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water the motley fleet came up。
I steered our skiff a space out from the bank to get a better view； while
An clapped her hands together and laughed。 〃It is Hathhe himself and
those of the palace with him。 Steer a little nearer still； friendso！
between yon floating rubbish flats； for those with Hath are good to look
at。〃
Nothing loth I made out into mid…stream to see that strange prince go
by； little thinking in a few minutes I should be shaking hands with him； a
wet and dripping hero。 The crowd came up； and having the advantage of
the wind； it did not take me long to get a front place in the ruck； whence I
set to work； with republican interest in royalty； to stare at the man who An
said was the head of Martian society。 He did not make me desire to
renounce my demo… cratic principles。 The royal fellow was sitting in the
centre of the barge under a canopy and on a throne which was a mass of
flowers； not bunched together as they would have been with us； but so
cunningly arranged that they rose from the footstool to the pinnacle in a
rhythm of colour； a poem in bud and petals the like of which for
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harmonious beauty I could not have imagined possible。 And in this fairy
den was a thin； gaunt young man； dressed in some sort of black stuff so
nondescript that it amounted to little more than a shadow。 I took it for
granted that a substance of bone and muscle was covered by that gloomy
suit； but it was the face above that alone riveted my gaze and made me
return the stare he gave me as we came up with re… doubled interest。 It
was not an unhandsome face； but ashy grey in colour and amongst the
insipid countenances of the Martians about him marvellously thoughtful。
I do not know whether those who had killed themselves by learn… ing ever
leave ghosts behind； but if so this was the very ideal for such a one。 At
his feet I noticed； when I un… hooked my eyes from his at last； sat a girl in
a loose coral pink gown who was his very antipode。 Princess Heru； for
so she was called； was resting one arm upon his knee at our approach and
pulling a blue convolvulus bud to piecesa charming picture of dainty
idleness。 Anything so soft； so silken as that little lady was never seen
before。 Who am I； a poor quarter…deck loafer； that I should attempt to
describe what poet and painter alike would have failed to realise？ I know；
of course； your stock descriptives： the melting eye； the coral lip； the
peachy cheek； the raven tress； but these were coined for mortal woman
and this was not one of them。 I will not attempt to describe the glorious
tenderness of those eyes she turned upon me presently； the glowing
radiance of her skin； the infinite grace of every action； the incredible soul…
searching harmony of her voice； when later on I heard ityou must gather
something of these things as I gosuffice it to say that when I saw her
there for the first time in the plenitude of her beauty I fell desperately；
wildly in love with her。
Meanwhile； even the most infatuated of mortals cannot stare for ever
without saying something。 The grating of our prow against the garlanded
side of the royal barge roused me from my reverie； and nodding to An； to
imply I would be back presently； I lightly jumped on to Hath's vessel； and；
with the assurance of a free and independent American voter； approached
that individual； holding out my palm； and saying as I did so；
〃Shake hands； Mr。 President！〃
The prince came forward at my bidding and extending his hand for
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mine。 He bowed slow and sedately； in that peculiar way the Martians
have； a ripple of gratified civility passing up his flesh； lower and lower he
bowed； until his face was over our clasped hands； and then； with simple
courtesy； he kissed my finger…tips！ This was somewhat em… barrassing。
It was not like the procedure followed in Courts nearer to Washington than
this one； as far as my reading went； and； withdrawing my fingers hastily； I
turned to the princess； who had risen； and was eyeing her somewhat
awkwardly； the while wondering what kind of salutation would be suitable
in her case when a startling incident happened。 The river； as said； was
full of floating rubbish brought down from some far…away uplands by a
spring freshet while the royal convoy was making slow progress upstream
and thus met it all bow on。 Some of this stuff was heavy timber； and
when a sudden warning cry went up from the leading boats it did not take
my sailor instinct long to guess what was amiss。 Those in front shot side
to side； those be… hind tried to drop back as； bearing straight down on the
royal barge； there came a log of black wood twenty feet long and as thick
as the mainmast of an old three…decker。
Hath's boat could no more escape than if it had been planted on a
rocky pedestal； garlands and curtains trailing in the water hung so heavy
on it。 The gilded paddles of the slender rowers were so feeblethey had
but made a half… turn from that great javelin's road when down it came
upon them； knocking the first few pretty oarsmen head over heels and
crackling through their oars like a bull through dry maize stalks。 I sprang
forward； and snatching a pole from a half…hearted slave； jammed the end
into the head of the log and bore with all my weight upon it； diverting it a
little； and thereby perhaps saving the ship herself； but not enough。 As it
flashed by a branch caught upon the trailing tapestry； hurling me to the
deck； ；and tearing away with it all that finery。 Then the great spar；
tossing half its dripping length into the air； went plunging downstream
with shreds of silk and flowers trailing from it； and white water bubbling
in its rear。
When I scrambled to my feet all was ludicrous confusion on board。
Hath still stood by his thronean island in a sea of disorderstaring at me；
all else was chaos。 The rowers and courtiers were kicking and wallowing
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in the 〃waist〃 of the ship like fish newly shot out of a trawl net； but the
princess was gone。 Where was she？ I brushed the spray from my eyes；
and stared overboard。 She was not in the bub… bling blue water alongside。
Then I glanced aft to where the log； now fifteen yards away； was splashing
through the sun… shine； and； as I looked； a fair arm came up from
underneath and white fingers clutched convulsively at the sky。 What
man could need more？ Down the barge I rushed； and drop… ping only my
swordbelt； leapt in to her rescue。 The gentle Martians were too numb to
raise a hand in help； but it was not necessary。 I had the tide with me； and
gained at every stroke。 Meanwhile that accursed tree； with poor Heru's
skirts caught on a branch； was drowning her at its leisure； lifting her up as
it rose upon the crests； a fair； helpless bundle； and then sousing her in its
fall into the nether water； where I could see her gleam now and again like
pink coral。
I redoubled my efforts and got alongside； clutching the rind of that old
stump； and swimming and scrambling； at last was within reach of the
princess。 Thereon the log lifted her playfully to my arms； and when I had
laid hold came down； a crushing weight； and forced us far into the clammy
bosom of Martian sea。 Again we came up； coughing and chokingI
tugging furiously at that tangled raiment； and the lady； a mere lump of
sweetness in my other arm then down again with that log upon me and
all the noises of Eblis in my ears。 Up and down we went； over and over；
till strength was spent