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were rows of objects； likelikewhy； good Heavens； they were like men
and women in all sorts of strange postures and positions！ Rubbing my eyes
and looking again I perceived with a start and a strange creepy feeling
down my back that they WERE men and women！hundreds of them；
thousands； all in rows as cormorants stand upon sea…side cliffs； myriads
and myriads now I looked about； in every conceivable pose and attitude
but never a sound； never a movement amongst the vast concourse。
Then I turned back to the cliffs behind me。 Yes！ they ere there too；
dimmer by reason of the shadows； but there for certain； from the
snowfields far above down； downgood Heavens！ to the very level where
I stood。 There was one of them not ten yards away half in and half out of
the ice wall； and setting my teeth I walked over and examined him。 And
there was another further in behind as I peered into the clear blue depth；
another behind that one； another behind himjust like cherries in a jelly。
It was startling and almost incredible； yet so many wonderful things
had happened of late that wonders were losing their sharpness； and I was
soon examining the cliff almost as coolly as though it were only some
trivial geo… logical 〃section；〃 some new kind of petrified sea…urchins
which had caught my attention and not a whole nation in ice； a huge
amphitheatre of fossilised humanity which stared down on me。
The matter was simple enough when you came to look at it with
philosophy。 The Martians had sent their dead down here for many
thousand years and as they came they were frozen in； the bands and zones
in which they sat indicating perhaps alternating seasons。 Then after
Nature had been storing them like that for long ages some up… heaval
happened； and this cleft and lake opened through the heart of the preserve。
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Probably the river once ran far up there where the starlight was crowning
the blue cliffs with a silver diadem of light； only when this hollow opened
did it slowly deepen a lower course； spreading out in a lake； and
eventually tumbling down those icy steps lose itself in the dark roots of
the hills。 It was very simple； no doubt； but incredibly weird and
wonderful to me who stood； the sole living thing in that immense
concourse of dead humanity。
Look where I would it was the same everywhere。 Those endless
rows of frozen bodies lying； sitting； or standing stared at me from every
niche and cornice。 It almost seemed； as the light veered slowly round； as
though they smiled and frowned at times； but never a word was there
amongst those millions； the silence itself was audible； and save the dull
low thunder of the fall； so monotonous the ear be… came accustomed to
and soon disregarded it； there was not a sound anywhere； not a rustle； not
a whisper broke the eternal calm of that great caravansary of the dead。
The very rattle of the shingle under my feet and the jingle of my navy
scabbard seemed offensive in the perfect hush； and； too awed to be
frightened； I presently turned away from the dreadful shine of those cliffs
and felt my way along the base of the wall on my own side。 There was
no means of escape that way； and presently the shingle beach itself gave
out as stated； where the cliff wall rose straight from the surface of the lake；
so I turned back； and finding a grotto in the ice determined to make myself
as comfortable as might be until daylight came。
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CHAPTER XII
Fortunately there was a good deal of broken timber thrown up at
〃high…water〃 mark； and with a stack of this at the mouth of the little cave a
pleasant fire was soon made by help of a flint pebble and the steel back of
my sword。 It was a hearty blaze and lit up all the near cliffs with a ruddy
jumping glow which gave their occu… pants a marvellous appearance of
life。 The heat also brought off the dull rime upon the side of my recess；
leaving it clear as polished glass； and I was a little startled to see； only an
inch or so back in the ice and standing as erect as ever he had been in life；
the figure of an imposing grey clad man。 His arms were folded； his chin
dropped upon his chest； his robes of the finest stuff； the very flowers they
had decked his head with frozen with immortality； and under them； round
his crisp and iron…grey hair； a simple band of gold with strange runes and
figures engraved upon it。
There was something very simple yet stately about him； though his
face was hidden and as I gazed long and in… tently the idea got hold of me
that he had been a king over an undegenerate Martian race； and had stood
waiting for the Dawn a very； very long time。
I wished a little that he had not been quite so near the glassy surface of
the ice down which the warmth was bringing quick moisture drops。 Had
he been back there in the blue depths where others were sitting and
crouching it would have been much more comfortable。 But I was a sailor；
and misfortune makes strange companions； so I piled up the fire again； and
lying down presently on the dry shingle with my back to him stared
moodily at the blaze till slowly the fatigues of the day told； my eyelids
dropped and； with many a fitful start and turn； at length I slept。
It was an hour before dawn； the fire had burnt low and I was dreaming
of an angry discussion with my tailor in New York as to the sit of my last
new trousers when a faint sound of moving shingle caught my quick
seaman ear； and before I could raise my head or lift a hand； a man's weight
was on mea heavy； strong man who bore me down with irresistible force。
I felt the slap of his ice…cold hand upon my throat and his teeth in the back
of my neck！ In an instant； though but half awake； with a yell of surprise
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and anger I grappled with the enemy； and exerting all my strength rolled
him over。 Over and over we went struggling to… wards the fire； and when
I got him within a foot or so of it I came out on top； and； digging my
knuckles into his throttle； banged his head upon the stony floor in reckless
rage； until all of a sudden it seemed to me he was done for。 I relaxed my
grip； but the other man never moved。 I shook him again； like a terrier
with a rat； but he never resented it。 Had I killed him？ How limp and cold
he was！ And then all of a sudden an uneasy feeling came upon me。 I
reached out； and throwing a handful of dried stuff upon the embers the fire
danced gaily up into the air； and the blaze showed me I was savagely
holding down to the gravel and kneeling on the chest of that long…dead
king from my grotto wall！
It was the man out of the ice without a doubt。 There was the very
niche he had fallen from under the influence of the fire heat； the very
recess； exactly in his shape in every detail； whence he had stood gazing
into vacuity all those years。 I left go my hold； and after the flutter in my
heart had gone down； apologetically set him up against the wall of the
cavern whence he had fallen； then built up the fire until twirling flames
danced to the very roof in the blue light of dawn； and hobgoblin shadows
leapt and capered about us。 Then once more I sat down on the opposite
side of the blaze； resting my chin upon my hands； and stared into the
frozen eyes of that grim stranger； who； with his chin upon his knees； stared
back at me with irresistible； remorseless steadfastness。
He was as fresh as if he had died but yesterday； yet by his clothing and
something in his appearan