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diff --git a/62-0.zip b/62-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fbdd59d..0000000 --- a/62-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/62-h.zip b/62-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d0a90fb..0000000 --- a/62-h.zip +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7546 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Princess of Mars - -Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #62] -Last updated: October 12, 2012 -Last updated: December 8, 2012 -Last updated: February 6, 2013 -Last updated: March 11, 2013 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[Frontispiece: With my back against a golden throne, I fought once -again for Dejah Thoris] - - - - -A PRINCESS OF MARS - - -by - -Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - -To My Son Jack - - - - -FOREWORD - - -To the Reader of this Work: - -In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book form, -I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will -be of interest. - -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent -at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil -war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the -tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. - -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the -children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those -pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he -would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with -stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all -loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod. - -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over -six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the -trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his -hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, -reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and -initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of -a typical southern gentleman of the highest type. - -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight -even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my -father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only -laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back -of a horse yet unfoaled. - -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some -fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and -I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, -nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were -with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when -he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into -space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; -and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I -did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward. - -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of -the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was -evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. -As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, -in fact he would not talk of them at all. - -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where -he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a -year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market--my father and -I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia -at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, -situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last -visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in -writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript. - -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished -me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment -in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will -there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to -carry out with absolute fidelity. - -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window -standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the -Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. -I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood -that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man. - -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first -of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to -come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger -generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand. - -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the -morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me -out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend of the -Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found -dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached -to an adjoining property. - -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his -place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body -and of his affairs. - -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local -police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. -The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the -body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, -he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched -above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the -spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen -him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the -skies. - -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a -local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of death -from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and -withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would -find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have -followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able. - -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and -that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had -had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. -The instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this -was carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary. - -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire -income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. -His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to -retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was -I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death. - -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that -the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring -lock which can be opened _only from the inside_. - -Yours very sincerely, - -Edgar Rice Burroughs. - - - - -CONTENTS - - I On the Arizona Hills - II The Escape of the Dead - III My Advent on Mars - IV A Prisoner - V I Elude My Watch Dog - VI A Fight That Won Friends - VII Child-Raising on Mars - VIII A Fair Captive from the Sky - IX I Learn the Language - X Champion and Chief - XI With Dejah Thoris - XII A Prisoner with Power - XIII Love-Making on Mars - XIV A Duel to the Death - XV Sola Tells Me Her Story - XVI We Plan Escape - XVII A Costly Recapture - XVIII Chained in Warhoon - XIX Battling in the Arena - XX In the Atmosphere Factory - XXI An Air Scout for Zodanga - XXII I Find Dejah - XXIII Lost in the Sky - XXIV Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend - XXV The Looting of Zodanga - XXVI Through Carnage to Joy - XXVII From Joy to Death - XXVIII At the Arizona Cave - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -With my back against a golden throne, - I fought once again for Dejah Thoris . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots. - -She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the - Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours. - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, -possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other -men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have -always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did -forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living -forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is -no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have -died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as -you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I -believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the -story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot -explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an -ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that -befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an -Arizona cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript -until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average -human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not -purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and -held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths -which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions -which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in -this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries -of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of -several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the -servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. -Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to -retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate -officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely -fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and -privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein -that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining -engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical -requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to -make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against -the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down -the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of -his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and -all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as -they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight -of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of -the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not -given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself -that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his -trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure -myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to -ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious -marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in -lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless -clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in -the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of -cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no -longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I -strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, -started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a -canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon -dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. -They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies -had been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await -the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the -question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up -impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should -catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I -am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, -wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me -throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me -by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword -has been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed -on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast -walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I -reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon -the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of -having been recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for -such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only -a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of -speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished -to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I -urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope -that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two -shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, -and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and -difficult mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further -sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau -near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, -overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, -and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some -object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly -riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I -easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and -made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any -possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this -episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, -because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts -have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one -where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many -hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am -subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to -tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center -of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but -within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had -whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of -warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, -convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars -was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, -arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon -lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the -braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet -I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches -as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his -cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward -glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more -hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could -distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it -is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, -that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, -and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows -of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass -than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the -summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry -me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which -befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the -yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off -to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse -had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail -was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I -wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, -and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom -of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn -to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was -about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this -opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a -startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced -water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed -his hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour -in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a -polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with -a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude -endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave -to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in -diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn -floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote -period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense -shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into -other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my -long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the -fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present -location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave -against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire -to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' rest, but I -knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the -hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an -effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I -was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of -approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet -but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my -will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I -noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and -only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also -came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume -that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain -my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short -stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff -around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had -ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along -the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped -they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the -thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was -sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the -opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes -bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, -and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the -shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow -ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason -I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were -still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the -fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of -the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they -turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their -efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the -braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their -wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was -still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been -sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror -which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so -I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced -in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through -since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured -during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and unknown -danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn -in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of -wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man -who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of -a powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody -moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to -the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but -vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in -that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging -rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in -search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious -unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within -my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early -morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the -dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my -startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of -a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to -my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an -effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I -could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less -mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary -feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, -and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown -foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own -body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward -the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked -first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then -down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet -here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for -a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My -first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over -forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I -could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my -efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from -every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed -the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and -unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which -menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was -in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I -was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie -in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the -rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the -cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I -leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear -Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as -an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through -me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what -now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with -myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet -nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the -direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises -I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; -probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs -with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I -saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and -level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of -soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona -moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange -lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details -of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and -inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of -some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the -heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for -the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by -a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I -felt a spell of overpowering fascination--it was Mars, the god of war, -and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it -seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw -me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself -drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of -space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was -on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I -was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told -me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you -that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation -which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I -seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of -which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was -rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been -true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there -were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the -sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a -low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no -other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat -thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the -effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried -me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted -softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now -commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in -the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the -muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to -walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a -couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or -back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly -attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the -mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the -lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the -only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan -of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly -well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall -of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but -as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet -and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given -me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches -in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, -perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size -being about two and one-half feet in diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat -blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. -They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six -legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an -intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms -or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a -trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of each -other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or -in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were -small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these -young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center -of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, -this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in -the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of -proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is -dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These -latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and -terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points -which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. -The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest -and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive -skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these -weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to -speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs -were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous -little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach -of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen -areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might -have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. -It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which -warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped -so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its -fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the -butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without -ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to -turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of -that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, -and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I -had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific -incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for -such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, -would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we -sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while -the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side -of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help -preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins -of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet -at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, -larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out -behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its -snout to its long, massive neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and -its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid -yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and -nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their -approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a -characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man -and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have -well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in -existence there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in -all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are -identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or -rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made -but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself -in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to -get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. -Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap -to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it -must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it -seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty -feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on -the opposite side of the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning -saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me -with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme -astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that -I had not molested their young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little -Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me -with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which -weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are -muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. -The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in -proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were -one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own -weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me -as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their -fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the -appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people -in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been -pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to -the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to -decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a -rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned -later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, -and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel -is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have -learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which -they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the -extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The -theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but -the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their -wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an -attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of -these death-dealing machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away -in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number -alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred -yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the -warrior by the enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to -have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force -had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, -and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed -and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, -addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is -needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though -waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking -his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on -Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained -to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke -for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear -to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the -intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action -with which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his -open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and -stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and -locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back -toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a -signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really -frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride -behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow -designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him -on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments. - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of -hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A PRISONER - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of -Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the -Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity -of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. -Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined -roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table -land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were -deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not -having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center -of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings -immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred -creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered -them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied -in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were -much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving -nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter -in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which -were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in -height from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all -looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; -older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, -until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon -their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living -Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever -returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once -embarking upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and -possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine -hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in -aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes -during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians -fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is -about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark -were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to -the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to -counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be -considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous -sports and the almost continual warfare between the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact -that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of -destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious -to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of -the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the -plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has -rested upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed -of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which -sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some -hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a -huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a -gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper -squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, -gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings -ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended a -short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in -which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were -entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; -these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the -great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the -chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. -Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of -extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race -in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his -arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were -few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My -captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him -as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of -my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler -followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to -me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, -had their missions been peaceful--otherwise they would have exchanged -shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain -of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and -warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with -his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the -chieftain addressed me at some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that -neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I -smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the -similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me -that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, -therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that -the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is -a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance -with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a -fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest -hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict -death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my -muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to -follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the -amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this -did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering -fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I -did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of -brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's -rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a -felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back -toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance -of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the -unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter -and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, -when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had -won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of -his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out -one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further -mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to -the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated -the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several -jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, -he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and gathering myself -together I "sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good -hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but -landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy -jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the -chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, -and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to -demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently -would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated -commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth -and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions -and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and -together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at -maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light -olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I -afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars -Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings -fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs -upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the -natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all -there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity -which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous -creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now -occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of -the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I -obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its -ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient -puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head -bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were -equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or -two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but -wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left alone -in such close proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of meat; but -my fears were groundless, as the beast, after surveying me intently for -a moment, crossed the room to the only exit which led to the street, -and lay down full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during -the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice saving my -life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the room -in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted scenes of -rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, -trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens--scenes which -might have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a master hand, -so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; yet nowhere was -there a representation of a living animal, either human or brute, by -which I could guess at the likeness of these other and perhaps extinct -denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the -possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met -with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. These she -placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a short ways off -regarded me intently. The food consisted of about a pound of some -solid substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, -while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was not -unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short -time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from -an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare -indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically without water, -but seems to distill its plentiful supply of milk from the products of -the soil, the moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single -plant of this species will give eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need of -rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must have -slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. -I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, but it had become -partially dislodged and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. -Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly -afterwards adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. This -girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in contact, -disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her -ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and her solicitous -care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as there -is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature are -sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from brilliant -daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly illumined or -very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars happen to be in the -sky almost total darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, -rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in the -heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the -further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against -the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us from our moon. -The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be seen -hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or three times each -night, revealing all her phases during each transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well that -nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian night, for -the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual -development, have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil lamp -which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white -light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained by -mining in one of several widely separated and remote localities it is -seldom used by these creatures whose only thought is for today, and -whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in a semi-barbaric state -for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I awaken -until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in number, were -all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley -array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay stretched the -sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen him on the preceding -day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued -upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall me should I -endeavor to escape. - -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the exact -attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room. -I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him should he -pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had begun to take -great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from -the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my -watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by -moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make -reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously -away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to -let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in -my rear as I made my way along the deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we -reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering -strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to -have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when -almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away -from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar -to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the latter would -have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this -is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, -and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the -Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the -beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in -my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me. This maneuver -gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able to reach the city -quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for -a window about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal beneath -me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely had I gained -a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped me by the neck -from behind and dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown -upon my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like creature, -white and hairless except for an enormous shock of bristly hair upon -its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did the -Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one huge foot, -while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering creature behind -me. This other, which was evidently its mate, soon came toward us, -bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain -me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, and -had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or legs, -midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were close -together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but more -laterally located than those of the Martians, while their snouts and -teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. Altogether -they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with the green -Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned face -when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the doorway -full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of fear the ape -which held me leaped through the open window, but its mate closed in a -terrific death struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so hideous a -creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall I -witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. The -strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures is -approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an advantage -in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into the breast of -his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the ape, backed by -muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had -locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his life, -and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where I momentarily -expected the former to fall limp at the end of a broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of its -breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful jaws. -Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one emitting a sound -of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes of my beast bulging -completely from their sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. -That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which seems -ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had fallen to -the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging it with all -the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon the head of the -ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had -returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the -building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway and the -sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched -upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his -rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against the -iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an unknown -world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so far as I -might be concerned, seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I -might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake me; -at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against his -four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first blow, -for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, he could -reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could recover for -a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had turned -to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form of my -erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four winds. He -lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes fastened upon -me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. I could not -withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my -rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf as he -had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to -prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily as I -could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below the knees, -eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him off his balance -that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and -swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed it -with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. The effect was -marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the second -blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and -gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, I -beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in the -doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the second -time, the recipient of their zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had quickly -informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a handful of -warriors to search for me. As they had approached the limits of the -city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into -the building, frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible -that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and had witnessed -my short but decisive battle with him. This encounter, together with -my set-to with the Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of -jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or affection, -these people fairly worship physical prowess and bravery, and nothing -is too good for the object of their adoration as long as he maintains -his position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, was -the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in -laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober -with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the monster, -rushed to me and carefully examined my body for possible wounds or -injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed she smiled -quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing over -the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and whose life -I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in argument, and -finally one of them addressed me, but remembering my ignorance of his -language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave -some command to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, and -I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was well I -did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its holster -and was on the point of putting an end to the creature when I sprang -forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing -of the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the wood and -masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it to -its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise which my -actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they could not -understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such attributes as -gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked -enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my -own devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over me -with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came to -know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more -gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million green -Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which followed -while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the plaza, -where I found the entire community engaged in watching or helping at -the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled -chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, -each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their appearance, -might easily have drawn the entire wagon train when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments -of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the back of each of -the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a young Martian driver. -Like the animals upon which the warriors were mounted, the heavier -draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by -telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively few -spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the universal -language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher and lower -animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater -or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species -and the development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged -me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward -the point by which I had entered the city the day before. At the head -of the caravan rode some two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like -number brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were heavily armed, and -at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own beast -following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature never -left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our -way led out across the little valley before the city, through the -hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my -journey from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the entire -cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we reached the level -expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the -four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by -the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other -lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars -Tarkas explaining something to the principal chieftain, whose name, by -the way, was, as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas -Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling -to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this -time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and -quickly responding to his command I advanced to the side of the -incubator where the warriors stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs -had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little -devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving -restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator -and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of -yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess -that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, -leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the -incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the -incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I was thus -permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which consisted -in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both -male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the -chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the -little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run the -full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the -women and older children; the last in the line capturing the first -little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had left -the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. As the -women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their -respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young -men were later turned over to some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was -over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous -little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching -them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are -loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs -in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation, they -step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely -unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the -common children of the community, and their education devolves upon the -females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as -was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a -year before she became the mother of another woman's offspring. But -this counts for little among the green Martians, as parental and filial -love is as unknown to them as it is common among us. I believe this -horrible system which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause -of the loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother -love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught that -they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by their -physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove -deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they -see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass -through from earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless -struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of -which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional -life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth -rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, -and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are -hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature -is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully -examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all but about one -hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each yearly supply. -At the end of five years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have -been chosen from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in -the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays after a -period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed -today was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one -per cent of the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever -hatched we knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were -not wanted, as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency -to prolonged incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained -for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time -for return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or -no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of -such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another -five years. I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an -alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed -an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty -degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and west by two large -fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this -district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a -supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a -tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden -forth early in the morning and had not returned until just before -darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean -vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported them to the -incubator, which they had then walled up for another five years, and -which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that -period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator -were located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited -yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange -to build their vaults and incubators nearer home has always been a -mystery to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, unsolved and -unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much -attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian -education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and -physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable -amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The -Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I -could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was -said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic -powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went -on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic -messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended for -me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At -first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an -undoubted advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, -but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open -ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and -hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular -evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious -doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, -the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was -nowhere to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in fact, -the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, and, -wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted to an -upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley and the -hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to -cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over -the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and another, -and another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, -sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper -works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device that -gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at -which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding the -forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had -discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not -say, but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly and -without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific volley from -the windows of the buildings facing the little valley across which the -great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, -at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short distance and -then turning back with the evident intention of completing a great -circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite our -firing line; the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening -upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, and -I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had never -been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as -though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of -each bullet, while the banners and upper works dissolved in spurts of -flame as the irresistible projectiles of our warriors mowed through -them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward -learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught -the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the -guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for his -fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For example, -a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct their fire -entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus of the big -guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends to the smaller -guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; still others the -officers; while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon -the other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the -craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control -of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their -energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to -the roofs of the buildings which we occupied and followed the -retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of the -outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This -had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unmanned, -as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung -from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful -manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite -apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in -a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control herself -sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet -her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to -reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I could see the -bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could not make out what -manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign of life was manifest -upon her as she drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but -some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the roofs to -cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of reinforcements. -It soon became evident that she would strike the face of the buildings -about a mile south of our position, and as I watched the progress of -the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being hauled -to ground by their fellows below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel -from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, -evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of them appeared -from below dragging a little figure among them. The creature was -considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, and -from my balcony I could see that it walked erect upon two legs and -surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity with -which I had not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned to -transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, -jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods -and liquids, including many casks of water, the first I had seen since -my advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to -the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged in -what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors and -over the decks and works of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave -the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an -instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose -from the point where the missile struck he swung over the side and was -quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneously released, and the great warship, lightened by the -removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, her decks and -upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the -flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. -Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until -finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was -awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating -funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes -of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying -the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose -unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to the -street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat and -annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than the routing -by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though unfriendly, -creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I -free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my soul -I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, and a mighty -hope surged through me that the fleet would return and demand a -reckoning from the green warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly -attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the -hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as though -I had been the object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was -returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been given up for -that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the open -plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we remained at -the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, and -depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and -happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a -glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish figure, -similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past life. She did -not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing through the -portal of the building which was to be her prison she turned, and her -eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her -every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, -caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was of a -light reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of her -cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a -strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied -her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely -naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect -and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and she -made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, of -course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and then -the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified her face as -she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled with -loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her signal, and -ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively felt that she had -made an appeal for succor and protection which my unfortunate ignorance -had prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her -usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did not -know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; enough -only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited me. -A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled the -trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed the -work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made me -an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely by -the women, who not only attend to the education of the young in the -arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the artisans who -produce every manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They -make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything of -value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare they form -a part of the reserves, and when the necessity arises fight with even -greater intelligence and ferocity than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make the -laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs have -been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of the -culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, but -seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law. In one -respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our -first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as -she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where I had had -my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the -unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola manifested -toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few green Martians who -took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that -they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common -language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by -my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more days I -had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable me to carry -on a passable conversation and to fully understand practically all that -I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and her -youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had retired for -the night it was customary for the adults to carry on a desultory -conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I -could understand their language I was always a keen listener, although -I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience chamber the -conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears on the -instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the beautiful -captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression I had noted -upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. That it -denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, judging all things by -mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to affect -indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola's attitude -toward the object of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and it was -toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes of the -red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her -last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," replied Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She is -very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold her for -ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," snapped -Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled with water, and -the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. In our day we -have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and -atavism. It will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt that he would care -to entrust such as you with the grave responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red woman," -retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would she should we have -fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her kind who war upon us, -and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the -reflection of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their -fellows, except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at -peace with none; forever warring among our own kind as well as upon the -red men, and even in our own communities the individuals fight amongst -themselves. Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from -the time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the -river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an -unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible existence! -Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what -you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a -continuation of the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this -life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked -the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all -lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One thing the episode had -accomplished was to assure me of Sola's friendliness toward the poor -girl, and also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other females. -I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I had discovered that she -hated cruelty and barbarity I was confident that I could depend upon -her to aid me and the girl captive to escape, provided of course that -such a thing was within the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape to, -but I was more than willing to take my chances among people fashioned -after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the hideous and -bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much -of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal life -has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the dreamless -and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed -me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leave -the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, -however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all other -deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled -by the great white apes of my second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola -had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it, -and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by -ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden -territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back -into the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly I -found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the -country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, to -view what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose from -the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity -to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute loved -me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any other -Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for the -acts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty -to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and -thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather -than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful -guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind, -I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the -normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this great brute, -sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground and -putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talking -in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at -home, as I would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkable -to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring the -entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout until -his great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have -ever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial -distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumped -up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight; -then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful puppy presenting -its back for the petting it craves. I could not resist the -ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and -forth in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; the -first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp when his horse, -long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him off -headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then I -remembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, suffering, death. -Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and back, talked -to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded -him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found -nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly -colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until lost in -mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward found -that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height; -the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas -relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically a -prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits -before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile -masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of -my prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth for -good and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment of my -liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to be -discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She -was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned -her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, -that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling of -companionship; it was good to know that someone else on Mars beside -myself had human instincts of a civilized order, even though the -manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused such -passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw her -perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, an -atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved and -loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to -view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and also -convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their -language, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret on the -grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until I -had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to -enter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them -stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women was -Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing of -the preceding day, the results of which she had reported to the -occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentary -nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful -manner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to another she -either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She -seemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the -hatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed -by unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; if -the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at -night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the same -token would she have received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on -me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. -Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused -Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention to -me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take -atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a low, -well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on a -peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. -The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for -you know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of -our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on -Mars to support a single human life. For ages we have maintained the -air and water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of the brutal and -ignorant interference of you green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows? -Must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little -above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without -written language, without art, without homes, without love; the victims -of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in -common. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. -Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the light -of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find -the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may do -still more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the -greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you -come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at -the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. -What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were -moved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been strong -enough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a new and -mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expression -as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior. -It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with -age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of -benignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and -terrible countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of -thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, -and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which -felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and -turning toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did the -aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but the -mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they -smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, for -the brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as that -blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such length -of time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for -I realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow -aimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand -descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him. -The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but I -believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in the -terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in -the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew his -short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking -one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tusks -with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous -chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too close -to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do in -direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not fight a -fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon with -which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild -and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he was -little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment or -two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the -battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised -her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side of the -room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from -my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. I -was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an -ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand upon -my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in -the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of -your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner -of man are you, that you consort with the green men, though your form -is that of my race, while your color is little darker than that of the -white ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that I -fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present, -that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, your -protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and I -claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; -but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that -my regalia was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash one -of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I saw -that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read in -the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by the -other who had brought me my original equipment, and now for the first -time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first battle in the -audience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent; -I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which always -marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to -call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a -conqueror; the trappings and the position of the man I killed. In -truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later was the -cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticed -that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and -the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner. -Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and -dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that you -furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have to -thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other respects -needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented -temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two -chieftains whose metal you now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killed -me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would a -Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other -purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to -dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken into -the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the -headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be -accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chief -who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to our mighty and -most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not of -Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as -I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience -and guided by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave me -alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians -with whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you, -or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure, -whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young -woman, whoever would offer her injury or insult in the future must -figure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that you -belittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and -I can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics are -not incompatible with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was -I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and their -attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only comment -was more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of -Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to her -feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardian -harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I not -now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities -of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by the -faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the audience chamber -of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to -watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume custody -of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two -little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I -informed them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions bestowed -upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to Dejah -Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon Mars, nor -women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and departed to -hatch up deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah -Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters -where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her -that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and -slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I must do -your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any circumstances. -The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was a great warrior, -and had by his promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of -Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. You -are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank -you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor by -the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, -or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, and thus win -first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to kill -Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, which -we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more -pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also found in -this building real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly -wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, -unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed -many human figures in the compositions. These were of people like -myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad -in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, -and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. -The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted -for the most part, a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she -gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long -extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking the -plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining and in the -rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the -bedding and such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your -pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these past -few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and I -think I understand your position among these people, but what I cannot -fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where may you -be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. You speak my -language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned -it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages differ. -Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties into the lost sea -of Korus, is there supposed to be a different language spoken, and, -except in the legends of our ancestors, there is no record of a -Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the -valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They would -kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if that were -true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were pressed -against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia a -gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have never -seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, so far as -I am concerned. Do you believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she should -believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would follow a -general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, -or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should I care what she -thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and as my eyes -met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me -with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, -she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a -'gentleman' is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on -Barsoom no man lies; if he does not wish to speak the truth he is -silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she asked, -and it seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that far-gone -day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, for -I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has permitted me to -serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That it -was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I hope -that she would do so however much I craved her confidence and respect. -I would much rather not have told her anything of my antecedents, but -no man could look into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest -behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not of -the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different--but why should I -trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I -believe because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it satisfied -her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of fact it was -about the only kind of logic that could be brought to bear upon my -problem. We fell into a general conversation then, asking and -answering many questions on each side. She was curious to learn of the -customs of my people and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on -Earth. When I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity with -earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your planet -fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which takes -place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in the -heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general the -instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, which -permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what is -transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures -are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, objects -no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly recognized. I -afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as well as the -instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, "why is -it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants of -that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies with -strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous -contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; -while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings might -cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining -that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange -garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our -meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of course, would -have to share the quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed -much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she -had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our quarters were -located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have -been eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance that -had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of little consequence, -merely promising ourselves to be warned to the utmost caution in the -future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished -over a hundred thousand years before. They were the early progenitors -of her race, but had mixed with the other great race of early Martians, -who were very dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced into -a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had compelled -them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing fertile -areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of life, against -the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the race -of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful daughter. -During the ages of hardships and incessant warring between their own -various races, as well as with the green men, and before they had -fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much of the high -civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point where it -feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more practical -civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with the ancient -Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary race, -but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of readjustment -to new conditions, not only did their advancement and production cease -entirely, but practically all their archives, records, and literature -were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning this -lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city in which -we were camping was supposed to have been a center of commerce and -culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural -harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the harbor, -while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom had been the -channel through which the shipping passed up to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, and -lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging toward -the center of the oceans, as the people had found it necessary to -follow the receding waters until necessity had forced upon them their -ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized it. -We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions by a -messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear -before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the audience -chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated upon the -rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, and, -fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have by -your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are -not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can kill -a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are reported -to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; -a prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are returned -from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, if proved, -would be sufficient grounds for your execution, but we are a just -people and you shall have a trial on our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus -so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run off with -the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; it is I -who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to -command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to a better man, for -such is the custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not wish -to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John Carter, I -should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may you be killed -by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in -self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in -an attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of these -two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. The -safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest -importance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such a -capture; she is the granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, -who is also our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us -that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we are a -just and truthful race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible for -this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, -and now I recalled those portions of our conversation which had touched -upon escape and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted female. -As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no warrior had -the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as did his ablest -lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my mind, -my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my every faculty -on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute necessity for -escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, -for I was convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification -of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he had -descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked -contrast to most of his fellows, a slave to that brute passion which -the waning demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost -stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches -of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far better -that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, as did -those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took their own lives -rather than fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tarkas -approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His demeanor -toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we had not just -parted a few moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I smiled, "I am not -yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the plaza -to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied by Sola -and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he said, "and -the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of -these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman to the -red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, but -you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and so, if you -wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a -chieftain you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the retinues of -the chieftains whose metal you now wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he -promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care of -my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of the sleeping -silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of combat, for the nights -were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the winding -corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. The -beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, I -was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought -me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor of -the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig up some -means of communication whereby she might signal me in case she needed -either my services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and other -sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this floor. -The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which -formed the center of the square made by the buildings which faced the -four contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the quartering -of the various animals belonging to the warriors occupying the -adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, yet -numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like contraptions -bore witness to the beauty which the court must have presented in -bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom -stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the -graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome men; -the happy frolicking children--all sunlight, happiness and peace. It -was difficult to realize that they had gone; down through ages of -darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of -culture and humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final -composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and -casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the air -craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two -chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it had -become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the back -rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second load, which they -advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip -they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it -seemed, formed the retinues of the two chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the -relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it -is most difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians -is owned in common by the community, except the personal weapons, -ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone -can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more of these -than are required for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as -custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the community -as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a military -unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of -instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their -continual roamings and their unending strife with other communities and -with the red Martians. His women are in no sense wives. The green -Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. -Their mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is directed -without reference to natural selection. The council of chieftains of -each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky -racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but -the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of the -mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, -loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men -and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but -better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at the expense -of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether -I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find -quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of -the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, and directed -the others to take up the various activities which had formerly -constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did -I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within -the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they -could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to -be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children -was far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in many -of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, including -lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore the warriors. -These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as dangerous and -vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are sufficiently -tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I -wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the -native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the thoats -did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions -of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with -the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was -continued until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man -and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he -might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, his -torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned in -accordance with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of -kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that they -could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between the ears to -impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won -their confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand with -animals, and by inclination, as well as because it brought more lasting -and satisfactory results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings -with the lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with -far less compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible -brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great snouts -against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond to my -every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the Martian -warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly power unknown -on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, when he -had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my thoats -which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth while -feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer sentiments -have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of battle as well -as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my every command, and -therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior -for the reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community to adopt -my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told -me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often -were the means of turning victory into defeat, since, at a crucial -moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' only -rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it -before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment marked -the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and before I left -the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a -regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to see. -The effect on the precision and celerity of the military movements was -so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented me with a massive anklet of -gold from his own leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to -the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack being -deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little of -Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my -lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of my -thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been absent, -walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in -the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing -far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose ferocity I -was only too well acquainted with. However, since Woola accompanied -them on all their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of -the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced -to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for -Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on -some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I -had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. -There seemed bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though -we had been born under the same roof rather than upon different -planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my -approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to -be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little -right hand upon my left shoulder in true red Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, "and -that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, "notwithstanding -the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you would -not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, but not his -heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she continued, "for -whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars Tarkas' -retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get Sola and me -out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their terrible -projectiles. You know that these have to be manufactured by artificial -light, as exposure to sunlight always results in an explosion. You -have noticed that their bullets explode when they strike an object? -Well, the opaque, outer coating is broken by the impact, exposing a -glass cylinder, almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute -particle of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which nothing -can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you will note the -absence of these explosions, while the morning following the battle -will be filled at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding -missiles fired the preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding -projectiles are used at night." [I have used the word radium in -describing this powder because in the light of recent discoveries on -Earth I believe it to be a mixture of which radium is the base. In -Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned always by the name used in -the written language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it -would be difficult and useless to reproduce.] - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the -immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping -her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that they should -subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?" I -asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my veins -as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing that can -harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a -break to the builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do not -even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who stand for -everything they have not, and for all they most crave and never can -attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even though we die at -their hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater than they and -they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," as applied -by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the surprise of my -life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many months thereafter. -Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with -as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, nevertheless, that -I may be present the next time that any Martian, green, red, pink, or -violet, has the temerity to even so much as frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me with -dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd little laugh, -which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her mouth, she shook -her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not tell -you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, have -listened without anger," she soliloquized in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with my -soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take -him home and nurse him back to health," she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least among -civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with all -her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, and to a -Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead foeman -means so much more to divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so much -perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune her to -enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and that I -have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, as -likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom another -twelve times, remember that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more -positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down -upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in -the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for -an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my -being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and it -seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I was -not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders -longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw -away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the surface of -a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least had been born -that which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had -spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved -her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in -the plaza of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the -helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens -of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands -of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could -not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and -the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her -helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which -sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would -rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I -should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, -are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with -you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel his strong arms -about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained -the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for -and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my tongue had been -cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, -and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and -without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of -the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached the -building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I turned -disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours cross-legged, -and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks -chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed the -five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful women -and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and a -constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to fall furiously -and hopelessly in love with a creature from another world, of a species -similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched -from an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; whose -people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose hopes, whose -pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right and wrong might vary -as greatly from mine as did those of the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for -all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever -love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous and -beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom of my -heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I sat -cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom raced -through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and -marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the Hudson. -Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I lived and fought for -Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do all -Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at the -poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but she -turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount to her -cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace when I -might have pled ignorance of the nature of my offense, or at least the -gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. - -[Illustration: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing -chariots.] - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so I -glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In doing -so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by one ankle to the -side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive spring -lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I -vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, as -they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah -Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape the -Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do not -wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way that will -yet ensure security. I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it was -futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key be taken -from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the prisoner alone in -future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the friendship -that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John Carter; but -have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy the girl, -and I myself will take the custody of the key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris would -attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court of Tal -Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the river Iss." - -"It was better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp I -saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent of -something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. -Could it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an ancient -forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had felt -for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her so -palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior named -Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never made a kill -among his own chieftains, and so was still an _o mad_, or man with -one name; he could win a second name only with the metal of some -chieftain. It was this custom which entitled me to the names of either -of the chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors addressed -me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames of the two warrior -chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other words, whom I had -slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my direction, -while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some action. I paid -little attention to it at the time, but the next day I had good reason -to recall the circumstances, and at the same time gain a slight insight -into the depths of Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was -capable of going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though I -spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as the -flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my extremity I -did what most other lovers would have done; I sought word from her -through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted -in another part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. "Why -will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the part -of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except -that she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak and -she has been humiliated by a creature who could not polish the teeth of -her grandmother's sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, "What might -a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian women -keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I could -not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely and in -this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded very much -like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then commenced a train of -thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were -doing. I had not seen them for years. There was a family of Carters -in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; I was supposed to -be a great uncle, or something of the kind equally foolish. I could -pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to be a great -uncle always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There were two little kiddies in the -Carter family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no one on -Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, as I stood -there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I -had never longed for any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had -never known the true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of -the Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and -now my heart turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I -had been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I -was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to polish -the teeth of her grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor -came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and -slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only a -single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right what -was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to -investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, including myself, -and we raced across the velvety carpeting of moss to the little -enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison -with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival on -Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that the -cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, the light of -battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open the -entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all the -eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back to join -the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if -these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people than -his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw -hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all -green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of -incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching on -the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting piece -of information, for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the -green Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging from. As a -matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than an ordinary -goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the -light of the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting -several hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to the -incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the -animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the day's -interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding -cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided the day's work -between them, when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply -to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely -refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he -was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was -to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have -used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, -and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a -spear while he held only his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself -upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do -it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and -delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. The entire community -surrounded us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I was -much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes he -would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword upon his -arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor -wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and with -extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he was unable to do -by brute strength. I must admit that he was a magnificent swordsman, -and had it not been for my greater endurance and the remarkable agility -the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to -put up the creditable fight I did against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the -long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and -ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each -effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring more than -I, evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a final blaze of -glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light -struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the mighty blade -that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I was only partially -successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the -sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight -met my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary -blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot stood three -figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above -the heads of the intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, -and Sarkoja, and as my fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau -was presented which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my -death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a young -tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something which -flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had -blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had -found a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me then and -there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an instant entirely from -my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny mirror from her -hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out -her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, -our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was the -great knife descending upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work in -hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, feeling -the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could neither -parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched sword and -with all the weight of my body, determined that I would not die alone -if I could prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees -giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but a -moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and there I -found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who lay stone -dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my -full senses I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only -through the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near the -center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. As I had lunged -I had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the muscles, -inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning my -back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, toward -the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A murmur of -Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death blows -fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a back seat. -They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no great -distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, undoubtedly -would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of Dejah -Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in bandages, -but apparently little the worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose -dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast -ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks and -furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing a -short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not understand -either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held but the -highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, but they are -just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, though she -mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and so it is -difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people weep in -all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, the other -from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago before they -killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known your -mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like to -hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot tonight, -John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have never spoken in -all my life before. And now the signal has been given to resume the -march, you must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah Thoris -I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, and be sure -that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she would speak with -me I but await her command." - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in line, -and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station beside -Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out -across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and -brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two -hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast and one -hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the same -formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty -extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, and the -five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running loose within -the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. The gleaming -metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, -duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and -interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would have -turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and so -we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except when -the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, -or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but -little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like the faint -rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure -of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no sign -that we had passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of the -departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound -or sign we made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust and left no -spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in the cultivated -districts during the winter months, and even then the absence of high -winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been approaching -for two days and which marked the southern boundary of this particular -sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, nor had they had -water for nearly two months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; -but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can -live almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and which, -he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture to meet the -limited demands of the animals. - -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch -upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked up at my approach, her -face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am lonely. -Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. -It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst them, and I often -wish that I were a true green Martian woman, without love and without -hope; but I have known love and so I am lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am sure -that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green Martians it -has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do -our legends hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally for -size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian women, -and caring little for their society, she often roamed the deserted -avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that -deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes which I -believe I alone among Tharkian women today may understand, for am I not -the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it was -to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they roamed not -beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such things as interest -a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they came to meet more often, -and, as was now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. She -trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she felt for the -cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless lives they must ever -lead, and then she waited for the storm of denunciation to break from -his cold, hard lips; but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, was -of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a simple -warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection from the -traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would have paid the -penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel upon -the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined towers of -ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for the five long -years it lay there in the process of incubation. She dared not come -oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her -every move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, and his own -ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal -from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to -claim her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect -the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth -become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in five -short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high in the -councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, in so far -as it could come in time to save his loved ones, for he was ordered -away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is the manner of -the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for what he can wrest in battle -from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over for -three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before the -time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth to fetch the -fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my -mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly and -lavishing upon me the love the community life would have robbed us both -of. She hoped, upon the return of the expedition from the incubator, -to mix me with the other young assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, -and thus escape the fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin -against the ancient traditions of the green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other young -Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced in -education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of -others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and then -drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower chamber, -and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy -of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and -abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that she had -suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly absences from -her quarters accounted for her presence there on that fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name of -my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my mother -to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or -threats could wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would she ever -tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to report -her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me in the -silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely -noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away toward the -outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to the far south, out -toward the man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose face -she wished to look once more before she died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through the -hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from either -north or south or east or west would enter the city. The sounds we -heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with -the occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of a body of -warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was that it was my father -returned from his expedition, but the cunning of the Thark held her -from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming of the -cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its formation and -thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the head of the -procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging -roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous -light. My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, and -from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not that of my -father, but the returning caravan bearing the young Tharks. Instantly -her plan was formed, and as a great chariot swung close to our hiding -place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching -low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a -frenzy of love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would she -hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon each -other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me with -the other children, whose guardians during the journey were now free to -relinquish their responsibility. We were herded together into a great -room, fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the name -of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at last -amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful -torture she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to save -me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my body to -the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day -that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the -present, at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the -identity of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did not -laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. From that -moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day -when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal -Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but waits the -opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that his great love is -as strong in his breast as when it first transfigured him nearly forty -years ago, as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a world-old ocean -while sensible people sleep, John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, nor does he -know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my father's -name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it was she who -carried the tale that brought death and torture upon her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts of -her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless lives -of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of Barsoom -you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the knowledge -may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to -tell you the name of my father, nor place any restrictions or -conditions upon your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if -it seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you are not -cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving truthfulness, -that you could lie like one of your own Virginia gentlemen if a lie -would save others from sorrow or suffering. My father's name is Tars -Tarkas." