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broaden into lesser suns； and even the thick leafage brighten and shine
down on me with a soft sea…green radiance。 The sunward sides of the
tree…stems took a glow； and the dew that ran dripping down their mossy
sides trickled blood…red to earth。 Else… where the shadows were still
black； and strange things began to move in themthings we in our middle…
aged world have never seen the likeness of： beasts half birds； birds half
creeping things； and creeping things which it seemed to me passed through
lesser creations down to the basest life that crawls without interruption or
division。
It was not for me； a sailor； to know much of such things； yet some I
could not fail to notice。 On one grey branch overhead； jutting from a
tree…stem where a patch of velvet moss made in the morning glint a fairy
bed； a won… derful flower unfolded。 It was a splendid bud； ivory white；
cushioned in leaves； and secured to its place by naked white roots that
clipped the branch like fingers of a lady's hand。 Even as I looked it opened；
a pale white star； and hung pensive and inviting on its mossy cushion。
From it came such a ravishing odour that even I； at the further end of the
great scale of life； felt my pulses quicken and my eyes brighten with
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cupidity。 I was in the very act of climbing the tree； but before I could
move hand or foot two things happened； whether you take my word for
them or no。
Firstly； up through a glade in the underwood； attracted by the odour；
came an ugly brown bird with a capacious beak and shining claws。 He
perched near by； and peeped and peered until he made out the flower
pining on her virgin stem； whereat off he hopped to her branch and there；
with a cynical chuckle； strutted to and fro between her and the main stem
like an ill genius guarding a fairy princess。
Surely Heaven would not allow him to tamper with so chaste a bud！
My hand reached for a stone to throw at him when happened the second
thing。 There came a gentle pat upon the woodland floor； and from a tree
overhead dropped down another living plant like to the one above yet not
exactly similar； a male； my instincts told me； in full sol… itary blossom like
her above； cinctured with leaves； and supported by half a score of thick
white roots that worked； as I looked； like the limbs of a crab。 In a
twinkling that parti…coloured gentleman vegetable near me was off to the
stem upon which grew his lady love； running and scram… bling； dragging
the finery of his tasselled petals behind； it was laughable to watch his
eagerness。 He got a grip of the tree and up he went； 〃hand over hand；〃
root over root。 I had just time to note others of his species had dropped
here and there upon the ground； and were hurry… ing with frantic haste to
the same destination when he reached the fatal branch； and was straddling
victoriously down it； blind to all but love and longing。 That ill…omened
bird who stood above the maiden…flower let him come within a stalk's
length； so near that the white splendour of his sleeping lady gleamed
within arms' reach； then the great beak was opened； the great claws made a
clutch； the gal… lant's head was yanked from his neck； and as it went
tumbling down the maw of the feathered thing his white legs fell spinning
through space； and lay knotting them… selves in agony upon the ground for
a minute or two before they relaxed and became flaccid in the repose of
death。 An… other and another vegetable suitor made for that fatal tryst；
and as each came up the snap of the brown bird's beak was all their
obsequies。 At last no more came； and then that Nemesis of claws and
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quills walked over to the girl…flower； his stomach feathers ruffled with
repletion； the green blood of her lovers dripping from his claws； and
pulled her golden heart out； tore her white limbs one from the other； and
swallowed her piecemeal before my very eyes！ Then up in wrath I
jumped and yelled at him till the woods echoed； but too late to stay his
sacrilege。
By this time the sun was bathing everything in splendour； and turning
away from the wonders about me； I set off at best pace along the well…
trodden path which led without turning to the west coast village where the
canoes were。
It proved far closer than expected。 As a matter of fact the forest in
this direction grew right down to the water's edge； the salt…loving trees
actually overhanging the wavesone of the pleasantest sights in nature
and thus I came right out on top of the hamlet before there had been an
indication of its presence。 It occupied two sides of a pretty little bay； the
third side being flat land given over to the cultivation of an enormous
species of gourd whose characteristic yellow flowers and green； succulent
leaves were discernible even at this distance。
I branched off along the edge of the surf and down a dainty little
flowery path； noticing meanwhile how the whole bay was filled by
hundreds of empty canoes； while scores of others were drawn up on the
strand； and then the first thing I chanced upon was a group of people
youthful； of course； with the eternal Martian bloomand in the splendid
simplicity of almost complete nakedness。 My first idea was that they
were bathing； and fixing my eyes on the tree…tops with great propriety； I
gave a warning cough。 At that sound instead of getting to cover； or
clothes； all started up and stood staring for a time like a herd of startled
cattle。 It was highly embarrassing； they were right in the path； a round
dozen of them； naked and so little ashamed that when I edged away
modestly they began to run after me。 And the farther they came forward
the more I retired； till we were playing a kind of game of hide…and…seek
round the tree…stems。 In the middle of it my heel caught in a root and
down I went very hard and very ignominiously； whereon those laughing；
light…hearted folk rushed in； and with smiles and jests helped me to my
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feet。
〃Was I the traveller who had come from Seth？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh； then that was well。 They had heard such a traveller was on the
road； and had come a little way down the path； as far as might be without
fatigue； to meet him。〃
〃Would I eat with them？〃 these amiable strangers asked； pushing their
soft warm fingers into mine and ringing me round with a circle。 〃But
firstly might they help me out of my clothes？ It was hot； and these things
were cumber… some。〃 As to the eating； I was agreeable enough seeing
how casual meals had been with me lately； but my clothes； though Heaven
knows they were getting horribly ragged and travel…stained； I clung to
desperately。
My new friends shrugged their dimpled shoulders and； arguments
being tedious； at once squatted round me in the dappled shade of a big tree
and produced their stores of never failing provisions。 After a pleasant
little meal taken thus in the open and with all the simplicity Martians de…
light in； we got to talking about those yellow canoes which were bobbing
about on the blue waters of the bay。
〃Would you like to see where they are grown？〃 asked an individual
basking by my side。
〃Grown！〃 I answered with incredulity。 〃Built； you mean。 Never in
my life did I hear of growing boats。〃
〃But then； sir；〃 observed the girl as she sucked the honey out of the
stalk of an azure convolvulus flower and threw the remains at a butterfly
that sailed across the s