按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all the noises of Eblis in my ears。 Up and down we went； over and over；
till strength was spent and my ribs seemed breaking； then； with a last
desperate effort； I got a knee against the stem； and by sheer strength freed
my princessthe spiteful timber made a last ugly thrust at us as it rolled
awayand we were free！
I turned upon my back； and； sure of rescue now； took the lady's head
upon my chest； holding her sweet； white fists in mine the while； and；
floating； waited for help。
It came only too quickly。 The gallant Martians； when they saw the
princess saved； came swiftly down upon us。 Over the lapping of the water
in my ears I heard their sigh… like cries of admiration and surprise； the
rattle of spray on the canoe sides mingled with the splash of oars； the
flitting shadows of their prows were all about us； and in less time than it
28
… Page 29…
GULLIVER OF MARS
takes to write we were hauled aboard； revived； and taken to Hath's barge。
Again the prince's lips were on my fingertips； again the flutes and music
struck up； and as I squeezed the water out of my hair； and tried to keep my
eyes off the outline of Heru； whose loveliness shone through her damp；
clinging； pink robe； as if that robe were but a gauzy fancy； I vaguely heard
Hath saying wondrous things of my gallantry； and； what was more to the
purpose； asking me to come with him and stay that night at the palace。
29
… Page 30…
GULLIVER OF MARS
CHAPTER IV
They lodged me like a prince in a tributary country that first night。 I
was tired。 'Twas a stiff stage I had come the day before； and they gave
me a couch whose ethereal softness seemed to close like the wings of a
bird as I plunged at its touch into fathomless slumbers。 But the next day
had hardly broken when I was awake； and； stretching my limbs upon the
piled silk of a legless bed upon the floor； found myself in a great chamber
with a purple tapestry across the entrance； and a square arch leading to a
flat terrace outside。
It was a glorious daybreak； making my heart light within me； the air
like new milk； and the colours of the sunrise lay purple and yellow in bars
across my room。 I yawned and stretched； then rising； wrapped a silken
quilt about me and went out into the flat terrace top； wherefrom all the city
could be seen stretched in an ivory and emerald patchwork； with open；
blue water on one side； and the Martian plain trending away in illimitable
distance upon the other。
Directly underneath in the great square at the bottom of Hath's palace
steps were gathered a concourse of people； brilliant in many…coloured
dresses。 They were sitting or lying about just as they might for all I knew
have done through the warm night； without much order； save that where
the black streaks of inlaid stone marked a carriage… way across the square
none were stationed。 While I won… dered what would bring so many
together thus early； there came a sound of flutesfor these people can do
nothing without piping like finches in a thicket in Mayand from the
storehouses half…way over to the harbour there streamed a line of carts
piled high with provender。 Down came the teams attended by their
slaves； circling and wheeling into the open place； and as they passed each
group those lazy； lolling beggars crowded round and took the dole they
were too thriftless to earn themselves。 It was strange to see how listless
they were about the meal； even though Provi… dence itself put it into their
hands； to note how the yellow…girted slaves scudded amongst them；
serving out the loaves； themselves had grown； harvested； and baked；
slipping from group to group； rousing； exhorting； admin… istering to a
30
… Page 31…
GULLIVER OF MARS
helpless throng that took their efforts without thought or thanks。
I stood there a long time； one foot upon the coping and my chin upon
my hand； noting the beauty of the ruined town and wondering how such a
feeble race as that which lay about； breakfasting in the limpid sunshine；
could have come by a city like this； or kept even the ruins of its walls and
buildings from the covetousness of others； until presently there was a
rustle of primrose garments and my friend of the day before stood by me。
〃Are you rested； traveller？〃 she questioned in that pretty voice of hers。
〃Rested ambrosially； An。〃
〃It is well； I will tell the Government and it will come up to wash and
dress you； afterwards giving you breakfast。〃
〃For the breakfast； damsel； I shall be grateful； but as for the washing
and dressing I will defend myself to the last gasp sooner than submit to
such administration。〃
〃How strange！ Do you never wash in your country？〃
〃Yes； but it is a matter left largely to our own discretion； so； my dear
girl； if you will leave me for a minute or two in quest of that meal you
have mentioned； I will guarantee to be ready when it comes。〃
Away she slipped； with a shrug of her rosy shoulders； to return
presently； carrying a tray covered with a white cloth； whereon were half a
dozen glittering covers whence came most fragrant odours of cooked
things。
〃Why； comrade；〃 I said； sitting down and lifting lid by lid； for the cold；
sweet air outside had made me hungry； 〃this is better than was hoped for； I
thought from what I saw down yonder I should have to trot behind a
tumbril for my breakfast； and eat it on my heels amongst your sleepy
friends below。〃
An replied； 〃The stranger is a prince； we take it； in his own country；
and princes fare not quite like common people； even here。〃
〃So；〃 I said； my mouth full of a strange； unknown fish； and a cake soft
as milk and white as cotton in the pod。 〃Now that makes me feel at home！〃
〃Would you have had it otherwise with us？〃
〃No！ now I come to think of it； it is most natural things should be
much alike in all the corners of the universe； the splendid simplicity that
31
… Page 32…
GULLIVER OF MARS
rules the spheres； works much the same； no doubt； upon one side of the
sun as upon the other。 Yet； somehowyou can hardly wonder at ityes…
terday I looked to find your world； when I realised where I had tumbled to；
a world of djin and giants； of mad possibilities over realised； and here I
see you dwellers by the utterly remote little more marvellous than if I had
come amongst you on the introduction of a cheap tourist ticket； and round
some neglected corner of my own distant world！〃
〃I hardly follow your meaning； sir。〃
〃No； no； of course you cannot。 I was forgetting you did not know！
There； pass me the stuff on yonder platter that looks like caked mud from
an anchor fluke； and swells like breath of paradise； and let me question
you；〃 and while I sat and drank with that yellow servitor sitting in front of
me； I plied her with questions； just as a baby might who had come into the
world with a full…blown gift of speech。 But though she was ready and
willing enough to answer； and laughed gaily at my quaint ignorance of
simple things； yet there was little water in the well。
〃Had they any kind of crafts or science； any cult of stars or figures？〃
But again she shook her head； and said； 〃Hath might know； Hath
understood most things； but her… self knew little of either。〃 〃Armies or
navies？〃 and again the Martian shrugged her shoulders； questioning in
turn
〃What for？〃
〃What for！〃 I cried； a little angry with her engaging dulness； 〃Why； to
keep that which the strong hand got； and to get more for those who come
next； navies to sweep yonder blue seas； and armies to ward what they
should bring home； or guard the city walls against all enemies；for I
suppose； An；〃 I sa