of dread. Here and there a poor, wounded warrior raised himself to call
for water or plead for aid. They gathered up some of the full canteens
from those fallen, and from them gave relief to a number of
thirst-tortured ones on their way. Where she could be of assistance,
Zola stopped to apply a bandage, to bathe a fevered brow, to speak a
word of comfort, and Robert assisted her.
Thus they had traversed nearly a mile when a commotion off to the
southeast attracted their attention. A column of soldiers was marching
toward them. The flag of the metropolis waving at its head dispelled
their first fears. Robert guessed that it was a part of the right column
returning with prisoners from its victorious attack. This conjecture
subsequently proved correct.
The column soon overtook them. Room in an officers’ conveyance was
quickly and eagerly made for them by its solicitous occupants, and they
rolled back through the city gates in short order.
The approach of the victors had already been observed, and the great
city fairly bristled with gay flags. Welcoming, hysterical throngs
greeted them at the gates with deafening cheers and shouting.
Among the first to greet them were Hakon and Professor Palmer. They
arrived astride a pair of fine _lunas_, as the victorious troops were
entering the gates. These animals, which resemble our horses, were of a
small, precious herd owned by Hakon, they being quite rare.
With a glad cry Zola leaped out of the conveyance and ran toward her
father. Likewise he jumped to the ground and ran with pathetic eagerness
to meet her. They embraced each other while the soldiers and public
looked on in sympathetic understanding. Scarcely one of them but had
heard of their princess’ latest abduction with sorrow almost as keen as
her father’s, for she was dearly beloved by all.
A lump rose in Robert’s throat as he noted their touching reunion. Could
he--should he--pluck this Martian flower from her kin and country, to
take her back with him to a strange world? Once more he wondered whether
he could hope to make her happy--to make her forget. He feared not, and
his heart was heavy with the realization that he must give her up--that
an attempt to transplant her would prove a sad failure. Rather than see
her pine away in a strange world he would go back alone, even though it
broke his own heart. He turned to greet Professor Palmer as that
big-hearted and lovable man swung down off his steed and rushed upon him
with open arms. Truly, here was such a friend and companion as few men
ever were blessed with.
“Lad, lad, it is good to see you again!” And he hugged Robert with such
fervor that it was with difficulty he managed to return his greetings
and assure him that he was, indeed, quite safe, and delighted to be
back.
Hakon was even more effusive in his greeting. Leading his daughter by
the hand, he approached Robert almost humbly, albeit with an unconscious
dignity--the inevitable bearing of one born to rule.
“You have brought back my greatest treasure to me, sir; and victory,
too. Nothing you may ask of me is too great a reward.”
“I but shared in the glorious triumph of your brave men, sire,” Robert
answered.
The ruler made an imperious gesture born of habit.
“Enough, sir! We owe everything to you. Ask anything you will, and it is
yours.”
Robert was seized with considerable embarrassment. The cynosure of
countless worshiping eyes, including a pair of very blue and very
trustful ones beside the governor, he wished devoutly that he could
escape. His was not a bombastic nature. Naturally of a somewhat retiring
disposition, this sudden lionizing temporarily robbed him of coherent
speech.
He thought of poor Taggert, who had given his life. There was but one
thing that he wanted--and she was denied him. He had definitely
determined not to sacrifice her future happiness for his own. Her eyes
tempted him sorely. They seemed to reproach him. He realized that she
really loved him and hoped that he would ask for her hand. He also felt
assured that Hakon would readily consent to his marrying her, if he were
to remain upon Mars. But his first duty was to the professor and
Taggert. He had been entrusted with a mission by the loyal-hearted
reporter as the latter was dying. That mission he would fulfil to the
limit of his power.
“If you will persist in a reward, sire, then let it be in _tynir_, the
yellow metal which we call gold, and which is so plentiful here but so
rare on our planet--or in _rahmobis_, gems of great value among our
people, who know them as diamonds.”
“It shall be as you desire,” answered Hakon. “You shall have as much of
both as can be carried in the _Sphere_.”
Even as Robert spoke he saw the happiness fade from Zola’s countenance.
