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in the heat of excitement I stared at him in amazement； wishing in a hasty
thought the confusion of the past few weeks had given me opportun… ity to
penetrate the recesses of his mind； and therefrom retell you things better
worth listening to than all the incident of my adventures。 But now there
was no time to think； scarce time to act。
〃Hath！〃 I cried； rushing over to him； 〃wake up； your majesty。 The
Thither men are outside； killing and burning！〃
〃I know it。〃
〃And the palace is on fire。 You can smell the reek even here。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then what are you going to do？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃My word； that is a fine proposition for a prince！ If you care nothing
for town or palace perhaps you will bestir yourself for Princess Heru。〃
A faint glimmer of interest rose upon the alabaster calm of his face at
that name； but it faded instantly； and he said quietly；
〃The slaves will save her。 She will live。 I looked into the book of
her fate yesterday。 She will escape； and forget； and sit at another
marriage feast； and be a mother； and give the people yet one more prince
to keep the faint glimmer of our ancestry alive。 I am content。〃
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〃But； d… it； man； I am not！ I take a deal more in… terest in the young
lady than you seem to； and have scoured half this precious planet of yours
on her account； and will be hanged if I sit idly twiddling my thumbs while
her pretty skin is in danger。〃 But Hath was lost in contempla… tion of his
shoe…strings。
〃Come； sir；〃 I said； shaking his majesty by the shoulder； 〃don't be
down on your luck。 There has been some rivalry between us； but never
mind about that just now。 The prin… cess wants you。 I am going to save
both her and you； you must come with her。〃
〃No。〃
〃But you SHALL come。〃
〃No！〃
By this time the palace was blazing like a bonfire and the uproar
outside was terrible。 What was I to do？ As I hesitated the arras at the
further end of the hall was swept aside； a disordered mob of slaves bearing
bundles and drag… ging Heru with them rushing down to the door near us。
As Heru was carried swiftly by she stretched her milk…white arms towards
the prince and turned her face； lovely as a convolvulus flower even in its
pallor； upon him。
It was a heart…moving appeal from a woman with the heart of a child；
and Hath rose to his feet while for a mo… ment there shone a look of
responsible manhood in his eyes。 But it faded quickly； he bowed slowly as
though he had received an address of condolence on the condition of his
empire； and the next moment the frightened slaves； stumbling under their
burdens； had swept poor Heru through the doorway。
I glanced savagely round at the curling smoke overhead； the red
tendrils of fire climbing up a distant wall； and there on a table by us was a
half…finished flask of the lovely tinted wine of forgetfulness。 If Hath
would not come sober perhaps he might come drunk。
〃Here；〃 I cried； 〃drink to tomorrow； your majesty； a sov… ereign toast in
all ages； and better luck next time with these hairy gentlemen battering at
your majesty's doors；〃 and splashing out a goblet full of the stuff I handed
it to him。
He took it and looked rather lovingly into the limpid pool； then
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deliberately poured it on the step in front of him； and throwing the cup
away said pleasantly；
〃Not tonight； good comrade； tonight I drink a deeper draught of
oblivion than that；and here come my cup… bearers。〃
Even while he spoke the palace gates had given way； there was a
horrible medley of shrieks and cries； a quick sound of running feet； then
again the arras lifted and in poured a horde of Ar…hap's men…at…arms。 The
moment they caught sight of us about a dozen of them； armed with bows；
drew the thick hide strings to their ears and down the hall came a ravening
flight of shafts。 One went through my cap； two stuck quivering in the
throne； and one； winged with owl feather； caught black Hath full in the
bosom。
He had stood out boldly at the first coming of that onset； arms crossed
on breast； chin up； and looking more of a gentleman than I had ever seen
him look before； and now； stricken； he smiled gravely； then without
flinching； and still eyeing his enemies with gentle calm； his knees un…
locked； his frame trembled； then down he went headlong； his red blood
running forth in rivulets amongst the wine of oblivion he had just poured
out。
There was no time for sentiment。 I shrugged my shoulders； and
turning on my heels； with the woodmen close after me； sprang through the
near doorway。 Where was Heru？ I flew down the corridor by which it
seemed she had re… treated； and then； hesitating a moment where it divided
in two； took the left one。 This to my chagrin presently began to trend
upwards； whereas I knew Heru was making for the river down below。
But it was impossible to go back； and whenever I stopped in those
deserted passages I could hear the wolflike patter of men's feet upon my
trail。 On again into the stony laby… rinths of the old palace； ever upwards；
in spite of my desire to go down； until at last； the pursuers off the track for
a moment； I came to a north window in the palace wall； and； hot and
breathless； stayed to look out。
All was peace here； the sky a lovely lavender； a promise of coming
morning in it； and a gold…spangled curtain of stars out yonder on the
horizon。 Not a soul moved。 Below appeared a sheer drop of a hundred
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feet into a moat wind… ing through thickets of heavy…scented convolvulus
flowers to the waterways beyond。 And as I looked a skiff with half a
dozen rowers came swiftly out of the darkness of the wall and passed like
a shadow amongst the thickets。 In the prow was all Hath's wedding plate；
and in the stern； a faint vision of unconscious loveliness； lay Heru！
Before I could lift a finger or call out； even if I had had a mind to do so；
the shadow had gone round a bend； and a shout within the palace told me I
was sighted again。
On once more； hotly pursued； until the last corridor ended in two doors
leading into a half…lit gallery with open win… dows at the further end。
There was a wilderness of lumber down the sides of the great garret； and
now I come to think of it more calmly I imagine it was Hath's Lost
Property Office； the vast receptacle where his slaves deposited everything
lazy Martians forgot or left about in their daily life。 At that moment it
only represented a last refuge； and into it I dashed； swung the doors to and
fastened them just as the foremost of Ar…hap's men hurled themselves
upon the barrier from outside。
There I was like a rat in a trap； and like a rat I made up my mind to
fight savagely to the end； without for a mo… ment deceiving myself as to
what that end must be。 Even up there the horrible roar of destruction was
plainly audible as the barbarians sacked and burned the ancient town； and
I was glad from the bottom of my heart my poor little princess was safely
out of it。 Nor did I bear her or hers the least resentment for making off
while there was yet time and leaving me to my fateanything else would
have been contrary to Martian nature。 Doubtless she would get away； as
Hath had said； and elsewhere drop a few pearly tears and then over her
sugar…candy and lotus…eating forget with happy completenessmost
blessed gift！ And meanwhile the foresaid barbarians were battering on
my doors； while over their heads choking smoke was pouring in in ever…
increas… ing volumes。
In burst the first panel； then another； and I could see