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in fierce des… peration； 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 landlady asking if I would let her aunt do my washing while I was on shore。 Oh！ what would they all think of me？ Would they brand me as a deserter； a poltroon； and a thief； letting my name presently sink down in shame and mystery in the shadowy realm of the forgotten？ Dread… ful thoughts！ I would think no more。
Maybe An had marked my melancholy； for presently she led me to a stall where in fantastic vases wines of sorts I have described before were put out for all who came to try them。 There was medicine here for every kind of dulnessnot the gross cure which earthly wine effects； but 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 further… most vase。 So my stripling told me； running her finger down the line of beakers carved with strange figures and cased in silver； each in its cluster of little attendant drinking… cups； like…coloured； and waiting round on the white napkins as the shore boats wait to unload a cargo round the sides of a merchant vessel。
〃And what；〃 I said； after curiously examining each liquor in turn； 〃what is that which stands alone there in the humble earthen jar； as though unworthy of the company of the others。〃
〃Oh； that；〃 said my friend； 〃is the most essential of them allthat is the wine of recovery； without which all the others were deadly poisons。〃
〃The which； lady； looks as if it had a moral attaching to it。〃
〃It may have； indeed I think it has； but I have forgotten。 Prince Hath would know！ Meanwhile let me give you to drink； great stranger； let me get you something。〃
〃Well； then；〃 I laughed； 〃reach me down an antidote to fate； a specific for an absent mistress； and forgetful friends。〃
〃What was she like？〃 said An； hesitating a little and frowning。
〃Nay； good friend；〃 was my answer； 〃what can that matter to you？〃
〃Oh； nothing； of course；〃 answered that Martian； and while she took from the table a cup and filled it with fluid I felt in the pouch of my sword…belt to see if by chance a bit of money was Iying there； but there was none； only the pips of an orange poor Polly had sucked and laughingly thrown at me。
However； it did not matter。 The girl handed me the cup； and I put my lips to it。 The first taste was bitter and acrid； like the liquor of long…steeped wood。 At the second taste a shiver of pleasure ran through me； and I opened my eyes and stared hard。 The third taste grossness and heavi… ness and chagrin dropped from my heart； all the com… plexion of Providence altered in a flash； and a stupid irresistible joy； unreasoning； uncontrollable took possession of my fibre。 I sank 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； un… umbered； 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； swung that damsel round in a giddy dance； capering as never dancer danced before； till spent and weary I sank down again from sheer lack of breath； and only knew thereafter that An was sitting by me saying； 〃Drink！ drink stranger； drink and forget！〃 and as a third time a cup was pressed to my lips； aches and pleasures； stupidness and joy； life itself； seemed slipping away into a splendid golden vacuity； a hazy epi… sode of unconscious Elysium； indefinite； and unfathomable。
CHAPTER V
When I woke； feeling as refreshed as though I had been dreaming through a long night； An； seeing me open…eyed； helped me to my feet； and when I had recovered my senses a little； asked if we should go on。 I was myself again by this time； so willingly took her hand； and soon came out of the tangle into the open spaces。 I must have been under the spell of the Martian wines longer than it seemed； for already it was late in the afternoon； the shadows of trees were lying deep and far…reaching over the motley crowds of people。 Out here as the day waned they had developed some sort of method in their sports。 In front of us was a broad； grassy course marked off with garlanded finger…posts； and in this space rallies of workfolk were taking part in all manner of games under the eyes of a great concourse of spectators； doing the Martians' pleasures for them as they did their labours。 An led me gently on； leaning on my arm heavier； I thought； than she had done in the morning； and ever and anon turning her gazelle…like eyes upon me with a look I could not understand。 As we sauntered forward I noticed all about lesser circles where the yellow…girted ones were drawing delighted laughter from good…tempered crowds by tricks of sleight…of…hand； and posturing； or toss… ing gilded cups and balls as though they were catering； as indeed they were； for outgrown children。 Others fluted or sang songs in chorus to the slow clapping of hands； while others were doing I knew not what； sitting silent amongst si… lent spectators who every now and then burst out laughing for no cause that I could see。 But An would not let me stop； and so we pushed on through the crowd till we came to the main enclosures where a dozen slaves had run a race for the amusement of those too lazy to race them… selves； and were sitting panting on the grass。
To give them time to get their breath； perhaps； a man stepped out of the crowd dressed in a dark blue tunic； a strange vacuous…looking fellow； and throwing down a sheaf of javelins marched off a dozen paces； then； facing round； called out loudly he would give sixteen suits of 〃summer cloth〃 to any one who could prick him with a javelin from the heap。
〃Why；〃 I said in amazement； 〃this is the best of fools no one could miss from such a distance。〃
〃Ay but；〃 replied my guide； 〃he is a gifted one； versed in mystics。〃
I was just going to say a good javelin； shod with iron； was a stronger argument than any mystic I had ever heard of could stand； when out of the crowd stepped a youth； and amid the derisive cheers of his friends chose a reed from the bundle。 He poised it in his hand a minute to get the middle； then turned on the living target。 Whatever else they might be； these Martians were certainly beautiful as the day… time。 Never had I seen such a perfect embodiment of grace and elegance as that boy as he stood there for a moment poised to the throw； the afternoon sunshine warm and strong on his bunched brown hair； a girlish flush of shyness on his handsome face； and the sleek perfection of his limbs； clear cut against the dusky background beyond。 And now the javelin was going。 Surely the mystic would think better of it at the last