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were twenty -days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing through or -around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we -crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our -earthly astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior would -be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if no great body of -red Martian troops was in sight we would advance as close as possible -without chance of being seen and then camp until dark, when we would -slowly approach the cultivated tract, and, locating one of the -numerous, broad highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, -creep silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings without a -single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, so that we were -just leaving the confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke -out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through -the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from -time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, rambling buildings, -presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. There were many -trees, methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; -there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced their -presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they scented our -queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which cuts -each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. The -fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came abreast -of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance at the -approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down -the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. The -Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were not out upon the -warpath, and the only sign that I had that they had seen him was a -quickening of the pace of the caravan as we hastened toward the -bordering desert which marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to me -that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept me -from making any advances. I verily believe that a man's way with women -is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the -saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding -in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green men -have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty -thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each -community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under the -rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their -headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among -other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed -by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. -There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned -expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the names of -warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, in the formal -greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered that they brought -two captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris and I -were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day was -devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My home now -was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, the main -artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city. I was at -the far end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable a characteristic -of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were possible, on a larger -and richer scale. My quarters would have been suitable for housing the -greatest of earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing -about a building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the largest -in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next -largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a -lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The -warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose retinues -they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter among any of the -thousands of untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each -community being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection -of building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, except -in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it had -been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the intention -of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined upon having -speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her the necessity of -our at least patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the great red -sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly -head of Woola peering from a second-story window on the opposite side -of the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway -which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the -front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his -great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old -fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his -hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not -seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur from the -far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was -standing beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks upon an -ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose to her full height -and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest -from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and -comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me -in effecting your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my -request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your father's -court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day -I am your master, and you must obey and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I do not -understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and -noble. I only wish that I might read your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has -lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie -beating alone for you until death stills it forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a -strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you saying -to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at -least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from -your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to -say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I -ask of you in return, and that is that you make no sign, either of -condemnation or of approbation of my words until you are safe among -your own people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they -be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve -you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it gives me -more pleasure to serve you than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand the -motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more willingly -than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my law. I have twice -wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the entrance -of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual calm and -possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, "and from -what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great arena -as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the customs -of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us in one -supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a -home and protection among her people, and your fate can be no worse -among them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be better off -among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise you -not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature craves -and which must always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your fate would be -terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. I know that even -that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our escape, but we want -you with us, we want you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, -amongst a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and of -gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat might make it in -three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the -way through thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, but the -chances are small indeed for escape. They would follow us to the very -gates of Helium, and they would take toll of life at every step; you do -not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you not -draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she drew -upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever -seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long straight lines, -sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging toward some great -circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were -other cities closer, but she said she feared to enter many of them, as -they were not all friendly toward Helium. - -[Illustration: She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the -Barsoomian territory I had ever seen.] - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now -flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which -also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it is -one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant waterway," -I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the best route for our -escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this -same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my -thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of -us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for two days, since -the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would -overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving -them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped -quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, -where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the -Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter -grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the -sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which -these creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, owing -to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became more restless -and their hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this -entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their -increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that something was -amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause at all -some great bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon -me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as -this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the -shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap into -the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the -great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I thanked -the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win the love -and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far -side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me -through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body and -nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward them -with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, -and then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked quietly -in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented avenue which led -toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With -the noiselessness of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of the plain -beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. I was sure that Sola -and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous -undetected, but with my great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as -it was quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact -there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and -Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of one of -the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other women of the same -household may have come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their -departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another half hour -had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave anxiety. Then there -broke upon the stillness of the night the sound of an approaching -party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping -stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the -black shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted -warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart -clean into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, and -so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. Our -plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now on to the -fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what fate had -overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous thoats upon -my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by the knowledge of my -escape was a problem of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with a -hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way blindly -through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after me. They had -difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings -fronting the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without sticking -fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where I found, as I had -expected, the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would provide -their food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was -confident, nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter these -outlying buildings, which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, -which caused them the sensation of fear--the great white apes of -Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear doorway -of the building through which we had entered the court, and, turning -the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court to the rear of -the buildings upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured that no one -was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite side and through the -first doorway to the court beyond; thus, crossing through court after -court with only the slight chance of detection which the necessary -crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the -courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in -the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect to -meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another and -safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be -found, and, after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before from the -court side, I took advantage of my relatively great strength and -agility and sprang upward until I grasped the sill of a second-story -window which I thought to be in the rear of her apartment. Drawing -myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward the front of the -building, and not until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was -I made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself that -it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It was -well indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I heard -was in the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally came to me -proved a most timely warning. The speaker was a chieftain and he was -giving orders to four of his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, you four -are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the combined -strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring back from -Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him to the vaults -beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain him securely where he may be -found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor -permit any other to enter this apartment before he comes. There will -be no danger of the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the -arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, for -Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a noble night's -work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when he comes, I commend -your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away I returned -to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of action was formed -upon the instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue upon -the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I soon -discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing I had hoped, -for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled with warriors and -women. I then glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the -third was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance to -the building from that point. It was the work of but a moment for me -to reach the windows above, and soon I had drawn myself within the -sheltering shadows of the unlighted third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors and women, -and at one end was a great raised platform upon which squatted the most -hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, -cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, but accentuated and -debased by the animal passions to which he had given himself over for -many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial -countenance, while his enormous bulk spread itself out upon the -platform where he squatted like some huge devil fish, his six limbs -accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah Thoris -and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of him as he -let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her beautiful -figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor -could I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect -before him, her head high held, and even at the distance I was from -them I could read the scorn and disgust upon her face as she let her -haughty glance rest without sign of fear upon him. She was indeed the -proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious -little body; so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around -her, but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the -mightiest figure among them and I verily believe that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and that -the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, the -warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the surrounding -chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of -the Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him standing -in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously toying with -the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in implacable -hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his -thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon -his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years ago, -had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken a word into his -ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus would have been over; but -finally he also strode from the room, not knowing that he left his own -daughter at the mercy of the creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his intentions, -hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors below. No one -was near to intercept me, and I reached the main floor of the chamber -unobserved, taking my station in the shadow of the same column that -Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus -was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it -shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were -all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of -your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all the ages -to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the night as their fathers -tell them of the awful vengeance of the green men; of the power and -might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you -shall be mine for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth -to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel -upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will -commence; tonight thou art Tal Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, -but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My -short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have -plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I was upon -him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, -with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, weary years, -and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the point of his -jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and -motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and to -the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with the straps -and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris -to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly -around the court in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned -over the same course I had so recently followed from the distant -boundary of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left them, -and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the building to -the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris -behind me upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we turned -to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across which, for -two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main artery leading -to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I could -hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me with her dear -head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty one; -greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it," she -continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, for you -have saved the last of our line from worse than death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the little -fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, and then, in -unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us -occupied with his own thoughts. For my part I could not be other than -joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as gaily as -though we were already entering the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves -without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our -beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to -sight the ending of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or six -hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All the -following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted -no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all -Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor -did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and -stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire -party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far -ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines -of low mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope -that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. Night fell -upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness -and weakness, we lay down and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close to -mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old Woola -snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us across that -trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my -arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I thought of -his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and Sola awakened, -and it was decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain the -hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing -to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had not -attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding -day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him and fell upon -the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor beast was in a pitiable -condition, not even being able to rise, although relieved of our -weight. Sola told me that the coolness of the night, when it fell, -together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I decided not -to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to -leave him alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of -his trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow -to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola -and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this -way we had progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were -endeavoring to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon -the thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both -looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, -were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in a -southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, -and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the -opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I -commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, presenting -as small an object as possible for fear of attracting the attention of -the warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, -before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most -providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length -of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover us. As what -proved to be the last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted -and, to our consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to -his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently he was -a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the green men a -chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung -toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the cold -sweat start from every pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension on our -nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed -for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he -lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the warriors who had -passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to -join him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly -in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising -my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the -button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the -missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward -from his flying mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to -take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach -the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the -ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, and even -though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than -that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers -upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an -escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would -surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. I -have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to smile as I -lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about my -neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, Sola! Dejah -Thoris remains to die with the man she loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give up my -life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but I could -not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet embrace, and -pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and -tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter in -peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, slapping the -thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to -the last to free herself from Sola's grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking for -their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but scarcely -had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat upon my -belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my -rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who had been -first to return from behind the ridge either dead or scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost upon -me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had -disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by Sola and -her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led them -away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention from -endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a projecting -piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. As I looked -up they were upon me, and although I drew my long-sword in an attempt -to sell my life as dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled -beneath their blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head -swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness and I -well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as I realized -that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of a -small room in which were several green warriors, and bending over me -was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching my -couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for his -ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge fellow, -terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one broken tusk and -a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were human skulls and -depending from these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory into -gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him -that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount and -ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had -ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the -beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of the -column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly -had the applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered the -injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after they -had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before the -leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and also -decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead hands -which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the Warhoons, as -well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even -that of the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object of -the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed -who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost studied -efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the ruler he -exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark whom it -is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," replied -the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but he -shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall save him. -O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a -water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an instant, -his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, and then -without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he hurled himself -at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with nature's -weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued was as -fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could picture. They -tore at each others' eyes and ears with their hands and with their -gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly -to ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, quicker -and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was done -saving only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in breaking -away from a clinch. It was the one little opening that Dak Kova -needed, and hurling himself at the body of his adversary he buried his -single mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful effort -ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of his body, the -great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas' jaw. Victor and -vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, a huge mass of torn -and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on the -part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. Three -days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar Comas which, -by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and placing his foot -upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of -Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, -amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was -decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark -community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until -after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in -number, turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an index -to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They are a -smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a day -passed but that some members of the various Warhoon communities met in -deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a -single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor and -walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter -darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there days, or weeks, -or months. It was the most horrible experience of all my life and that -my mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness has been -a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled with creeping, -crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me when I lay down, -and in the darkness I occasionally caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery -eyes, fixed in horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me from -the world above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was -brought to me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures -who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering -reason upon this single emissary who represented to me the entire horde -of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he -could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon -the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the -cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my cell when next -I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great chain -which held me in my hand I waited his coming, crouching like some beast -of prey. As he stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the -chain above my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his -skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell upon -his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently -they came in contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a -number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my -reason with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my -very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck I -glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, -unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back -from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding -my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes -until they reached the dead body at my feet. Then slowly they -retreated but this time with a strange grating sound and finally they -disappeared in some black and distant recess of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to -remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I -reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it -was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming -eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured in their -neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for -months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my -dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared -and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my -reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained -near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I -could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him. As -their retreating footsteps died away in the distance, I called out -softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only -any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the -news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola -could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. -He said that he knew the place well because the defile through which -the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was the only -one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of -Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had -fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' -capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat of -the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward -Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of -Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been -attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which -Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped -during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our -coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors -of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately -seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been -dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in futile search -for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by -the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They -had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past -few days had they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had -had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring -their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect -and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's boundary and on foot -had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days -and nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in search -of his beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of -Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that Dejah -Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the -great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of -the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled -with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult to -say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the -Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of -the ancient city to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping -into the audience, and at each end had been constructed cages to hold -them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the -others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and -women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of -Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, -growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave -forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the -arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be pitted -against each other until only two remained alive; the victor in the -last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The following -morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims, -and so on throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and -within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. -Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side -of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a -dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. -Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve -calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless -women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The -yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent -quality of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan -told me it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and -growling over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good -account of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went -throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I -was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in -agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's play -to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty -multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the -arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some -far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the -liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had -always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins, -especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope -that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed down all before -him during the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to -meet one another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian -swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's every hope of victory and -life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty -feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at -the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor -devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle -until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of escape. -The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other -and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. -Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to Kantos Kan to -thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. As he did so I -staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to -the ground with his weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos -Kan perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his -foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the -final death blow through the neck which is supposed to sever the -jugular vein, but in this instance the cold blade slipped harmlessly -into the sand of the arena. In the darkness which had now fallen none -could tell but that he had really finished me. I whispered to him to -go and claim his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the -city, and so he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and as -the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the -hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come I -started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point where -he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted of -vegetable milk from the plants which gave so bounteously of this -priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights guided -only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some protruding -rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several times I was -attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped -upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my -hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly -acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but once I was down -with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy face pressed close to mine -before I knew that I was even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was large -and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its throat -before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, and slowly -I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon -its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach me -with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and choke -the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms gave to -the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming -tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face -touched mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness full upon the -creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two rolled growling -upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in a frightful manner, -but it was soon over and my preserver stood with lowered head above the -throat of the dead thing which would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up -the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but from -whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. That I -was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at -seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for his -absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a shadow -of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and commenced -greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized that the poor -fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was in but little better -plight but I could not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had -no means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal I again -took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering in quest of the -elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to see -the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon I -dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building which covered -perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred feet in the air. It -showed no aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at -which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to the -inmates of the place, unless a small round hole in the wall near the -door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness of a lead -pencil and thinking that it might be in the nature of a speaking tube I -put my mouth to it and was about to call into it when a voice issued -from it asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of my -errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, yet -you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither green nor -red. In the name of the ninth ray, what manner of creature are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the -name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk into -the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the left, -exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further end of -which was another door, similar in every respect to the one I had just -passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed the first door -it slid gently into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original -position in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and as it -reached its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders of -steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their lower -ends into apertures countersunk in the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as -the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food -and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to -satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus engaged my -invisible host put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it is -equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by the -conformation of your brain and the strange location of your internal -organs and the shape and size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I -could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, dried -up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a single article -of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold from which depended -upon his chest a great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid -with huge diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied by a -strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine different -and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly prism and two -beautiful rays which, to me, were new and nameless. I cannot describe -them any more than you could describe red to a blind man. I only know -that they were beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part of -our intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he could -not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. - -[Illustration: The old man sat and talked with me for hours.] - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, and -thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me later -and which I would never have known had he suspected my strange power, -for the Martians have such perfect control of their mental machinery -that they are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. The -secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, one of -the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating from the great -stone in my host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of finely -adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge building, -three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which the ninth ray -is stored. This product is then treated electrically, or rather -certain proportions of refined electric vibrations are incorporated -with it, and the result is then pumped to the five principal air -centers of the planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether -of space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great -building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand -years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some -accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium -pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars -with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he told me, he -had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day each at a -stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has -one assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian year, -about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each of these men spend -alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of -the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the -secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with -walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even -the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass covering -five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or -some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the very -existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the -uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that the -outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so -finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a certain -combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I -thought to surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the massive doors -for me from the inner chambers of the building. As quick as a flash -there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as -he answered that this was a secret he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that he -had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a -nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as -they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do not -trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a long and -restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that he -had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me in -the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed -words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were cut -off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me in my -little knowledge of thought transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead I -could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of the -great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of the -planet--all, even Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For the -others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah -Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I -would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had -read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding -runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great -hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I -seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight -noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the -corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly -lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that he -held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening it upon -a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, -which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed -chamber and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and -crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood between -me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought -waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the -great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One -after the other the remaining mighty portals opened at my command and -Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the -first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as -possible. This I reached about morning and entering the first -enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any -response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon -the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened my -eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and -covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been a -prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is -food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for -reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was -only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had -been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a -large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the entrance -hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for -their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm's way -during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising -them from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three similar -houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being government -officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of -war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to -pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent -several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and -arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris -and the old man of the atmosphere plant--they advised me to color my -body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find -employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you -have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher -nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through military -service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," explained one of them, -"and save our richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull -thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The -animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and -shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed -my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, -in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in -front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a -full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in -the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of Ptor, which -was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium -of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the -coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require -it and redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, -the government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out the -amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned by the -government. This suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a -difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great -isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow ribbons -from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and -wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me -they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long -upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out -of sight upon the broad white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive things -concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and -pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. Along -either side of these conduits, and extending their entire length, lie -the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts of about the -same size, each tract being under the supervision of one or more -government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense -quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried -underground through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots -of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there -are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying -birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals -of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a -single article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. -Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by -ages of careful, scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of -them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by -comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class -and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the -older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several years before -and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to -keep these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of Barsoom, -and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah -Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she walks upon -and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has been -draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I fear -will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to his -place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a -popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces -took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their -search for the princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the -city to a sorry plight. It is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a green -warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped from -the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to -fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering -upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered -nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it at all -conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I determined to -make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and -carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter's possible -whereabouts as lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of -Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is -never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down Broadway -with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be somewhat similar -to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great -regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we -arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became imperative -that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure -been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me to turn away the -one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration of -affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered my life in -the service of her in search of whom I was about to challenge the -unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit -even Woola's life to threaten the success of my venture, much less his -momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so -I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, -that if I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should -find the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a -touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, -walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets -were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon their -metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves -presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule -were not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or barred, -since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is -the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone -their homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of -danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be near -the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me letters. -My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of -all Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces -of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility -of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and -shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the -magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which -carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly -toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention -to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I placed my -hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand -the point of his long-sword was at my breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty -feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, -laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further -moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen -that you can change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I had -briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena at -Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly -be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos Mors, Jeddak -of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, our princess. -Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her hidden in the city and has fallen -madly in love with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace between our -countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent -word that he and his people would rather look upon the dead face of -their princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, and that -personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of Than -Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than -Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and -his strength in Helium is greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I have not -yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan -navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of -Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this division of the navy, -and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you are -here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess and two of us -working together should be able to accomplish much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon -the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the -cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of -these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely by -mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it -entered the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and -delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the -touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of the -air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that I be -enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an -examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear -on this score as he would attend to that part of the matter. He -accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, "when -they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is done -and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that -time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances -which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man air -craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, -tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane -upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine which -propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained within the thin metal -walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of -propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter -from what source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar -eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the various planets, -and that it is the individual eighth ray of each planet which -"reflects," or propels the light thus obtained out into space once -more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of -Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to propel light -from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from the planet -constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is -able to lift enormous weights from the surface of the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon -in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control -the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred -years before, the first great battle ship to be built with eighth ray -reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, never to -return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried -her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid of powerful -telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; -a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and -as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the -palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantos -Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific -velocity toward the south, following one of the great waterways which -enter Zodanga from that direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour -when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing -madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach -the confines of one of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of -the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red -Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was -attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the -tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing some -damage when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on the -relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low -to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving -to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his -fate would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I -soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow -of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact -sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, hurled the -fellow's headless body into the air over the head of his thoat, where -it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the -astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and -promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, for it -was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had -saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely -return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening -to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the -needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green -monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they -had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became -unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air -craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he -could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had -now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to -my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his -throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With -a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with -outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the -green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and -after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return -voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail -vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and -troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black -with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long -streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and -picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close -beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, -he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual -officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He then -unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member of -the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the -maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of -Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull -thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore -such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be -struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of -the red Indians of my own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence of -my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. As -they waited for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the -two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and presently -it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled -into position before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced -toward the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded him to -advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which -had won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed -a metal ornament upon the left arm of the lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly -to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I -halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the -entire assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable courage and -skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than Kosis -and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure -of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, -said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a -cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the -jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. -After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of -the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the -palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -I FIND DEJAH - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to -station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is -always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair -in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than -Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, -Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not perceive -my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. -The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the -ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a -few inches below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which -encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. -Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was -in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to -guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be -relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of -heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive -all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been -no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of -the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the -soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and -not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah -Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand -they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in surprise, -and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, -who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me -that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing -at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of -woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters -concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your -son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and -I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the -assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time comes she will -wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It is far -from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, -your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued -forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed -to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to give herself -to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It requires but -the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the word -that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium take to -peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still -followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to -the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, and -from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, -had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I -must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel truth -to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and -hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by -which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this opening -I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching and turning in -every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I -heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite -side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made out -the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that -I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of -which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only -to find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four guards who -had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, -asking the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately with -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The -Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the -opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah -Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at -my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me pass in -peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join -him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further -progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one who had -first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the apartments of -the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard -to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you -cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I -can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed -against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my -way to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the -clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the little -room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and -there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering -over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that -she did not recognize me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only -two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the -fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell -within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men and noble -fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill them, but I -would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I have reached the -side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who -still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me in -my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, "and -yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot be--no, -for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. "Do -you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of -your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, -but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder -and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, and whom -I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before--but now it -is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not have -promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in -the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to -save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that -is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless -formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than does -the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. -I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but -I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to -me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no -other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them now -for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our -ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise would -have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before -all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have -given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended me? -You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and -then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I -should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to -tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of -women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for that they -may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for also, but never -ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may address her as his -princess, or in any of the several terms which signify possession. You -had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you -called me your princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even -then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until -you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through -combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. "You -must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. -What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be -presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my -wife, and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins -you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may never -be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the man who -slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled by -custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the -sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the -memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever -see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to -me until the ceremony had actually been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the -mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah -Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and -as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion -would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly -through the palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The -walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I -secreted myself without being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest -in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to -relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I -knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the -guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, -crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the -antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through -the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and -searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a -number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind -them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing -through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through -a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for -an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which -overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about -thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall -fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in -thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared -impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed -already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before -darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while -the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by -accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling -of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious -bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I settled down -within it than I heard a number of people enter the apartment. The -group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear -their every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe -that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might -reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men -could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, -however, for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your -faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, -but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by -the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than -Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact the -impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four -guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of -one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of -marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished -them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never -seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned -was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one -iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, -and that when she looked there was but one man engaged with the -guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he went -on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his -fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at -once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that -I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in -Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his -name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he knew -as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity among -the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He also is -a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one -is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, -and let every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to -the closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the -palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, "and -not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other -than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, "and -in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of -Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more -than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in -sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to -the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue beyond the -palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -LOST IN THE SKY - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the -building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the -place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered near -the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means of -reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were situated -was through an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I -managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I -stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise at -my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty -must have ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and -when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah -Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to -the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of -Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a resourceful -man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I can -solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal -reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah -Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised -to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder -raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon -your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at -the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah -Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters -in the palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force -patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of -confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at last. -"I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above -the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we -investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering -from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most -unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of -the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly put out -at being detected and commanded me to keep the matter to myself, -explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his -apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the -barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five -minutes; but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say -it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street -and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, -filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common -with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher -than these barracks, though several topped it by a few hundred feet; -the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen -hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and passenger stations -of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with -much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. -The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat -much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges -and projections which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way -to the eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung, and -though I encircled the great building I could find no opening through -them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through -the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not risk -a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of the -long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled a great -hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their -craft for various purposes of repair, and by means of which landing -parties are lowered to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its hold, -but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not know. It -might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the roof, so that -as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would slip off and -launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the strap. -Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard pavements, -and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the supporting eaves, -and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned me cold with -apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver I -found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by the -merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up -from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I -call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning toward the edge -of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, hung all -my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and to -his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped him by -his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the roof. The -weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted -cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him over the -edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few moments before. I knew it -would be morning before he would be discovered, and I needed all the -time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon had -out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast behind mine I -started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I dove down -into the streets of the city far below the plane usually occupied by -the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon the -roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided that -I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the palace -and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow me. He set -my compass for me, a clever little device which will remain steadfastly -fixed upon any given point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each -other farewell we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace -which lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing its -piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out a -command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to his -hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while I rose -steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian sky followed -by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and -later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, now rising -and now falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the -time, but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided -to hazard everything on a straight-away course and leave the result to -fate and the speed of my machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only to the -navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our