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else； but its effect was wonderful。 At the first touch of that turgid stuff a
shiver of delight passed through the drowsy lady。 At the second she gave
a sigh； and her hand tightened on my arm。 I fetched another crockful；
and by the flickering light rocking to and fro in the sky； took her head
upon my shoulder； like a prodigal new come into riches； squandering the
stuff； giving her to drink and bathing face and neck till presently； to my
delight； the princess's eyes opened。 Then she sat up； and taking the basin
from me drank as never lady drank before； and soon was almost her… self
again。
I went out into the portico； there snuffing the deep； strong breath of the
fragrant black earth receiving back into its gaping self what the last few
days had taken from it； while quick succeeding thoughts of escape and
flight passed across my brain。 All through the fiery time we had just had
the chance of escaping with the fair booty yonder had been present。
Without her； flight would have been easy enough； but that was not worth
considering for a moment。 With her it was more difficult； yet； as I had
watched the wood… men； accustomed to cool forest shades； faint under the
fiery glare of the world above； to make a dash for liberty seemed each
hour more easy。 I had seen the men in the streets drop one by one； and
the spears fall from the hands of guards about the pallisades； I had seen
messengers who came to and fro collapse before their errands were
accomplished； and the forest women； who were Heru's gaolers； groan and
drop across the thresholds of her prison； until at length the way was clear
a babe might have taken what he would from that half…scorched town and
asked no man's leave。 Yet what did it avail me？ Heru was helpless； my
own spirit burnt in a nerveless frame； and so we stayed。
But with rain strength came back to both of us。 The guards； lying
about like black logs； were only slowly re… turning to consciousness； the
town still slept； and darkness favoured； before they missed us in the
morning light we might be far on the way back to Setha dangerous way
truly； but we were like to tread a rougher one if we stayed。 In fact； directly
my strength returned with the cooler air； I made up my mind to the venture
and went to Heru； who by this time was much recovered。 To her I
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whispered my plot； and that gentle lady； as was only natural； trembled at
its dangers。 But I put it to her that no time could be better than the
present： the storm was going over； morning would 〃line the black mantle
of the night with a pink dawn of promise〃； before any one stirred we
might be far off； shaping a course by our luck and the stars for her kindred；
at whose name she sighed。 If we stayed； I argued； and the king changed
his mind； then death for me； and for Heru the arms of that surly monarch；
and all the rest of her life caged in these pallisades amongst the uncouth
forms about us。
The lady gave a frightened little shiver at the picture； but after a
moment； laying her head upon my shoulder； an… swered； 〃Oh； my guardian
spirit and helper in adversity； I too have thought of tomorrow； and doubt
whether that horror； that great swine who has me； will not invent an
excuse for keeping me。 Therefore； though the forest roads are dread… ful；
and Seth very far away； I will come； I give myself into your hands。 Do
what you will with me。〃
〃Then the sooner the better； princess。 How soon can you be
prepared？〃
She smiled； and stooping picked up her slippers； saying as she did so；
〃I am ready！〃
There were no arrangements to be made。 Every instant was of value。
So； to be brief； I threw a dark cloak over the damsel's shoulders； for indeed
she was clad in little more than her loveliness and the gauziest filaments of
a Hither girl's underwear； and hand in hand led her down the log steps；
over the splashing； ankle…deep courtyard； and into the shadows of the
gateway beyond。
Down the slope we went； along towards the harbour； through a score
of deserted lanes where nothing was to be heard but the roar of rain and
the lapping of men and beasts； drinking in the shadows as though they
never would stop； and so we came at last unmolested to the wharf。 There
I hid royal Seth between two piles of merchandise； and went to look for a
boat suitable to our needs。 There were plenty of small craft moored to
rings along the quay； and selecting a canoeit was no time to stand on
niceties of property easily managed by a single paddle； I brought it round
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to the steps； put in a fresh water…pot； and went for the princess。
With her safely stowed in the prow； a helpless； sodden little morsel of
feminine loveliness； things began to appear more hopeful and an escape
down to blue water； my only idea； for the first time possible。 Yet I must
needs go and well nigh spoil everything by over…solicitude for my charge。
Had we pushed off at once there can be no doubt my credit as a spirit
would have been established for all time in the Thither capital； and the
belief universally held that Heru had been wafted away by my
enchantment to the regions of the unknown。 The idea would have
gradually grown into a tradition； receiving embellishments in succeeding
gen… erations； until little wood children at their mother's knees came to
listen in awe to the story of how； once upon a time； the Sun…god loved a
beautiful maiden； and drove his fiery chariot across the black night…fields
to her prison door； scorch… ing to death all who strove to gainsay him。
How she flew into his arms and drove away before all men's eyes； in his
red car； into the west； and was never seen againthe foresaid Sun…god
being I； Gulliver Jones； a much under… paid lieutenant in the glorious
United States navy； with a packet of overdue tailors' bills in my pocket；
and nothing lovable about me save a partiality for meddling with other
people's affairs。
This is how it might have been； but I spoiled a pretty fairy story and
changed the whole course of Martian history by going back at that
moment in search of a wrap for my prize。 Right on top of the steps was a
man with a lantern； and half a glance showed me it was the harbour master
met with on my first landing。
〃Good evening；〃 he said suspiciously。 〃May I ask what you are
doing on the quay at such an hour as this？〃
〃Doing？ Oh； nothing in particular； just going out for a little fishing。〃
〃And your companion the ladyis she too fond of fishing？〃
I swore between my teeth； but could not prevent the fel… low walking
to the quay edge and casting his light full upon the figure of the girl below。
I hate people who interfere with other people's business！
〃Unless I am very much mistaken your fishing friend is the Hither
woman brought here a few days ago as tribute to Ar…hap。〃
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〃Well；〃 I answered； getting into a nice temper； for I had been very
much harrassed of late； 〃put it at that。 What would you do if it were so？〃
〃Call up my rain…drunk guards； and give you in charge as a thief
caught meddling with the king's property。〃
〃Thanks； but as my interviews with Ar…hap have al… ready begun to
grow tedious； we will settle this little matter here between ourselves at
once。〃 And without more to…do I closed with him。 There was a brief
scuffle and then I got in a blow upon his jaw which sent the harbour
master flying back head ov