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know her as yet by sympathy。〃
〃What if I said it was Heru； the princess？〃
The Martian girl sprang to her feet； and clasping her hands exclaimed；
〃Heru； the Slender！ Then the end comes； for it is written in our
books that the last tribute is paid when the best is paid。 Oh； how splendid
if she gave herself of free will to this slavery to end it once for all。 Was it
so？〃
〃I think； Si； your princess could not have known of that tradition； she
did not come willingly。 Besides； I am come to fetch her back； if it may
be； and that spoils the look of sacrifice。〃
〃You to fetch her back； and from Ar…hap's arms？ My word； Sir Spirit；
you must know some potent charms； or； what is less likely； my
countrymen must have amazingly improved in pluck since I left them。
Have you a great army at hand？〃
But I only shook my head； and； touching my sword； said that here was
the only army coming to rescue Heru。 Whereon the lady replied that she
thought my valour did me more honour than my discretion。 How did I
propose to take the princess from her captors？
〃To tell the truth； damsel； that is a matter which will have to be left to
your invention； or the kindness of such as you。 I am here on a hare…
brained errand； playing knight… errant in a way that shocks my common
sense。 But since the matter has gone so far I will see it through； or die in
the attempt。 Your bully lord shall either give me Heru； stock； lock； and
block； or hang me from a yard…arm。 But I would rather have the lady。
Come； you will help me； and； as a beginning； if she is in yonder shanty get
me speech with her。〃
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Poor Si's eyes dilated at the peril of the suggestion； and I saw the
sluggish Martian nature at war against her better feelings。 But presently
the latter conquered。 〃I will try；〃 she said。 〃What matter a few stripes
more or less？〃 pointing to her rosy shoulders where red scars crisscross
upon one an… other showed how the Martian girls fared in Ar…hap's palace
when their novelty wore off。 〃I will try to help you； and if they kill me
for itwhy； that will not matter much。〃 And forthwith in that blazing
forenoon under the flickering shadow of the trees we put our heads
together to see what we might do for Heru。
It was not much for the moment。 Try what we would that afternoon；
I could not persuade those who had charge of the princess to let me even
approach her place of im… prisonment； but Si； as a woman； was more
successful； actually seeing her for a few moments； and managed to
whisper in her ear that I had come； the Spirit…with…the…gold…buttons…
down…his front； afterwards describing to me in flowing Mar… tian imagery…
…but doubtless not more highly coloured than poor Heru's emotion
warrantedhow delightedly that lady had received the news。
Si also did me another service； presenting me to the porter's wife； who
kept a kind of boarding…house at the gates of Ar…hap's palace for
gentlemen and ladies with grievances。 I had heard of lobbying before；
and the pre… sentation of petitions； though I had never indulged myself in
the pastime； but the crowd of petitioners here； with petitions as wild and
picturesque as their own motley ap… pearances； was surely the strangest
that ever gathered round a seat of supreme authority。
Si whispered in the ear of that good woman the nature of my errand；
with doubtless some blandishment of her own； and my errand being one so
much above the vulgar and so nearly touching the sovereign； I was at once
ac… corded a separate room in the gate…house； whence I could look down in
comparative peace on the common herd of suitors； and listen to the buzz
of their invective as they practised speeches which I calculated it would
take Ar…hap all the rest of his reign to listen to； without allowing him any
time for pronouncing verdicts on them。
Here I made myself comfortable； and awaited the return of the
sovereign as placidly as might be。 Meanwhile fate was playing into my
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feeble hands。
I have said it was hot weather。 At first this seemed but an outcome of
the Martian climate； but as the hours went by the heat developed to an
incredible extent。 Also that red glare previously noted in the west grew
in intensity； till； as the hours slipped by； all the town was staring at it in
panting horror。 I have seen a prairie on fire； luckily from the far side of a
comfortably broad river； and have ridden through a pine… forest when
every tree for miles was an uplifted torch； and pungent yellow smoke
rolled down each corrie side in grey rivers crested with dancing flame。
But that Martian glare was more sombre and terrible than either。
〃What is it？〃 I asked of poor Si； who came out gasping to speak to me
by the gate…house。
〃None of us know； and unless the gods these Thither folk believe in
are angry； and intend to destroy the world with yonder red sword in the
sky； I cannot guess。 Perhaps；〃 she added； with a sudden flash of
inspiration； 〃it comes by your machinations for Heru's help。〃
〃No！〃
〃If not by your wish； then； in the name of all you love； set your wish
against it。 If you know any incantations suitable for the occasion； oh；
practise them now at once； for look； even the very grass is withering； birds
are dropping from trees； fishes； horribly bloated； are beginning to float
down the steaming rills； and I； with all others； have a nameless dread upon
me。〃
Hotter and hotter it grew； until about sunset the red blaze upon the sky
slowly opened； and showed us for about half an hour； through the opening
a lurid； flame…coloured meteor far out in space beyond； then the cleft
closed again； and through that abominable red curtain came the very
breath of Hades。
What was really happening I am not astronomer enough to say； though
on cooler consideration I have come to the conclusion that our planet； in
going out to its summer pastures in the remoter fields of space； had
somehow come across a wandering lesser world and got pretty well singed
in passing。 This is purely my own opinion； and I have not yet submitted
it to the kindly authorities of the Lick Obser… vatory for verification。 All
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I can say for certain is that in an incredibly short space of time the face of
the country changed from green to sear； flowers drooped； streams （there
were not many in the neighbourhood apparently） dried up； fishes died； a
mighty thirst there was nothing to quench set… tled down on man and beast；
and we all felt that unless Providence listened to the prayers and
imprecations which the whole town set to work with frantic zeal to hurl at
it； or that abominable comet in the sky sheered off on another tack with
the least possible delay； we should all be re… duced to cinders in a very
brief space of time。
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CHAPTER XVII
The evening of the second day had already come； when Ar…hap arrived
home after weekending amongst a tribe of rebellious subjects。 But any
imposing State entry which might have been intended was rendered
impossible by the heat and the threat of that baleful world in the western
sky。
It was a lurid but disordered spectacle which I wit… nessed from my
room in the gate…house just after nightfall。 The returning army had
apparently fallen away exhausted on its march through the town； only
some three hundred of the bodyguard s