gulliver of mars-第46章

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　down　the　steps　to　read　her　fate。

They　had　placed　another　magic　globe　under　a　shroud　on　a　tripod　for　her。　　It　stood　within　the　charmed　circle　upon　the　terrace；　and　I　was　close　by；　although　the　princess　did　not　see　me。

Again　that　weird；　fantastic　dance　commenced；　the　princess　working　herself　up　from　the　drowsiest　undulations　to　a　hur…　ricane　of　emotion。　　Then　she　stopped　close　by　the　orb；　and　seized　the　corner　of　the　web　covering　it。　　We　saw　the　globe　begin　to　beam　with　veiled　magnificence　at　her　touch。

Not　an　eye　wavered；　not　a　thought　wandered　from　her　in　all　that　silent　multitude。　　It　was　a　moment　of　the　keenest　suspense；　and　just　when　it　was　at　its　height　there　came　a　strange　sound　of　hurrying　feet　behind　the　outermost　crowd；　a　murmur　such　as　a　great　pack　of　wolves　might　make　rushing　through　snow；　while　a　soft　long　wail　went　up　from　the　darkness。

Whether　Heru　understood　it　or　not　I　cannot　say；　but　she　hesitated　a　moment；　then　swept　the　cloth　from　the　orb　of　her　fate。

And　as　its　ghostly；　self…emitting　light　beamed　up　in　the　darkness　with　weird　brilliancy；　there　by　it；　in　gold　and　furs　and　war　panoply；　huge；　fierce；　and　lowering；　stoodAR…HAP　HIMSELF！

Ay；　and　behind　him；　towering　over　the　crouching　Mar…　tians；　blocking　every　outlet　and　street；　were　scores　and　hundreds　of　his　men。　　Never　was　surprise　so　utter；　ambush　more　complete。　　Even　I　was　transfixed　with　astonishment；　staring　with　open…mouthed　horror　at　the　splendid　figure　of　the　barbarian　king　as　he　stood　aglitter　in　the　ruddy　light；　scowling　defiance　at　the　throng　around　him。　　So　silently　had　he　come　on　his　errand　of　vengeance　it　was　difficult　to　be…　lieve　he　was　a　reality；　and　not　some　clever　piece　of　stageplay；　some　vision　conjured　up　by　Martian　necromancy。

But　he　was　good　reality。　　In　a　minute　comedy　turned　to　tragedy。　　Ar…hap　gave　a　sign　with　his　hand；　whereon　all　his　men　set　up　a　terrible　warcry；　the　like　of　which　Seth　had　not　heard　for　very　long；　and　as　far　as　I　could　make　out　in　the　half　light　began　hacking　and　hewing　my　luckless　friends　with　all　their　might。　　Meanwhile　the　king　made　at　Heru；　feeling　sure　of　her　this　time；　and　doubtless　intending　to　make　her　taste　his　vengeance　to　the　dregs；　and　seeing　her　handled　like　that；　and　hearing　her　plaintive　cries；　wrath　took　the　place　of　stupid　surprise　in　me。　　I　was　on　my　feet　in　a　second；　across　the　intervening　space；　and　with　all　my　force　gave　the　king　a　blow　upon　the　jaw　which　sent　even　him　staggering　backwards。　　Before　I　could　close　again；　so　swift　was　the　sequence　of　events　in　those　flying　minutes；　a　wild　mob　of　people；　victims　and　executioners　in　one　disordered　throng；　was　between　us。　　How　the　king　fared　I　know　not；　nor　stopped　to　ask；　but　half　dragging；　half　carrying　Heru　through　the　shrieking　mob；　got　her　up　the　palace　steps　and　in　at　the　great　doors；　which　a　couple　of　yellow…clad　slaves；　more　frightened　of　the　barbarians　than　thoughtful　of　the　crowd　without；　promptly　clapped　to；　and　shot　the　bolts。　　Thus　we　were　safe　for　a　moment；　and　putting　the　princess　on　a　couch；　I　ran　up　a　short　flight　of　stairs　and　looked　out　of　a　front　window　to　see　if　there　were　a　chance　of　succouring　those　in　the　palace　square。　　But　it　was　all　hopeless　chaos　with　the　town　already　beginning　to　burn　and　not　a　show　of　fight　anywhere　which　I　could　join。

I　glared　out　on　that　infernal　tumult　for　a　moment　or　two　in　an　agony　of　impotent　rage；　then　turned　towards　the　harbour　and　saw　in　the　shine　of　the　burning　town　below　the　ancient　battlements　and　towers　of　Seth　begin　to　gleam　out；　like　a　splendid　frost　work　of　living　metal　clear…cut　against　the　smooth；　black　night　behind；　and　never　a　show　of　resistance　there　either。　　Ay；　and　by　this　time　Ar…hap's　men　were　battering　in　our　gates　with　a　big　beam；　and　somehow；　I　do　not　know　how　it　happened；　the　palace　itself　away　on　the　right；　where　the　dry…as…dust　library　lay；　was　also　beginning　to　burn。

