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k tongues with the puddles the night…dews left in the lift of our mainsail。〃
Without more words； being a little awed of me； I thought； the boy led me through the good…humoured crowd to where； facing the main road to the town； but a little sheltered by a thicket of trees covered with gigantic pink blossoms； stood a drinking…placea cluster of tables set round an open grass…plot。 Here he brought me a platter of some light inefficient cakes which merely served to make hunger more self…conscious； and some fine aromatic wine contained in a triple…bodied flask； each division containing vintage of a separate hue。 We broke our biscuits； sipped that mysterious wine； and talked of many things until at last something set us on the subject of astronomy； a study I found my dapper gallant had some knowledge of which was not to be wondered at seeing he dwelt under skies each night set thick above his curly head with tawny planets； and glittering constellations sprinkled through space like flowers in May meadows。 He knew what worlds went round the sun； larger or lesser； and seeing this I be… gan to question him； for I was uneasy in my innermost mind and； you will remember； so far had no certain knowledge of where I was； only a dim； restless suspicion that I had come beyond the ken of all men's knowledge。
Therefore； sweeping clear the board with my sleeve； and breaking the wafer cake I was eating； I set down one central piece for the sun； and； 〃See here！〃 I said； 〃good fel… low！ This morsel shall stand for that sun you have just been welcoming back with quaint ritual。 Now stretch your starry knowledge to the utmost； and put down that tankard for a moment。 If this be yonder sun and this lesser crumb be the outermost one of our revolving system； and this the next within； and this the next； and so on； now if this be so tell me which of these fragmentary orbs is ourswhich of all these crumbs from the hand of the primordial would be that we stand upon？〃 And I waited with an anxiety a light manner thinly hid； to hear his answer。
It came at once。 Laughing as though the question were too trivial； and more to humour my wayward fancy than aught else； that boy circled his rosy thumb about a minute and brought it down on the planet Mars！
I started and stared at him； then all of a tremble cried； 〃You trifle with me！ Choose againthere； see； I will set the symbols and name them to you anew。 There now； on your soul tell me truly which this planet is； the one here at our feet？〃 And again the boy shook his head； wondering at my eagerness； and pointed to Mars； saying gently as he did so the fact was certain as the day above us； nothing was marvellous but my questioning。
Mars！ oh； dreadful； tremendous； unexpected！ With a cry of affright； and bringing my fist down on the table till all the cups upon it leapt； I told him he liedlied like a simpleton whose astronomy was as rotten as his wit smote the table and scowled at him for a spell； then turned away and let my chin fall upon my breast and my hands upon my lap。
And yet； and yet； it might be so！ Everything about me was new and strange； the crisp； thin air I breathed was new； the lukewarm sunshine new； the sleek； long； ivory faces of the people new！ Yesterdaywas it yesterday？I was back thereaway in a world that pines to know of other worlds； and one fantastic wish of mine； backed by a hideous； infernal chance； had swung back the doors of space and shot meif that boy spoke trueinto the outer void where never living man had been before： all my wits about me； all the horrible bathos of my earthly clothing on me； all my terrestrial hungers in my veins！
I sprang to my feet and swept my hands across my eyes。 Was that a dream； or this？ No； no； both were too real。 The hum of my faraway city still rang in my ears： a swift vision of the girl I had loved； of the men I had hated； of the things I had hoped for rose before me； still dazing my inner eye。 And these about me were real people； too； it was real earth； real skies； trees； and rockshad the infernal gods indeed heard； I asked myself； the foolish wish that started from my lips in a moment of fierce discontent； and swept me into another sphere； another existence？ I looked at the boy as though he could answer that question； but there was nothing in his face but vacuous wonder； I clapped my hands together and beat my breast； it was true； my soul within me said it was true； the boy had not lied； the djins had heard； I was just in the flesh I had； my common human hungers still unsatisfied where never mortal man had hungered before； and scarcely knowing whether I feared or not； whether to laugh or cry； but with all the wonder and terror of that great remove sweeping suddenly upon me I staggered back to my seat； and dropping my arms upon the table； leant my head heavily upon them and strove to choke back the passion which beset me。
CHAPTER III
It was the light touch of the boy An upon my shoulder which roused me。 He was bending down； his pretty face full of concernful sympathy； and in a minute saidknow… ing nothing of my thoughts； of course；
〃It is the wine； stranger； the pink oblivion； it sometimes makes one feel like that until enough is taken； you stopped just short of what you should have had； and the next cup would have been delightI should have told you。〃
〃Ay；〃 I answered； glad he should think so； 〃it was the wine； no doubt； your quaint drink； sir； tangled up my senses for the moment； but they are clearer now； and I am eager past expression to learn a little more of this strange country I have wandered into。〃
〃I would rather；〃 said the boy； relapsing again into his state of kindly lethargy； 〃that you learnt things as you went； for talking is work； and work we hate； but today we are all new and fresh； and if ever you are to ask questions now is certainly the time。 Come with me to the city yonder； and as we go I will answer the things you wish to know；〃 and I went with him； for I was humble and amazed； and； in truth； at that moment； had not a word to say for myself。
All the way from the plain where I had awoke to the walls of the city stood booths； drinking…places； and gardens divided by labyrinths of canals； and embowered in shrub… beries that seemed coming into leaf and flower as we looked； so swift was the process of their growth。 These waterways were covered with skiffs being pushed and rowed in every direction； the cheerful rowers calling to each other through the leafy screens separating one lane from another till the place was full of their happy chirruping。 Every booth and way…side halting…place was thronged with these delicate and sprightly people； so friendly； so gracious； and withal so pur… poseless。
I began to think we should never reach the town itself； for first my guide would sit down on a green stream…bank； his feet a…dangle in the clear water； and bandy wit with a passing boat as though there were nothing else in the world to think of。 And when I dragged him out of that； whisper… ing in his ear； 〃The town； my dear boy！ the town！ I am all agape to see it；〃 he would saunter reluctantly to a booth a hundred yards further on and fall to eating strange con… fections or sipping coloured wines with chance acquaintances； till again I plucked him by the sleeve and said： 〃Seth； good comradewas it not so you called your city just now？take me to the gates； and I will be grateful to you；〃 then on again down a flowery lane； aimless and happy； wasting my time and his； with placid civility I was led by that simple guide。
Wherever we went the people stared at me； as well they might； as I walked through them overtopping the tallest by a head or more。 The drinking…cups paused half…way to their mouths； the jests died away upon their lips； and the blinking eyes of the drinkers shone with a momentary sparkle of wonder as their minds reeled down those many… tinted floods to the realms of oblivion they loved。
I heard men whisper one to another； 〃Who is he？〃； 〃Whence does he come？〃； 〃Is he a tribute…taker？〃 as I strolled amongst them； my mind still so thrilled with doubt and wonder that to me they seemed hardly more 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 againho