machines, so -that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I could dodge their -projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, and I -was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. The -concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening plunge she hurtled -downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, -but I must have been very close to the ground when I started to rise -again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising -again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally making out -their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, evidently in -search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture to -flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my -consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly destroyed -my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true I could follow -the stars in the general direction of Helium, but without knowing the -exact location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling my -chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my compass -intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in between four -and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning found me speeding -over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of -continuous flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed below -me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all Barsoomian metropolises -consists in two immense circular walled cities about seventy-five miles -apart and would have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back -in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other -large cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had -given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, -another distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid -scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the -cities, while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks -her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as -I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand -green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them -than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the almost -unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged in -life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for an -instant separate himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with -good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with -drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I -recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle -behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I -recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made -quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for another thrust he -fell over a dead body behind him and was down and at the mercy of his -foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars -Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I had -accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and -quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think -I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned -and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their -thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon -the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or -gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars -Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended -the customary council which immediately follows an engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. It -was Woola--faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark -and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my former -quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly hopeless -watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars Tarkas, on -his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw and recognized you -as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him -tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice from -among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest waterway that leads -to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a -friend as well. Come, we must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling with -Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall not -sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the chance -you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and -that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the most -horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola had -told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in passion -and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been heaped upon -the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible -existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any future -misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were instrumental in -bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. I have -just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has learned of -your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not -our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him tying one end of a -strap about your neck and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test -your fitness to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard -that he would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn -you, for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, -Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely wait -to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering at the -entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it is dares -strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own hands I shall -burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute my person with his -vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council and -ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. You -owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You claim to -be a just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as I -command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to set -aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus fumed -and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your mighty -jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the thick of -battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and little -children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen him fight -with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single -blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior and a noble -man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must prove -his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars Tarkas -to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal -Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I could kill him, -and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted upon -Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of his -countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never in my -long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. There -could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." And still -Tal Hajus stood as though petrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal Hajus, -prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus drew -his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the dead -monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank I -had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as -well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in my cause -against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my adventures, and in -a few words had explained to him the thought I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the council, -"which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. Dejah -Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now held by -the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her country from -devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. The -loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought that had -we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain sufficient -assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the size and frequency -of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably supreme among the -green men of all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the -bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half hour -had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead sea -bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred thousand -strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services of three -smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the -heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we were -all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, -through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty -thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days after we -set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, -one hundred and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious green -monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. Never in -the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green -warriors marched to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep -even a semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to me that -he got them to the city without a mighty battle among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by -their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, -who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against -the green men, directing special attention toward despoiling their -incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the city -devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces in two -divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division opposite a -large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. These gates -have no regular guard, but are covered by sentries, who patrol the -avenue that encircles the city just within the walls as our -metropolitan police patrol their beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the task -of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an -impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, I -commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I ordered -to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head of the topmost -warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from -the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from a -short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the next, -and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of the highest I -clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad -expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal -number of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened -together, and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the -other end cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the -avenue below. No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of -my leather strap, I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement -below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, and in -another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within the doomed -city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of the -enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the distance a -blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined to lead a -detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, while the -balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, -with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and open -one of the great gates while with the nine remaining I took the other. -We were to do our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no -general advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries we met were -dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, -and the guards at both gates followed them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed by -Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them to -the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. Once -inside, however, the gate gave me considerable trouble, but I finally -was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my -fierce escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of -the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber of -Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their women, -as though some important function was in progress. There was not a -guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact that the -city and palace walls were considered impregnable, and so I came close -and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with -diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers and -dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad aisle lined on -either side with soldiery, and as I looked there entered this aisle at -the far end of the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing a huge -salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a great golden -chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly behind these -officers came four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the reigning house of -Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a -feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot of -the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had -entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two -officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, -and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab -Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and -placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, springing the -padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned -to the other figure, from which the officers now removed the -enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah -Thoris, Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the -most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were -adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my head, and, with -the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window and sprang -into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the -steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with -surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would -have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me -from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger -he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as -easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my -hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart I held -him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed to the far end -of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty -warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of -fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling -themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to -my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis -now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were -engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the -steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah -Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab -Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the -new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again we -faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of officers, and, -with my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah -Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down -Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My -blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry -the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was -down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to -avenge the death of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! Strike -her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the -little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my -intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked my -chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah Thoris -against an army of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, and -I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save Dejah -Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of -pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway before -him until in another moment he stood upon the platform beside me, -dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted to -escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower of -Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and -leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors -and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had all -left to join the fighters in the throne room, so we searched the -labyrinthine prison without opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by the -sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, -faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that the -air patrol had captured him before he reached the high tower of the -palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the bars -and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I returned to -search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open the padlocks of -his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon we -had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to us -from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct the -fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, the -green warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for other -Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her she -greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom has -never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are as you? -Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have done in a -few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever -done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought -them to fight as allies of a red Martian people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was not I -who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would work -greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I returned. -"I have done many strange things in my life, many things that wiser men -would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have I dreamed of -winning a Dejah Thoris for myself--for never had I dreamed that in all -the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you -are a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to -make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his plea -before the plea were made," she replied, rising and placing her dear -hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true daughter -of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to John Carter, -Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely -destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected -from within. Several battleships had escaped, but there were thousands -of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we could, -man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners and make for -Helium without further loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with a -fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred -thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our -thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches -of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They were -looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In a hundred -places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense smoke were -rising above the city as though to blot out from the eye of heaven the -horrid sights beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers -of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships -rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to -meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our -mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that -we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon -them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out -hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle -I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the -contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were -useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill -in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective, -and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not -wholly determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside -after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in -the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; -with a lurch she turned completely over, the little figures of her crew -plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; -then with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above -the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering -battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower -of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but they were -soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each -hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon -their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers -the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered -Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty -fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that surrender -should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the -commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the brave -fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from the -towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and when she -was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah -Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship -that she might be taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry -arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of -the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper -works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of -the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled her -colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came -forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of -Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than -her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were -men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew -them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to them, -turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as -her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the aid -of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, -and the relief of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "and here -he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward me -they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my surprise, -was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly speech. -Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their -ways lend themselves amazingly to dignified and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I -would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but partly -won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans to account -for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to have -the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with our land -attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in -triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these beasts -upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and so we put -out for a point about ten miles from the city and began the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and this -work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. Twice we -were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with little loss, -however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command to -advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp from the -north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, as -had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. With -wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of battle-enraged -thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line -confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward noon, I -began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered from -pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, while -pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green warriors. -The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we receive any word -from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats -bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At the -same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the opposite -breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they were being -crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city's gates, a -huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which were -the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within the city -during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round of applause -and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious -jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. Never -before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates of Helium, -and that they came now as friends and allies filled the red men with -rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as we -passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of the -ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and his -jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together with -myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos Mors an -expression of his gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the -palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one of -their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an -arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler of -men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest living -warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may lay his hand -on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a man of -another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning of -friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can -understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the sentiments -so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to -each spoke words of friendship and appreciation. - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and without -one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all Helium, yes, on -all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and father -of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors and seemed -even more affected by the meeting than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice -choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was to -later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a fighter -that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In common with all -Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he think of what she had -escaped without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted and -entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted by ten -thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on -the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a -small party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to cement -more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched to -Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris -and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed -never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that did not -bring some new proof of their love for my princess, the incomparable -Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white egg. -For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak's Guard had constantly -stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the city that Dejah -Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before our little shrine -planning for the future, when the delicate shell should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there -talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven our lives -together and of this wonder which was coming to augment our happiness -and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a sight. -Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the -jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which -must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the -council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and -forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned -toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in -hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand -cruisers have been searching for him until just now one of them returns -bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits beneath his house -horribly mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take -months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already -commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the -pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of -years; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show -a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom--the engine -has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble -arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed -Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to -show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a -thousand useful years still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do -than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways -with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached -Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever -fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, -but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the -higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium -were filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part -the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. -Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into -the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had -collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. -We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the -grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the -weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at -request of Dejah Thoris and she sat gazing longingly upon the -unknown little life that now she would never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, -saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom -are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world which -through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not -even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand -upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head -was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. -With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! It is -cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life of -love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang -to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be some -way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world -for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind -a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of lightning in -the darkness their full purport dawned upon me--the key to the three -great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love to -my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. -I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing to -the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at the -rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout machine -that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would have -followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old agility and -strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I -was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only a few -feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time -with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I -turned for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen her -stagger and sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. That she -had dropped into the last coma which would end in death, if the air -supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing caution to -the winds, I flung overboard everything but the engine and compass, -even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly along the deck with one -hand on the steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever to its -last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a -meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the ground -before the small door which was withholding the spark of life from the -inhabitants of an entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the -wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and now -most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air would awaken -them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the engines?" I -asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else -upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days men -crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts to -solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the -nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had -crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel -before us we waited in the silence of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump room -turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to exist -tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and as I -saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees through the -last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments were -upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me as I rose -to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had -been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed -through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets and -in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled paper. One -of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted up what appeared -to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I discovered a strange, -still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that -it was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman with long -black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small charcoal burner -upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a small quantity of -greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and stretching -entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. From the thong -which held them stretched another to the dead hand of the little old -woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a -noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into the -fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which -ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains -in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the -cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarce -believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself upon me--I was -looking upon Arizona from the same ledge from which ten years before I -had gazed with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the -trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach the -people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my Dejah -Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death beside the -tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner courtyard of -the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. -For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the world of -my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside her there than live on -Earth all those millions of terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously wealthy; -but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, just -twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, -and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before -since that long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful -abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden -of a palace, and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around -her as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at their -feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me -that I shall soon know. - - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 62.txt or 62.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/6/62/ - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Binary files differdiff --git a/old/20080603-62-h.htm b/old/20080603-62-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 388d2b3..0000000 --- a/old/20080603-62-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9982 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> -<HTML> -<HEAD> - -<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> - -<TITLE> -The Project Gutenberg E-text of A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs -</TITLE> - -<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> -BODY { color: Black; - background: White; - margin-right: 10%; - margin-left: 10%; - font-size: medium; - font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; - text-align: justify } - -P {text-indent: 4% } - -P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } - -P.poem {text-indent: 0%; - margin-left: 10%; - font-size: small } - -P.finis { text-align: center ; - text-indent: 0% ; - margin-left: 0% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -</STYLE> - -</HEAD> - -<BODY> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net - - -Title: A Princess of Mars - -Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #62] -[Last updated: October 12, 2012] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - - - - - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<BR><BR> - -<A NAME="img-front"></A> -<CENTER> -<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="With my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris." BORDER="2" WIDTH="570" HEIGHT="814"> -<H3> -With my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris. -</H3> -</CENTER> - -<BR><BR> - -<H1 ALIGN="center"> -A PRINCESS OF MARS -</H1> - -<BR> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -by -</H3> - -<H2 ALIGN="center"> -Edgar Rice Burroughs -</H2> - -<BR><BR> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -To My Son Jack -</H3> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -FOREWORD -</H3> - -<H3> -To the Reader of this Work: -</H3> - -<P> -In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book form, -I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will -be of interest. -</P> - -<P> -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent -at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil -war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the -tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. -</P> - -<P> -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the -children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those -pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he -would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with -stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all -loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod. -</P> - -<P> -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over -six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the -trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his -hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, -reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and -initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of -a typical southern gentleman of the highest type. -</P> - -<P> -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight -even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my -father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only -laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back -of a horse yet unfoaled. -</P> - -<P> -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some -fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and -I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, -nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were -with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when -he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into -space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; -and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I -did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward. -</P> - -<P> -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of -the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was -evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. -As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, -in fact he would not talk of them at all. -</P> - -<P> -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where -he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a -year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market—my father and -I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia -at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, -situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last -visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in -writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript. -</P> - -<P> -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished -me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment -in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will -there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to -carry out with absolute fidelity. -</P> - -<P> -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window -standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the -Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. -I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood -that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man. -</P> - -<P> -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first -of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to -come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger -generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand. -</P> - -<P> -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the -morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me -out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend of the -Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found -dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached -to an adjoining property. -</P> - -<P> -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his -place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body -and of his affairs. -</P> - -<P> -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local -police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. -The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the -body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, -he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched -above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the -spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen -him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the -skies. -</P> - -<P> -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a -local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of death -from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and -withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would -find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have -followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able. -</P> - -<P> -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and -that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had -had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. -The instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this -was carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary. -</P> - -<P> -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire -income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. -His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to -retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was -I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death. -</P> - -<P> -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that -the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring -lock which can be opened _only from the inside_. -</P> - -<P CLASS="noindent"> -Yours very sincerely, -<BR> - Edgar Rice Burroughs. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<H2 ALIGN="center"> -CONTENTS -</H2> - -<BR> - -<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap01">On the Arizona Hills</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap02">The Escape of the Dead</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap03">My Advent on Mars</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap04">A Prisoner</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap05">I Elude My Watch Dog</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap06">A Fight That Won Friends</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap07">Child-Raising on Mars</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap08">A Fair Captive from the Sky</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap09">I Learn the Language</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap10">Champion and Chief</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap11">With Dejah Thoris</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap12">A Prisoner with Power</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap13">Love-Making on Mars</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap14">A Duel to the Death</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap15">Sola Tells Me Her Story</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap16">We Plan Escape</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap17">A Costly Recapture</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap18">Chained in Warhoon</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap19">Battling in the Arena</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap20">In the Atmosphere Factory</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap21">An Air Scout for Zodanga</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap22">I Find Dejah</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap23">Lost in the Sky</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap24">Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap25">The Looting of Zodanga</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVI </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap26">Through Carnage to Joy</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap27">From Joy to Death</A></TD> -</TR> - -<TR> -<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVIII </TD> -<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> -<A HREF="#chap28">At the Arizona Cave</A></TD> -</TR> - -</TABLE> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -ILLUSTRATIONS -</H3> - -<BR> - -<P CLASS="noindent"> -<A HREF="#img-front"> -With my back against a golden throne, I fought once again -for Dejah Thoris . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> -</A> -</P> - -<P CLASS="noindent"> -<A HREF="#img-142"> -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots. -</A> -</P> - -<P CLASS="noindent"> -<A HREF="#img-178"> -She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the Barsoomian territory -I had ever seen. -</A> -</P> - -<P CLASS="noindent"> -<A HREF="#img-224"> -The old man sat and talked with me for hours. -</A> -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap01"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER I -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS -</H3> - -<P> -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, -possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other -men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have -always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did -forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living -forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is -no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have -died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as -you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I -believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality. -</P> - -<P> -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the -story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot -explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an -ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that -befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an -Arizona cave. -</P> - -<P> -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript -until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average -human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not -purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and -held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths -which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions -which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in -this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries -of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me. -</P> - -<P> -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of -several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the -servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. -Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to -retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. -</P> - -<P> -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate -officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely -fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and -privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein -that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining -engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. -</P> - -<P> -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. -</P> - -<P> -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical -requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to -make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against -the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. -</P> - -<P> -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down -the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of -his journey. -</P> - -<P> -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and -all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as -they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight -of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of -the range on the opposite side of the valley. -</P> - -<P> -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not -given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself -that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his -trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure -myself. -</P> - -<P> -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to -ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious -marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in -lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless -clutches. -</P> - -<P> -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in -the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of -cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no -longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I -strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, -started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning. -</P> - -<P> -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a -canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon -dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. -They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies -had been galloping. -</P> - -<P> -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await -the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the -question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up -impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should -catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I -am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, -wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me -throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me -by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword -has been red many a time. -</P> - -<P> -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed -on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast -walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I -reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon -the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of -having been recently occupied as a camp. -</P> - -<P> -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for -such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only -a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of -speed as his. -</P> - -<P> -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished -to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I -urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope -that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him. -</P> - -<P> -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two -shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, -and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and -difficult mountain trail. -</P> - -<P> -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further -sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau -near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, -overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, -and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. -</P> - -<P> -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some -object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly -riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I -easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and -made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any -possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this -episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. -</P> - -<P> -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, -because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts -have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one -where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many -hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am -subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to -tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. -</P> - -<P> -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center -of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but -within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had -whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of -warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, -convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars -was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, -arrows, and rifles. -</P> - -<P> -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon -lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the -braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet -I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches -as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. -</P> - -<P> -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his -cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward -glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more -hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could -distinguish on the far side of the table land. -</P> - -<P> -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it -is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, -that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, -and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows -of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized. -</P> - -<P> -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass -than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the -summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry -me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which -befell me during the following ten years. -</P> - -<P> -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the -yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off -to my left. -</P> - -<P> -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse -had borne me and the body of Powell. -</P> - -<P> -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. -</P> - -<P> -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. -</P> - -<P> -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail -was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I -wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, -and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom -of a rocky ravine. -</P> - -<P> -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn -to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was -about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this -opening the trail ended. -</P> - -<P> -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a -startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. -</P> - -<P> -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced -water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed -his hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour -in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. -</P> - -<P> -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a -polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with -a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude -endeavors at resuscitation. -</P> - -<P> -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave -to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in -diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn -floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote -period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense -shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into -other apartments or not. -</P> - -<P> -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my -long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the -fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present -location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave -against an army. -</P> - -<P> -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire -to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' rest, but I -knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the -hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an -effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap02"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER II -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD -</H3> - -<P> -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I -was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of -approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet -but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my -will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I -noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and -only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also -came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume -that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain -my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. -</P> - -<P> -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short -stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff -around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had -ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along -the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped -they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the -thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. -</P> - -<P> -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was -sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the -opening. -</P> - -<P> -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes -bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, -and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the -shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow -ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason -I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were -still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the -fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them. -</P> - -<P> -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of -the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they -turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their -efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the -braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their -wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was -still once more. -</P> - -<P> -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been -sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror -which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so -I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced -in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through -since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured -during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. -</P> - -<P> -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and unknown -danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn -in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of -wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man -who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of -a powerful physique. -</P> - -<P> -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody -moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to -the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but -vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in -that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. -</P> - -<P> -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging -rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in -search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious -unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within -my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early -morning. -</P> - -<P> -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the -dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my -startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of -a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to -my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an -effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I -could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less -mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary -feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, -and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown -foe. -</P> - -<P> -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own -body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward -the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked -first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then -down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet -here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. -</P> - -<P> -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for -a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My -first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over -forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I -could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my -efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from -every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed -the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. -</P> - -<P> -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and -unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which -menaced me. -</P> - -<P> -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was -in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I -was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie -in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the -rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the -cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. -</P> - -<P> -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I -leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear -Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as -an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through -me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what -now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with -myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet -nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the -direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises -I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; -probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. -</P> - -<P> -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs -with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I -saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and -level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of -soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. -</P> - -<P> -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona -moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange -lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details -of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and -inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of -some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. -</P> - -<P> -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the -heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for -the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by -a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I -felt a spell of overpowering fascination—it was Mars, the god of war, -and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it -seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw -me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. -</P> - -<P> -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself -drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of -space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap03"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER III -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -MY ADVENT ON MARS -</H3> - -<P> -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was -on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I -was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told -me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you -that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. -</P> - -<P> -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation -which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I -seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of -which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. -</P> - -<P> -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was -rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been -true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there -were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the -sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a -low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no -other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat -thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. -</P> - -<P> -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the -effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried -me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted -softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now -commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in -the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the -muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. -</P> - -<P> -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to -walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a -couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or -back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly -attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the -mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the -lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. -</P> - -<P> -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the -only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan -of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly -well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall -of the enclosure. -</P> - -<P> -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but -as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet -and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given -me to see. -</P> - -<P> -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches -in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, -perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size -being about two and one-half feet in diameter. -</P> - -<P> -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat -blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. -They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six -legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an -intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms -or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a -trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of each -other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or -in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head. -</P> - -<P> -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were -small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these -young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center -of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. -</P> - -<P> -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, -this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in -the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of -proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. -</P> - -<P> -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is -dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These -latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and -terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points -which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. -The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest -and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive -skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these -weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. -</P> - -<P> -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to -speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs -were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous -little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach -of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me. -</P> - -<P> -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen -areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might -have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. -It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which -warned me. -</P> - -<P> -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped -so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its -fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the -butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without -ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to -turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of -that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, -and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I -had been watching. -</P> - -<P> -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific -incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for -such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, -would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we -sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while -the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side -of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help -preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins -of any description for guidance. -</P> - -<P> -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet -at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, -larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out -behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its -snout to its long, massive neck. -</P> - -<P> -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and -its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid -yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and -nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their -approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a -characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man -and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have -well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in -existence there. -</P> - -<P> -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in -all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are -identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or -rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made -but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it. -</P> - -<P> -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself -in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to -get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. -Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap -to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it -must be. -</P> - -<P> -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it -seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty -feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on -the opposite side of the enclosure. -</P> - -<P> -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning -saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me -with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme -astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that -I had not molested their young. -</P> - -<P> -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little -Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me -with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which -weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. -</P> - -<P> -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are -muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. -The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in -proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were -one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own -weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so. -</P> - -<P> -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me -as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their -fellows. -</P> - -<P> -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the -appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people -in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been -pursuing me. -</P> - -<P> -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to -the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to -decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a -rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. -</P> - -<P> -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned -later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, -and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel -is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have -learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which -they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the -extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The -theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but -the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their -wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. -</P> - -<P> -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an -attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of -these death-dealing machines. -</P> - -<P> -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away -in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number -alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred -yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the -warrior by the enclosure. -</P> - -<P> -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to -have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force -had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, -and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed -and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. -</P> - -<P> -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, -addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is -needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though -waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking -his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. -</P> - -<P> -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on -Mars! -</P> - -<P> -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained -to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke -for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear -to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the -intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action -with which I immediately followed my words. -</P> - -<P> -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his -open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and -stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and -locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back -toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a -signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really -frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. -</P> - -<P> -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride -behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow -designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him -on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments. -</P> - -<P> -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of -hills in the distance. