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 looming 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