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nostrils。 It was heavenly sweet yet withal there lurked an incredibly；
unexpressibly tempting spice of wickedness in it。 The moment he caught
that ambrosial invitation in the air my woodman spit fiercely on the
ground； and taking a plug of wool from his pouch stuffed his nostrils up。
Then he beckoned me to come away。 But the odour was too ravishing； I
was bound to see whence it arose； and finding me deaf to all warnings； the
man reluctantly turned aside down the enticing trail。 We pushed about a
hundred yards through bushes until we came to a little arena full in
sunshine where there were neither birds nor butterflies； but a death…like
hush upon everything。 Indeed； the place seemed shunned in spite of the
sodden loveliness of that scent which monopolised and mounted to my
brain until I was beginning to be drunk with the sheer pleasure of it。 And
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there in the centre of the space stood a plant not unlike a tree fern； about
six feet high； and crowned by one huge and lovely blossom。 It resembled
a vast passion…flower of incredible splendour。 There were four petals；
with points resting on the ground； each six feet long； ivory…white inside；
exquisitely patterned with glittering silver veins。 From the base of these
rose upright a gauzy veil of azure filaments of the same length as the
petals； wirelike； yet soft as silk； and inside them again rested a chalice of
silver holding a tiny pool of limpid golden honey。 Circe； indeed！ It was
from that cup the scent arose； and my throat grew dry with longing as I
looked at it； my eyes strained through the blue tendrils towards that liquid
nectar； and my giddy senses felt they must drink or die！ I glanced at the
woodman with a smile of drunken happiness； then turned tottering legs
towards the blossom。 A stride up the smooth causeway of white petals； a
push through the azure haze； and the wine of the wood enchantress would
be minemolten am… ber wine； hotter and more golden than the sunshine；
the fire of it was in my veins； the recklessness of intoxication was on me；
life itself as nothing compared to a sip from that chalice； my lips must
taste or my soul would die； and with trembling hand and strained face I
began to climb。
But the woodman pulled me back。
〃Back； stranger！〃 he cried。 〃Those who drink there never live again。〃
〃Blessed oblivion！ If I had a thousand lives the price were still too
cheap；〃 and once more I essayed to scramble up。
But the man was a big fellow； and with nostrils plugged； and eyes
averted from the deadly glamour； he seized me by the collar and threw me
back。 Three times I tried； three times he hurled me down； far too faint
and absorbed to heed the personal violence。 Then standing between us；
〃Look；〃 he said； 〃look and learn。〃
He had killed a small ape that morning； meaning later on to take its fur
for clothing； and this he now unslung from his shoulder； and hitching the
handle of his axe into the loose skin at the back of its neck； cautiously
advanced to the witch plant； and gently hoisted the monkey over the blue
palings。 The moment its limp； dead feet touched the golden pool a
shudder passed through the plant； and a bird some… where far back in the
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forest cried out in horror。 Quick as thought； a spasm of life shot up the
tendrils； and like tongues of blue flame they closed round the victim；
lapping his miserable body in their embrace。 At the same time the petals
began to rise； showing as they did so hard； leathery； un… lovely outer rinds；
and by the time the woodman was back at my side the flower was closed。
Closer and closer wound the blue tendrils； tighter and tighter closed
the cruel petals with their iron grip； until at last we heard the ape's bones
crackling like dry firewood； then next his head burst； his brains came
oozing through the crevices； while blood and entrails followed them
through every cranny； and the horrible mess with the overflow of the
chalice curled down the stem in a hundred steaming rills； till at last the
petals locked with an ugly snap upon their ghastly meal； and I turned away
from the sight in dread and loathing。
That was plant Number One。
Plant Number Two was of milder disposition； and won a hearty laugh
for my friendly woodman。 In fact； being of a childlike nature； his
success as a professor of botany quite pleased him； and not content with
answering my questions； he set to work to find new vegetable surprises；
greatly enjoying my wonder and the sense of importance it gave him。
In this way we came； later on in the day； to a spot where herbage was
somewhat scantier； the grass coarse； and soil shallow。 Here I espied a
tree of small size； apparently withered； but still bearing a few parched
leaves on its upper… most twigs。
〃Now that；〃 quoth the professor； 〃is a highly curious tree； and I should
like you to make a close acquaintance with it。 It grows from a seed in the
course of a single springtime； perishes in the summer； but a few specimens
stand through… out the winter； provided the situation is sheltered； as this
one has done。 If you will kindly go down and shake its stem I believe
you will learn something interesting。〃
So； very willing to humour him； away I went to the tree； which was
perfect in every detail； but apparently very dry； clasped it with both hands；
and； pulling myself to… gether； gave it a mighty shake。 The result was
instantaneous。 The whole thing was nothing but a skin of dust； whence all
fibre and sap had gone； and at my touch it dissolved into a cloud of
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powder； a huge puff of white dust which descended on me as though a
couple of flour…bags had been inverted over my head； and as I staggered
out sneez… ing and blinking； white as a miller from face to foot； the
Martian burst into a wild； joyous peal of laughter that made the woods ring
again。 His merriment was so sincere I had not the heart to be angry； and
soon laughed as loud as he did； though； for the future； I took his botanical
es… says with a little more caution。
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CHAPTER XIV
That woodman friend of mine proved so engaging it was difficult to
get away； and thus when； dusk upon us； and my object still a long distance
off； he asked me to spend the night at his hut； I gladly assented。
We soon reached the cabin where the man lived by himself whilst
working in the forest。 It was a picturesque little place on a tree…overhung
lagoon； thatched； wattled； and all about were piles of a pleasant…scented
bark； collected for the purpose of tanning hides； and I could not but marvel
that such a familiar process should be practised identically on two sides of
the universal ether。 But as a matter of fact the similarity of many details
of existence here and there was the most striking of the things I learned
whilst in the red planet。
Within the hut stood a hearth in the centre of the floor； whereon a
comfortable blaze soon sparkled； and upon the walls hung various
implements； hides； and a store of dried fruits of various novel kinds。 My
host； when he had somewhat disdainfully watched me wash in a rill of
water close by； suggested supper； and I agreed with heartiest good will。
〃Nothing wonderful！ Oh； Mr。 Blue…coat！〃 he said； pranc… ing about
as he made his hospitable arrangements。 〃No fine meat or scented wine
to unlock； one by one； all the doors of paradise； such as I have