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap04"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER IV -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -A PRISONER -</H3> - -<P> -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of -Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the -Martians had taken place. -</P> - -<P> -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity -of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. -Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined -roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table -land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps. -</P> - -<P> -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were -deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not -having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center -of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings -immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred -creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered -them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped. -</P> - -<P> -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied -in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were -much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving -nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter -in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which -were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in -height from ten to twelve feet. -</P> - -<P> -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all -looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; -older, I presumed. -</P> - -<P> -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, -until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon -their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living -Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever -returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once -embarking upon its cold, dark waters. -</P> - -<P> -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and -possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine -hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in -aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes -during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians -fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. -</P> - -<P> -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is -about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark -were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to -the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to -counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be -considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous -sports and the almost continual warfare between the various communities. -</P> - -<P> -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact -that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of -destruction. -</P> - -<P> -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious -to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of -the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the -plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has -rested upon. -</P> - -<P> -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed -of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which -sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some -hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a -huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a -gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. -</P> - -<P> -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper -squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, -gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings -ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended a -short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. -</P> - -<P> -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in -which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were -entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; -these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the -great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the -chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. -Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of -extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race -in the dim antiquity of Mars. -</P> - -<P> -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his -arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were -few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My -captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him -as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of -my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler -followed by his title. -</P> - -<P> -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to -me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, -had their missions been peaceful—otherwise they would have exchanged -shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. -</P> - -<P> -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain -of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and -warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with -his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the -chieftain addressed me at some length. -</P> - -<P> -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that -neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I -smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the -similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me -that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, -therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that -the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is -a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. -</P> - -<P> -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance -with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a -fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest -hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict -death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible ways. -</P> - -<P> -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my -muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to -follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. -</P> - -<P> -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the -amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this -did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering -fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. -</P> - -<P> -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I -did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of -brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's -rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a -felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back -toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance -of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the -unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. -</P> - -<P> -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter -and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, -when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had -won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation. -</P> - -<P> -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of -his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out -one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further -mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to -the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated -the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several -jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, -he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and gathering myself -together I "sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good -hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but -landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy -jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. -</P> - -<P> -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the -chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, -and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to -demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently -would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated -commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth -and rubbed my stomach. -</P> - -<P> -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions -and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and -together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side. -</P> - -<P> -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at -maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light -olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I -afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars -Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings -fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs -upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the -natives. -</P> - -<P> -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all -there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity -which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous -creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now -occupied them. -</P> - -<P> -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of -the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I -obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its -ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient -puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head -bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were -equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap05"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER V -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG -</H3> - -<P> -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or -two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but -wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left alone -in such close proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of meat; but -my fears were groundless, as the beast, after surveying me intently for -a moment, crossed the room to the only exit which led to the street, -and lay down full length across the threshold. -</P> - -<P> -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during -the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice saving my -life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. -</P> - -<P> -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the room -in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted scenes of -rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, -trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens—scenes which -might have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a master hand, -so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; yet nowhere was -there a representation of a living animal, either human or brute, by -which I could guess at the likeness of these other and perhaps extinct -denizens of Mars. -</P> - -<P> -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the -possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met -with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. These she -placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a short ways off -regarded me intently. The food consisted of about a pound of some -solid substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, -while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was not -unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short -time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from -an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare -indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically without water, -but seems to distill its plentiful supply of milk from the products of -the soil, the moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single -plant of this species will give eight or ten quarts of milk per day. -</P> - -<P> -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need of -rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must have -slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. -I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, but it had become -partially dislodged and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. -Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly -afterwards adding another to my covering. -</P> - -<P> -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. This -girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in contact, -disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her -ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and her solicitous -care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. -</P> - -<P> -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as there -is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature are -sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from brilliant -daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly illumined or -very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars happen to be in the -sky almost total darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, -rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in the -heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. -</P> - -<P> -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the -further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against -the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us from our moon. -The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be seen -hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or three times each -night, revealing all her phases during each transit of the heavens. -</P> - -<P> -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well that -nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian night, for -the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual -development, have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil lamp -which generates a gas and burns without a wick. -</P> - -<P> -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white -light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained by -mining in one of several widely separated and remote localities it is -seldom used by these creatures whose only thought is for today, and -whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in a semi-barbaric state -for countless ages. -</P> - -<P> -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I awaken -until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in number, were -all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley -array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay stretched the -sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen him on the preceding -day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued -upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall me should I -endeavor to escape. -</P> - -<P> -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the exact -attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room. -I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him should he -pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had begun to take -great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from -the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. -</P> - -<P> -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my -watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by -moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make -reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously -away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to -let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in -my rear as I made my way along the deserted street. -</P> - -<P> -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we -reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering -strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to -have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when -almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away -from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar -to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the latter would -have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this -is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, -and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the -Martian man. -</P> - -<P> -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the -beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in -my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me. This maneuver -gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able to reach the city -quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for -a window about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. -</P> - -<P> -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal beneath -me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely had I gained -a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped me by the neck -from behind and dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown -upon my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like creature, -white and hairless except for an enormous shock of bristly hair upon -its head. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap06"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER VI -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS -</H3> - -<P> -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did the -Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one huge foot, -while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering creature behind -me. This other, which was evidently its mate, soon came toward us, -bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain -me. -</P> - -<P> -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, and -had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or legs, -midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were close -together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but more -laterally located than those of the Martians, while their snouts and -teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. Altogether -they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with the green -Martians. -</P> - -<P> -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned face -when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the doorway -full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of fear the ape -which held me leaped through the open window, but its mate closed in a -terrific death struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so hideous a -creature a dog. -</P> - -<P> -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall I -witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. The -strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures is -approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an advantage -in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into the breast of -his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the ape, backed by -muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had -locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his life, -and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where I momentarily -expected the former to fall limp at the end of a broken neck. -</P> - -<P> -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of its -breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful jaws. -Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one emitting a sound -of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes of my beast bulging -completely from their sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. -That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. -</P> - -<P> -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which seems -ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had fallen to -the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging it with all -the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon the head of the -ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an eggshell. -</P> - -<P> -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had -returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the -building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway and the -sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched -upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his -rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. -</P> - -<P> -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against the -iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an unknown -world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so far as I -might be concerned, seemed sudden death. -</P> - -<P> -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I -might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake me; -at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. -</P> - -<P> -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against his -four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first blow, -for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, he could -reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could recover for -a second attack. -</P> - -<P> -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had turned -to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form of my -erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four winds. He -lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes fastened upon -me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. I could not -withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my -rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf as he -had in mine. -</P> - -<P> -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to -prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily as I -could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below the knees, -eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him off his balance -that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. -</P> - -<P> -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and -swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed it -with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. The effect was -marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the second -blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and -gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. -</P> - -<P> -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, I -beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in the -doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the second -time, the recipient of their zealously guarded applause. -</P> - -<P> -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had quickly -informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a handful of -warriors to search for me. As they had approached the limits of the -city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into -the building, frothing with rage. -</P> - -<P> -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible -that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and had witnessed -my short but decisive battle with him. This encounter, together with -my set-to with the Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of -jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or affection, -these people fairly worship physical prowess and bravery, and nothing -is too good for the object of their adoration as long as he maintains -his position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and courage. -</P> - -<P> -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, was -the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in -laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober -with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the monster, -rushed to me and carefully examined my body for possible wounds or -injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed she smiled -quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. -</P> - -<P> -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing over -the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and whose life -I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in argument, and -finally one of them addressed me, but remembering my ignorance of his -language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave -some command to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. -</P> - -<P> -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, and -I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was well I -did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its holster -and was on the point of putting an end to the creature when I sprang -forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing -of the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the wood and -masonry. -</P> - -<P> -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it to -its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise which my -actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they could not -understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such attributes as -gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked -enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my -own devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the arm. -</P> - -<P> -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over me -with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came to -know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more -gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million green -Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap07"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER VII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS -</H3> - -<P> -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which followed -while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the plaza, -where I found the entire community engaged in watching or helping at -the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled -chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, -each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their appearance, -might easily have drawn the entire wagon train when fully loaded. -</P> - -<P> -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments -of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the back of each of -the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a young Martian driver. -Like the animals upon which the warriors were mounted, the heavier -draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by -telepathic means. -</P> - -<P> -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively few -spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the universal -language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher and lower -animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater -or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species -and the development of the individual. -</P> - -<P> -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged -me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward -the point by which I had entered the city the day before. At the head -of the caravan rode some two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like -number brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. -</P> - -<P> -Every one but myself—men, women, and children—were heavily armed, and -at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own beast -following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature never -left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our -way led out across the little valley before the city, through the -hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my -journey from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the entire -cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we reached the level -expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within sight of our goal. -</P> - -<P> -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the -four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by -the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other -lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars -Tarkas explaining something to the principal chieftain, whose name, by -the way, was, as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas -Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. -</P> - -<P> -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling -to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this -time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and -quickly responding to his command I advanced to the side of the -incubator where the warriors stood. -</P> - -<P> -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs -had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little -devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving -restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food. -</P> - -<P> -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator -and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of -yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess -that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, -leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the -incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the -incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I was thus -permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which consisted -in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. -</P> - -<P> -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both -male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the -chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the -little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run the -full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the -women and older children; the last in the line capturing the first -little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had left -the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. As the -women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their -respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young -men were later turned over to some of the women. -</P> - -<P> -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was -over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous -little creature held tightly in her arms. -</P> - -<P> -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching -them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are -loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs -in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation, they -step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely -unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the -common children of the community, and their education devolves upon the -females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator. -</P> - -<P> -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as -was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a -year before she became the mother of another woman's offspring. But -this counts for little among the green Martians, as parental and filial -love is as unknown to them as it is common among us. I believe this -horrible system which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause -of the loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother -love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught that -they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by their -physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove -deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they -see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass -through from earliest infancy. -</P> - -<P> -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless -struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of -which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional -life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. -</P> - -<P> -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth -rate to merely offset the loss by death. -</P> - -<P> -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, -and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are -hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature -is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully -examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all but about one -hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each yearly supply. -At the end of five years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have -been chosen from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in -the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays after a -period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed -today was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one -per cent of the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever -hatched we knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were -not wanted, as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency -to prolonged incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained -for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time -for return to the incubators, almost to an hour. -</P> - -<P> -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or -no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of -such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another -five years. I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an -alien incubator. -</P> - -<P> -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed -an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty -degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and west by two large -fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this -district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. -</P> - -<P> -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a -supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a -tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. -</P> - -<P> -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden -forth early in the morning and had not returned until just before -darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean -vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported them to the -incubator, which they had then walled up for another five years, and -which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that -period. -</P> - -<P> -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator -were located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited -yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange -to build their vaults and incubators nearer home has always been a -mystery to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, unsolved and -unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs. -</P> - -<P> -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much -attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian -education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. -</P> - -<P> -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and -physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable -amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The -Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I -could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was -said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic -powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went -on around me. -</P> - -<P> -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic -messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended for -me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At -first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an -undoubted advantage over the Martians. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap08"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER VIII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY -</H3> - -<P> -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, -but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open -ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and -hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular -evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious -doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, -the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was -nowhere to be seen. -</P> - -<P> -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in fact, -the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, and, -wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted to an -upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley and the -hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to -cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over -the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and another, -and another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, -sailed slowly and majestically toward us. -</P> - -<P> -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper -works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device that -gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at -which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding the -forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had -discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not -say, but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly and -without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific volley from -the windows of the buildings facing the little valley across which the -great ships were so peacefully advancing. -</P> - -<P> -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, -at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short distance and -then turning back with the evident intention of completing a great -circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite our -firing line; the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening -upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, and -I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had never -been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as -though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of -each bullet, while the banners and upper works dissolved in spurts of -flame as the irresistible projectiles of our warriors mowed through -them. -</P> - -<P> -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward -learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught -the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the -guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors. -</P> - -<P> -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for his -fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For example, -a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct their fire -entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus of the big -guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends to the smaller -guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; still others the -officers; while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon -the other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. -</P> - -<P> -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the -craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control -of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their -energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to -the roofs of the buildings which we occupied and followed the -retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. -</P> - -<P> -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of the -outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This -had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unmanned, -as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung -from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful -manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite -apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in -a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control herself -sufficiently to escape. -</P> - -<P> -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet -her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to -reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I could see the -bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could not make out what -manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign of life was manifest -upon her as she drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. -</P> - -<P> -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but -some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the roofs to -cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of reinforcements. -It soon became evident that she would strike the face of the buildings -about a mile south of our position, and as I watched the progress of -the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. -</P> - -<P> -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being hauled -to ground by their fellows below. -</P> - -<P> -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel -from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, -evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of them appeared -from below dragging a little figure among them. The creature was -considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, and -from my balcony I could see that it walked erect upon two legs and -surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity with -which I had not as yet become acquainted. -</P> - -<P> -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned to -transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, -jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods -and liquids, including many casks of water, the first I had seen since -my advent upon Mars. -</P> - -<P> -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to -the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged in -what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors and -over the decks and works of the vessel. -</P> - -<P> -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave -the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an -instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose -from the point where the missile struck he swung over the side and was -quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneously released, and the great warship, lightened by the -removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, her decks and -upper works a mass of roaring flames. -</P> - -<P> -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the -flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. -Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until -finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was -awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating -funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes -of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying -the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose -unfriendly hands fate had carried it. -</P> - -<P> -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to the -street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat and -annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than the routing -by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though unfriendly, -creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I -free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my soul -I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, and a mighty -hope surged through me that the fleet would return and demand a -reckoning from the green warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly -attacked it. -</P> - -<P> -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the -hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as though -I had been the object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was -returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been given up for -that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. -</P> - -<P> -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the open -plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we remained at -the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. -</P> - -<P> -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, and -depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and -happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a -glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian females. -</P> - -<P> -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish figure, -similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past life. She did -not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing through the -portal of the building which was to be her prison she turned, and her -eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her -every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, -caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was of a -light reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of her -cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a -strangely enhancing effect. -</P> - -<P> -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied -her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely -naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect -and symmetrical figure. -</P> - -<P> -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and she -made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, of -course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and then -the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified her face as -she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled with -loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her signal, and -ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively felt that she had -made an appeal for succor and protection which my unfortunate ignorance -had prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap09"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER IX -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE -</H3> - -<P> -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her -usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did not -know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; enough -only to suffice for my daily needs. -</P> - -<P> -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited me. -A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. -</P> - -<P> -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled the -trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed the -work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. -</P> - -<P> -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made me -an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. -</P> - -<P> -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely by -the women, who not only attend to the education of the young in the -arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the artisans who -produce every manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They -make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything of -value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare they form -a part of the reserves, and when the necessity arises fight with even -greater intelligence and ferocity than the men. -</P> - -<P> -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make the -laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs have -been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of the -culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, but -seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law. In one -respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers. -</P> - -<P> -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our -first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as -she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where I had had -my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the -unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola manifested -toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few green Martians who -took the trouble to notice me at all. -</P> - -<P> -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that -they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common -language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by -my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more days I -had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable me to carry -on a passable conversation and to fully understand practically all that -I heard. -</P> - -<P> -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and her -youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had retired for -the night it was customary for the adults to carry on a desultory -conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I -could understand their language I was always a keen listener, although -I never proffered any remarks myself. -</P> - -<P> -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience chamber the -conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears on the -instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the beautiful -captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression I had noted -upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. That it -denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, judging all things by -mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to affect -indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola's attitude -toward the object of my solicitude. -</P> - -<P> -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and it was -toward her the question turned. -</P> - -<P> -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes of the -red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for ransom?" -</P> - -<P> -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her -last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," replied Sarkoja. -</P> - -<P> -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She is -very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold her for -ransom." -</P> - -<P> -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. -</P> - -<P> -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," snapped -Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled with water, and -the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. In our day we -have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and -atavism. It will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt that he would care -to entrust such as you with the grave responsibilities of maternity." -</P> - -<P> -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red woman," -retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would she should we have -fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her kind who war upon us, -and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the -reflection of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their -fellows, except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at -peace with none; forever warring among our own kind as well as upon the -red men, and even in our own communities the individuals fight amongst -themselves. Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from -the time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the -river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an -unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible existence! -Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what -you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a -continuation of the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this -life." -</P> - -<P> -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked -the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all -lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One thing the episode had -accomplished was to assure me of Sola's friendliness toward the poor -girl, and also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other females. -I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I had discovered that she -hated cruelty and barbarity I was confident that I could depend upon -her to aid me and the girl captive to escape, provided of course that -such a thing was within the range of possibilities. -</P> - -<P> -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape to, -but I was more than willing to take my chances among people fashioned -after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the hideous and -bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much -of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal life -has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. -</P> - -<P> -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the dreamless -and refreshing sleep of Mars. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap10"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER X -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAMPION AND CHIEF -</H3> - -<P> -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed -me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leave -the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, -however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all other -deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled -by the great white apes of my second day's adventure. -</P> - -<P> -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola -had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it, -and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by -ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden -territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back -into the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. -</P> - -<P> -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly I -found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the -country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, to -view what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose from -the summits which shut out my view. -</P> - -<P> -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity -to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute loved -me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any other -Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for the -acts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty -to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. -</P> - -<P> -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and -thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather -than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful -guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind, -I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the -normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this great brute, -sure that I would not be disappointed. -</P> - -<P> -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground and -putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talking -in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at -home, as I would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkable -to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring the -entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout until -his great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have -ever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial -distortion. -</P> - -<P> -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumped -up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight; -then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful puppy presenting -its back for the petting it craves. I could not resist the -ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and -forth in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; the -first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp when his horse, -long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him off -headforemost into a pot of frijoles. -</P> - -<P> -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then I -remembered what laughter signified on Mars—torture, suffering, death. -Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and back, talked -to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded -him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. -</P> - -<P> -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found -nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly -colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until lost in -mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward found -that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height; -the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. -</P> - -<P> -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas -relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically a -prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits -before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile -masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of -my prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth for -good and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment of my -liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to be -discovered. -</P> - -<P> -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She -was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned -her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, -that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling of -companionship; it was good to know that someone else on Mars beside -myself had human instincts of a civilized order, even though the -manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. -</P> - -<P> -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused such -passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw her -perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, an -atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved and -loving ancestor. -</P> - -<P> -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to -view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and also -convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their -language, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret on the -grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until I -had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to -enter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. -</P> - -<P> -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them -stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women was -Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing of -the preceding day, the results of which she had reported to the -occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentary -nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful -manner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to another she -either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She -seemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the -hatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed -by unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. -</P> - -<P> -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; if -the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at -night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the same -token would she have received any attention at all. -</P> - -<P> -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on -me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. -Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused -Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention to -me. -</P> - -<P> -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. -</P> - -<P> -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." -</P> - -<P> -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. -</P> - -<P> -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take -atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a low, -well-modulated voice. -</P> - -<P> -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on a -peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. -The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for -you know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of -our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on -Mars to support a single human life. For ages we have maintained the -air and water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of the brutal and -ignorant interference of you green men. -</P> - -<P> -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows. -Must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little -above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without -written language, without art, without homes, without love; the victims -of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in -common. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. -Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the light -of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find -the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may do -still more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the -greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you -come?" -</P> - -<P> -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at -the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. -What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were -moved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been strong -enough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a new and -mighty era for Mars. -</P> - -<P> -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expression -as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior. -It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with -age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of -benignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and -terrible countenance. -</P> - -<P> -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of -thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, -and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which -felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and -turning toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. -</P> - -<P> -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did the -aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but the -mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they -smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, for -the brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. -</P> - -<P> -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as that -blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such length -of time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for -I realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow -aimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand -descended I was halfway across the hall. -</P> - -<P> -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him. -The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but I -believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in the -terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in -the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew his -short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking -one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tusks -with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous -chest. -</P> - -<P> -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too close -to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do in -direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not fight a -fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon with -which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild -and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he was -little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment or -two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the -battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised -her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side of the -room. -</P> - -<P> -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from -my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. I -was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an -ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand upon -my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: -</P> - -<P> -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in -the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of -your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner -of man are you, that you consort with the green men, though your form -is that of my race, while your color is little darker than that of the -white ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than human?" -</P> - -<P> -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that I -fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present, -that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, your -protector and your servant." -</P> - -<P> -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" -</P> - -<P> -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and I -claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; -but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that -my regalia was that of a chieftain." -</P> - -<P> -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash one -of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I saw -that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read in -the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by the -other who had brought me my original equipment, and now for the first -time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first battle in the -audience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary. -</P> - -<P> -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent; -I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which always -marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to -call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a -conqueror; the trappings and the position of the man I killed. In -truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later was the -cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber. -</P> - -<P> -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticed -that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and -the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner. -Finally he addressed me: -</P> - -<P> -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and -dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?" -</P> - -<P> -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that you -furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have to -thank Sola for my learning." -</P> - -<P> -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other respects -needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented -temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two -chieftains whose metal you now wear?" -</P> - -<P> -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killed -me," I answered, smiling. -</P> - -<P> -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would a -Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other -purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to -dwell upon. -</P> - -<P> -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken into -the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the -headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be -accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chief -who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to our mighty and -most ferocious ruler. I am done." -</P> - -<P> -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not of -Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as -I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience -and guided by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave me -alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians -with whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you, -or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure, -whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young -woman, whoever would offer her injury or insult in the future must -figure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that you -belittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and -I can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics are -not incompatible with an ability to fight." -</P> - -<P> -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was -I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and their -attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. -</P> - -<P> -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only comment -was more or less enigmatical—"And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of -Thark." -</P> - -<P> -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to her -feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardian -harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I not -now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities -of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by the -faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the audience chamber -of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap11"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XI -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -WITH DEJAH THORIS -</H3> - -<P> -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to -watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume custody -of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two -little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I -informed them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions bestowed -upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden and painful demise. -</P> - -<P> -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to Dejah -Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon Mars, nor -women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and departed to -hatch up deviltries against us. -</P> - -<P> -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah -Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters -where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her -that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. -</P> - -<P> -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and -slung across my shoulder. -</P> - -<P> -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I must do -your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any circumstances. -The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was a great warrior, -and had by his promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of -Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. You -are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank -you in prowess." -</P> - -<P> -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. -</P> - -<P> -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor by -the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, -or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, and thus win -first place." -</P> - -<P> -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to kill -Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, which -we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more -pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also found in -this building real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly -wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, -unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed -many human figures in the compositions. These were of people like -myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad -in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, -and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. -The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted -for the most part, a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she -gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long -extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not see them. -</P> - -<P> -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking the -plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining and in the -rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the -bedding and such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. -</P> - -<P> -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. -</P> - -<P> -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your -pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these past -few days?" -</P> - -<P> -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." -</P> - -<P> -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and I -think I understand your position among these people, but what I cannot -fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom." -</P> - -<P> -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where may you -be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. You speak my -language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned -it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages differ. -Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties into the lost sea -of Korus, is there supposed to be a different language spoken, and, -except in the legends of our ancestors, there is no record of a -Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the -valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They would -kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if that were -true; tell me it is not!" -</P> - -<P> -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were pressed -against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. -</P> - -<P> -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia a -gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have never -seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, so far as -I am concerned. Do you believe me?" -</P> - -<P> -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she should -believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would follow a -general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, -or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should I care what she -thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and as my eyes -met hers I knew why, and—I shuddered. -</P> - -<P> -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me -with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, -she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a -'gentleman' is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on -Barsoom no man lies; if he does not wish to speak the truth he is -silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she asked, -and it seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that far-gone -day. -</P> - -<P> -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, for -I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has permitted me to -serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here." -</P> - -<P> -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That it -was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I hope -that she would do so however much I craved her confidence and respect. -I would much rather not have told her anything of my antecedents, but -no man could look into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest -behest. -</P> - -<P> -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not of -the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different—but why should I -trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I -believe because I wish to believe!" -</P> - -<P> -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it satisfied -her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of fact it was -about the only kind of logic that could be brought to bear upon my -problem. We fell into a general conversation then, asking and -answering many questions on each side. She was curious to learn of the -customs of my people and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on -Earth. When I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity with -earthly things she laughed, and cried out: -</P> - -<P> -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your planet -fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which takes -place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in the -heavens in plain sight?" -</P> - -<P> -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general the -instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, which -permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what is -transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures -are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, objects -no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly recognized. I -afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as well as the -instruments which produced them. -</P> - -<P> -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, "why is -it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants of -that planet?" -</P> - -<P> -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. -</P> - -<P> -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies with -strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous -contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; -while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. -</P> - -<P> -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings might -cause a doubt as to your earthliness." -</P> - -<P> -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining -that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange -garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our -meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of course, would -have to share the quarters with them. -</P> - -<P> -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed -much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she -had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our quarters were -located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have -been eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance that -had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of little consequence, -merely promising ourselves to be warned to the utmost caution in the -future. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished -over a hundred thousand years before. They were the early progenitors -of her race, but had mixed with the other great race of early Martians, -who were very dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. -</P> - -<P> -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced into -a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had compelled -them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing fertile -areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of life, against -the wild hordes of green men. -</P> - -<P> -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the race -of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful daughter. -During the ages of hardships and incessant warring between their own -various races, as well as with the green men, and before they had -fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much of the high -civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point where it -feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more practical -civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with the ancient -Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. -</P> - -<P> -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary race, -but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of readjustment -to new conditions, not only did their advancement and production cease -entirely, but practically all their archives, records, and literature -were lost. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning this -lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city in which -we were camping was supposed to have been a center of commerce and -culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural -harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the harbor, -while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom had been the -channel through which the shipping passed up to the city's gates. -</P> - -<P> -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, and -lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging toward -the center of the oceans, as the people had found it necessary to -follow the receding waters until necessity had forced upon them their -ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. -</P> - -<P> -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized it. -We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions by a -messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear -before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the audience -chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated upon the -rostrum. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap12"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -A PRISONER WITH POWER -</H3> - -<P> -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, and, -fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: -</P> - -<P> -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have by -your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are -not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. -</P> - -<P> -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can kill -a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are reported -to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; -a prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are returned -from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, if proved, -would be sufficient grounds for your execution, but we are a just -people and you shall have a trial on our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus -so commands. -</P> - -<P> -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run off with -the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; it is I -who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to -command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to a better man, for -such is the custom of the Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not wish -to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John Carter, I -should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may you be killed -by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in -self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in -an attempt to escape. -</P> - -<P> -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of these -two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. The -safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest -importance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such a -capture; she is the granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, -who is also our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us -that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we are a -just and truthful race. You may go." -</P> - -<P> -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible for -this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, -and now I recalled those portions of our conversation which had touched -upon escape and upon my origin. -</P> - -<P> -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted female. -As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no warrior had -the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as did his ablest -lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. -</P> - -<P> -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my mind, -my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my every faculty -on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute necessity for -escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, -for I was convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. -</P> - -<P> -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification -of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he had -descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked -contrast to most of his fellows, a slave to that brute passion which -the waning demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost -stilled in the Martian breast. -</P> - -<P> -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches -of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far better -that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, as did -those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took their own lives -rather than fall into the hands of the Indian braves. -</P> - -<P> -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tarkas -approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His demeanor -toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we had not just -parted a few moments before. -</P> - -<P> -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. -</P> - -<P> -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I smiled, "I am not -yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks." -</P> - -<P> -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the plaza -to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied by Sola -and her charges. -</P> - -<P> -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he said, "and -the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of -these. -</P> - -<P> -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman to the -red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, but -you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and so, if you -wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a -chieftain you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the retinues of -the chieftains whose metal you now wear." -</P> - -<P> -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he -promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care of -my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of the sleeping -silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of combat, for the nights -were cold and I had none of my own. -</P> - -<P> -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the winding -corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. The -beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, I -was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. -</P> - -<P> -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought -me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor of -the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig up some -means of communication whereby she might signal me in case she needed -either my services or my protection. -</P> - -<P> -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and other -sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this floor. -The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which -formed the center of the square made by the buildings which faced the -four contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the quartering -of the various animals belonging to the warriors occupying the -adjoining buildings. -</P> - -<P> -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, yet -numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like contraptions -bore witness to the beauty which the court must have presented in -bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom -stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. -</P> - -<P> -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the -graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome men; -the happy frolicking children—all sunlight, happiness and peace. It -was difficult to realize that they had gone; down through ages of -darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of -culture and humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final -composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. -</P> - -<P> -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and -casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the air -craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two -chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it had -become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the back -rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second load, which they -advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip -they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it -seemed, formed the retinues of the two chieftains. -</P> - -<P> -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the -relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it -is most difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians -is owned in common by the community, except the personal weapons, -ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone -can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more of these -than are required for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as -custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the community -as necessity demands. -</P> - -<P> -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a military -unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of -instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their -continual roamings and their unending strife with other communities and -with the red Martians. His women are in no sense wives. The green -Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. -Their mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is directed -without reference to natural selection. The council of chieftains of -each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky -racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole. -</P> - -<P> -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but -the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of the -mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, -loveless, mirthless existence. -</P> - -<P> -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men -and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but -better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at the expense -of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. -</P> - -<P> -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether -I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find -quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of -the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, and directed -the others to take up the various activities which had formerly -constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did -I care to. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap13"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XIII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS -</H3> - -<P> -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within -the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they -could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to -be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children -was far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. -</P> - -<P> -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in many -of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, including -lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore the warriors. -These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as dangerous and -vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are sufficiently -tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. -</P> - -<P> -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I -wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the -native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the thoats -did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions -of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with -the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was -continued until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. -</P> - -<P> -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man -and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he -might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, his -torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned in -accordance with Tharkian custom. -</P> - -<P> -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of -kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that they -could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between the ears to -impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won -their confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand with -animals, and by inclination, as well as because it brought more lasting -and satisfactory results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings -with the lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with -far less compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible -brute. -</P> - -<P> -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great snouts -against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond to my -every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the Martian -warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly power unknown -on Mars. -</P> - -<P> -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, when he -had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my thoats -which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth while -feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. -</P> - -<P> -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer sentiments -have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of battle as well -as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my every command, and -therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior -for the reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community to adopt -my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told -me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often -were the means of turning victory into defeat, since, at a crucial -moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their riders." -</P> - -<P> -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' only -rejoinder. -</P> - -<P> -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it -before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment marked -the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and before I left -the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a -regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to see. -The effect on the precision and celerity of the military movements was -so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented me with a massive anklet of -gold from his own leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to -the horde. -</P> - -<P> -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack being -deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. -</P> - -<P> -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little of -Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my -lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of my -thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been absent, -walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in -the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing -far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose ferocity I -was only too well acquainted with. However, since Woola accompanied -them on all their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. -</P> - -<P> -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of -the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced -to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for -Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on -some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I -had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. -There seemed bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though -we had been born under the same roof rather than upon different -planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. -</P> - -<P> -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my -approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to -be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little -right hand upon my left shoulder in true red Martian salute. -</P> - -<P> -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, "and -that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other warriors." -</P> - -<P> -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, "notwithstanding -the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity." -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris laughed. -</P> - -<P> -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you would -not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, but not his -heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." -</P> - -<P> -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she continued, "for -whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars Tarkas' -retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get Sola and me -out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their terrible -projectiles. You know that these have to be manufactured by artificial -light, as exposure to sunlight always results in an explosion. You -have noticed that their bullets explode when they strike an object? -Well, the opaque, outer coating is broken by the impact, exposing a -glass cylinder, almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute -particle of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which nothing -can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you will note the -absence of these explosions, while the morning following the battle -will be filled at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding -missiles fired the preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding -projectiles are used at night." [I have used the word radium in -describing this powder because in the light of recent discoveries on -Earth I believe it to be a mixture of which radium is the base. In -Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned always by the name used in -the written language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it -would be difficult and useless to reproduce.] -</P> - -<P> -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the -immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping -her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that they should -subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. -</P> - -<P> -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?" I -asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my veins -as I awaited her reply. -</P> - -<P> -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing that can -harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a -break to the builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do not -even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who stand for -everything they have not, and for all they most crave and never can -attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even though we die at -their hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater than they and -they know it." -</P> - -<P> -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," as applied -by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the surprise of my -life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many months thereafter. -Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. -</P> - -<P> -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with -as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, nevertheless, that -I may be present the next time that any Martian, green, red, pink, or -violet, has the temerity to even so much as frown on you, my princess." -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me with -dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd little laugh, -which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her mouth, she shook -her head and cried: -</P> - -<P> -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child." -</P> - -<P> -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. -</P> - -<P> -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not tell -you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, have -listened without anger," she soliloquized in conclusion. -</P> - -<P> -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with my -soft heart and natural kindliness. -</P> - -<P> -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take -him home and nurse him back to health," she laughed. -</P> - -<P> -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least among -civilized men." -</P> - -<P> -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with all -her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, and to a -Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead foeman -means so much more to divide between those who live. -</P> - -<P> -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so much -perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune her to -enlighten me. -</P> - -<P> -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and that I -have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, as -likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom another -twelve times, remember that I listened and that I—smiled." -</P> - -<P> -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more -positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. -</P> - -<P> -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down -upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in -the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. -</P> - -<P> -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for -an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my -being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and it -seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I was -not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders -longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw -away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the surface of -a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least had been born -that which is ever oldest, yet ever new. -</P> - -<P> -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had -spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved -her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in -the plaza of the dead city of Korad. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap14"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XIV -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -A DUEL TO THE DEATH -</H3> - -<P> -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the -helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens -of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands -of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could -not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and -the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her -helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which -sealed my lips. -</P> - -<P> -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would -rather return to Sola and your quarters." -</P> - -<P> -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I -should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, -are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with -you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel his strong arms -about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek." -</P> - -<P> -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained -the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. -</P> - -<P> -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." -</P> - -<P> -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?" -</P> - -<P> -"Yes." -</P> - -<P> -"And a—lover?" -</P> - -<P> -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. -</P> - -<P> -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for -and won." -</P> - -<P> -"But I have fought—" I started, and then I wished my tongue had been -cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, -and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and -without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of -the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters. -</P> - -<P> -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached the -building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I turned -disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours cross-legged, -and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks -chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. -</P> - -<P> -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed the -five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful women -and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and a -constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to fall furiously -and hopelessly in love with a creature from another world, of a species -similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched -from an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; whose -people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose hopes, whose -pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right and wrong might vary -as greatly from mine as did those of the green Martians. -</P> - -<P> -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for -all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever -love is known. -</P> - -<P> -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous and -beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom of my -heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I sat -cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom raced -through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and -marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the Hudson. -Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I lived and fought for -Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived upon her memory. -</P> - -<P> -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do all -Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at the -poles. -</P> - -<P> -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but she -turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount to her -cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace when I -might have pled ignorance of the nature of my offense, or at least the -gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. -</P> - -<A NAME="img-142"></A> -<CENTER> -<IMG SRC="images/img-142.jpg" ALT="I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots." BORDER="2" WIDTH="592" HEIGHT="814"> -<H3> -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots. -</H3> -</CENTER> - -<P> -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so I -glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In doing -so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by one ankle to the -side of the vehicle. -</P> - -<P> -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. -</P> - -<P> -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. -</P> - -<P> -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive spring -lock. -</P> - -<P> -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." -</P> - -<P> -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. -</P> - -<P> -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I -vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, as -they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah -Thoris. -</P> - -<P> -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape the -Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do not -wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way that will -yet ensure security. I have spoken." -</P> - -<P> -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it was -futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key be taken -from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the prisoner alone in -future. -</P> - -<P> -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the friendship -that, I must confess, I feel for you." -</P> - -<P> -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John Carter; but -have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy the girl, -and I myself will take the custody of the key." -</P> - -<P> -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, smiling. -</P> - -<P> -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. -</P> - -<P> -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris would -attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court of Tal -Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the river Iss." -</P> - -<P> -"It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied -</P> - -<P> -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp I -saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. -</P> - -<P> -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent of -something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. -Could it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an ancient -forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people's ways! -</P> - -<P> -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had felt -for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her so -palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. -</P> - -<P> -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior named -Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never made a kill -among his own chieftains, and so was still as an <I>o mad</I>, or man with -one name; he could win a second name only with the metal of some -chieftain. It was this custom which entitled me to the names of either -of the chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors addressed -me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames of the two warrior -chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other words, whom I had -slain in fair fight. -</P> - -<P> -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my direction, -while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some action. I paid -little attention to it at the time, but the next day I had good reason -to recall the circumstances, and at the same time gain a slight insight -into the depths of Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was -capable of going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though I -spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as the -flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my extremity I -did what most other lovers would have done; I sought word from her -through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted -in another part of camp. -</P> - -<P> -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. "Why -will she not speak to me?" -</P> - -<P> -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the part -of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor child. -</P> - -<P> -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except -that she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak and -she has been humiliated by a creature who could not polish the teeth of -her grandmother's sorak." -</P> - -<P> -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, "What might -a sorak be, Sola?" -</P> - -<P> -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian women -keep to play with," explained Sola. -</P> - -<P> -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I could -not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely and in -this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded very much -like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then commenced a train of -thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were -doing. I had not seen them for years. There was a family of Carters -in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; I was supposed to -be a great uncle, or something of the kind equally foolish. I could -pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to be a great -uncle always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There were two little kiddies in the -Carter family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no one on -Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, as I stood -there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I -had never longed for any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had -never known the true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of -the Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and -now my heart turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I -had been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I -was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to polish -the teeth of her grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor -came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and -slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man. -</P> - -<P> -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only a -single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right what -was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to -investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, including myself, -and we raced across the velvety carpeting of moss to the little -enclosure. -</P> - -<P> -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison -with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival on -Mars. -</P> - -<P> -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that the -cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. -</P> - -<P> -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, the light of -battle leaping to his fierce face. -</P> - -<P> -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open the -entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all the -eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back to join -the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if -these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people than -his Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw -hatching in your incubator," I added. -</P> - -<P> -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all -green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of -incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching on -the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting piece -of information, for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the -green Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging from. As a -matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than an ordinary -goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the -light of the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting -several hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to the -incubators. -</P> - -<P> -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the -animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the day's -interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding -cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided the day's work -between them, when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. -</P> - -<P> -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply -to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely -refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he -was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was -to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. -</P> - -<P> -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have -used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, -and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a -spear while he held only his long-sword. -</P> - -<P> -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself -upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do -it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and -delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. The entire community -surrounded us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. -</P> - -<P> -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I was -much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes he -would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword upon his -arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor -wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and with -extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he was unable to do -by brute strength. I must admit that he was a magnificent swordsman, -and had it not been for my greater endurance and the remarkable agility -the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to -put up the creditable fight I did against him. -</P> - -<P> -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the -long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and -ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each -effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring more than -I, evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a final blaze of -glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light -struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the mighty blade -that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I was only partially -successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the -sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight -met my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary -blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot stood three -figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above -the heads of the intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, -and Sarkoja, and as my fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau -was presented which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my -death. -</P> - -<P> -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a young -tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something which -flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had -blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had -found a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me then and -there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an instant entirely from -my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny mirror from her -hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out -her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, -our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was the -great knife descending upon her shielding breast. -</P> - -<P> -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work in -hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. -</P> - -<P> -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, feeling -the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could neither -parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched sword and -with all the weight of my body, determined that I would not die alone -if I could prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees -giving beneath me. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap15"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XV -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY -</H3> - -<P> -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but a -moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and there I -found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who lay stone -dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my -full senses I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only -through the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near the -center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. As I had lunged -I had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the muscles, -inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. -</P> - -<P> -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning my -back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, toward -the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A murmur of -Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. -</P> - -<P> -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death blows -fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a back seat. -They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no great -distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, undoubtedly -would have put me flat on my back for days. -</P> - -<P> -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of Dejah -Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in bandages, -but apparently little the worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose -dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast -ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. -</P> - -<P> -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks and -furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing a -short distance from the vehicle. -</P> - -<P> -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. -</P> - -<P> -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." -</P> - -<P> -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?" I queried, smiling. -</P> - -<P> -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not understand -either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held but the -highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, but they are -just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, though she -mourns you dead. -</P> - -<P> -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and so it is -difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people weep in -all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, the other -from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago before they -killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today." -</P> - -<P> -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known your -mother, child." -</P> - -<P> -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like to -hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot tonight, -John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have never spoken in -all my life before. And now the signal has been given to resume the -march, you must go." -</P> - -<P> -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah Thoris -I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, and be sure -that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she would speak with -me I but await her command." -</P> - -<P> -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in line, -and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station beside -Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. -</P> - -<P> -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out -across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and -brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two -hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast and one -hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the same -formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty -extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, and the -five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running loose within -the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. The gleaming -metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, -duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and -interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would have -turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. -</P> - -<P> -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and so -we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except when -the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, -or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but -little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like the faint -rumbling of distant thunder. -</P> - -<P> -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure -of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no sign -that we had passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of the -departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound -or sign we made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust and left no -spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in the cultivated -districts during the winter months, and even then the absence of high -winds renders it almost unnoticeable. -</P> - -<P> -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been approaching -for two days and which marked the southern boundary of this particular -sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, nor had they had -water for nearly two months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; -but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can -live almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and which, -he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture to meet the -limited demands of the animals. -</P> - -<P> -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch -upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked up at my approach, her -face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. -</P> - -<P> -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am lonely. -Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. -It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst them, and I often -wish that I were a true green Martian woman, without love and without -hope; but I have known love and so I am lost. -</P> - -<P> -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am sure -that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green Martians it -has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do -our legends hold many similar tales. -</P> - -<P> -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally for -size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian women, -and caring little for their society, she often roamed the deserted -avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that -deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes which I -believe I alone among Tharkian women today may understand, for am I not -the child of my mother? -</P> - -<P> -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it was -to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they roamed not -beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such things as interest -a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they came to meet more often, -and, as was now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. She -trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she felt for the -cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless lives they must ever -lead, and then she waited for the storm of denunciation to break from -his cold, hard lips; but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her. -</P> - -<P> -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, was -of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a simple -warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection from the -traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would have paid the -penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. -</P> - -<P> -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel upon -the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined towers of -ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for the five long -years it lay there in the process of incubation. She dared not come -oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her -every move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, and his own -ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal -from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to -claim her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect -the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth -become known. -</P> - -<P> -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in five -short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high in the -councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, in so far -as it could come in time to save his loved ones, for he was ordered -away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is the manner of -the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for what he can wrest in battle -from others. -</P> - -<P> -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over for -three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before the -time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth to fetch the -fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my -mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly and -lavishing upon me the love the community life would have robbed us both -of. She hoped, upon the return of the expedition from the incubator, -to mix me with the other young assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, -and thus escape the fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin -against the ancient traditions of the green men. -</P> - -<P> -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other young -Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced in -education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of -others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and then -drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of my father. -</P> - -<P> -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower chamber, -and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy -of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and -abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that she had -suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly absences from -her quarters accounted for her presence there on that fateful night. -</P> - -<P> -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name of -my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my mother -to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or -threats could wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would she ever -tell her child. -</P> - -<P> -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to report -her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me in the -silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely -noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away toward the -outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to the far south, out -toward the man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose face -she wished to look once more before she died. -</P> - -<P> -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through the -hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from either -north or south or east or west would enter the city. The sounds we -heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with -the occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of a body of -warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was that it was my father -returned from his expedition, but the cunning of the Thark held her -from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him. -</P> - -<P> -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming of the -cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its formation and -thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the head of the -procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging -roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous -light. My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, and -from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not that of my -father, but the returning caravan bearing the young Tharks. Instantly -her plan was formed, and as a great chariot swung close to our hiding -place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching -low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a -frenzy of love. -</P> - -<P> -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would she -hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon each -other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me with -the other children, whose guardians during the journey were now free to -relinquish their responsibility. We were herded together into a great -room, fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. -</P> - -<P> -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the name -of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at last -amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful -torture she was undergoing. -</P> - -<P> -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to save -me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my body to -the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day -that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the -present, at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the -identity of my father. -</P> - -<P> -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did not -laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. From that -moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day -when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal -Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but waits the -opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that his great love is -as strong in his breast as when it first transfigured him nearly forty -years ago, as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a world-old ocean -while sensible people sleep, John Carter." -</P> - -<P> -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. -</P> - -<P> -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, nor does he -know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my father's -name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it was she who -carried the tale that brought death and torture upon her he loved." -</P> - -<P> -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts of -her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless lives -of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. -</P> - -<P> -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of Barsoom -you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the knowledge -may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to -tell you the name of my father, nor place any restrictions or -conditions upon your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if -it seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you are not -cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving truthfulness, -that you could lie like one of your own Virginia gentlemen if a lie -would save others from sorrow or suffering. My father's name is Tars -Tarkas." -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap16"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XVI -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -WE PLAN ESCAPE -</H3> - -<P> -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were twenty -days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing through or -around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we -crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our -earthly astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior would -be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if no great body of -red Martian troops was in sight we would advance as close as possible -without chance of being seen and then camp until dark, when we would -slowly approach the cultivated tract, and, locating one of the -numerous, broad highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, -creep silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings without a -single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, so that we were -just leaving the confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke -out upon us. -</P> - -<P> -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through -the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from -time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, rambling buildings, -presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. There were many -trees, methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; -there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced their -presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they scented our -queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. -</P> - -<P> -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which cuts -each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. The -fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came abreast -of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance at the -approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down -the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. The -Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were not out upon the -warpath, and the only sign that I had that they had seen him was a -quickening of the pace of the caravan as we hastened toward the -bordering desert which marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. -</P> - -<P> -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to me -that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept me -from making any advances. I verily believe that a man's way with women -is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the -saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding -in the shadows like some frightened child. -</P> - -<P> -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green men -have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty -thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each -community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under the -rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their -headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among -other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed -by Tal Hajus. -</P> - -<P> -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. -There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned -expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the names of -warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, in the formal -greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered that they brought -two captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris and I -were the centers of inquiring groups. -</P> - -<P> -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day was -devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My home now -was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, the main -artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city. I was at -the far end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable a characteristic -of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were possible, on a larger -and richer scale. My quarters would have been suitable for housing the -greatest of earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing -about a building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the largest -in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next -largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a -lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The -warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose retinues -they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter among any of the -thousands of untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each -community being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection -of building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, except -in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. -</P> - -<P> -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it had -been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the intention -of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined upon having -speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her the necessity of -our at least patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the great red -sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly -head of Woola peering from a second-story window on the opposite side -of the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. -</P> - -<P> -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway -which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the -front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his -great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old -fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his -hobgoblin smile. -</P> - -<P> -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not -seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur from the -far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was -standing beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks upon an -ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose to her full height -and looking me straight in the eye said: -</P> - -<P> -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" -</P> - -<P> -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest -from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and -comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me -in effecting your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my -request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your father's -court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day -I am your master, and you must obey and aid me." -</P> - -<P> -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. -</P> - -<P> -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I do not -understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and -noble. I only wish that I might read your heart." -</P> - -<P> -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has -lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie -beating alone for you until death stills it forever." -</P> - -<P> -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a -strange, groping gesture. -</P> - -<P> -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you saying -to me?" -</P> - -<P> -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at -least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from -your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to -say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I -ask of you in return, and that is that you make no sign, either of -condemnation or of approbation of my words until you are safe among -your own people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they -be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve -you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it gives me -more pleasure to serve you than not." -</P> - -<P> -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand the -motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more willingly -than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my law. I have twice -wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness." -</P> - -<P> -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the entrance -of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual calm and -possessed self. -</P> - -<P> -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, "and from -what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of you." -</P> - -<P> -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. -</P> - -<P> -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great arena -as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." -</P> - -<P> -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the customs -of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us in one -supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a -home and protection among her people, and your fate can be no worse -among them than it must ever be here." -</P> - -<P> -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be better off -among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise you -not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature craves -and which must always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your fate would be -terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. I know that even -that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our escape, but we want -you with us, we want you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, -amongst a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and of -gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." -</P> - -<P> -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat might make it in -three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the -way through thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, but the -chances are small indeed for escape. They would follow us to the very -gates of Helium, and they would take toll of life at every step; you do -not know them." -</P> - -<P> -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you not -draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" -</P> - -<P> -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she drew -upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever -seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long straight lines, -sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging toward some great -circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were -other cities closer, but she said she feared to enter many of them, as -they were not all friendly toward Helium. -</P> - -<A NAME="img-178"></A> -<CENTER> -<IMG SRC="images/img-178.jpg" ALT="she drew upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever seen." BORDER="2" WIDTH="582" HEIGHT="824"> -<H3> -She drew upon the marble floor the first map <BR> -of Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. -</H3> -</CENTER> - -<P> -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now -flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which -also seemed to lead to Helium. -</P> - -<P> -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked. -</P> - -<P> -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it is -one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." -</P> - -<P> -"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant waterway," -I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the best route for our -escape." -</P> - -<P> -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this -same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my -thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of -us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for two days, since -the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. -</P> - -<P> -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would -overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving -them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped -quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, -where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. -</P> - -<P> -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the -Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter -grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the -sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which -these creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, owing -to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became more restless -and their hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this -entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their -increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that something was -amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause at all -some great bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon -me. -</P> - -<P> -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as -this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the -shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap into -the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the -great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I thanked -the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win the love -and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far -side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me -through the surging mountains of flesh. -</P> - -<P> -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body and -nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward them -with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, -and then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. -</P> - -<P> -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked quietly -in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented avenue which led -toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With -the noiselessness of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of the plain -beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. I was sure that Sola -and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous -undetected, but with my great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as -it was quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact -there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride. -</P> - -<P> -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and -Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of one of -the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other women of the same -household may have come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their -departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another half hour -had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave anxiety. Then there -broke upon the stillness of the night the sound of an approaching -party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping -stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the -black shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted -warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart -clean into the top of my head. -</P> - -<P> -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, and -so—" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. Our -plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now on to the -fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what fate had -overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous thoats upon -my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by the knowledge of my -escape was a problem of no mean proportions. -</P> - -<P> -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with a -hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way blindly -through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after me. They had -difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings -fronting the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without sticking -fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where I found, as I had -expected, the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would prove -their food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was -confident, nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter these -outlying buildings, which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, -which caused them the sensation of fear—the great white apes of -Barsoom. -</P> - -<P> -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear doorway -of the building through which we had entered the court, and, turning -the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court to the rear of -the buildings upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured that no one -was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite side and through the -first doorway to the court beyond; thus, crossing through court after -court with only the slight chance of detection which the necessary -crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the -courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters. -</P> - -<P> -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in -the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect to -meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another and -safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be -found, and, after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before from the -court side, I took advantage of my relatively great strength and -agility and sprang upward until I grasped the sill of a second-story -window which I thought to be in the rear of her apartment. Drawing -myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward the front of the -building, and not until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was -I made aware by voices that it was occupied. -</P> - -<P> -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself that -it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It was -well indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I heard -was in the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally came to me -proved a most timely warning. The speaker was a chieftain and he was -giving orders to four of his warriors. -</P> - -<P> -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, you four -are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the combined -strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring back from -Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him to the vaults -beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain him securely where he may be -found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor -permit any other to enter this apartment before he comes. There will -be no danger of the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the -arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, for -Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a noble night's -work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when he comes, I commend -your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap17"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XVII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -A COSTLY RECAPTURE -</H3> - -<P> -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away I returned -to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of action was formed -upon the instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue upon -the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard of Tal Hajus. -</P> - -<P> -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I soon -discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing I had hoped, -for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled with warriors and -women. I then glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the -third was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance to -the building from that point. It was the work of but a moment for me -to reach the windows above, and soon I had drawn myself within the -sheltering shadows of the unlighted third floor. -</P> - -<P> -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors and women, -and at one end was a great raised platform upon which squatted the most -hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, -cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, but accentuated and -debased by the animal passions to which he had given himself over for -many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial -countenance, while his enormous bulk spread itself out upon the -platform where he squatted like some huge devil fish, his six limbs -accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling manner. -</P> - -<P> -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah Thoris -and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of him as he -let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her beautiful -figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor -could I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect -before him, her head high held, and even at the distance I was from -them I could read the scorn and disgust upon her face as she let her -haughty glance rest without sign of fear upon him. She was indeed the -proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious -little body; so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around -her, but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the -mightiest figure among them and I verily believe that they felt it. -</P> - -<P> -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and that -the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, the -warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the surrounding -chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of -the Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him standing -in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously toying with -the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in implacable -hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his -thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon -his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years ago, -had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken a word into his -ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus would have been over; but -finally he also strode from the room, not knowing that he left his own -daughter at the mercy of the creature he most loathed. -</P> - -<P> -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his intentions, -hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors below. No one -was near to intercept me, and I reached the main floor of the chamber -unobserved, taking my station in the shadow of the same column that -Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus -was speaking. -</P> - -<P> -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it -shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were -all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of -your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all the ages -to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the night as their fathers -tell them of the awful vengeance of the green men; of the power and -might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you -shall be mine for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth -to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel -upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will -commence; tonight thou art Tal Hajus'; come!" -</P> - -<P> -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, -but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My -short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have -plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I was upon -him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, -with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, weary years, -and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the point of his -jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one dead. -</P> - -<P> -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and -motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and to -the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with the straps -and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris -to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly -around the court in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned -over the same course I had so recently followed from the distant -boundary of the city. -</P> - -<P> -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left them, -and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the building to -the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris -behind me upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. -</P> - -<P> -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we turned -to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across