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He was as fresh as if he had died but yesterday； yet by his clothing and
something in his appearance； which was not that of the Martian of to…day；
I knew he might be many thousand years old。 What things he had seen；
what wonders he knew！ What a story might be put into his mouth if I
were a capable writer gifted with time and imagination instead of a poor
outcast； ill…paid lieutenant whose literary wit is often taxed hardly to fill
even a log… book entry！ I stared at him so long and hard； and he at me
through the blinking flames； that again I dozedand dozed and dozed
again until at last when I woke in good earnest it was daylight。
By this time hunger was very aggressive。 The fire was naught but a
circlet of grey ashes； the dead king； still sitting against the cave…side；
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looked very blue and cold； and with an uncomfortable realisation of my
position I shook myself together； picked up and pocketed without much
thought the queer gold circlet that had dropped from his forehead； and
went outside to see what prospect of escape the new day had brought。
It was not much。 Upriver there was not the remotest chance。 Not
even a Niagara steamer could have forged back against the sluice coming
down from the gulch there。 Looking round； the sides of the icy
amphitheatrejust lighting up now with glorious gold and crimson
glimmers of morningwere as steep as a wall face； only back towards the
falls was there a possibility of getting out of the dreadful trap； so thither I
went； after a last look at the poor old king； along my narrow beach with all
the eagerness begotten of a final chance。 Up to the very brink it looked
hopeless enough； but； looking downwards when that was reached； instead
of a sheer drop the slope seemed to be a wild 〃staircase〃 of rocks and icy
ledges with here and there a little patch of sand on a cornice； and far below；
five hundred feet or so； a good big spread of gravel an acre or two in
extent close by where the river plunged out of sight into the nethermost
cavern mouth。
It was so hopeless up above it； it could not possibly be worse further
down； and there was the ugly black flood running into the hole to trust
myself to as a last resource； so slipping and sliding I began the descent。
Had I been a schoolboy with a good breakfast ahead the incident might
have been amusing enough。 The travel… ling was mostly done on the seat
of my trousers； which consequently became caked with mud and glacial
loam。 Some was accomplished on hands and knees； with now and then a
bit down a snow slope； in good； honest head…over… heels fashion。 The
result was a fine appetite for the next meal when it should please
providence to send it； and an abrupt arrival on the bottom beach about five
minutes after leaving the upper circles。
I came to behind a cluster of breast…high rocks； and before moving
took a look round。 Judge then of my as… tonishment and delight at the
second glance to perceive about a hundred yards away a brown object；
looking like an ape in the half light； meandering slowly up the margin of
the water towards me。 Every now and then it stopped； stooping down to
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pick up something or other from the scum along the torrent； and it was the
fact that these trifles； whatever they were； were put into a wallet by the
vision's sidenot into his mouthwhich first made me understand with a
joyful thrill that it was a MAN before mea real； living man in this huge
chamber of dead horrors！ Then again it flashed across my mind in a
luminous moment that where one man could come； or go； or live； another
could do likewise； and never did cat watch mouse with more con…
centrated eagerness than I that quaint； bent…shouldered thing hobbling
about in the blue morning shadows where all else was silence。
Nearer and nearer he came； till so close face and garb were discernible；
and then there could no longer be any doubt； it was a woodman； an old
man； with grizzled monkey…face； stooping gait； and a shaggy fur cloak；
utterly unlike the airy garments of my Hither folk； who now stood before
me。 It gave me quite a start to recognise him there； for it showed I was in
a new land； and since he was going so cheerfully about his business；
whatever it might chance to be； there must be some way out of this
accursed pit in which I had fallen。 So very cautiously I edged out； taking
advantage of all the cover possible until we were only twenty yards apart；
and then suddenly standing up； and putting on the most affable smile； I
called out
〃Hullo； mess…mate！〃
The effect was electrical。 That quaint old fellow sprang a yard into
air as though a spring had shot him up。 Then； coming down； he stood
transfixed at his full height as stiff as a ramrod； staring at me with
incredible wonder。 He looked so funny that in spite of hunger and
loneliness I burst out laughing； whereat the woodman； suddenly
recovering his senses； turned on his heels and set off at his best pace in the
opposite direction。 This would never do！ I wanted him to be my guide；
philosopher； and friend。 He was my sole visible link with the outside
world； so after him I went at tip…top speed； and catching him up in fifty
yards along the shingle laid hold of his nether garments。 Whereat the old
fellow stopping suddenly I shot clean over his back； coming down on my
shoulder in the gravel。
But I was much younger than he； and in a minute was in chase again。
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This time I laid hold of his cloak； and the moment he felt my grip he
slipped the neck…thongs and left me with only the mangy garment in my
hands。 Again we set off； dodging and scampering with all our might
upon that frozen bit of beach。 The activity of that old fellow was
marvellous； but I could not and would not lose him。 I made a rush and
grappled him； but he tossed his head round and slipped away once more
under my arm； as though he had been brought up by a Chinese wrestler。
Then he got on one side of a flat rock； I the other； and for three or four
minutes we waltzed round that slab in the most insane manner。
But by this time we were both pretty well spenthe with age and I
with faintness from my long fast； and we came presently to a standstill。
After glaring at me for a time； the woodman gasped out as he
struggled for breath
〃Oh； mighty and dreadful spirit！ Oh； dweller in pri… mordial ice； say
from which niche of the cliffs has the breath of chance thawed you？〃
〃Never a niche at all； Mr。 Hunter…for…Haddocks'…Eyes；〃 I answered as
soon as I could speak。 〃I am just a castaway wrecked last night on this
shore of yours； and very grateful indeed will I be if you can show me the
way to some breakfast first； and afterwards to the outside world。〃
But the old fellow would not believe。 〃Spirits such as you；〃 he said
sullenly； 〃need no food； and go whither they will by wish alone。〃
〃I tell you I am not a spirit； and as hungry as I don't particularly want
to be again。 Here； look at the back of my trousers； caked three inches
deep in mud。 If I were a spirit； do you think I would slide about on my
coat…tails like that？ Do you think that if I could travel by volition I would
slip down these infernal cliffs on my pants' seat as I have just done？ And
as for materialismlook at this fist； it punched you just now！ Surely
there was nothing spiritual in that knock？''
〃No；〃 said the savage； rubbing his head； 〃it was a good； honest rap； so
I must take you at your word。