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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 faded to nothing at the suggestion。
〃What！〃 I roared； 〃Heru taken from the palace by a handful of men and none of you infernal rascalsnone of you white…livered abortions lifted a hand to save hercurse on you a thousand times。 Out of my way； you churls！〃 And snatching up coat and hat and sword I rushed furiously down the long； marble stairs just as the short Martian night was giving place to lavender…coloured light of morning。 I found my way somehow down the deserted corridors where the air was heavy with aromatic vapours； I flew by cur… tained niches and chambers where amongst mounds of half… withered flowers the Martian lovers were slowly waking。 Down into the banquethall I sped； and there in the twilight was the litter of the feast still aboutgold cups and silver； broken bread and meat； the convolvulus flowers all turning their pallid faces to the rosy daylight； making pools of brightness between the shadows。 Amongst the litter little sapphire…coloured finches were feeding； twittering merrily to themselves as they hopped about； and here and there down the long tables lay asprawl a belated reveller； his empty oblivion…phial before him； his curly head upon his arms； dreaming perhaps of last night's feast and a neglected bride dozing dispassionate in some distant chamber。 But Heru was not there and little I cared for twittering finches or sighing damsels。 With hasty feet I rushed down the hall out into the cool； sweet air of the planet morning。
There I met one whom I knew； and he told me he had been among the crowd and had heard the woodmen had gone no farther than the river gate； that Heru was with them beyond a doubt。 I would not listen to more。 〃Good！〃 I shouted。 〃Get me a horse and just a handful of your sleek kindred and we will pull the prize from the bear's paw even yet！ Surely；〃 I said； turning to a knot of Martian youths who stood listening a few steps away； 〃surely some of you will come with me at this pinch？ The big bullies are very few； the sea runs behind them； the maid in their clutch is worth fighting for； it needs but one good onset； five minutes' gallantry； and she is ours again。 Think how fine it will look to bring her back before yon sleepy fellows have found their weapons。 You； there； with the blue tunic！ you look a proper fellow； and something of a heart should beat under such gay wrappings； will you come with me？〃
But blue…mantle； biting his thumbs； murmured he had not breakfasted yet and edged away behind his com… panions。 Wherever I looked eyes dropped and timid hands fidgeted as their owners backed off from my dangerous en… thusiasm。 There was obviously no help to be had from them； and meantime the precious moments were flying； so with a disdainful glance I turned on my heels and set off alone as hard as I could go for the harbour。
But it was too late。 I rushed through the marketplace where all was silent and deserted； I ran on to the wharves beyond and they were empty save for the litter and embers of the fires Ar…hap's men had made during their stay； I dashed out to the landing…place； and there at the hythe the last boat… loads of the villains were just embarking； two boatloads of them twenty yards from shore； and another still upon the beach。 This latter was careening over as a dusky group of men lifted aboard to a heap of tumbled silks and stuffs in the stern such a sweet piece of insensible merchandise as no man； I at least of all； could mistake。 It was Heru her… self； and the rogues were ladling her on board like so much sandal…wood or cotton sheeting。 I did not wait for more； but out came my sword； and yielding to a reckless impulse； for which perhaps last night's wine was as much to blame as anything； I sprang down the steps and leapt aboard of the boat just as it was pushed off upon the swift tide。 Full of Bersark rage； I cut one brawny copper…coloured thief down； and struck another with my fist between the eyes so that he went headlong into the water； sinking like lead； and deep into the great target of his neighbour's chest I drove my blade。 Had there been a man beside me； had there been but two or three of all those silken triflers； too late come on the terraces above to watch； we might have won。 But all alone what could I do？ That last red beast turned on my blade； and as he fell dragged me half down with him。 I staggered up； and tugging the metal from him turned on the next。
At that moment the cause of all the turmoil； roused by the fighting； came to herself； and sitting up on the piled plunder in the boat stared round for a moment with a child… ish horror at the barbarians whose prize she was； then at me； then at the dead man at my feet whose blood was welling in a red tide from the wound in his breast。 As the full meaning of the scene dawned upon her she started to her feet； looking wonderfully beautiful amongst those dusky forms； and extending her hands to me began to cry in the most piteous way。 I sprang forward； and as I did so saw an ape… man clap his hairy paw over her mouth and faceit was like an eclipse of the moon by a red earth…shadow； I thought at the momentand drag her roughly back； but that was about the last I remembered。 As I turned to hit him standing on the slippery thwart； another rogue crept up behind and let drive with a club he had in hand。 The cud… gel caught me sideways on the head； a glancing shot。 I can recall a blaze of light； a strange medley of sounds in my ears； and then； clutching at a pile of stuffs as I fell； a tall bower of spray rising on either hand； and the cool shock of the blue sea as I plunged headlong inbut noth… ing after that！
How long after I know not； but presently a tissue of day… light crept into my eyes； and I awoke again。 It was better than nothing perhaps； yet it was a poor awakening。 The big sun lay low down； and the day was all but done； so much I guessed as I rocked in that light with an undulating movement； and then as my senses returned more fully； recognised with a start of wonder that I was still in the water； floating on a swift current into the unknown on an air…filled pile of silken stuf