It　was　hopeless　outside；　and　nothing　to　be　done　but　to　save　Heru；　so　down　I　went；　and；　with　the　slaves；　carried　her　away　from　the　hall　through　a　vestibule　or　two；　and　into　an　anteroom；　where　some　yellow…girt　individuals　were　al…　ready　engaged　in　the　suggestive　work　of　tying　up　pal…　ace　plate　in　bundles；　amongst　other　things；　alas！　the　great　gold　love…bowl　from　whichoh！　so　long　agoI　had　drawn　Heru's　marriage　billet。　　These　individuals　told　me　in　tremulous　accents　they　had　got　a　boat　on　a　secret　waterway　behind　the　palace　whence　flight　to　the　main　river　and　so；　far　away　inland；　to　another　smaller　but　more　peaceful　city　of　their　race　would　be　quite　practical；　and　joyfully　hearing　this　news；　I　handed　over　to　them　the　princess　while　I　went　to　look　for　Hath。

And　the　search　was　not　long。　　Dashing　into　the　banquet…hall；　still　littered　with　the　remains　of　a　feast；　and　looking　down　its　deserted　vistas；　there　at　the　farther　end；　on　his　throne；　clad　in　the　sombre　garments　he　affected；　chin　on　hand；　sedate　in　royal　melancholy；　listening　unmoved　to　the　sack　of　his　town　outside；　sat　the　prince　himself。　　Strange；　gloomy　man；　the　great　dead　intelligence　of　his　race　shining　in　his　face　as　weird　and　out　of　place　as　a　lonely　sea　beacon　fading　to　nothing　before　the　glow　of　sunrise；　never　had　he　appeared　so　mysterious　as　at　that　moment。　　Even　in　the　heat　of　excitement　I　stared　at　him　in　amazement；　wishing　in　a　hasty　thought　the　confusion　of　the　past　few　weeks　had　given　me　opportun…　ity　to　penetrate　the　recesses　of　his　mind；　and　therefrom　retell　you　things　better　worth　listening　to　than　all　the　incident　of　my　adventures。　　But　now　there　was　no　time　to　think；　scarce　time　to　act。

〃Hath！〃　I　cried；　rushing　over　to　him；　〃wake　up；　your　majesty。　　The　Thither　men　are　outside；　killing　and　burning！〃

〃I　know　it。〃

〃And　the　palace　is　on　fire。　　You　can　smell　the　reek　even　here。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃My　word；　that　is　a　fine　proposition　for　a　prince！　　If　you　care　nothing　for　town　or　palace　perhaps　you　will　bestir　yourself　for　Princess　Heru。〃

A　faint　glimmer　of　interest　rose　upon　the　alabaster　calm　of　his　face　at　that　name；　but　it　faded　instantly；　and　he　said　quietly；

〃The　slaves　will　save　her。　　She　will　live。　　I　looked　into　the　book　of　her　fate　yesterday。　　She　will　escape；　and　forget；　and　sit　at　another　marriage　feast；　and　be　a　mother；　and　give　the　people　yet　one　more　prince　to　keep　the　faint　glimmer　of　our　ancestry　alive。　　I　am　content。〃

〃But；　d…　it；　man；　I　am　not！　　I　take　a　deal　more　in…　terest　in　the　young　lady　than　you　seem　to；　and　have　scoured　half　this　precious　planet　of　yours　on　her　account；　and　will　be　hanged　if　I　sit　idly　twiddling　my　thumbs　while　her　pretty　skin　is　in　danger。〃　　But　Hath　was　lost　in　contempla…　tion　of　his　shoe…strings。

〃Come；　sir；〃　I　said；　shaking　his　majesty　by　the　shoulder；　〃don't　be　down　on　your　luck。　　There　has　been　some　rivalry　between　us；　but　never　mind　about　that　just　now。　　The　prin…　cess　wants　you。　　I　am　going　to　save　both　her　and　you；　you　must　come　with　her。〃

〃No。〃

〃But　you　SHALL　come。〃

〃No！〃

By　this　time　the　palace　was　blazing　like　a　bonfire　and　the　uproar　outside　was　terrible。　　What　was　I　to　do？　　As　I　hesitated　the　arras　at　the　further　end　of　the　hall　was　swept　aside；　a　disordered　mob　of　slaves　bearing　bundles　and　drag…　ging　Heru　with　them　rushing　down　to　the　door　near　us。　As　Heru　was　carried　swiftly　by　she　stretched　her　milk…white　arms　towards　the　prince　and　turned　her　face；　lovely　as　a　convolvulus　flower　even　in　its　pallor；　upon　him。

It　was　a　heart…moving　appeal　from　a　woman　with　the　heart　of　a　child；　and　Hath　rose　to　his　feet　while　for　a　mo…　ment　there　shone　a　look　of　responsible　manhood　in　his　eyes。　But　it　faded　quickly；　he　bowed　slowly　as　though　he　had　received　an　address　of　condolence　on　the　condition　of　his　empire；　and　the　next　moment　the　frightened　slaves；　stumbling　under　their　burdens；　had　swept　poor　Heru　through　the　doorway。

I　glanced　savagely　round　at　the　curling　smoke　overhead；　the　red　tendrils　of　fire　climbing　up　a　distant　wall；　and　there　on　a　table　by　us　was　a　half…finished　flask　of　the　lovely　tinted　wine　of　forgetfulness。　　If　Hath　would　not　come　sober　perhaps　he　might　come　drunk。

〃Here；〃　I　cried；　〃drink　to　tomorrow；　your　majesty；　a　sov…　ereign　toast　in　all　ages；　and　better　luck　next　time　with　t