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Jones； a much under… paid lieutenant in the glorious United States navy； with a packet of overdue tailors' bills in my pocket； and nothing lovable about me save a partiality for meddling with other people's affairs。
This is how it might have been； but I spoiled a pretty fairy story and changed the whole course of Martian history by going back at that moment in search of a wrap for my prize。 Right on top of the steps was a man with a lantern； and half a glance showed me it was the harbour master met with on my first landing。
〃Good evening；〃 he said suspiciously。 〃May I ask what you are doing on the quay at such an hour as this？〃
〃Doing？ Oh； nothing in particular； just going out for a little fishing。〃
〃And your companion the ladyis she too fond of fishing？〃
I swore between my teeth； but could not prevent the fel… low walking to the quay edge and casting his light full upon the figure of the girl below。 I hate people who interfere with other people's business！
〃Unless I am very much mistaken your fishing friend is the Hither woman brought here a few days ago as tribute to Ar…hap。〃
〃Well；〃 I answered； getting into a nice temper； for I had been very much harrassed of late； 〃put it at that。 What would you do if it were so？〃
〃Call up my rain…drunk guards； and give you in charge as a thief caught meddling with the king's property。〃
〃Thanks； but as my interviews with Ar…hap have al… ready begun to grow tedious； we will settle this little matter here between ourselves at once。〃 And without more to…do I closed with him。 There was a brief scuffle and then I got in a blow upon his jaw which sent the harbour master flying back head over heels amongst the sugar bales and potatoes。
Without waiting to see how he fared I ran down the steps； jumped on board； loosened the rope； and pushed out into the river。 But my heart was angry and sore； for I knew； as turned out to be the case； that our secret was one no more； in a short time we should have the savage king in pursuit； and now there was nothing for it but headlong flight with only a small chance of getting away to distant Seth。
Luckily the harbour master lay insensible until he was found at dawn； so that we had a good start； and the moment the canoe passed from the arcade…like approach to the town the current swung her head automatically seaward； and away we went down stream at a pace once more filling me with hope。
CHAPTER XIX
All went well and we fled down the bitter stream of the Martian gulf at a pace leaving me little to do but guide our course just clear of snags and promontories on the port shore。 Just before dawn； however； with a thin mist on the water and flocks of a flamingo…like bird croaking as they flew southward overhead； we were nearly captured again。
Drifting silently down on a rocky island； I was having a drink at the water…pitcher at the moment； while Heru； her hair beaded with prismatic moisture and looking more ethereal than ever； sat in the bows timorously inhaling the breath of freedom； when all on a sudden voices invisible in the mist； came round a corner。 It was one of Ar…hap's war…canoes toiling up…stream。 Heru and I ducked down into the haze like dab…chicks and held our breath。
Straight on towards us came the toiling ship； the dip of oars resonant in the hollow fog and a ripple babbling on her cutwater plainly discernible。
〃Oh； oh！
Hoo； hoo！
How high； how high！〃
sounded the sleepy song of the rowers till they were loom… ing right abreast and we could smell their damp hides in the morning air。 Then they stopped suddenly and some one asked；
〃Is there not something like a boat away on the right？〃
〃It is nothing；〃 said another； 〃but the lees of last night's beer curdling in your stupid brain。〃
〃But I saw it move。〃
〃That must have been in dreams。〃
〃What is all that talking about？〃 growled a sleepy voice of authority from the stern。
〃Bow man； sir； says he can see a boat。〃
〃And what does it matter if he can？ Are we to delay every time that lazy ruffian spying a shadow makes it an excuse to stop to yawn and scratch？ Go on； you plankful of lubbers； or I'll give you something worth thinking about！〃 And joyfully； oh； so joyfully； we heard the sullen dip of oars commence again。
Nothing more happened after that till the sun at length shone on the little harbour town at the estuary mouth； making the masts of fishing craft clustering there like a golden reed… bed against the cool； clean blue of the sea beyond。