A look of gentle, pathetic reproach came into her eyes. She looked away
as if to hide it from him.
It flashed to Robert’s mind that perhaps, after all, they might not be
able to return to the Earth. Would they find the _Sphere_ intact? He
thrilled guiltily, realizing that the answer to this question might yet
make the princess his.
Slowly the procession threaded its way back through the cheering
populace toward the palace. Robert, astride Hakon’s mount, rode beside
Professor Palmer, while Zola and her father followed in one of the
luxurious motor carriages.
Her strange quiet disturbed her father.
“My daughter is not contented?” he ventured anxiously.
“I am but fatigued,” she replied, forcing a smile.
“Ah, of course you are, my dear. You must place yourself in the care of
my physicians immediately upon our arrival at the palace.”
Nevertheless, he hazarded a shrewd guess as to the real cause of her
lassitude.
As for Zola, her heart was heavy. Did Robert care more for precious
metals and gems than for her? She would gladly have gone to the utmost
ends of the universe with him unhesitatingly, with implicit trusting,
yet he seemed already to have forgotten his recent avowal of love. He
had even avoided her eye guiltily.
23
Ahead, Professor Palmer was listening sadly to Robert’s tale of
Taggert’s death.
“Poor lad. We must carry his story back to his paper and the world. He
forfeited his life for it. It is little enough.”
“Little enough,” Robert agreed. He thought of the sad message he would
bear to the girl who would be waiting for Taggert.
They rode on in silence.
At Robert’s suggestion upon their arrival at the palace, Hakon promptly
issued orders for the _Sphere_ to be sought out and brought back. A huge
conveyance and two-score men were dispatched for this purpose.
Preparations were already under way for a great feasting to commence
that night. An abundance of every kind of food produced by the little
planet was prepared by skilled cooks. Every delicacy known to the
Martians was procured for the occasion--even meat of the rare _mihida_.
The _mihida_ was the only animal still raised for food on Mars, on the
pitifully small acreages of available pasturage irrigated from the ducts
of precious water. None but the richest could enjoy this one available
meat; and even those but occasionally. Many casks of _irel_, an
excellent, mildly intoxicating vintage made from a fruit similar to our
grape, were iced and tapped in readiness for the approaching
festivities.
The great jubilee lasted not one night merely, but all of the next day
and night, though Hakon and his immediate party, including Robert and
the professor, withdrew with the first dawn.
Robert and Professor Palmer were each awarded a medal cross, highly
prized by the Martians as an emblem of supreme valor. Their presentation
was attended with much ceremony and a tremendous ovation. Seated between
the princess and her father, Robert and the professor were the cynosure
of all eyes and the envy of all the noblemen gathered.
The princess and Robert sat side by side, and their eyes were all for
each other. Frequently their hands stole into each other’s. Several
times Robert caught Hakon watching them covertly, a quizzical smile on
his face. What was behind that smiling mask Robert knew not, but he
thought he detected a trace of sadness in it.
During the height of the celebration news arrived of the formal
recognition of Hakon by the leaders of the dead emperor’s government, as
their new emperor. Convinced by the overwhelming, disastrous defeat of
Kharnov’s forces, and by the popular demand of the people at large,
these leaders were glad to hail Hakon as their new chief and ruler.
It was on the day following their participation in the festivities that
Robert was informed of the _Sphere’s_ discovery and safe return.
Examination of it, showed it to be unharmed.
Once more Robert wrestled with the stubborn engine which, in spite of
the apparent absence of any mechanical defect, persistently refused to
start. It finally developed that the petrol line from the tank to the
carburetor was clogged with sediment. With this removed, the engine
immediately ran as well as ever.
Hakon’s chemists had finally succeeded in refining a considerable
quantity of petrol--almost enough to fill the _Sphere’s_ reservoirs
completely. The _Sphere_ was in readiness at last for the return to the
Barth.
