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till in the water； floating on a swift current into the unknown on an air…filled pile of silken stuffs which had been pulled down with me from the boat when I got my ganging from yonder rascal's mace。 It was a wet couch； sodden and chilly； but as the freshening evening wind blew on my face and the dark… ening water lapped against my forehead I revived more fully。
Where had we come to？ I turned an aching neck； and all along on both sides seemed to stretch steep； straight coasts about a mile or so apart； in the shadow of the setting sun black as ebony。 Between the two the hampered water ran quickly； with； away on the right； some shallow sandy spits and islands covered with dwarf busheschilly； inhospitable… looking places they seemed as I turned my eyes upon them； but he who rides helpless down an evening tide stands out for no great niceties of landing…place； could I but reach them they would make at least a drier bed than this of mine； and at that thought； turning over； I found all my muscles as stiff as iron； the sinews of my neck and forearms a mass of agonies and no more fit to swim me to those reedy swamps； which now； as pain and hunger began to tell； seemed to wear the aspects of paradise。
With a groan I dropped back upon my raft and watched the islands slipping by； while over my feet the southern sky darkened to purple。 There was no help there； but glanc… ing round away on the left and a few furlongs from me； I noticed on the surface of the water two converging strands of brightness； an angle the point of which seemed to be coming towards me。 Nearer it came and nearer； right across my road； until I could see a black dot at the point； a head presently developed； then as we approached the ears and antlers of a swimming stag。 It was a huge beast as it loomed up against the glow； bigger than any mortal stag ever wasthe kind of fellow…traveller no one would willingly accost； but even if I had wished to get out of its path I had no power to do so。
Closer and closer we came； one of us drifting helplessly； and the other swimming strongly for the islands。 When we were about a furlong apart the great beast seemed to change its course； mayhap it took the wreckage on which I floated for an outlying shoal； something on which it could rest a space in that long swim。 Be this as it may； the beast came hurtling down on me lip deep in the waves； a mighty brown head with pricked ears that flicked the water from them now and then； small bright eyes set far back； and wide palmated antlers on a mighty forehead； like the dead branches of a tree。 What that Martian mountain elk had hoped for can only be guessed； what he met with was a tangle of floating finery carrying a numbed traveller on it； and with a snort of disappointment he turned again。
It was a poor chance； but better than nothing； and as he turned I tried to throw a strand of silk I had unwound from the sodden mass over his branching tines。 Quick as thought the beast twisted his head aside and tossed his antlers so that the try was fruitless。 But was I to lose my only chance of shore？ With all my strength I hurled myself upon him； missing my clutch again by a hair's…breadth and going head… long into the salt furrow his chest was turning up。 Happily I kept hold of the web； for the great elk then turned back； passing between me and the ruck of stuff and getting thereby the silk under his chin； and as I came gasping to the top once more round came that dainty wreckage over his back； and I clutched it； and sooner than it takes to tell I was towing to the shore as perhaps no one was ever towed before。
The big beast dragged the ruck like withered weed be… hind him； bellowing all the time with a voice which made the hills echo all round； and then； when he got his feet upon the shallows； rose dripping and mountainous； a very cliff of black hide and limb against the night shine； and with a single sweep of his antlers tore the webbing from me； who lay prone and breathless in the mud； and； thinking it was his enemy； hurled the limp bundle on the beach； and then； having pounded it with his cloven feet into formless shreds； bellowed again victoriously and went off into the dark… ness of the forests。
CHAPTER IX
I landed； stiff enough as you will guess； but pleased to be on shore again。 It was a melancholy neighbourhood of low islands； overgrown with rank grass and bushes； salt water encircling them； and inside sandy dunes and hummocks with shallow pools； gleaming ghostly in the retreating daylight； while beyond these rose the black bosses of what looked like a forest。 Thither I made my way； plunging uncomfortably through shallows； and tripping over blackened branches which； lying just below the surface； quivered like snakes as the evening breeze ruffled each surface； until the ground hardened under foot； and presently I was standing； hungry and faint but safe； on dry land again。
The forest was so close to the sea； one could not advance without entering it； and once within its dark arcades every way looked equally gloomy and hopeless。 I struggled through tangles night made more and more impenetrable each min… ute； until presently I could go no further； and where a dense canopy of trees overhead gave out for a minute on the edge of a swampy hollow； I determined to wait for daylight。
Never was there a more wet or weary traveller； or one more desperately lonely than he who wrapped himself up in the miserable insufficiency of his wet rags； and without fire or supper crept amongst the exposed roots of a tree growing out of a bank； and prepared to hope grimly for morning。
Round and round meanwhile was drawn the close screen of night； till the clearing in front was blotted out； and only the tree…tops； black as rugged hills one behind the other； stood out against the heavy purple of the circlet of sky above。 As the evening deepened the quaintest noises began on every handnoises so strange and bewildering that as I cowered down with my teeth chattering； and stared hard into the impenetrable； they could be likened to nothing but the crying of all the souls of dead things since the beginning。 Never was there such an infernal chorus as that which played up the Martian stars。 Down there in front； where hummock grass was growing； some beast squeaked contin… uously； till I shouted at him； then he stopped a minute； and began again in entirely another note。 Away on the hills two rival monsters were calling to each other in tones so hollow they seemed as I listened to penetrate through me； and echo out of my heart again。 Far overhead； gigantic bats were flitting； the shadow of their wings dimming a dozen universes at once； and crying to each other in shrill tones that rent the air like tearing silk。
As I listened to those vampires discussing their infernal loves under the stars； from a branch right overhead broke such a deathly howl from the throat of a wandering forest cat that everything else was hushed for a moment。 All about a myriad insects were making night giddy with their ghostly fires； while underground and from the labyrinths of mat… ted roots came quaint sounds of rustling snakes and forest pigs； and all the lesser things that dig and scratch and growl。
Yet I was desperately sleepy； my sword hung heavy as lead at my side； my eyelids drooped； and so at last I dozed uneasily for an hour or two。 Then； all on a sudden； I came wide awake with a shock。 The night was quieter now； away in the forest depth strange noises still arose； but close at hand was a strange hush； like the hush of expecta… tion； and； listening wonderingly； I was aware of slow； heavy footsteps coming up from the river； now two or three steps together； then a pause； then another step or two； and as I bent towards the approaching thing； staring into the dark… ness； my strained senses were conscious of another approach； as like as could be； coming from behind me。 On they came； making the very ground quake with their weight； till I judged that both were about on the edge of the clearing； two vast rat…like shadows； but as big as elephants； and bringing a most intolerable smell of sour slime with them。 There； on the edge of the amphitheatre； each for the first time ap… peared to become aware of the other's presencethe foot… steps stopped dead。 I could hear the water dripping from the fur of those giant brutes amongst the shadows and the deep breathing of the one nearest me； a scanty ten paces off； but not another sound in the stillness。
Minute after minute passed； yet neither moved。 A half… hour grew to a full hour； and that hour lengthened amid the keenest tension till my ears ached with listening； and my eyes were sore with straining into the blackness。 At last I began to wonder whether those earth…shaking beasts had not been an evil dream； and was just venturing to stretch out a cramped leg； and rally myself upon my cowardice； when； without warning； at my elbow rose the most ear… piercing scream of rage that ever came from a living throat。 There was a sweeping rush in the darkness which I could feel but not see； and with a shock the two gladiators met in the midst of the arena。 Over and over they went screaming and struggling； and slipping and plunging。 I could hear them tearing at ea