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l afford。
Meanwhile Hath was on foot； pale and obsequious like others in the presence of those dread ambassadors； but more collected； I thought。 With the deepest bows he welcomed them； handing them drink in a golden State cup； and when they had drunk （I heard the liquor running down their great throats； in the frightened hush； like water in a runnel on a wet day）； they wiped their fierce lips upon their furry sleeves； and the leader began reciting the tribute for the year。 So much corn； so much wineand very much it wasso many thousands ells of cloth and webbing； and so much hammered gold； and sinah and lar； precious metal of which I knew nothing as yet； and ever as he went growl… ing through the list in his harsh animal voice； he refreshed his memory with a coloured stick whereon a notch was made for every item； the woodmen not having come as yet； apparently； to the gentler art of written signs and symbols。 Longer and longer that caravan of unearned wealth stretched out before my fancy； but at last it was done； or all but done； and the head envoy； passing the painted stick to a man behind； folded his bare； sinewy arms； upon which the red fell bristles as it does upon a gorilla's； across his ample chest； and； including us all in one general scowl； turned to Hath as he said
〃All this for Ar…hap； the wood…king； my master and yours； all this； and the most beautiful woman here tonight at your tables！〃
〃An item；〃 I smiled stupidly to myself； for indeed I was very sleepy and had no nice perception of things； 〃which shows his majesty with the two…pronged name is a jolly fellow after all； and knows wealth is incomplete without the crown and priming of all riches。 I wonder how the Martian boys will like this postscript；〃 and chin on hand； and eyes that would hardly stay open； I watched to see what would happen next。 There was a little conversation between the prince and the ape…man； then I saw Hath the traitor point in my direction and say
〃Since you ask and will be advised； then； mighty sir； there can be no doubt of it； the most beautiful woman here tonight is undoubtedly she who sits yonder by him in blue。〃
〃A very pretty compliment！〃 I thought； too dull to see what was coming quickly； 〃and handsome of Hath； all things considered。〃
And so I dozed and dozed； and then started； and stared！ Was I in my senses？ Was I mad； or dreaming？ The drunk… enness dropped from me like a mantle； with a single； smothered cry I came to myself and saw that it was all too true。 The savage envoy had come down the hall at Hath's vindictive prompting； had lifted my fair girl to her feet； and there； even as I looked； had drawn her； white as death； into the red circle of his arm； and with one hand under her chin had raised her sweet face to within an inch of his； and was staring at her with small； ugly eyes。
〃Yes；〃 said the enjoy； more interestedly than he had spoken yet； 〃it will do； the tribute is acceptedfor Ar… hap； my master！〃 And taking shrinking Heru by the wrist； and laying a heavy hand upon her shoulder； he was about to lead her up the hall。
I was sober enough then。 I was on foot in an instant； and before all the glittering company； before those simpering girls and pale Martian youths； who sat mumbling their fingers； too frightened to lift their eyes from off their half…finished dinners； I sprang at the envoy。 I struck him with my clenched fist on the side of his bullet head； and he let go of Heru； who slipped insensible from his hairy chest like a white cloud slipping down the slopes of a hill at sunrise； and turned on me with a snort of rage。 We stared at each other for a minute；
and then I felt the wine fumes roaring in my head； I rushed at him and closed。 It was like embracing a moun… tain bull； and he responded with a hug that made my ribs crackle。 For a minute we were locked together like that； swinging here and there； and then getting a hand loose； I belaboured him so unmercifully that he put his head down； and that was what I wanted。 I got a new hold of him as we staggered and plunged； roaring the while like the wild beasts we were； the teeth chattering in the Martian heads as they watched us； and then； exerting all my strength； lifted him fairly from his feet and with supreme effort swung him up； shoulder high； and with a mighty heave hurled him across the tables； flung that ambassador； whom no Martian dared look upon； crashing and sprawling through the gold and silver of the feast； whirled him round with such a splendid send that bench and trestle； tankards and flagons； chairs and cloths and candelabras all went down into thundering chaos with him； and the envoy only stayed when his sacred person came to harbour amongst the westral odds and ends； the soiled linen； and dirty platters of our wedding feast。
I remember seeing him there on hands and knees； and then the liquor I had had would not be denied。 In vain I drew my hands across my drooping eyelids； in vain I tried to master my knees that knocked together。 The spell of the love…drink that Heru； blushing； had held to my lips was on me。 Its soft； overwhelming influence rose like a prismatic fog between me and my enemy； everything again became hazy and dreamlike； and feebly calling on Heru； my chin dropped upon my chest； my limbs relaxed； and I slipped down in drowsy oblivion before my rival。
CHAPTER VIII
They must have carried me； still under the influence of wine fumes； to the chamber where I slept that night； for when I woke the following morning my surroundings were familiar enough； though a glorious maze of uncertainties rocked to and fro in my mind。
Was it a real feast we had shared in overnight； or only a quaint dream？ Was Heru real or only a lovely fancy？ And those hairy ruffians of whom a horrible vision danced before my waking eyes； were they fancy too？ No； my wrists still ached with the strain of the tussle； the quaint； sad wine taste was still on my lipsit was all real enough； I decided； starting up in bed； and if it was real where was the little princess？ What had they done with her？ Surely they had not given her to the ape…mencowards though they were they could not have been cowards enough for that。 And as I wondered a keen； bright picture of the hapless maid as I saw her last blossomed before my mind's eye； the am… bassadors on either side holding her wrists； and she shrink… ing from them in horror while her poor； white face turned to me for rescue in desperate pleadingoh！ I must find her at all costs； and leaping from bed I snatched up those trousers without which the best of heroes is nothing； and had hardly got into them when there came the patter of light feet without and a Martian； in a hurry for once； with half a dozen others behind him； swept aside the curtains of my doorway。
They peeped and peered all about the room； then one said； 〃Is Princess Heru with you； sir？〃
〃No；〃 I answered roughly。 〃Saints alive； man； do you think I would have you tumbling in here over each other's heels if she were？〃
〃Then it must indeed have been Heru；〃 he said； speak… ing in an awed voice to his fellows； 〃whom we saw carried down to the harbour at daybreak by yonder woodmen；〃 and the pink upon their pretty cheeks fad