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husky greeting。
But slower and slower came the dripping water； more and more
intolerable the heat。 At last I could stand it no longer。 What purpose
did it serve to lay gasping like this； dying cruelly without a hope of rescue；
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when a shorter way was at my side？ I had not drank for a day and a half。
I was past active reviling； my head swam； my reason was clouded。 No！ I
would not stand it any longer。 Once more I would take Heru and poor Si
the cup that was but a mockery after all； then fix my sword into the ground
and try what next the Fates had in store for me。
So once again the leathern mug was fetched and carried through the
prostrate guards to where the Martian girl lay； like a withered flower； upon
her couch。 Once again I moistened those fair lips； while my own tongue
was black and swollen in my throat； then told Si； who had had none all the
afternoon； to drink half and leave half for Heru。 Poor Si put her aching
lips to the cup and tilted it a little； then passed it to her mistress。 And
Heru drank it all； and Si cried a few hot tears behind her hands； FOR SHE
HAD TAKEN NONE； and she knew it was her life！
Again picking a way through the courtyard； scarce notic… ing how the
beasts lifted their heads as I passed； I went instinctively； cup in hand； to
the well； and then hesitated。 Was I a coward to leave Heru so？ Ought I
not to stay and see it out to the bitter end？ Well； I would compound with
Fate。 I would give the malicious gods one more chance。 I would put the
cup down again； and until seven drops had fallen into it I would wait。
That there might be no mistake about it； no sooner was the mug in place
under the nozzle wherefrom the moisture beads collected and fell with
infinite slowness； than my sword； on which I meant to throw my… self； was
bared and the hilt forced into a gaping crack in the ground； and sullenly
contented to leave my fate so； I sat down beside it。
I turned grimly to the spout and saw the first drop fall； then another；
and another later on； but still no help came。 There was a long rift in the
clouds now； and a glare like that from an open furnace door was upon me。
I had noticed when I came to the spring how the comet which was killing
us hung poised exactly upon the point of a dis… tant hill。 If he had passed
his horrible meridian； if he was going from us； if he sunk but a hair's
breadth before that seventh drop should fall； I could tell it would mean
salvation。
But the fourth drop fell； and he was big as ever。 The fifth drop fell；
and a hot； pleasing nose was thrust into my hand； and looking down I saw
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a grey wolf had dragged herself across the court and was asking with
eloquent eyes for the help I could not give。 The sixth drop gathered； and
fell； already the seventh was like a seedling pearl in its place。 The dying
wolf yanked affectionately at my hand； but I put her by and undid my
tunic。 Big and bright that drop hung to the spout lip； another minute and
it would fall。 A beauti… ful drop； I laughed； peering closely at it； many…
coloured； prismatic； flushing red and pink； a tiny living ruby； hanging by a
touch to the green rim above； enough！ enough！ The quiver of an eyelash
would unhinge it now； and angry with the life I already felt was behind me；
and turning in defiant expectation to the new to come； I rose； saw the red
gleam of my sword jutting like a fiery spear from the cracking soil where I
had planted it； then looked once more at the drop and glanced for the last
time at the sullen red terror on the hill。
Were my eyes dazed； my senses reeling？ I said a space ago that the
meteor stood exactly on the mountain…top and if it sunk a hair's breadth I
should note it； and now； why； there WAS a flaw in its lower margin； a
flattening of the great red foot that before had been round and perfect。 I
turned my smarting eyes away a minute；saw the seventh drop fall with a
melodious tingle into the cup； then back again； there was no mistakethe
truant fire was a fraction less； it had shrunk a fraction behind the hill even
since I looked； and thereon all my life ran back into its channels； the world
danced before me； and 〃Heru！〃 I shouted hoarsely； reeling back towards
the palace； 〃Heru； 'tis well； the worst is past！〃
But the little princess was unconscious； and at her feet was poor Si；
quite dead； still reclining with her head in her hands just as I had left her。
Then my own senses gave out； and dropping down by them I remembered
no more。
I must have lain there an hour or two； for when con… sciousness came
again it was nightblack； cool； profound night； with an inky sky low down
upon the tree…tops； and out of it such a glorious deluge of rain descending
swiftly and silently as filled my veins even to listen to。 Eagerly I
shuffled away to the porch steps； down them into the swimming courtyard；
and ankle…deep in the glorious flood； set to work lapping furiously at the
first puddle； drinking with gasps of pleasure； gasping and drinking again；
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feeling my body filling out like the thirsty steaming earth below me。
Then； as I still drank insatiably； there came a gleam of lightning out of the
gloom overhead； a brilliant yellow blaze； and by it I saw a few yards away
a panther drinking at the same pool as myself； his gleaming eyes low
down like mine upon the water； and by his side two apes； the black water
running in at their gaping mouths； while out beyond were more pools；
more drinking animals。 Everything was drinking。 I saw their outlined
forms； the gleam shining on wet skins as though they were cut out in silver
against the darkness； each beast steaming like a volcano as the Heaven…
sent rain smoked from his fevered hide； all drinking for their lives；
heedless of aught elseand then came the thunder。
It ran across the cloudy vault as though the very sky were being ripped
apart； rolling in mighty echoes here and there before it died away。 As it
stopped； the rain also fell less heavily for a minute； and as I lay with my
face low down I heard the low； contented lapping of numberless tongues
unceasing； insatiable。 Then came the lightning again； lighting up
everything as though it were daytime。 The twin black apes were still
drinking； but the panther across the puddle had had enough； I saw him lift
his grateful head up to the flare； saw the limp red tongue licking the black
nose； the green eyes shining like opals； the water dripping in threads of
diamonds from the hairy tag under his chin and every tuft upon his chest
then darkness again。
To and fro the green blaze rocked between the thunder crashes。 It
struck a house a hundred yards away； stripping every shingle from the roof
better than a master builder could in a week。 It fell a minute after on a
tall tree by the courtyard gate； and as the trunk burst into white splin… ters I
saw every leaf upon the feathery top turn light side up against the violet
reflection in the sky beyond； and then the whole mass came down to earth
with a thud that crushed the courtyard palings into nothing for twenty
yards and shook me even across the square。
Another time I might have stopped to marvel or to watch； as I have
often watched with sympathetic pleasure； the gods thus at play； but tonight
there were other things on hand。 When I had drunk； I picked up an earthen
crock； filled it； and went to Heru。 It was a rough drinking…vessel for
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those dainty lips； and an indifferent draught； being as much mud as aught
else； but its effect was wonderful。 At the first touch of that turgid stuff a
shiver of delight passed throug