The days following the public acclamation brought many proposals to the
new emperor from the first nobles of the land for Zola’s hand in
marriage. This news Zola told Robert, and it was evident that she was
wondering why he did not speak to her father for himself. The emperor,
however, made no secret of the proposals. He even discussed them with
Robert. Contrary to the general rule, his gratitude survived his
successful acquisition of the throne, and his head remained unturned by
the sudden fawning and praise from men who formerly had been his
bitterest enemies. In spite of the high rank and the large fortunes of
his rivals, it was becoming apparent to Robert that the emperor was
inclined to favor a match between him and Zola. But he felt certain that
there would be a stipulation in that event that he must not return to
the Earth.
As the time decided upon between Robert and the professor for their
departure drew closer, Robert decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with
Hakon. Accordingly he sought an interview with him at the first
opportunity.
He found him in excellent spirits. In fact, so carefree did the new
monarch appear, that Robert hesitated to broach the subject; but
concluding that it was a case of now or never he put his temerity aside.
Hakon heard him out calmly. It was apparent that he had been expecting
this.
“My son,” be said, finally, “this is no surprize to me. The days of my
youth are not so distant that I do not recognize the symptoms of love.”
He sighed. “I can’t blame you for loving her. She is her mother over
again.”
His fine eyes softened as he spoke of his deceased wife. Robert did not
presume to interrupt his thoughts. He waited patiently while the emperor
sat in silent reminiscence.
Presently Hakon resumed, putting memories from him with a visible
effort.
“You are brave, my boy, and deserving of her great love--you see, she
has already told me. Duty calls you back to your world, many, many
leagues distant. But it is a younger, more luxuriant world. I will not
selfishly deny her happiness, though she is my greatest treasure. I
would that you could remain with us, but, if you must go, she may go
with you if she wishes. Let her decide. I make but one condition; if she
can not be happy in your world, bring her back to me if you can.”
“I promise, sire,” said Robert, touched too deeply at the emperor’s
sacrifice to say more for the moment.
A soft step caused them both to look up abruptly. Zola stood before
them. She had stolen in while they were talking. Her eyes were brimming
with misty happiness.
“I heard what you were saying, you dears,” she murmured.
“And your decision, Zola?” Robert faltered.
She pressed a white hand to her breast, swaying like a frail blade of
grass.
“I must think--I must think,” she said, faintly.
And she fled from the room.
24
That night brought no sleep to Robert. Torn between compassion for
Zola’s father, and fear that he himself would lose her, he tossed about
incessantly. When finally dawn came he fell into a sleep of utter mental
exhaustion.
When he opened his eyes it was with no recognition in them of anyone or
anything. The delirium of fever had laid hold upon him. The severe
strain and exertions of the past several days had reduced his vitality,
and the mental anguish of the night following his interview with Hakon
regarding Zola had proved the last straw.
For three days he remained delirious. During this time Zola nursed him
almost constantly. It was with greatest difficulty that she was induced
to snatch rest occasionally. And only to Professor Palmer would she
relinquish her post.
Hakon came to see Robert twice daily. His own physicians were in
continual attendance upon Robert. No effort was spared to bring about
his recovery if possible. On the fourth day, with the crisis safely
passed, Robert recovered his senses.
His first recognition was of Zola, to her unbounded delight. She was
seated at his bedside. During his delirium he had spoken her name many
times. At first he feared she might be another vision. He reached out to
touch her and reassure himself of her reality, only to sink back weakly.
She caught his hand.
“Do you know me now, Robert, darling?” she whispered, with eager
tenderness.
Robert pressed her hand happily, nodded, and promptly fell off into
peaceful slumber--his first normal rest in many hours.
When he again opened his eyes he was stronger and able to take some
nourishment, which Zola fed him. She had not left his bedside since his
first return to consciousness early that same morning. By the doctors’
orders she would not permit him to talk. But for lovers there are other
means of communication than mere words. Both were infinitely happy.
The effects of Zola’s continued vigil of the past three days and nights
were visible in her face. Only at Robert’s insistence, and for fear that
he would excite himself into a relapse, did she finally consent to take
to her bed for sleep. She slept the entire afternoon and night without
waking, and rose feeling greatly refreshed but with bitter reproachment
on her lips for those who had permitted her to sleep so long.
By this time Robert, much improved, was allowed to talk. Zola perched
herself on the edge of his bed.