Right glad we were to see it； and keeping now in shadow of the banks； made all haste while light was faint and mist hung about to reach the town； finally pushing through the boats and gaining a safe hiding…place without hostile notice before it was clear daylight。
Covering Heru up and knowing well all our chances of escape lay in expedition； I went at once； in pursuance of a plan made during the night； to the good dame at what； for lack of a better name； must still continue to be called the fish…shop； and finding her alone； frankly told her the salient points of my story。 When she learned I had 〃robbed the lion of his prey〃 and taken his new wife singlehanded from the dreaded Ar…hap her astonishment was unbounded。 Nothing would do but she must look upon the princess； so back we went to the hiding…place； and when Heru knew that on this woman depended our lives she stepped ashore； taking the rugged Martian hand in her dainty fingers and begging her help so sweetly that my own heart was moved； and； thrusting hands in pocket； I went aside； leaving those two to settle it in their own female way。
And when I looked back in five minutes； royal Seth had her arms round the woman's neck； kissing the homely cheeks with more than imperial fervour； so I knew all was well thus far； and stopped expectorating at the little fishes in the water below and went over to them。 It was time！ We had hardly spoken together a minute when a couple of war…canoes filled with men appeared round the nearest promontory； coming down the swift water with arrow…like rapidity。
〃Quick！〃 said the fishwife； 〃or we are all lost。 Into your canoe and paddle up this creek。 It runs out to the sea behind the town； and at the bar is my man's fishing…boat amongst many others。 Lie hidden there till he comes if you value your lives。〃 So in we got； and while that good Samaritan went back to her house we cautiously paddled through a deserted backwater to where it presently turned through low sandbanks to the gulf。 There were the boats； and we hid the canoe and lay down amongst them till； soon after； a man； easily recognised as the husband of our friend； came sauntering down from the village。
At first he was sullen； not unreasonably alarmed at the danger into which his good woman was running him。 But when he set eyes on Heru he softened immediately。 Prob… ably that thick…bodied fellow had never seen so much female loveliness in so small a bulk in all his life； and； being a man； he surrendered at discretion。
〃In with you； then；〃 he growled； 〃since I must needs risk my neck for a pair of runaways who better deserve to be hung than I do。 In with you both into this fishing…cobble of mine； and I will cover you with nets while I go for a mast and sail； and mind you lie as still as logs。 The town is already full of soldiers looking for you； and it will be short shrift for us all if you are seen。〃
Well aware of the fact and now in the hands of destiny； the princess and I lay down as bidden in the prow； and the man covered us lightly over with one of those fine meshed seines used by these people to catch the little fish I had breakfasted on more than once。
Materially I could have enjoyed the half…hour which fol… lowed； since such rest after exertion was welcome； the sun warm； the lapping of sea on shingle infinitely soothing； and； above all； Heru was in my arms！ How sweet and childlike she was！ I could feel her little heart beating through her scanty clothing； while every now and then she turned her gazelle eyes to mine with a trust and admiration infinitely alluring。 Yes！ as far as that went I could have lain there with that slip of maiden royalty for ever； but the fascination of the moment was marred by the thought of our danger。 What was to prevent these new friends giving us away？ They knew we had no money to recompense them for the risk they were running。 They were poor； and a splendid reward； wealth itself to them； would doubtless be theirs if they betrayed us even by a look。 Yet somehow I trusted them as I have trusted the poor before with the happiest results； and telling myself this and comforting Heru； I lis… tened and waited。
Minute by minute went by。 It seemed an age since the fisherman had gone； but presently the sound of voices inter… rupted the sea's murmur。 Cautiously stealing a glance through a chink imagine my feelings on perceiving half a dozen of Ar…hap's soldiers coming down the beach straight towards us！ Then my heart was bitter within me； and I tasted of defeat； even with Heru in my arms。 Luckily even in that moment of agony I kept still； and another peep showed the men were now wandering about rather aimlessly。 Perhaps after all they did not know