s 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
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 s
together thus early, there came a sound of flutes-for these people can do nothing without piping like finches in a thicket in May-and 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
le 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 a
er?" she questioned in t
ambrosia
t and it will come up to wash and dres
for the washing and dressing I will defend myself to t
you never wash
dear girl, if you will leave me for a minute or two in quest of that
ly, carrying a tray covered with a white cloth, whereon were half a doz
e me hungry, "this is better than was hoped for; I thought from what I saw down yonder I should have
ake it, in his own country, and princes far
n fish, and a cake soft as milk and white as cot
e had it other
the sun as upon the other. Yet, somehow-you can hardly wonder at it-yesterday 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
llow your me
adise, 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
er head, and said, "Hath might know, Hath understood most things, but herself knew little of
at
d armies to ward what they should bring home, or guard the city walls against all enemies,-for I suppose, An," I said, putting down my knife as the cheering thought came on me,-"I suppos
der subject had been chanced upon. She waved her hand impatien
to lever the dull mass of your too peacefulness. What is he like? How strong? How stands the quarrel be
jest if you k
prove; but anyhow, give me a chance to judge. Come, who is it that frightens all the blood out
se, that long ago this land of
ot
tle warmth. "If it comes
a people from beyond the broad, blue waters outside; a people huge of person, hairy and savage, uncouth, unlettered, and poor An's voice trembled even to describe them; a people without mercy or compunction, dwellers
have been a nightmare to us, making hectic our pleasures, and filling our p
e plunderers are far away. Why not rise and raid them in turn? To live under
fears his fa
eserts a
t put it to
or lose
or sit tamely down, and by paying the coward's fee for
ook! see yonder long row of boats with brown sails hanging loose reefed from every yard ranged all along the quay. Even from here you can make out the thin stream of porter slaves passing to and fro between them and the granaries like ants on a sunny path. Those are our tax-
t they take
irl-the fairest
very moderate, all
nly one as you say, stranger, yet he who loses her
ither man, nor beast, nor devil should stay me in my quest!" As I spoke I thought for a minute An's fingers trem
y are not accustomed, sir
e of my chamber, and leading the way by a corridor and marble steps while I followed, and whether it was the Martian air or the meal I know not, but thinki
ngst twined flowers and shrubs and gay, quaint birds building in the cornices, a sleek yout
stranger of
I ans
saying it would pleasure him greatly if
very civil indeed, but I
sooner or later I thought it would save me the trouble if I lay down till you came-those quaint people who built thes
hanks for the intended courtesy, but tell him the invitation should have started a week earlier; tell him from me, you nimble-footed messenger, that I will post-
He turned again and said, without a trace of incivility, "But indeed, stranger, I wish you
aces, but hollow, and used for birds and beasts-things these lazy Martians love. There was no tramp of busy feet, for no one was busy; no clank of swords or armour in those peaceful streets, for no one was warlike; no hustle, for no one hurried; no wide-packed asses nodding down the lanes, for there was nothing to fill their packs with, and though a cart sometimes came by with a load of lolling men and maids, or a small horse, for horses they had, paced along, itself nearly as lazy as the master he bore, with trappings sewed ove
nce at my elbow, "is that these countrymen of yours who shirk to climb a flight of steps, and ha
ad it been left to us to seek them; we are like the conies in
ng I have noted axe chippings upon the walls, smu
and during the night unknown hands had redecked them with flowers, while another day's sunshine had opened the coppice buds so that the whole place was brilliant past expression. And here the Hither folk were varying their idleness by a general holiday. They were standing about in groups, or lying ranked like new-plucked flowers on the banks, piping to each other through reeds as soft and melodious as running water. They were playing inconsequent games and breaking off in the middle of them like children looking for new pleasures. They were idling about the drinking booths, delicately st
rifting throng, "have these good countrymen of yours no other names but
she added, smiling, "how much trouble it saves to limit each one to a single sound. It is
ing to show the child comes of th
e no fa
" I said, starting
hese things, but what have we to do with either when their initial duty is done. Look at that painted butterfly swinging on the honey-laden catkin ther
solitary, individual, and can claim no kindred with another save the loos
buzzing things of grass and leaves who drift hither and thither upon each breath
et me thinking of the friends immeasur
ets in fierce desperation, and there they clutched an old dance programme and an out-of-date check for a New York ferry-boat. I scowled about on that sunny, helpless people, and laying my hand bitterly upon my heart felt in the breast-pocket beneath a packet of unpaid Boston tailors' bills and a note from my
so nicely proportioned to each specific need that one could regulate one's debauch to a hairbreadth, rising through all the gamut of satisfaction, from the staid contentment coming of that flask there to the wild extravagances of the furthermost vase. So my stripling told me, ru
turn, "what is that which stands alone there in the humble
ial of them all-that is the wine of recovery, w
oks as if it had a m
tten. Prince Hath would know! Meanwhile let me give y
an antidote to fate, a specific for an
said An, hesitating a
as my answer, "what c
it with fluid I felt in the pouch of my sword-belt to see if by chance a bit of money was lying ther
k upon a mossy bank and, lolling my head, beamed idiotically on the lolling Martians all about me. How long I was like that I cannot say. The heavy minutes of sodden contentment slipped by unnoticed, unnumbered, till presently I felt the touch of a wine-cup at my lips again, and drinking of another liquor dulness vanished from my mind, my eyes cleared, my heart throbbed; a fantastic gaiety seized upon my limbs; I bounded to my feet, and seizing An's two hands in mine,