-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 lady--is she too fond of fishing?"

I swore between my teeth, but could not prevent the fellow 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 already 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