which, for -two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main artery leading -to Helium. -</P> - -<P> -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I could -hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me with her dear -head resting against my shoulder. -</P> - -<P> -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty one; -greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it," she -continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, for you -have saved the last of our line from worse than death." -</P> - -<P> -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the little -fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, and then, in -unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us -occupied with his own thoughts. For my part I could not be other than -joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as gaily as -though we were already entering the gates of Helium. -</P> - -<P> -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves -without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our -beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to -sight the ending of the first stage of our journey. -</P> - -<P> -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or six -hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All the -following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted -no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all -Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us—we were lost. -</P> - -<P> -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor -did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and -stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire -party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far -ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines -of low mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope -that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. Night fell -upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness -and weakness, we lay down and slept. -</P> - -<P> -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close to -mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old Woola -snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us across that -trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my -arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I thought of -his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and Sola awakened, -and it was decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain the -hills. -</P> - -<P> -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing -to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had not -attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding -day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him and fell upon -the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor beast was in a pitiable -condition, not even being able to rise, although relieved of our -weight. Sola told me that the coolness of the night, when it fell, -together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I decided not -to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to -leave him alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of -his trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow -to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola -and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this -way we had progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were -endeavoring to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon -the thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both -looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, -were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in a -southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us. -</P> - -<P> -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, -and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the -opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I -commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, presenting -as small an object as possible for fear of attracting the attention of -the warriors toward us. -</P> - -<P> -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, -before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most -providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length -of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover us. As what -proved to be the last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted -and, to our consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to -his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently he was -a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the green men a -chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung -toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the cold -sweat start from every pore in my body. -</P> - -<P> -Presently it swung full upon us and—stopped. The tension on our -nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed -for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he -lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the warriors who had -passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to -join him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly -in our direction. -</P> - -<P> -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising -my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the -button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the -missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward -from his flying mount. -</P> - -<P> -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to -take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach -the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the -ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, and even -though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than -that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers -upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an -escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would -surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command. -</P> - -<P> -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. I -have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to smile as I -lied. -</P> - -<P> -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" -</P> - -<P> -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together." -</P> - -<P> -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about my -neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, Sola! Dejah -Thoris remains to die with the man she loves." -</P> - -<P> -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give up my -life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but I could -not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet embrace, and -pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and -tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter in -peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, slapping the -thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to -the last to free herself from Sola's grasp. -</P> - -<P> -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking for -their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but scarcely -had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat upon my -belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my -rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who had been -first to return from behind the ridge either dead or scurrying to cover. -</P> - -<P> -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost upon -me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had -disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by Sola and -her charge. -</P> - -<P> -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led them -away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention from -endeavoring to capture me. -</P> - -<P> -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a projecting -piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. As I looked -up they were upon me, and although I drew my long-sword in an attempt -to sell my life as dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled -beneath their blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head -swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap18"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XVIII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAINED IN WARHOON -</H3> - -<P> -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness and I -well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as I realized -that I was not dead. -</P> - -<P> -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of a -small room in which were several green warriors, and bending over me -was an ancient and ugly female. -</P> - -<P> -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, -</P> - -<P> -"He will live, O Jed." -</P> - -<P> -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching my -couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." -</P> - -<P> -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for his -ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge fellow, -terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one broken tusk and -a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were human skulls and -depending from these a number of dried human hands. -</P> - -<P> -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory into -gehenna. -</P> - -<P> -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him -that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount and -ride after the main column. -</P> - -<P> -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had -ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the -beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of the -column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly -had the applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered the -injuries. -</P> - -<P> -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after they -had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before the -leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. -</P> - -<P> -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and also -decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead hands -which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the Warhoons, as -well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even -that of the Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object of -the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed -who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost studied -efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. -</P> - -<P> -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the ruler he -exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. -</P> - -<P> -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark whom it -is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the great games." -</P> - -<P> -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," replied -the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. -</P> - -<P> -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but he -shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall save him. -O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a -water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!" -</P> - -<P> -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an instant, -his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, and then -without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he hurled himself -at the throat of his defamer. -</P> - -<P> -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with nature's -weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued was as -fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could picture. They -tore at each others' eyes and ears with their hands and with their -gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly -to ribbons from head to foot. -</P> - -<P> -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, quicker -and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was done -saving only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in breaking -away from a clinch. It was the one little opening that Dak Kova -needed, and hurling himself at the body of his adversary he buried his -single mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful effort -ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of his body, the -great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas' jaw. Victor and -vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, a huge mass of torn -and bloody flesh. -</P> - -<P> -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on the -part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. Three -days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar Comas which, -by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and placing his foot -upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of -Warhoon. -</P> - -<P> -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, -amid wild and terrible laughter. -</P> - -<P> -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was -decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark -community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until -after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in -number, turned back toward Warhoon. -</P> - -<P> -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an index -to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They are a -smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a day -passed but that some members of the various Warhoon communities met in -deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a -single day. -</P> - -<P> -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor and -walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter -darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there days, or weeks, -or months. It was the most horrible experience of all my life and that -my mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness has been -a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled with creeping, -crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me when I lay down, -and in the darkness I occasionally caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery -eyes, fixed in horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me from -the world above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was -brought to me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. -</P> - -<P> -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures -who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering -reason upon this single emissary who represented to me the entire horde -of Warhoons. -</P> - -<P> -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he -could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon -the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the -cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my cell when next -I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great chain -which held me in my hand I waited his coming, crouching like some beast -of prey. As he stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the -chain above my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his -skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. -</P> - -<P> -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell upon -his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently -they came in contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a -number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my -reason with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my -very hands. -</P> - -<P> -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck I -glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, -unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back -from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding -my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes -until they reached the dead body at my feet. Then slowly they -retreated but this time with a strange grating sound and finally they -disappeared in some black and distant recess of my dungeon. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap19"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XIX -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -BATTLING IN THE ARENA -</H3> - -<P> -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to -remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I -reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it -was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming -eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured in their -neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for -months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my -dead carcass to their feast. -</P> - -<P> -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared -and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my -reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. -</P> - -<P> -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained -near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I -could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him. As -their retreating footsteps died away in the distance, I called out -softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. -</P> - -<P> -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered -</P> - -<P> -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." -</P> - -<P> -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." -</P> - -<P> -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only -any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the -news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola -could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. -He said that he knew the place well because the defile through which -the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was the only -one ever used by them when marching to the south. -</P> - -<P> -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. -</P> - -<P> -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of -Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had -fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' -capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat of -the battleships. -</P> - -<P> -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward -Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of -Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been -attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which -Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped -during the darkness of a moonless night. -</P> - -<P> -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our -coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors -of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately -seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been -dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in futile search -for the missing princess. -</P> - -<P> -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by -the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They -had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past -few days had they extended their quest to the south. -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had -had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring -their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect -and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's boundary and on foot -had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days -and nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in search -of his beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of -Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that Dejah -Thoris was not a captive there. -</P> - -<P> -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the -great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of -the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled -with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult to -say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. -</P> - -<P> -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the -Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of -the ancient city to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping -into the audience, and at each end had been constructed cages to hold -them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena. -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the -others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and -women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of -Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, -growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave -forebodings. -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the -arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be pitted -against each other until only two remained alive; the victor in the -last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The following -morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims, -and so on throughout the ten days of the games. -</P> - -<P> -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and -within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. -Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side -of the arena upon a large raised platform. -</P> - -<P> -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a -dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. -Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve -calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. -</P> - -<P> -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless -women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The -yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent -quality of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan -told me it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and -growling over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good -account of themselves. -</P> - -<P> -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went -throughout the long, hot, horrible day. -</P> - -<P> -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I -was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in -agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's play -to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty -multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the -arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. -</P> - -<P> -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some -far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. -</P> - -<P> -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the -liberty which was accorded the final winner. -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had -always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins, -especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope -that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed down all before -him during the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to -meet one another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian -swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's every hope of victory and -life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty -feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at -the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor -devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena. -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle -until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of escape. -The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other -and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. -Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to Kantos Kan to -thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. As he did so I -staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to -the ground with his weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos -Kan perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his -foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the -final death blow through the neck which is supposed to sever the -jugular vein, but in this instance the cold blade slipped harmlessly -into the sand of the arena. In the darkness which had now fallen none -could tell but that he had really finished me. I whispered to him to -go and claim his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the -city, and so he left me. -</P> - -<P> -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and as -the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the -hills beyond. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap20"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XX -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY -</H3> - -<P> -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come I -started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point where -he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted of -vegetable milk from the plants which gave so bounteously of this -priceless fluid. -</P> - -<P> -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights guided -only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some protruding -rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several times I was -attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped -upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my -hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly -acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but once I was down -with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy face pressed close to mine -before I knew that I was even threatened. -</P> - -<P> -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was large -and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its throat -before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, and slowly -I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon -its windpipe. -</P> - -<P> -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach me -with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and choke -the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms gave to -the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming -tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face -touched mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness full upon the -creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two rolled growling -upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in a frightful manner, -but it was soon over and my preserver stood with lowered head above the -throat of the dead thing which would have killed me. -</P> - -<P> -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up -the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but from -whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. That I -was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at -seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for his -absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my commands. -</P> - -<P> -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a shadow -of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and commenced -greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized that the poor -fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was in but little better -plight but I could not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had -no means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal I again -took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering in quest of the -elusive waterway. -</P> - -<P> -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to see -the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon I -dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building which covered -perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred feet in the air. It -showed no aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at -which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. -</P> - -<P> -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to the -inmates of the place, unless a small round role in the wall near the -door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness of a lead -pencil and thinking that it might be in the nature of a speaking tube I -put my mouth to it and was about to call into it when a voice issued -from it asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of my -errand. -</P> - -<P> -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. -</P> - -<P> -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, yet -you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither green nor -red. In the name of the ninth day, what manner of creature are you?" -</P> - -<P> -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the -name of humanity open to us," I replied. -</P> - -<P> -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk into -the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the left, -exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further end of -which was another door, similar in every respect to the one I had just -passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed the first door -it slid gently into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original -position in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and as it -reached its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders of -steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their lower -ends into apertures countersunk in the floor. -</P> - -<P> -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as -the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food -and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to -satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus engaged my -invisible host put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. -</P> - -<P> -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it is -equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by the -conformation of your brain and the strange location of your internal -organs and the shape and size of your heart." -</P> - -<P> -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. -</P> - -<P> -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I -could read those." -</P> - -<P> -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, dried -up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a single article -of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold from which depended -upon his chest a great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid -with huge diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied by a -strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine different -and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly prism and two -beautiful rays which, to me, were new and nameless. I cannot describe -them any more than you could describe red to a blind man. I only know -that they were beautiful in the extreme. -</P> - -<P> -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part of -our intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he could -not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. -</P> - -<A NAME="img-224"></A> -<CENTER> -<IMG SRC="images/img-224.jpg" ALT="The old man sat and talked with me for hours." BORDER="2" WIDTH="581" HEIGHT="814"> -<H3> -The old man sat and talked with me for hours. -</H3> -</CENTER> - -<P> -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, and -thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me later -and which I would never have known had he suspected my strange power, -for the Martians have such perfect control of their mental machinery -that they are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. -</P> - -<P> -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. The -secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, one of -the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating from the great -stone in my host's diadem. -</P> - -<P> -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of finely -adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge building, -three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which the ninth ray -is stored. This product is then treated electrically, or rather -certain proportions of refined electric vibrations are incorporated -with it, and the result is then pumped to the five principal air -centers of the planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether -of space transforms it into atmosphere. -</P> - -<P> -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great -building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand -years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some -accident might befall the pumping apparatus. -</P> - -<P> -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium -pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars -with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he told me, he -had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day each at a -stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has -one assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian year, -about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each of these men spend -alone in this huge, isolated plant. -</P> - -<P> -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of -the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the -secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with -walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even -the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass covering -five feet thick. -</P> - -<P> -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or -some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the very -existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the -uninterrupted working of this plant. -</P> - -<P> -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that the -outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so -finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a certain -combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I -thought to surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the massive doors -for me from the inner chambers of the building. As quick as a flash -there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as -he answered that this was a secret he must not divulge. -</P> - -<P> -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that he -had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. -</P> - -<P> -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a -nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. -</P> - -<P> -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as -they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men—though we do not -trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. -</P> - -<P> -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a long and -restful sleep—yes, a long sleep." -</P> - -<P> -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that he -had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me in -the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed -words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom." -</P> - -<P> -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were cut -off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me in my -little knowledge of thought transference. -</P> - -<P> -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead I -could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of the -great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of the -planet—all, even Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For the -others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah -Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. -</P> - -<P> -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I -would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had -read in my host's mind. -</P> - -<P> -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding -runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great -hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I -seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself by night. -</P> - -<P> -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight -noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the -corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the darkness. -</P> - -<P> -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly -lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that he -held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening it upon -a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, -which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed -chamber and finish me. -</P> - -<P> -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and -crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood between -me and liberty. -</P> - -<P> -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought -waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the -great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One -after the other the remaining mighty portals opened at my command and -Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full stomachs. -</P> - -<P> -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the -first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as -possible. This I reached about morning and entering the first -enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a habitation. -</P> - -<P> -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any -response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon -the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. -</P> - -<P> -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened my -eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and -covering me with their rifles. -</P> - -<P> -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been a -prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is -food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for -reaching my destination." -</P> - -<P> -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was -only a short distance away. -</P> - -<P> -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had -been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a -large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the entrance -hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for -their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm's way -during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising -them from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. -</P> - -<P> -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three similar -houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being government -officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of -war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to -pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. -</P> - -<P> -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent -several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and -arduous experiences. -</P> - -<P> -When they had heard my story—I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris -and the old man of the atmosphere plant—they advised me to color my -body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find -employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. -</P> - -<P> -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you -have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher -nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through military -service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," explained one of them, -"and save our richest favors for the fighting man." -</P> - -<P> -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull -thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The -animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and -shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. -</P> - -<P> -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed -my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, -in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in -front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a -full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in -the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of Ptor, which -was the family name of my benefactors. -</P> - -<P> -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium -of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the -coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require -it and redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, -the government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out the -amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned by the -government. This suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a -difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great -isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow ribbons -from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and -wilder men. -</P> - -<P> -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me -they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long -upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out -of sight upon the broad white turnpike. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap21"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXI -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA -</H3> - -<P> -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive things -concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. -</P> - -<P> -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and -pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. Along -either side of these conduits, and extending their entire length, lie -the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts of about the -same size, each tract being under the supervision of one or more -government officers. -</P> - -<P> -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense -quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried -underground through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots -of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there -are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying -birds. -</P> - -<P> -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth—large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals -of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a -single article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. -Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by -ages of careful, scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of -them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by -comparison. -</P> - -<P> -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class -and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the -older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several years before -and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to -keep these two countries at war. -</P> - -<P> -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of Barsoom, -and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah -Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. -</P> - -<P> -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she walks upon -and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has been -draped in mourning. -</P> - -<P> -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I fear -will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to his -place." -</P> - -<P> -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a -popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces -took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their -search for the princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the -city to a sorry plight. It is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon." -</P> - -<P> -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. -</P> - -<P> -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a green -warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped from -the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to -fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering -upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered -nearby." -</P> - -<P> -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it at all -conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I determined to -make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and -carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter's possible -whereabouts as lay in my power. -</P> - -<P> -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of -Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is -never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down Broadway -with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be somewhat similar -to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga with Woola. -</P> - -<P> -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great -regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we -arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became imperative -that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure -been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me to turn away the -one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration of -affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered my life in -the service of her in search of whom I was about to challenge the -unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit -even Woola's life to threaten the success of my venture, much less his -momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so -I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, -that if I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should -find the means to search him out. -</P> - -<P> -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a -touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. -</P> - -<P> -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, -walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets -were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon their -metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves -presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule -were not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or barred, -since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is -the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone -their homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of -danger. -</P> - -<P> -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be near -the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me letters. -My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of -all Martian cities. -</P> - -<P> -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces -of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility -of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and -shops. -</P> - -<P> -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the -magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which -carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly -toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention -to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I placed my -hand upon his shoulder, calling out: -</P> - -<P> -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" -</P> - -<P> -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand -the point of his long-sword was at my breast. -</P> - -<P> -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty -feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, -laughing, -</P> - -<P> -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further -moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen -that you can change your color at will?" -</P> - -<P> -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I had -briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena at -Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly -be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos Mors, Jeddak -of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, our princess. -Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her hidden in the city and has fallen -madly in love with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace between our -countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent -word that he and his people would rather look upon the dead face of -their princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, and that -personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of Than -Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than -Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and -his strength in Helium is greater today than ever. -</P> - -<P> -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I have not -yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan -navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of -Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this division of the navy, -and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you are -here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess and two of us -working together should be able to accomplish much." -</P> - -<P> -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon -the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the -cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of -these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely by -mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it -entered the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and -delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the -touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. -</P> - -<P> -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of the -air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that I be -enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an -examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear -on this score as he would attend to that part of the matter. He -accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. -</P> - -<P> -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, "when -they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is done -and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that -time." -</P> - -<P> -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances -which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man air -craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, -tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane -upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine which -propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained within the thin metal -walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of -propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties. -</P> - -<P> -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter -from what source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar -eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the various planets, -and that it is the individual eighth ray of each planet which -"reflects," or propels the light thus obtained out into space once -more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of -Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to propel light -from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from the planet -constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is -able to lift enormous weights from the surface of the ground. -</P> - -<P> -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon -in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. -</P> - -<P> -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control -the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred -years before, the first great battle ship to be built with eighth ray -reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, never to -return. -</P> - -<P> -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried -her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid of powerful -telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; -a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. -</P> - -<P> -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and -as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the -palace of Than Kosis. -</P> - -<P> -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantos -Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific -velocity toward the south, following one of the great waterways which -enter Zodanga from that direction. -</P> - -<P> -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour -when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing -madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach -the confines of one of the walled fields. -</P> - -<P> -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of -the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red -Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was -attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the -tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing some -damage when surprised by the green warriors. -</P> - -<P> -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on the -relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low -to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving -to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his -fate would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. -</P> - -<P> -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I -soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow -of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact -sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, hurled the -fellow's headless body into the air over the head of his thoat, where -it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. -</P> - -<P> -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the -astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and -promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, for it -was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had -saved. -</P> - -<P> -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely -return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening -to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the -needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green -monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they -had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became -unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air -craft which had frightened them. -</P> - -<P> -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. -</P> - -<P> -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he -could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had -now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to -my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits. -</P> - -<P> -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his -throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With -a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with -outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the -green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. -</P> - -<P> -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and -after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return -voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail -vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. -</P> - -<P> -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. -</P> - -<P> -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and -troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black -with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long -streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and -picturesque design. -</P> - -<P> -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close -beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, -he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual -officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He then -unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member of -the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the -maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of -Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull -thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore -such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be -struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of -the red Indians of my own Earth. -</P> - -<P> -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence of -my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. As -they waited for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the -two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and presently -it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled -into position before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced -toward the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded him to -advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which -had won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed -a metal ornament upon the left arm of the lucky man. -</P> - -<P> -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, -</P> - -<P> -"John Carter, air scout!" -</P> - -<P> -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly -to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I -halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the -entire assemblage of troops and spectators. -</P> - -<P> -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable courage and -skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than Kosis -and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure -of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem." -</P> - -<P> -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, -said: -</P> - -<P> -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a -cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the -jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter." -</P> - -<P> -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. -After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of -the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the -palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap22"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -I FIND DEJAH -</H3> - -<P> -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to -station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is -always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair -in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict. -</P> - -<P> -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than -Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, -Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not perceive -my entrance. -</P> - -<P> -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. -The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the -ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a -few inches below. -</P> - -<P> -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which -encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. -Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was -in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to -guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be -relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me. -</P> - -<P> -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of -heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive -all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been -no curtain intervening. -</P> - -<P> -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of -the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the -soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and -not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah -Thoris. -</P> - -<P> -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand -they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in surprise, -and, rising, saluted her. -</P> - -<P> -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, -who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me -that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?" -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing -at the corners of her mouth she made answer: -</P> - -<P> -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of -woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters -concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your -son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and -I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the -assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time comes she will -wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." -</P> - -<P> -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It is far -from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, -your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued -forthwith." -</P> - -<P> -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed -to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to give herself -to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." -</P> - -<P> -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It requires but -the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the word -that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife." -</P> - -<P> -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium take to -peace. I shall at least offer it to them." -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still -followed by her guards. -</P> - -<P> -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to -the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, and -from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, -had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people's most hated enemy. -</P> - -<P> -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I -must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel truth -to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and -hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by -which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this opening -I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching and turning in -every direction. -</P> - -<P> -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I -heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite -side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made out -the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that -I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. -</P> - -<P> -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of -which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only -to find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four guards who -had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, -asking the nature of my business. -</P> - -<P> -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately with -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." -</P> - -<P> -"And your order?" asked the fellow. -</P> - -<P> -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The -Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the -opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah -Thoris conversing. -</P> - -<P> -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, -</P> - -<P> -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." -</P> - -<P> -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at -my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me pass in -peace or no?" -</P> - -<P> -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join -him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further -progress. -</P> - -<P> -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one who had -first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the apartments of -the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard -to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you -cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim smile. -</P> - -<P> -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I -can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed -against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my -way to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the -clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the little -room. -</P> - -<P> -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and -there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering -over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that -she did not recognize me, nor did Sola. -</P> - -<P> -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only -two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the -fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell -within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men and noble -fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill them, but I -would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I have reached the -side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. -</P> - -<P> -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who -still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. -</P> - -<P> -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me in -my misery?" -</P> - -<P> -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." -</P> - -<P> -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, "and -yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not—it cannot be—no, -for he is dead." -</P> - -<P> -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. "Do -you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of -your chieftain?" -</P> - -<P> -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, -but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder -and a little moan of misery. -</P> - -<P> -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, and whom -I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before—but now it -is too late, too late." -</P> - -<P> -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not have -promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I lived?" -</P> - -<P> -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in -the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to -save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army." -</P> - -<P> -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it." -</P> - -<P> -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that -is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless -formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than does -the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. -I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain." -</P> - -<P> -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but -I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to -me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no -other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true." -</P> - -<P> -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them now -for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our -ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise would -have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before -all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have -given my empire for my Tharkian chief." -</P> - -<P> -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended me? -You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and -then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I -should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to -tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of -women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for that they -may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for also, but never -ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may address her as his -princess, or in any of the several terms which signify possession. You -had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you -called me your princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even -then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until -you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through -combat." -</P> - -<P> -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. "You -must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. -What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be -presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my -wife, and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins -you shall be." -</P> - -<P> -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may never -be yours while Sab Than lives." -</P> - -<P> -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess—Sab Than dies." -</P> - -<P> -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the man who -slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled by -custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the -sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the -memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever -see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." -</P> - -<P> -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to -me until the ceremony had actually been performed. -</P> - -<P> -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the -mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah -Thoris' apartments. -</P> - -<P> -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and -as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion -would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly -through the palace. -</P> - -<P> -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The -walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I -secreted myself without being apprehended. -</P> - -<P> -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest -in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to -relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I -knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the -guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, -crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the -antechamber. -</P> - -<P> -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through -the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and -searching for signs of the assassin. -</P> - -<P> -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a -number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind -them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing -through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through -a series of larger windows. -</P> - -<P> -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for -an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which -overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about -thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall -fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in -thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared -impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed -already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before -darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while -the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. -</P> - -<P> -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by -accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling -of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious -bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I settled down -within it than I heard a number of people enter the apartment. The -group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear -their every word. -</P> - -<P> -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. -</P> - -<P> -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe -that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might -reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men -could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, -however, for here comes the royal psychologist." -</P> - -<P> -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: -</P> - -<P> -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your -faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, -but by a single opponent." -</P> - -<P> -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by -the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than -Kosis. -</P> - -<P> -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. -</P> - -<P> -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact the -impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four -guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of -one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of -marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished -them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never -seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom. -</P> - -<P> -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned -was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one -iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, -and that when she looked there was but one man engaged with the -guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen." -</P> - -<P> -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he went -on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his -fighting ability." -</P> - -<P> -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at -once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that -I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in -Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his -name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!" -</P> - -<P> -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he knew -as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity among -the Warhoons. -</P> - -<P> -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He also is -a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one -is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, -and let every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to -the closest scrutiny." -</P> - -<P> -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the -palace walls. -</P> - -<P> -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, "and -not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other -than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered." -</P> - -<P> -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, "and -in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of -Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more -than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come." -</P> - -<P> -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in -sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to -the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue beyond the -palace grounds. