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straight towards us！ Then my heart was bitter within me； and I tasted of
defeat； even with Heru in my arms。 Luckily even in that moment of
agony I kept still； and another peep showed the men were now wandering
about rather aimlessly。 Perhaps after all they did not know of our nearness？
Then they took to horseplay； as idle soldiers will even in Mars； pelting
each other with bits of wood and dead fish； and thereon I breathed again。
Nearer they came and nearer； my heart beating fast as they strolled
amongst the boats until they were actually 〃larking〃 round the one next to
ours。 A minute or two of this； and another footstep crunched on the
pebbles； a quick； nervous one； which my instinct told me was that of our
returning friend。
〃Hullo old sprat…catcher！ Going for a sail？〃 called out a soldier； and I
knew that the group were all round our boat； Heru trembling so violently
in my breast that I thought she would make the vessel shake。
〃Yes；〃 said the man gruffly。
〃Let's go with him；〃 cried several voices。 〃Here； old dried haddock；
will you take us if we help haul your nets for you？〃
〃No； I won't。 Your ugly faces would frighten all the fish out of the
sea。〃
〃And yours； you old chunk of dried mahogany； is meant to attract them
no doubt。〃
〃Let's tie him to a post and go fishing in his boat ourselves；〃 some one
suggested。 Meanwhile two of them began rocking the cobble violently
from side to side。 This was awful； and every moment I expected the net
and the sail which our friend had thrown down unceremoniously upon us
would roll off。
〃Oh； stop that；〃 said the Martian； who was no doubt quite as well
aware of the danger as we were。 〃The tide's full； the shoals are in the
baystop your nonsense； and help me launch like good fellows。〃
〃Well； take two of us； then。 We will sit on this heap of nets as quiet
as mice； and stand you a drink when we get back。〃
〃No； not one of you；〃 quoth the plucky fellow； 〃and here's my staff in
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my hand； and if you don't leave my gear alone I will crack some of your
ugly heads。〃
〃That's a pity；〃 I thought to myself； 〃for if they take to fighting it will
be six to onelong odds against our chances。〃 There was indeed a
scuffle； and then a yell of pain； as though a soldier had been hit across the
knuckles； but in a minute the best disposed called out； 〃Oh； cease your fun；
boys； and let the fellow get off if he wants to。 You know the fleet will be
down directly； and Ar…hap has promised something worth having to the
man who can find that lost bit of crackling of his。 It's my opinion she's in
the town； and I for one would rather look for her than go haddock fishing
any day。〃
〃Right you are； mates；〃 said our friend with visible relief。 〃And； what's
more； if you help me launch this boat and then go to my missus and tell
her what you've done； she'll understand； and give you the biggest
pumpkinful of beer in the place。 Ah； she will understand； and bless your
soft hearts and heads while you drink itshe's a cute one is my missus。〃
〃And aren't you afraid to leave her with us？〃
〃Not I； my daisy； unless it were that a sight of your pretty face might
give her hysterics。 Now lend a hand； your accursed chatter has already
cost me half an hour of the best fishing time。〃
〃In with you； old buck！〃 shouted the soldiers； I felt the fisherman step
in； as a matter of fact he stepped in on to my toes； a dozen hands were on
the gunwales： six soldier yells resounded； it seemed； in my very ears： there
was the grit and rush of pebbles under the keel： a sudden lurch up of the
bows； which brought the fairy lady's honey… scented lips to mine； and then
the gentle lapping of deep blue waters underneath us！
There is little more to be said of that voyage。 We pulled until out of
sight of the town； then hoisted sail； and； with a fair wind； held upon one
tack until we made an island where there was a small colony of Hither
folk。
Here our friend turned back。 I gave him another gold button from my
coat； and the princess a kiss upon either cheek； which he seemed to like
even more than the button。 It was small payment； but the best we had。
Doubtless he got safely home； and I can but hope that Providence
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somehow or other paid him and his wife for a good deed bravely done。
Those islanders in turn lent us another boat； with a guide； who had
business in the Hither capital； and on the evening of the second day； the
direct route being very short in com… parison； we were under the
crumbling marble walls of Seth。
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CHAPTER XX
It was like turning into a hothouse from a keen winter walk； our arrival
at the beautiful but nerveless city after my life amongst the woodmen。
As for the people； they were delighted to have their princess back； but
with the delight of children； fawning about her； singing； clapping hands；
yet asking no questions as to where she had been； showing no appreciation
of our adventuresa serious offence in my eyesand； perhaps most
important of all； no understanding of what I may call the political bearings
of Heru's restoration； and how far their arch enemies beyond the sea might
be inclined to attempt her recovery。
They were just delighted to have the princess back； and that was the
end of it。 Theirs was the joy of a vast nursery let loose。 Flower
processions were organised； garlands woven by the mile； a general order
issued that the nation might stay up for an hour after bedtime； and in the
vortex of that gentle rejoicing Heru was taken from me； and I saw her no
more； till there happened the wildest scene of all you have shared with me
so patiently。
Overlooked； unthanked； I turned sulky； and when this mood； one I can
never maintain for long； wore off； I threw myself into the dissipation about
me with angry zeal。 I am frankly ashamed of the confession； but I was 〃a
sailor ashore；〃 and can only claim the indulgences proper to the situation。
I laughed； danced； drank； through the night； I drank deep of a dozen rosy
ways to forgetfulness； till my mind was a great confusion； full of flitting
pictures of love… liness； till life itself was an illusive pantomime； and my
will but thistle…down on the folly of the moment。 I drank with those
gentle roisterers all through their starlit night； and if we stopped when
morning came it was more from weariness than virtue。 Then the yellow…
robed slaves gave us the wine of recoveryalas！ my faithful An was not
amongst them and all through the day we lay about in sodden happiness。
Towards nightfall I was myself again； not unfortunately with the
headache well earned； but sufficiently remorseful to be in a vein to make
good resolutions for the future。
In this mood I mingled with a happy crowd； all purpose… less and
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cheerful as usual； but before long began to feel the influence of one of
those drifts； a universal turning in one direction； as seaweed turns when
the tide changes； so char… acteristic of Martian society。 It was dusk； a
lovely soft velvet dusk； but not dark yet； and I said to a yellow…robed fairy
at my side：
〃Whither away； comrade？ It is not eight bells yet。 Surely we are
not going to be put to bed so early as this？〃
〃No；〃 said that smiling individual； 〃it is the princess。 We are going to
listen to Princess Heru in the palace square。 She reads the globe on the
terrace again tonight； to see if omens are propitious for her marriage。
She MUST marry； and you know the ceremony has been unavoidably
postponed so far。〃
〃Unavoidab