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tumbled silks and stuffs in the stern such a sweet piece of insensible
merchandise as no man； I at least of all； could mistake。 It was Heru her…
self； and the rogues were ladling her on board like so much sandal…wood
or cotton sheeting。 I did not wait for more； but out came my sword； and
yielding to a reckless impulse； for which perhaps last night's wine was as
much to blame as anything； I sprang down the steps and leapt aboard of
the boat just as it was pushed off upon the swift tide。 Full of Bersark
rage； I cut one brawny copper…coloured thief down； and struck another
with my fist between the eyes so that he went headlong into the water；
sinking like lead； and deep into the great target of his neighbour's chest I
drove my blade。 Had there been a man beside me； had there been but
two or three of all those silken triflers； too late come on the terraces above
to watch； we might have won。 But all alone what could I do？ That last
red beast turned on my blade； and as he fell dragged me half down with
him。 I staggered up； and tugging the metal from him turned on the next。
At that moment the cause of all the turmoil； roused by the fighting；
came to herself； and sitting up on the piled plunder in the boat stared
round for a moment with a child… ish horror at the barbarians whose prize
she was； then at me； then at the dead man at my feet whose blood was
welling in a red tide from the wound in his breast。 As the full meaning of
the scene dawned upon her she started to her feet； looking wonderfully
beautiful amongst those dusky forms； and extending her hands to me
began to cry in the most piteous way。 I sprang forward； and as I did so
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saw an ape… man clap his hairy paw over her mouth and faceit was like
an eclipse of the moon by a red earth…shadow； I thought at the moment
and drag her roughly back； but that was about the last I remembered。 As
I turned to hit him standing on the slippery thwart； another rogue crept up
behind and let drive with a club he had in hand。 The cud… gel caught me
sideways on the head； a glancing shot。 I can recall a blaze of light； a
strange medley of sounds in my ears； and then； clutching at a pile of stuffs
as I fell； a tall bower of spray rising on either hand； and the cool shock of
the blue sea as I plunged headlong inbut noth… ing after that！
How long after I know not； but presently a tissue of day… light crept
into my eyes； and I awoke again。 It was better than nothing perhaps； yet
it was a poor awakening。 The big sun lay low down； and the day was all
but done； so much I guessed as I rocked in that light with an undulating
movement； and then as my senses returned more fully； recognised with a
start of wonder that I was still in the water； floating on a swift current into
the unknown on an air…filled pile of silken stuffs which had been pulled
down with me from the boat when I got my ganging from yonder rascal's
mace。 It was a wet couch； sodden and chilly； but as the freshening
evening wind blew on my face and the dark… ening water lapped against
my forehead I revived more fully。
Where had we come to？ I turned an aching neck； and all along on
both sides seemed to stretch steep； straight coasts about a mile or so apart；
in the shadow of the setting sun black as ebony。 Between the two the
hampered water ran quickly； with； away on the right； some shallow sandy
spits and islands covered with dwarf busheschilly； inhospitable… looking
places they seemed as I turned my eyes upon them； but he who rides
helpless down an evening tide stands out for no great niceties of landing…
place； could I but reach them they would make at least a drier bed than
this of mine； and at that thought； turning over； I found all my muscles as
stiff as iron； the sinews of my neck and forearms a mass of agonies and no
more fit to swim me to those reedy swamps； which now； as pain and
hunger began to tell； seemed to wear the aspects of paradise。
With a groan I dropped back upon my raft and watched the islands
slipping by； while over my feet the southern sky darkened to purple。
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There was no help there； but glanc… ing round away on the left and a few
furlongs from me； I noticed on the surface of the water two converging
strands of brightness； an angle the point of which seemed to be coming
towards me。 Nearer it came and nearer； right across my road； until I
could see a black dot at the point； a head presently developed； then as we
approached the ears and antlers of a swimming stag。 It was a huge beast
as it loomed up against the glow； bigger than any mortal stag ever wasthe
kind of fellow…traveller no one would willingly accost； but even if I had
wished to get out of its path I had no power to do so。
Closer and closer we came； one of us drifting helplessly； and the other
swimming strongly for the islands。 When we were about a furlong apart
the great beast seemed to change its course； mayhap it took the wreckage
on which I floated for an outlying shoal； something on which it could rest
a space in that long swim。 Be this as it may； the beast came hurtling
down on me lip deep in the waves； a mighty brown head with pricked ears
that flicked the water from them now and then； small bright eyes set far
back； and wide palmated antlers on a mighty forehead； like the dead
branches of a tree。 What that Martian mountain elk had hoped for can
only be guessed； what he met with was a tangle of floating finery carrying
a numbed traveller on it； and with a snort of disappointment he turned
again。
It was a poor chance； but better than nothing； and as he turned I tried
to throw a strand of silk I had unwound from the sodden mass over his
branching tines。 Quick as thought the beast twisted his head aside and
tossed his antlers so that the try was fruitless。 But was I to lose my only
chance of shore？ With all my strength I hurled myself upon him； missing
my clutch again by a hair's…breadth and going head… long into the salt
furrow his chest was turning up。 Happily I kept hold of the web； for the
great elk then turned back； passing between me and the ruck of stuff and
getting thereby the silk under his chin； and as I came gasping to the top
once more round came that dainty wreckage over his back； and I clutched
it； and sooner than it takes to tell I was towing to the shore as perhaps no
one was ever towed before。
The big beast dragged the ruck like withered weed be… hind him；
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bellowing all the time with a voice which made the hills echo all round；
and then； when he got his feet upon the shallows； rose dripping and
mountainous； a very cliff of black hide and limb against the night shine；
and with a single sweep of his antlers tore the webbing from me； who lay
prone and breathless in the mud； and； thinking it was his enemy； hurled the
limp bundle on the beach； and then； having pounded it with his cloven feet
into formless shreds； bellowed again victoriously and went off into the
dark… ness of the forests。
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CHAPTER IX
I landed； stiff enough as you will guess； but pleased to be on shore
again。 It was a melancholy neighbourhood of low islands； overgrown
with rank grass and bushes； salt water encircling them； and inside sandy
dunes and hummocks with shallow pools； gleaming ghostly in the
retreating daylight； while beyond these rose the black bosses of what
looked like a