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d the surroundings； and； with a sigh； remembered yesterday's adventures。
However； it would never do to mope； so； rising silently and picking a way through human lumber on the floor； I went out and down to the water's edge； where 〃shore…going〃 clothes； as we sailors call them； were slipped off； and I plunged into the sea for a swim。
It was a welcome dip； for I needed the plunge physically and intellectually； but it came to an abrupt conclusion。 The Thither folk apparently had never heard of this form of enjoyment； to them water stood for drinking or drowning； nothing else； and since one could not drink the sea； to be in it meant； even for a ghost； to drown。 Consequently； when the word went round the just rousing villages that 〃He…on…foot… from…afar〃 was adrift in the waves； rescue parties were hur… riedly organised； a boat launched； and； in spite of all my kicking and shouting （which they took to be evidence of my semi…moribund condition）； I was speedily hauled out by hairy and powerful hands； pungent herbs burnt un… der my nose； and my heels held high in the air in order that the water might run out of me。 It was only with the greatest difficulty those rough but honest fellows were eventually got to believe me saved。
The breakfast I made of grilled deer flesh and a fish not unlike salmon； however； convinced them of my recovery； and afterward we parted very good friends； for there was some… thing in the nature of those rugged barbarians just coming into the dawn of civilisation that won my liking far more than the effete gentleness of others across the water。
When the time of parting came they showed no curiosity as to my errand； but just gave me some food in a fish…skin bag； thrust a heavy stone…headed axe into my hand； 〃in case I had to talk to a thief on the road；〃 and pointed out on the southern horizon a forked mountain； under which； they said； was the harbour and high…road to King Ar…hap's capital。 Then they hugged me to their hairy chests in turn； and let me go with a traveller's blessing。
There I was again； all alone； none but my thoughts for companions； and nothing but youth to excuse the folly in thus venturing on a reckless quest！
However； who can gainsay that same youth？ The very spice of danger made my steps light and the way pleasant。 For a mile or two the track was plain enough； through an undulating country gradually becoming more and more wooded with vegetation； changing rapidly from Alpine to sub…tropical。 The air also grew warmer； and when the divid… ing ridge was crossed and a thick forest entered； the snows and dreadful region of Deadmen's Ice already seemed leagues and leagues away。
Probably a warm ocean current played on one side of the peninsula； while a cold one swept the other； but for sci… entific aspects of the question I cared little in my joy at being anew in a soft climate； amongst beautiful flowers and vivid life again。 Mile after mile slipped quickly by as I strode along； whistling 〃Yankee Doodle〃 to myself and revelling in the change。 At one place I met a rough…looking Martian woodcutter； who wanted to fight until he found I also wanted to； when he turned very civil and as talkative as a solitary liver often is when his tongue gets started。 He particularly desired to know where I came from； and； as in the case with so many other of his countrymen； took it for granted； and with very little surprise； that I was either a spirit or an inhabitant of another world。 With this idea in his mind he gave me a curious piece of information； which； unfortunately； I was never able to follow up。
〃I don't think you can be a spirit；〃 he said； critically eyeing my clothes； which were now getting ragged and dirty beyond description。 〃They are finer…looking things than you； and I doubt if their toes come through their shoes like yours do。 If you are a wanderer from the stars； you are not like that other one we have down yonder；〃 and he pointed to the southward。
〃What！〃 I asked； pricking my ears in amazement； 〃an… other wanderer from the outside world！ Does he come from the earth？〃using the word An had given me to signify my own planet。
〃No； not from there； from the one that burns blue in evening between sun and sea。 Men say he worked as a stoker or something of the kind when he was at home； and got trifling with a volcano tap； and was lapped in hot mud； and blown out here。 My brother saw him about a week ago。〃
〃Now what you say is down right curious。 I thought I had a monopoly of that kind of business in this sphere of yours。 I should be tremendously interested to see him。〃
〃No you wouldn't；〃 briefly answered the woodman。 〃He is the stupidest fool ever blown from one world to another more stupid to look at than you are。 He is a gaseous； wavey thing； so glum you can't get two words a week out of him； and so unstable that you never know when you are with him and when the breeze has drifted him somewhere else。〃
I could but laugh and insist； with all respect to the woodcutter； such an individual were worth the knowing however unstable his constitution； at which the man shrugged his shoulders and changed the conversation； as though the subject were too trivial to be worth much consideration。
This individual gave me the pleasure of his company until nearly sundown； and finding I took an interest in things of the forest； pointed out more curious plants and trees than I have space to mention。 Two of them； however； cling to my memory very tenaciously。 One was a very Circe amongst plants； the horrible charm of which can never be forgotten。 We were going down a glade when a most ravishing odour fell upon my nostrils。 It was heavenly sweet yet withal there lurked an incredibly； unexpressibly tempting spice of wickedness in it。 The moment he caught that ambrosial invitation in the air my woodman spit fiercely on the ground； and taking a plug of wool from his pouch stuffed his nostrils up。 Then he beckoned me to come away。 But the odour was too ravishing； I was bound to see whence it arose； and finding me deaf to all warnings； the man reluctantly turned aside down the enticing trail。 We pushed about a hundred yards through bushes until we came to a little arena full in sunshine where there were neither birds nor butterflies； but a death…like hush upon everything。 Indeed； the place seemed shunned in spite of the sodden loveliness of that scent which monopolised and mounted to my brain until I was beginning to be drunk with the sheer pleasure of it。 And there in the centre of the space stood a plant not unlike a tree fern； about six feet high； and crowned by one huge and lovely blossom。 It resembled a vast passion…flower of incredible splendour。 There were four petals； with points resting on the ground； each six feet long； ivory…white inside； exquisitely patterned with glittering silver veins。 From the base of these rose upright a gauzy veil of azure filaments of the same length as the petals； wirelike； yet soft as silk； and inside them again rested a chalice of silver holding a tiny pool of limpid golden honey。 Circe； indeed！ It was from that cup the scent arose； and my throat grew dry with longing as I looked at it； my eyes strained through the blue tendrils to