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第 49 节
作者:低诉      更新:2021-02-18 23:48      字数:9319
  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。
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  CHAPTER XIX
  All went well and we fled down the bitter 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 loom… ing 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
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  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 what; for lack of a better name; must still continue to
  be called the fish…shop; and finding her alone; frankly told her the salient
  points 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     her
  astonishment was unbounded。 Nothing would do but she must look upon
  the princess; so back we went to the hiding…place; and when Heru knew
  that   on   this   woman   depended   our   lives   she   stepped   ashore;   taking   the
  rugged Martian hand in her dainty fingers and begging her help so sweetly
  that 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   arms
  round     the  woman's     neck;   kissing    the  homely     cheeks   with   more    than
  imperial     fervour;    so   I  knew     all   was    well   thus   far;   and   stopped
  expectorating 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 of
  war…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 and
  paddle up this creek。        It runs out to the sea behind the town; and at the
  bar is my man's fishing…boat amongst many others。                 Lie hidden there till
  he   comes   if   you   value   your   lives。〃 So   in   we   got;   and   while   that   good
  Samaritan      went    back   to  her   house    we   cautiously    paddled    through    a
  deserted backwater to where it presently turned through low sandbanks to
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  the   gulf。    There   were   the   boats;   and   we   hid   the   canoe   and   lay   down
  amongst them till; soon after; a man; easily recognised as the husband of
  our friend; came sauntering down from the village。
  At   first   he   was   sullen;   not   unreasonably   alarmed   at   the   danger   into
  which his good woman was running him。                 But when he set eyes on Heru
  he softened immediately。          Prob… ably that thick…bodied fellow had never
  seen so much female loveliness in so small a bulk in all his life; and; being
  a man; he surrendered at discretion。
  〃In with you; then;〃 he growled; 〃since I must needs risk my neck for a
  pair of runaways who better deserve to be hung than I do。                    In with you
  both into this fishing…cobble of mine; and I will cover you with nets while
  I go for a mast and sail; and mind you lie as still as logs。                 The town is
  already full of soldiers looking for you; and it will be short shrift for us all
  if you are seen。〃
  Well aware of the fact and now in the hands of destiny; the princess
  and I lay down as bidden in the prow; and the man covered us lightly over
  with   one   of   those   fine   meshed   seines   used   by   these   people   to   catch   the
  little fish I had breakfasted on more than once。
  Materially I could have enjoyed the half…hour which fol… lowed; since
  such rest after exertion was welcome; the sun warm; the lapping of sea on
  shingle infinitely soothing; and; above all; Heru was in my arms!                     How
  sweet and childlike she was!           I could feel her little heart beating through
  her scanty clothing; while every now and then she turned her gazelle eyes
  to mine with a trust and admiration infinitely alluring。              Yes! as far as that
  went I could have lain there with that slip of maiden royalty for ever; but
  the fascination of the moment was marred by the thought of our danger。
  What   was   to   prevent   these   new   friends giving   us   away? They  knew   we
  had no money to recompense them for the risk they were running。                       They
  were poor; and a splendid reward; wealth itself to them; would doubtless
  be theirs if they betrayed us even by a look。            Yet somehow I trusted them
  as   I   have   trusted   the   poor   before   with   the   happiest   results;   and   telling
  myself this and comforting Heru; I lis… tened and waited。
  Minute by minute went by。           It seemed an age since the fisherman had
  gone;   but   presently   the   sound   of   voices   inter…   rupted   the   sea's   murmur。
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  Cautiously   stealing      a   glance   through    a   chink  imagine   my   feelings      on
  perceiving      half  a  dozen    of  Ar…hap's    soldiers    coming    down     the  beach
  straight towards us!        Then my heart was bitter within me; and I tasted of
  defeat;   even   with