“We are to be married as soon as you are up,” she announced, bending and
kissing him as he started to splutter some inane reply. The emperor,
coming in at the moment, laughed outright and made his exit quickly.
“And I shall see and know that wonderful world of yours,” she continued.
Her calm assertion swept Robert’s last scruples away. In his heart was a
song of joy, and his boyish enthusiasm and anticipation ran riot. The
thought of transplanting this desert flower from an unlovely, withered
planet to his own luxuriant world was a prospect of boundless,
delightful possibilities! It would seem a wonderland to her. She would
be the happiest and most appreciative girl alive--and his!
“You bet you shall, sweetheart,” he agreed. “You shall see our
wonderful, rugged mountains, and beautiful green valleys; the winding
rivers, the vast oceans, and the great lakes of water, the very drops of
which are so precious here. Our clouds, the mysterious storms that will
frighten you with their magnificence, and the silver rain; all these
wonders and many more shall be yours.”
“Do you really have big bodies and rivers of water, open and unprotected
from the sun’s rays? Why doesn’t it evaporate, or sink into the soil and
become lost?”
“You shall see, sweetheart. You shall ride upon oceans more vast than
your deserts, where nothing but rolling water can be seen.”
Zola shook her head in perplexity and with a certain measure of doubt.
All this seemed virtually impossible to her. Only her implicit
confidence in Robert enabled her to believe, and even in that belief she
was unconsciously prone to reserve. Well, she would see what she would
see. No doubt it was a wonderful world; but ----. However, she was a
diplomat.
“Truly these are wonderful things you tell me of, my love. I am wild to
see them.”
At this point they were interrupted by the doctor.
“You children must be quiet awhile now. I forbid my patient to excite
himself by talking any more till this afternoon.”
And as this doctor was an autocratic soul, accustomed to having his way,
they were forced to forego their conversation till later. In the heart
of each, however, there was a bewildering flutter of joy and happiness.
25
During the next few days Robert grew rapidly stronger, and soon was
permitted to be up and around.
Taggert’s body had been recovered, and now rested in state within one of
the royal vaults, where it had been placed with great reverence by the
Martians at the command of the emperor. Elaborate and touching were the
ceremonies which attended the procedure. Robert had not been able to
attend the ceremonies, but Professor Palmer, accompanied by the emperor
and Princess Zola, witnessed them together.
Resigned to their determination to return to their own planet, taking
his beloved daughter with them, the emperor bent his efforts toward
loading the _Sphere_ with both _tynir_ and _rahmobis_ in large
quantities.
Of the _tynir_ it was simply a question of how much the _Sphere_ would
be able to lift safely. More than two and a half tons of the precious
metal, in small ingots and in heavy sacks, were stacked on the floor of
the main chamber--virgin gold, every ounce of it.
The supply of _rahmobis_, or diamonds, though not so plentiful, was a
far greater treasure even than the precious yellow metal, although most
of these were in the rough. They averaged in size from half a carat to
several carats, with here and there a specimen running ten or fifteen
carats. Of these assorted, uncut stones there were nine sacks, each
about the size of a five-pound sack of sugar. In addition there were
several packets of finely cut and polished gems, the product of skilled
Martian cutters. These varied approximately from a quarter of a carat to
two carats, but a dozen or more fine stones weighed more than ten carats
each! Some excellent emeralds and rubies were included among the cut
stones, but only a few, because, while the white diamonds were quite
plentiful on Mars, the green and the pigeon-red varieties were very
rare. Truly the _Sphere_ was to carry back a ransom of kings!
But of all this treasure none was so precious to Robert as his princess.
With Robert’s complete recovery, a great pageant was arranged in which
the emperor, princess and all the nobles were to participate. Robert and
Professor Palmer were invited to ride with Zola and her father in the
procession.
Elaborate preparations were made for this event which was to typify the
recent victory and the reunion of all factions, and the gratitude of the
Martians for the timely aid by their visitors from Earth. Great
ornamental arches were hurriedly built, and large quantities of the
various kinds of Martian flowers were accumulated in readiness for the
event. The gathering of these flowers was no small task, since the
restricted growing areas of the waning planet permitted of but little
deviation from the grim task of producing enough food to sustain its
populace.
