All went well and we fled down the bitter stream of the Martian gulf ata pace leaving me little to do but guide our course just clear of snags andpromontories on the port shore. Just before dawn, however, with a thinmist on the water and flocks of a flamingo-like bird croaking as they flewsouthward overhead, we were nearly captured again.
Drifting silently down on a rocky island, I was having a drink at thewater-pitcher at the moment, while Heru, her hair beaded with prismaticmoisture and looking more ethereal than ever, sat in the bows timorouslyinhaling the breath of freedom, when all on a sudden voices invisible inthe mist, came round a corner. It was one of Ar-hap's war-canoes toilingup-stream. Heru and I ducked down into the haze like dab-chicks andheld our breath.
Straight on towards us came the toiling ship, the dip of oars resonant inthe 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 rightabreast and we could smell their damp hides in the morning air. Thenthey 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 curdlingin 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 authorityfrom 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 thatlazy ruffian spying a shadow makes it an excuse to stop to yawn andscratch? Go on, you plankful of lubbers, or I'll give you something worththinking 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 thelittle harbour town at the estuary mouth, making the masts of fishing craftclustering there like a golden reed- bed against the cool, clean blue of thesea 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 withouthostile notice before it was clear daylight.
Covering Heru up and knowing well all our chances of escape lay inexpedition, 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 tobe called the fish-shop, and finding her alone, frankly told her the salientpoints 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 herastonishment was unbounded. Nothing would do but she must look uponthe princess, so back we went to the hiding-place, and when Heru knewthat on this woman depended our lives she stepped ashore, taking therugged Martian hand in her dainty fingers and begging her help so sweetlythat 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 armsround the woman's neck, kissing the homely cheeks with more thanimperial fervour, so I knew all was well thus far, and stoppedexpectorating 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 ofwar-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 andpaddle up this creek. It runs out to the sea behind the town, and at thebar is my man's fishing-boat amongst many others. Lie hidden there tillhe comes if you value your lives." So in we got, and while that goodSamaritan went back to her house we cautiously paddled through adeserted backwater to where it presently turned through low sandbanks to the gulf. There were the boats, and we hid the canoe and lay downamongst them till, soon after, a man, easily recognised as the husband ofour friend, came sauntering down from the village.
At first he was sullen, not unreasonably alarmed at the danger intowhich his good woman was running him. But when he set eyes on Heruhe softened immediately. Prob- ably that thick-bodied fellow had neverseen so much female loveliness in so small a bulk in all his life, and, beinga man, he surrendered at discretion.
"In with you, then," he growled, "since I must needs risk my neck for apair of runaways who better deserve to be hung than I do. In with youboth into this fishing-cobble of mine, and I will cover you with nets whileI go for a mast and sail, and mind you lie as still as logs. The town isalready full of soldiers looking for you, and it will be short shrift for us allif you are seen."Well aware of the fact and now in the hands of destiny, the princessand I lay down as bidden in the prow, and the man covered us lightly overwith one of those fine meshed seines used by these people to catch thelittle fish I had breakfasted on more than once.
Materially I could have enjoyed the half-hour which fol- lowed, sincesuch rest after exertion was welcome, the sun warm, the lapping of sea onshingle infinitely soothing, and, above all, Heru was in my arms! Howsweet and childlike she was! I could feel her little heart beating throughher scanty clo............