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than painted puppets； the vistas of their lovely glades and the ivory town beyond only the fancy of a dream； and their talk as incontinent as the babble of a stream。
Then happily； as I walked along with bent head brood… ing over the incredible thing that had happened； my com… panion's shapely legs gave out； and with a sigh of fatigue he suggested we should take a skiff amongst the many ly… ing about upon the margins and sail towards the town； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃the breeze blows thitherward； and 'tis a shame to use one's limbs when Nature will carry us for nothing！〃
〃But have you a boat of your own hereabouts？〃 I queried； 〃for to tell the truth I came from home myself somewhat poorly provided with means to buy or barter； and if your purse be not heavier than mine we must still do as poor men do。〃
〃Oh！〃 said An； 〃there is no need to think of that； no one here to hire or hire of； we will just take the first skiff we see that suits us。〃
〃And what if the owner should come along and find his boat gone？〃
〃Why； what should he do but take the next along the bank； and the master of that the next againhow else could it be？〃 said the Martian； and shrugging my shoulders； for I was in no great mood to argue； we went down to the waterway； through a thicket of budding trees underlaid with a carpet of small red flowers filling the air with a scent of honey； and soon found a diminutive craft pulled up on the bank。 There were some dainty cloaks and wraps in it which An took out and laid under a tree。 But first he felt in the pouch of one for a sweetmeat which his fine nostrils； acute as a squirrel's； told him was there； and taking the lump out bit a piece from it； afterwards replacing it in the owner's pocket with the frankest simplicity。
Then we pushed off； hoisted the slender mast； set the smallest lug…sail that ever a sailor smiled at； and； myself at the helm； and that golden youth amidships； away we drifted under thickets of drooping canes tasselled with yel… low catkin…flowers； up the blue alley of the water into the broader open river beyond with its rapid flow and crowd… ing boats； the white city front now towering clear before us。
The air was full of sunshine and merry voices； birds were singing； trees were budding； only my heart was heavy； my mind confused。 Yet why should I be sad； I said to myself presently？ Life beat in my pulses； what had I to fear？ This world I had tumbled into was new and strange； no doubt； but tomorrow it would be old and familiar； it dis… credited my manhood to sit brow…bent like that； so with an effort I roused myself。
〃Old chap！〃 I said to my companion； as he sat astride of a thwart slowly chewing something sticky and eyeing me out of the corner of his eyes with vapid wonder； 〃tell me something of this land of yours； or something about yourselfwhich reminds me I have a question to ask。 It is a bit delicate； but you look a sensible sort of fellow； and will take no offence。 The fact is； I have noticed as we came along half your population dresses in all the colours of the rainbow'fancy suitings' our tailors could call it at homeand this half of the census are undoubtedly men and women。 The rub is that the other half； to which you be… long； all dress alike in YELLOW； and I will be fired from the biggest gun on the Carolina's main deck if I can tell what sex you belong to！ I took you for a boy in the begin… ning； and the way you closed with the idea of having a drink with me seemed to show I was dead on the right course。 Then a little later on I heard you and a friend abusing our sex from an outside point of view in a way which was very disconcerting。 This； and some other things； have set me all abroad again； and as fate seems determined to make us chums for this voyagewhywell； frankly； I should be glad to know if you be boy or girl？ If you are as I am； no more nor less thenfor I like youthere's my hand in comradeship。 If you are otherwise； as those sleek outlines seem to promisewhy； here's my hand again！ But man or woman you must become； which is it？〃
If I had been perplexed before； to watch that boy now was more curious than ever。 He drew back from me with a show of wounded dignity； then bit his lips； and sighed； and stared； and frowned。 〃Come；〃 I said laughingly； 〃speak！ it engenders ambiguity to be so ambiguous of gender！ 'Tis no great matter； yes or no； a plain answer will set us fairly in our friendship； if it is comrade； then comrade let it be； if maid； why； I shall not quarrel with that； though it cost me a likely messmate。〃
〃You mock me。〃
〃Not I； I never mocked any one。〃
〃And does my robe tell you nothing？〃
〃Nothing so much； a yellow tunic and becoming enough； but nothing about it to hang a deduction on。 Come！ Are you a girl； after all？〃
〃I do not count myself a girl。〃
〃Why； then； you are the most blooming boy that ever eyes were set upon； and though 'tis with some tinge of regret； yet cheerfully I welcome you into the ranks of man… hood。〃
〃I hate your manhood； send it after the maidhood； it fits me just as badly。〃
〃But An； be reasonable； man or maid you must be。〃
〃Must be； why？〃
〃Why？〃 Was ever such a question put to a sane mortal before？ I stared at that ambiguous thing before me； and then； a little wroth to be played with； growled out some… thing about Martians being all drunk or mad。
〃'Tis you yourself are one or other；〃 said that individual； by this time pink with anger； 〃and if you think because I am what I am you can safely taunt me； you are wrong。 See！ I have a sting；〃 and like a thwarted child my com… panion half drew from the folds of the yellow tunic…dress the daintiest； most harmless…looking little dagger that was ever seen。
〃Oh； if it comes to that；〃 I answered； touching the Navy scabbard still at my hip； and regaining my temper at the sight of hers； 〃why； I have a sting alsoand twice as long as yours！ But in truth； An； let us not talk of these things； if something in what I have said has offended nice Martian scruples I am sorry； and will question no more； leaving my wonder for time to settle。〃
〃No；〃 said the other； 〃it was my fault to be hasty of offence； I am not so angered once a year。 But in truth your question moves us yellow robes deeply。 Did you not really know that we who wear this saffron tunic are slaves； a race apart； despised by all。〃
〃'Slaves；' no； how should I know it？〃
〃I thought you must understand a thing so fundamental； and it was that thought which made your questions seem unkind。 But if indeed you have come so far as not to under… stand even this； then let me tell you once we of this garb were womenpriestesses of the immaculate conceptions of humanity； guardians of those great hopes and longings which die so easily。 And because we forgot our high station and took to aping another sex the gods deserted and men despised us； giving us； in the fierceness of their contempt； what we asked for。 We are the slave ants of the nest； the work…bees of the hive； come； in truth； of those here who still be men and women of a sort； but toilers only； un… known in love； unregretted in deaththose who dangle all children but their ownslaves cursed with the accomplish… ment of their own ambition。〃
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