eace with horrid thoughts of what might be, should they
chance to come again."

"'Tis unfortunate, no doubt, lady," I answered. "Yet it was long ago,
and the plunderers are far away. Why not rise and raid them in turn?
To live under such a nightmare is miserable, and a poet on my side of
the ether has said--

"'He either fears his fate too much,
Or his deserts are small,
Who will not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all.'

It seems to me you must either bustle and fight again, or sit tamely
down, and by paying the coward's fee for peace, buy at heavy price,
indulgence from the victor."

"We," said An simply, and with no show of shame, "would rather die than
fight, and so we take the easier way, though a heavy one it is. Look!"
she said, drawing me to the broad window whence we could get a glimpse
of the westward town and the harbour out beyond the walls. "Look! see
yonder long row of boats with brown sails hanging loose reefed from
every yard ranged all along the quay. Even from here you can make out
the thin stream of porter slaves passing to and fro between them and
the granaries like ants on a sunny path. Those are our tax-men's
ships, they came yesterday from far out across the sea, as punctual as
fate with the first day of spring, and two or three nights hence we
trust will go again: and glad shall we be to see them start, although
they leave scupper deep with our cloth, our corn, and gold."

"Is that what they take for tribute?"

"That and one girl--the fairest they can find."

"One--only one! 'Tis very moderate, all things considered."

"She is for the thither king, Ar-hap, and though only one as you say,
stranger, yet he who loses her is apt sometimes to think her one too
many lost."

"By Jupiter himself it is well said! If I were that man I would stir
up heaven and hell until I got her back; neither man, nor beast, nor
devil should stay me in my quest!" As I spoke I thought for a minute
An's fingers trembled a little as she fixed a flower upon my coat,
while there was something like a sigh in her voice as she said--

"The maids of this country are not accustomed, sir, to be so strongly
loved."

By this time, breakfasted and rehabilitated, I was ready to go forth.
The girl swung back the heavy curtain that served in place of door
across the entrance of my chamber, and leading the way by a corridor
and marble steps while I followed, and whether it was the Martian air
or th