The pageant was also to serve another purpose. At its termination the
emperor was to announce the giving of his daughter’s hand in marriage to
Robert and her subsequent departure for Earth with him. Some resistance
was anticipated from various nobles, particularly those who were
eligible for Zola’s hand. It was because of a possible demonstration
against, the princess’ departure that the emperor, with excellent
foresight and admirable sacrifice, had commanded that the wedding take
place quietly at the palace immediately after the pageant, and that the
_Sphere_ start on its long journey with his most precious possession
immediately afterward.
The day of the great pageant dawned with the same wonderful brilliance
that heralded 680 of the 687 days of the Martian year.
All preparations of the royal party for the pageant were completed
before noon. At midday Robert and the professor partook of a simple
luncheon with Zola and her father. With the specter of separation so
near, conversation languished, and it was with real effort that the
professor maintained at least a semblance of cheerfulness within the
little group through his persistent but tactful patter of small talk.
Early in the afternoon the nobles began to arrive. Within an hour the
assembly of plumed and gayly dressed riders had formed in marching
order, and with a great clattering of hoofs rode through the big archway
leading from the palace terrace to the main road.
A company of guards led. The emperor and his daughter, accompanied by
Robert and Professor Palmer, followed them. Behind them came the chief
nobles of the great empire.
From the time of the earliest formation on the palace terrace, it became
apparent that some peculiar unrest pervaded the assembly. This grew more
tense as the time passed, and was only temporarily relieved when the
column had ridden out from the palace. Several times as his mount shied,
Robert fancied he surprized secret communications between certain of the
nobles. The ostensibly unconcerned looks upon their countenances, and
their abrupt cessation of whispered confidences as he caught their eye,
somehow forced an unpleasant conviction upon Robert that these
communications not only concerned the emperor and his party, but
presaged evil for them. He wondered if, in some manner, advance news of
his impending marriage to the princess and of their intended departure
had got abroad. Anticipation of such information likely would produce
resentment among the young-bloods who had hoped to obtain the princess’
hand themselves, and they might endeavor to stir up trouble to prevent
the match and the departure of the princess. He determined to keep a
sharp outlook for any sign of treachery.
Into the main thoroughfare they swung. Here they halted briefly while
the rest of the procession promptly formed behind. Then they moved on
again toward the heart of the city.
Soon they passed beneath artificial arches over flower-strewn streets
lined with dense crowds of eager-eyed, cheering Martians who were
gathered to greet their new emperor and to see his mysterious aids from
the planet Earth, who had put their powerful enemies to rout at the
eleventh hour. Robert could not suppress a feeling of exhilaration as
the deafening acclamations of the populace swelled about them. Fully
half the demonstration was for the professor and himself. He glanced at
the princess--_his_ princess--riding close beside him, her lovely cheeks
aglow with excitement. Her eyes were turned toward him in rapt
admiration. Small wonder that Robert’s head swam a bit with pride and
keen enjoyment in this, his moment of supreme triumph and popularity.
The professor, too, seemed not without his appreciation of the moment.
The procession finally reached the Galpraæ, a huge amphitheater situated
in the eastern end of the city. Here, flanked by his guardsmen on one
side and the nobles on the other, the emperor spoke briefly to the
people. Robert, the professor, and Zola occupied positions of honor near
him.
The people listened to his speech with marked respect and interest to
its conclusion, when they burst into wild cheering lasting many minutes.
The emperor held up his hand for quiet, till finally the demonstration
ceased. Then, calmly, distinctly, he announced his daughter’s early
nuptials and departure with Robert.
For some seconds after this statement a deep silence reigned. Then,
suddenly, one of the nobles rose to his feet!
He pointed dramatically at Robert and Professor Palmer.
“Shall we permit these Earth-beings to carry off our own princess to
another planet? Shall we permit her to wed one of these common beings
while the best, the noblest, blood of all Mars is offered for her hand?
_No!_ A thousand times no! Our emperor’s better judgment has been swayed
by some strange influence of these beings. Brethren, let us not stand by
idly and permit this outrage!”