
boat… loads of the villains were just embarking； two boatloads of them
twenty yards from shore； and another still upon the beach。 This latter
was careening over as a dusky group of men lifted aboard to a heap of
tumbled silks and stuffs in the stern such a sweet piece of insensible
merchandis