or body of the caldecta, which, however, was very well able to take care of itself.  In fact, the prey was secured at last not by my sword but by a blow from the caldecta’s beak, which pierced and paralysed the slender neck of our antagonist.  Some twenty thernee formed the booty of a chase certainly novel, and possessing perhaps as many elements of peril and excitement as that finest of Earthly sports which the affected cynicism of Anglo-Indian speech degrades by the name of “pig-sticking.”

When the falcons had been collected and recaged, and the bodies of the thernee consigned to a carriage brought up for the purpose by a subordinate who had watched the hunters’ course, our birds, from which we had dismounted, were somewhat rested; and Ergimo informed me that another and more formidable, as well as more valuable, prey was thought to be in sight a few miles off.  Mounted on a fresh bird, and resolutely closing my ears to his urgent and reasonable dissuasion, I joined the smaller party which was detached for this purpose.  As we were carried slowly at no great distance from the ground, managing our birds with ease by a touch on either side of the neck—­they are spurred at need by a slight electric shock communicated from the hilt of the sword, and are checked by a forcible pressure on the wings—­I asked Ergimo why the thernee were not rather shot than hunted, since utility, not sport, governs the method of capturing the wild beasts of Mars.

“We have,” he replied, “two weapons adapted to strike at a distance.  The asphyxiator is too heavy to be carried far or fast, and pieces of the shell inflict such injuries upon everything in the immediate neighbourhood of the explosion, as to render it useless where the value of the prey depends upon the condition of its skin.  Our other and much more convenient, if less powerful, projective weapon has also its own disadvantage.  It can be used only at short distances; and at these it is apt to burn and tear a skin so soft and delicate as that of the thernee.  Moreover, it so terrifies the caldecta as to render it unmanageable; and we are compelled to dismount before using it, as you may presently see.  Four or five of our party are now armed with it, and I wish you had allowed me to furnish you with one.”

“I prefer,” I answered, “my own weapon, an air-gun which I can fire sixteen times without reloading, and which will kill at a hundred yards’ distance.  With a weapon unknown to me I might not only fail altogether, but I might not improbably do serious injury, by my clumsiness and inexperience, to my companions.”

“I wish, nevertheless,” he said, “that you carried the mordyta.  You will have need of an efficient weapon if you dismount to share the attack we are just about to make.  But I entreat you not to do so.  You can see it all in perfect safety, if only you will keep far enough away to avoid danger from the fright of your bird.”