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om weariness than virtue。 Then the yellow…robed slaves gave us the wine of recoveryalas！ my faithful An was not amongst them and all through the day we lay about in sodden happiness。
Towards nightfall I was myself again； not unfortunately with the headache well earned； but sufficiently remorseful to be in a vein to make good resolutions for the future。
In this mood I mingled with a happy crowd； all purpose… less and cheerful as usual； but before long began to feel the influence of one of those drifts； a universal turning in one direction； as seaweed turns when the tide changes； so char… acteristic of Martian society。 It was dusk； a lovely soft velvet dusk； but not dark yet； and I said to a yellow…robed fairy at my side：
〃Whither away； comrade？ It is not eight bells yet。 Surely we are not going to be put to bed so early as this？〃
〃No；〃 said that smiling individual； 〃it is the princess。 We are going to listen to Princess Heru in the palace square。 She reads the globe on the terrace again tonight； to see if omens are propitious for her marriage。 She MUST marry； and you know the ceremony has been unavoidably postponed so far。〃
〃Unavoidably postponed？〃 Yes； Heaven wotted I was aware of the fact。 And was Heru going to marry black Hath in such a hurry？ And after all I had done for her？ It was scarcely decent； and I tried to rouse myself to rage over it； but somehow the seductive Martian contentment with any fate was getting into my veins。 I was not yet altogether sunk in their slothful acceptance of the inevitable； but there was not the slightest doubt the hot red blood in me was turn… ing to vapid stuff such as did duty for the article in their veins。 I mustered up a half…hearted frown at this unwelcome intelligence； turning with it on my face towards the slave girl； but she had slipped away into the throng； so the frown evaporated； and shrugging my shoulders I said to myself； 〃What does it matter？ There are twenty others will do as well for me。 If not one； why then obviously an… other； 'tis the only rational way to think； and at all events there is the magic globe。 That may tell us something。〃 And slipping my arm round the waist of the first disengaged girlwe were not then； mind you； in Atlantic CityI kissed her dimpling cheek unreproached； and gaily followed in the drift of humanity； trending with a low hum of pleasure towards the great white terraces under the palace porch。
How well I knew them！ It was just such an evening Heru had consulted Fate in the same place once before； how much had happened since then！ But there was little time or in… clination to think of those things now。 The whole phantom city's population had drifted to one common centre。 The crumbling seaward ramparts were all deserted； no soldier watch was kept to note if angry woodmen came from over seas； a soft wind blew in from off the brine； but told no tales； the streets were empty； and； when as we waited far away in the southern sky the earth planet presently got up； by its light Heru； herself again； came tripping down the steps to read her fate。
They had placed another magic globe under a shroud on a tripod for her。 It stood within the charmed circle upon the terrace； and I was close by； although the princess did not see me。
Again that weird； fantastic dance commenced； the princess working herself up from the drowsiest undulations to a hur… ricane of emotion。 Then she stopped close by the orb； and seized the corner of the web covering it。 We saw the globe begin to beam with veiled magnificence at her touch。
Not an eye wavered； not a thought wandered from her in all that silent multitude。 It was a moment of the keenest suspense； and just when it was at its height there came a strange sound of hurrying feet behind the outermost crowd； a murmur such as a great pack of wolves might make rushing through snow； while a soft long wail went up from the darkness。
Whether Heru understood it or not I cannot say； but she hesitated a moment； then swept the cloth from the orb of her fate。
And as its ghostly； self…emitting light beamed up in the darkness with weird brilliancy； there by it； in gold and furs and war panoply； huge； fierce； and lowering； stoodAR…HAP HIMSELF！
Ay； and behind him； towering over the crouching Mar… tians； blocking every outlet and street； were scores and hundreds of his men。 Never was surprise so utter； ambush more complete。 Even I was transfixed with astonishment； staring with open…mouthed horror at the splendid figure of the barbarian king as he stood aglitter in the ruddy light； scowling defiance at the throng around him。 So silently had he come on his errand of vengeance it was difficult to be… lieve he was a reality； and not some clever piece of stageplay； some vision conjured up by Martian necromancy。
But he was good reality。 In a minute comedy turned to tragedy。 Ar…hap gave a sign with his hand； whereon all his men set up a terrible warcry； the like of which Seth had not heard for very long； and as far as I could make out in the half light began hacking and hewing my luckless friends with all their might。 Meanwhile the king made at Heru； feeling sure of her this time； and doubtless intending to make her taste his vengeance to the dregs； and seeing her handled like that； and hearing her plaintive cries； wrath took the place of stupid surprise in me。 I was on my feet in a second； across the intervening space； and with all my force gave the king a blow upon the jaw which sent even him staggering backwards。 Before I could close again； so swift was the sequence of events in those flying minutes； a wild mob of people； victims and executioners in one disordered throng； was between us。 How the king fared I know not； nor stopped to ask； but half dragging； half carrying Heru through the shrieking mob； got her up the palace steps and in at the great doors； which a couple of yellow…clad slaves； more frightened of the barbarians than thoughtful of the crowd without； promptly clapped to； and shot the bolts。 Thus we were safe for a moment； and putting the princess on a couch； I ran up a short flight of stairs and looked out of a front window to see if there were a chance of succouring those in the palace square。 But it was all hopeless chaos with the town already beginning to burn and not a show of fight anywhere which I could join。
I glared out on that infernal tumult for a moment or two in an agony of impotent rage； then turned towards the harbour and saw in the shine of the burning town below the ancient battlements and towers of Seth begin to gleam out； like a splendid frost work of living metal clear…cut against the smooth； black night behind； and never a show of resistance there either。 Ay； and by this time Ar…hap's men were battering in our gates with a big beam； and somehow； I do not know how it happened； the palace itself away on the right； where the dry…as…dust library lay； was also beginning to burn。
It was hopeless outside； and nothing to be done but to save Heru； so down I went； and； with the slaves； carried her away from the hall through a vestibule or two； and into an anteroom； where some yellow…girt individuals were al… ready engaged in the suggestive work of tying up