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap23"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXIII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -LOST IN THE SKY -</H3> - -<P> -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the -building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the -place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered near -the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means of -reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were situated -was through an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I -managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. -</P> - -<P> -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I -stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise at -my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty -must have ended some time since. -</P> - -<P> -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and -when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah -Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. -</P> - -<P> -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to -the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of -Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." -</P> - -<P> -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a resourceful -man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace?" -</P> - -<P> -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I can -solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal -reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah -Thoris." -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. -</P> - -<P> -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" -</P> - -<P> -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised -to Sab Than." -</P> - -<P> -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder -raised his sword on high, exclaiming: -</P> - -<P> -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon -your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at -the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah -Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters -in the palace." -</P> - -<P> -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force -patrols the sky." -</P> - -<P> -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of -confidence. -</P> - -<P> -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at last. -"I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above -the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we -investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering -from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most -unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of -the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly put out -at being detected and commanded me to keep the matter to myself, -explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his -apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the -barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five -minutes; but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say -it is?" -</P> - -<P> -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. -</P> - -<P> -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof." -</P> - -<P> -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." -</P> - -<P> -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street -and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, -filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common -with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. -</P> - -<P> -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher -than these barracks, though several topped it by a few hundred feet; -the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen -hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and passenger stations -of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. -</P> - -<P> -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with -much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. -The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat -much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges -and projections which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way -to the eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung, and -though I encircled the great building I could find no opening through -them. -</P> - -<P> -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through -the building. -</P> - -<P> -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take—it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not risk -a thousand deaths for such as she. -</P> - -<P> -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of the -long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled a great -hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their -craft for various purposes of repair, and by means of which landing -parties are lowered to the ground from the battleships. -</P> - -<P> -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its hold, -but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not know. It -might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the roof, so that -as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would slip off and -launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. -</P> - -<P> -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the strap. -Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard pavements, -and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the supporting eaves, -and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned me cold with -apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. -</P> - -<P> -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver I -found myself looking. -</P> - -<P> -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. -</P> - -<P> -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by the -merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I replied. -</P> - -<P> -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up -from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I -call the guard." -</P> - -<P> -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning toward the edge -of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, hung all -my weapons. -</P> - -<P> -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and to -his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped him by -his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the roof. The -weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted -cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him over the -edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few moments before. I knew it -would be morning before he would be discovered, and I needed all the -time that I could gain. -</P> - -<P> -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon had -out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast behind mine I -started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I dove down -into the streets of the city far below the plane usually occupied by -the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon the -roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. -</P> - -<P> -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided that -I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the palace -and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow me. He set -my compass for me, a clever little device which will remain steadfastly -fixed upon any given point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each -other farewell we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace -which lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. -</P> - -<P> -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing its -piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out a -command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to his -hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while I rose -steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian sky followed -by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and -later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, now rising -and now falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the -time, but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided -to hazard everything on a straight-away course and leave the result to -fate and the speed of my machine. -</P> - -<P> -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only to the -navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our machines, so -that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I could dodge their -projectiles for a few moments. -</P> - -<P> -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, and I -was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. The -concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening plunge she hurtled -downward through the dark night. -</P> - -<P> -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, -but I must have been very close to the ground when I started to rise -again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising -again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally making out -their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, evidently in -search of me. -</P> - -<P> -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture to -flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my -consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly destroyed -my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true I could follow -the stars in the general direction of Helium, but without knowing the -exact location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling my -chances for finding it were slim. -</P> - -<P> -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my compass -intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in between four -and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning found me speeding -over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of -continuous flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed below -me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all Barsoomian metropolises -consists in two immense circular walled cities about seventy-five miles -apart and would have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. -</P> - -<P> -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back -in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other -large cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had -given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, -another distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid -scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the -cities, while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks -her sister. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap24"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXIV -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND -</H3> - -<P> -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as -I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand -green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them -than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the almost -unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. -</P> - -<P> -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged in -life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for an -instant separate himself from the entangled mass. -</P> - -<P> -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with -good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with -drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. -</P> - -<P> -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I -recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle -behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I -recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made -quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for another thrust he -fell over a dead body behind him and was down and at the mercy of his -foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars -Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I had -accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and -quickly settled the other. -</P> - -<P> -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, -</P> - -<P> -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think -I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend." -</P> - -<P> -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned -and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their -thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. -</P> - -<P> -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon -the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or -gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. -</P> - -<P> -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars -Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended -the customary council which immediately follows an engagement. -</P> - -<P> -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. It -was Woola—faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark -and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my former -quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly hopeless -watch for my return. -</P> - -<P> -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars Tarkas, on -his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw and recognized you -as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him -tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice from -among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest waterway that leads -to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a -friend as well. Come, we must start." -</P> - -<P> -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. -</P> - -<P> -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling with -Tal Hajus." -</P> - -<P> -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall not -sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the chance -you wait." -</P> - -<P> -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and -that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the most -horrible tortures. -</P> - -<P> -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola had -told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march to Thark. -</P> - -<P> -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in passion -and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been heaped upon -the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible -existence. -</P> - -<P> -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any future -misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. -</P> - -<P> -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were instrumental in -bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. I have -just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has learned of -your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not -our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him tying one end of a -strap about your neck and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test -your fitness to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard -that he would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn -you, for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, -Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." -</P> - -<P> -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. -</P> - -<P> -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely wait -to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering at the -entrance as I came in. -</P> - -<P> -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it is dares -strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own hands I shall -burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute my person with his -vile gaze." -</P> - -<P> -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council and -ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. You -owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You claim to -be just people—" -</P> - -<P> -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as I -command." -</P> - -<P> -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to set -aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." -</P> - -<P> -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus fumed -and frothed, I continued. -</P> - -<P> -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your mighty -jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the thick of -battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and little -children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen him fight -with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single -blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior and a noble -man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" -</P> - -<P> -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. -</P> - -<P> -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must prove -his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars Tarkas -to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal -Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I could kill him, -and he knows it." -</P> - -<P> -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted upon -Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of his -countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. -</P> - -<P> -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never in my -long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. There -could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." And still -Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. -</P> - -<P> -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal Hajus, -prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" -</P> - -<P> -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. -</P> - -<P> -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus drew -his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. -</P> - -<P> -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the dead -monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank I -had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among them. -</P> - -<P> -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as -well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in my cause -against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my adventures, and in -a few words had explained to him the thought I had in mind. -</P> - -<P> -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the council, -"which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. Dejah -Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now held by -the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her country from -devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. -</P> - -<P> -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. The -loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought that had -we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain sufficient -assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the size and frequency -of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably supreme among the -green men of all Barsoom. What say you?" -</P> - -<P> -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the -bait as a speckled trout to a fly. -</P> - -<P> -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half hour -had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead sea -bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. -</P> - -<P> -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred thousand -strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services of three -smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. -</P> - -<P> -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the -heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. -</P> - -<P> -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we were -all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, -through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty -thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days after we -set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, -one hundred and fifty thousand strong. -</P> - -<P> -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious green -monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. Never in -the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green -warriors marched to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep -even a semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to me that -he got them to the city without a mighty battle among themselves. -</P> - -<P> -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by -their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, -who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against -the green men, directing special attention toward despoiling their -incubators. -</P> - -<P> -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the city -devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces in two -divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division opposite a -large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. These gates -have no regular guard, but are covered by sentries, who patrol the -avenue that encircles the city just within the walls as our -metropolitan police patrol their beats. -</P> - -<P> -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the task -of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an -impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. -</P> - -<P> -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, I -commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I ordered -to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head of the topmost -warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. -</P> - -<P> -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from -the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from a -short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the next, -and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of the highest I -clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad -expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal -number of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened -together, and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the -other end cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the -avenue below. No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of -my leather strap, I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement -below. -</P> - -<P> -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, and in -another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within the doomed -city of Zodanga. -</P> - -<P> -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of the -enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the distance a -blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined to lead a -detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, while the -balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. -</P> - -<P> -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, -with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and open -one of the great gates while with the nine remaining I took the other. -We were to do our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no -general advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries we met were -dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, -and the guards at both gates followed them in silence. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap25"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXV -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA -</H3> - -<P> -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed by -Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them to -the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. Once -inside, however, the gate gave me considerable trouble, but I finally -was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my -fierce escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. -</P> - -<P> -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of -the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber of -Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their women, -as though some important function was in progress. There was not a -guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact that the -city and palace walls were considered impregnable, and so I came close -and peered within. -</P> - -<P> -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with -diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers and -dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad aisle lined on -either side with soldiery, and as I looked there entered this aisle at -the far end of the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. -</P> - -<P> -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing a huge -salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a great golden -chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly behind these -officers came four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the reigning house of -Zodanga. -</P> - -<P> -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a -feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot of -the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had -entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two -officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, -and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab -Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. -</P> - -<P> -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and -placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, springing the -padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned -to the other figure, from which the officers now removed the -enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah -Thoris, Princess of Helium. -</P> - -<P> -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the -most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were -adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my head, and, with -the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window and sprang -into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the -steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with -surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would -have bound Dejah Thoris to another. -</P> - -<P> -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me -from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger -he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as -easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my -hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart I held -him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed to the far end -of the hall. -</P> - -<P> -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" -</P> - -<P> -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty -warriors on their great thoats. -</P> - -<P> -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of -fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling -themselves upon the advancing Tharks. -</P> - -<P> -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to -my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis -now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were -engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. -</P> - -<P> -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the -steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah -Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab -Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the -new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again we -faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of officers, and, -with my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah -Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down -Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My -blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry -the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was -down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to -avenge the death of the old. -</P> - -<P> -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! Strike -her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" -</P> - -<P> -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the -little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my -intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked my -chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah Thoris -against any army of swordsmen. -</P> - -<P> -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, and -I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save Dejah -Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of -pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway before -him until in another moment he stood upon the platform beside me, -dealing death and destruction right and left. -</P> - -<P> -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted to -escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and myself. -</P> - -<P> -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower of -Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody shambles. -</P> - -<P> -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and -leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors -and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had all -left to join the fighters in the throne room, so we searched the -labyrinthine prison without opposition. -</P> - -<P> -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by the -sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. -</P> - -<P> -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, -faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that the -air patrol had captured him before he reached the high tower of the -palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. -</P> - -<P> -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the bars -and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I returned to -search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open the padlocks of -his cell and of his chains. -</P> - -<P> -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon we -had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. -</P> - -<P> -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to us -from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct the -fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, the -green warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for other -Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. -</P> - -<P> -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her she -greeted me with a wan smile. -</P> - -<P> -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom has -never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are as you? -Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have done in a -few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever -done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought -them to fight as allies of a red Martian people." -</P> - -<P> -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was not I -who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would work -greater miracles than this you have seen." -</P> - -<P> -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, -</P> - -<P> -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free." -</P> - -<P> -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I returned. -"I have done many strange things in my life, many things that wiser men -would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have I dreamed of -winning a Dejah Thoris for myself—for never had I dreamed that in all -the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you -are a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to -make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine." -</P> - -<P> -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his plea -before the plea were made," she replied, rising and placing her dear -hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and kissed her. -</P> - -<P> -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true daughter -of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to John Carter, -Gentleman of Virginia. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap26"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXVI -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY -</H3> - -<P> -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely -destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected -from within. Several battleships had escaped, but there were thousands -of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. -</P> - -<P> -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we could, -man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners and make for -Helium without further loss of time. -</P> - -<P> -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with a -fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred -thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our -thoats. -</P> - -<P> -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches -of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They were -looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In a hundred -places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense smoke were -rising above the city as though to blot out from the eye of heaven the -horrid sights beneath. -</P> - -<P> -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers -of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships -rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to -meet us. -</P> - -<P> -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our -mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that -we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon -them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. -</P> - -<P> -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out -hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle -I had ever witnessed. -</P> - -<P> -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the -contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were -useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill -in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective, -and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not -wholly determined, by their presence. -</P> - -<P> -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside -after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in -the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; -with a lurch she turned completely over, the little figures of her crew -plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; -then with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. -</P> - -<P> -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. -</P> - -<P> -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above -the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering -battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower -of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but they were -soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each -hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon -their decks. -</P> - -<P> -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers -the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered -Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. -</P> - -<P> -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty -fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that surrender -should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the -commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the brave -fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from the -towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. -</P> - -<P> -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. -</P> - -<P> -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and when she -was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah -Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship -that she might be taken immediately to the city. -</P> - -<P> -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry -arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of -the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper -works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of -the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled her -colors in the gleaming sunlight. -</P> - -<P> -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came -forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of -Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than -her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were -men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew -them well. -</P> - -<P> -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to them, -turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as -her victory today." -</P> - -<P> -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the aid -of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, -and the relief of Helium. -</P> - -<P> -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "and here -he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." -</P> - -<P> -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward me -they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my surprise, -was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly speech. -Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their -ways lend themselves amazingly well to dignified and courtly manners. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I -would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but partly -won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans to account -for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. -</P> - -<P> -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to have -the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with our land -attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in -triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. -</P> - -<P> -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these beasts -upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and so we put -out for a point about ten miles from the city and began the task. -</P> - -<P> -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and this -work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. Twice we -were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with little loss, -however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. -</P> - -<P> -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command to -advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp from the -north, the south and the east. -</P> - -<P> -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, as -had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. With -wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of battle-enraged -thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. -</P> - -<P> -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line -confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward noon, I -began to fear for the result of the battle. -</P> - -<P> -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered from -pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, while -pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green warriors. -The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we receive any word -from them. -</P> - -<P> -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. -</P> - -<P> -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats -bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At the -same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the opposite -breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they were being -crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. -</P> - -<P> -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city's gates, a -huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. -</P> - -<P> -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which were -the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within the city -during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round of applause -and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious -jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. -</P> - -<P> -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. Never -before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates of Helium, -and that they came now as friends and allies filled the red men with -rejoicing. -</P> - -<P> -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as we -passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of the -ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about me. -</P> - -<P> -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and his -jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together with -myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos Mors an -expression of his gratitude for our services. -</P> - -<P> -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the -palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one of -their number descended to meet us. -</P> - -<P> -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an -arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler of -men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. -</P> - -<P> -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. -</P> - -<P> -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest living -warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may lay his hand -on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater boon." -</P> - -<P> -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a man of -another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning of -friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can -understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the sentiments -so graciously expressed." -</P> - -<P> -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to -each spoke words of friendship and appreciation. -</P> - -<P> -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. -</P> - -<P> -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and without -one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all Helium, yes, on -all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem." -</P> - -<P> -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and father -of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors and seemed -even more affected by the meeting than had his father. -</P> - -<P> -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice -choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was to -later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a fighter -that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In common with all -Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he think of what she had -escaped without deep emotion. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap27"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXVII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -FROM JOY TO DEATH -</H3> - -<P> -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted and -entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted by ten -thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on -the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a -small party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to cement -more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. -</P> - -<P> -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. -</P> - -<P> -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched to -Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris -and John Carter one. -</P> - -<P> -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed -never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that did not -bring some new proof of their love for my princess, the incomparable -Dejah Thoris. -</P> - -<P> -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white egg. -For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak's Guard had constantly -stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the city that Dejah -Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before our little shrine -planning for the future, when the delicate shell should break. -</P> - -<P> -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there -talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven our lives -together and of this wonder which was coming to augment our happiness -and fulfill our hopes. -</P> - -<P> -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a sight. -Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. -</P> - -<P> -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the -jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which -must convoy it to the palace docks. -</P> - -<P> -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the -council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body. -</P> - -<P> -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and -forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned -toward us. -</P> - -<P> -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. -</P> - -<P> -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in -hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand -cruisers have been searching for him until just now one of them returns -bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits beneath his house -horribly mutilated by some assassin. -</P> - -<P> -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take -months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already -commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the -pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of -years now; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show -a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom—the engine -has stopped." -</P> - -<P> -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." -</P> - -<P> -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble -arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed -Tardos Mors. -</P> - -<P> -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to -show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a -thousand useful years still lay before us." -</P> - -<P> -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do -than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways -with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. -</P> - -<P> -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached -Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. -</P> - -<P> -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever -fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." -</P> - -<P> -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, -but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the -higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium -were filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part -the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. -Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. -</P> - -<P> -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into -the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. -</P> - -<P> -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had -collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. -We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the -grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the -weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. -</P> - -<P> -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at -request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing longingly upon the -unknown little life that now she would never know. -</P> - -<P> -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, -saying, -</P> - -<P> -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom -are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world which -through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not -even by memories. It is the end." -</P> - -<P> -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand -upon the shoulders of the men. -</P> - -<P> -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head -was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. -With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. -</P> - -<P> -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. -</P> - -<P> -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! It is -cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life of -love and happiness." -</P> - -<P> -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang -to life in my veins. -</P> - -<P> -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be some -way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world -for love of you, will find it." -</P> - -<P> -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind -a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of lightning in -the darkness their full purport dawned upon me—the key to the three -great doors of the atmosphere plant! -</P> - -<P> -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love to -my breast I cried. -</P> - -<P> -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. -I can save Barsoom yet." -</P> - -<P> -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing to -the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at the -rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout machine -that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. -</P> - -<P> -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would have -followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old agility and -strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I -was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. -</P> - -<P> -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only a few -feet above the ground. -</P> - -<P> -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time -with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I -turned for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen her -stagger and sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. That she -had dropped into the last coma which would end in death, if the air -supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing caution to -the winds, I flung overboard everything but the engine and compass, -even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly along the deck with one -hand on the steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever to its -last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a -meteor. -</P> - -<P> -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the ground -before the small door which was withholding the spark of life from the -inhabitants of an entire planet. -</P> - -<P> -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the -wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and now -most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air would awaken -them. -</P> - -<P> -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. -</P> - -<P> -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the engines?" I -asked. -</P> - -<P> -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else -upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days men -crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts to -solve its mystery." -</P> - -<P> -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. -</P> - -<P> -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the -nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had -crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel -before us we waited in the silence of death. -</P> - -<P> -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. -</P> - -<P> -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump room -turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to exist -tomorrow!" -</P> - -<P> -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and as I -saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees through the -last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR> - -<A NAME="chap28"></A> -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -CHAPTER XXVIII -</H3> - -<H3 ALIGN="center"> -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE -</H3> - -<P> -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments were -upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me as I rose -to a sitting posture. -</P> - -<P> -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had -been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed -through a ragged aperture. -</P> - -<P> -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets and -in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled paper. One -of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted up what appeared -to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I discovered a strange, -still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that -it was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman with long -black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small charcoal burner -upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a small quantity of -greenish powder. -</P> - -<P> -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and stretching -entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. From the thong -which held them stretched another to the dead hand of the little old -woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a -noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. -</P> - -<P> -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into the -fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. -</P> - -<P> -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which -ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. -</P> - -<P> -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains -in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the -cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarcely -believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself upon me—I was -looking upon Arizona from the same ledge from which ten years before I -had gazed with longing upon Mars. -</P> - -<P> -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the -trail from the cave. -</P> - -<P> -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. -</P> - -<P> -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach the -people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my Dejah -Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death beside the -tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner courtyard of -the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? -</P> - -<P> -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. -For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the world of -my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside her there than live on -Earth all those millions of terrible miles from her. -</P> - -<P> -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously wealthy; -but what care I for wealth! -</P> - -<P> -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, just -twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon Mars. -</P> - -<P> -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, -and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before -since that long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful -abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden -of a palace, and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around -her as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at their -feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. -</P> - -<P> -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me -that I shall soon know. -</P> - -<BR><BR><BR><BR> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 62-h.htm or 62-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/62/ - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net - - -Title: A Princess of Mars - -Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #62] -[Last updated: October 12, 2012] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[Frontispiece: With my back against a golden throne, I fought once -again for Dejah Thoris] - - - - -A PRINCESS OF MARS - - -by - -Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - -To My Son Jack - - - - -FOREWORD - - -To the Reader of this Work: - -In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book form, -I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will -be of interest. - -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent -at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil -war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the -tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. - -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the -children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those -pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he -would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with -stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all -loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod. - -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over -six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the -trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his -hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, -reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and -initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of -a typical southern gentleman of the highest type. - -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight -even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my -father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only -laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back -of a horse yet unfoaled. - -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some -fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and -I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, -nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were -with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when -he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into -space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; -and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I -did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward. - -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of -the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was -evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. -As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, -in fact he would not talk of them at all. - -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where -he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a -year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market--my father and -I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia -at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, -situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last -visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in -writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript. - -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished -me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment -in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will -there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to -carry out with absolute fidelity. - -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window -standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the -Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. -I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood -that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man. - -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first -of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to -come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger -generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand. - -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the -morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me -out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend of the -Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found -dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached -to an adjoining property. - -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his -place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body -and of his affairs. - -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local -police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. -The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the -body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, -he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched -above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the -spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen -him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the -skies. - -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a -local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of death -from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and -withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would -find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have -followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able. - -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and -that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had -had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. -The instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this -was carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary. - -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire -income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. -His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to -retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was -I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death. - -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that -the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring -lock which can be opened _only from the inside_. - -Yours very sincerely, - -Edgar Rice Burroughs. - - - - -CONTENTS - - I On the Arizona Hills - II The Escape of the Dead - III My Advent on Mars - IV A Prisoner - V I Elude My Watch Dog - VI A Fight That Won Friends - VII Child-Raising on Mars - VIII A Fair Captive from the Sky - IX I Learn the Language - X Champion and Chief - XI With Dejah Thoris - XII A Prisoner with Power - XIII Love-Making on Mars - XIV A Duel to the Death - XV Sola Tells Me Her Story - XVI We Plan Escape - XVII A Costly Recapture - XVIII Chained in Warhoon - XIX Battling in the Arena - XX In the Atmosphere Factory - XXI An Air Scout for Zodanga - XXII I Find Dejah - XXIII Lost in the Sky - XXIV Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend - XXV The Looting of Zodanga - XXVI Through Carnage to Joy - XXVII From Joy to Death - XXVIII At the Arizona Cave - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -With my back against a golden throne, - I fought once again for Dejah Thoris . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots. - -She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the - Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours. - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, -possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other -men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have -always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did -forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living -forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is -no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have -died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as -you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I -believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the -story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot -explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an -ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that -befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an -Arizona cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript -until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average -human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not -purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and -held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths -which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions -which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in -this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries -of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of -several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the -servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. -Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to -retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate -officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely -fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and -privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein -that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining -engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical -requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to -make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against -the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down -the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of -his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and -all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as -they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight -of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of -the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not -given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself -that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his -trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure -myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to -ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious -marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in -lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless -clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in -the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of -cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no -longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I -strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, -started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a -canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon -dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. -They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies -had been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await -the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the -question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up -impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should -catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I -am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, -wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me -throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me -by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword -has been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed -on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast -walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I -reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon -the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of -having been recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for -such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only -a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of -speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished -to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I -urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope -that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two -shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, -and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and -difficult mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further -sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau -near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, -overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, -and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some -object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly -riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I -easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and -made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any -possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this -episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, -because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts -have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one -where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many -hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am -subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to -tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center -of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but -within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had -whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of -warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, -convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars -was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, -arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon -lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the -braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet -I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches -as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his -cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward -glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more -hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could -distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it -is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, -that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, -and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows -of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass -than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the -summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry -me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which -befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the -yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off -to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse -had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail -was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I -wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, -and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom -of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn -to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was -about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this -opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a -startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced -water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed -his hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour -in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a -polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with -a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude -endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave -to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in -diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn -floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote -period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense -shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into -other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my -long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the -fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present -location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave -against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire -to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' rest, but I -knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the -hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an -effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I -was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of -approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet -but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my -will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I -noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and -only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also -came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume -that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain -my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short -stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff -around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had -ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along -the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped -they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the -thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was -sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the -opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes -bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, -and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the -shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow -ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason -I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were -still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the -fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of -the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they -turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their -efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the -braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their -wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was -still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been -sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror -which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so -I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced -in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through -since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured -during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and unknown -danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn -in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of -wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man -who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of -a powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody -moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to -the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but -vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in -that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging -rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in -search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious -unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within -my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early -morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the -dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my -startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of -a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to -my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an -effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I -could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less -mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary -feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, -and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown -foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own -body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward -the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked -first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then -down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet -here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for -a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My -first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over -forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I -could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my -efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from -every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed -the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and -unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which -menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was -in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I -was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie -in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the -rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the -cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I -leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear -Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as -an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through -me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what -now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with -myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet -nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the -direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises -I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; -probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs -with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I -saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and -level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of -soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona -moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange -lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details -of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and -inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of -some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the -heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for -the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by -a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I -felt a spell of overpowering fascination--it was Mars, the god of war, -and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it -seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw -me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself -drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of -space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was -on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I -was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told -me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you -that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation -which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I -seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of -which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was -rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been -true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there -were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the -sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a -low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no -other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat -thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the -effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried -me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted -softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now -commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in -the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the -muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to -walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a -couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or -back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly -attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the -mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the -lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the -only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan -of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly -well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall -of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but -as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet -and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given -me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches -in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, -perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size -being about two and one-half feet in diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat -blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. -They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six -legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an -intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms -or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a -trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of each -other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or -in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were -small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these -young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center -of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, -this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in -the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of -proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is -dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These -latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and -terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points -which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. -The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest -and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive -skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these -weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to -speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs -were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous -little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach -of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen -areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might -have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. -It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which -warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped -so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its -fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the -butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without -ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to -turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of -that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, -and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I -had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific -incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for -such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, -would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we -sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while -the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side -of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help -preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins -of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet -at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, -larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out -behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its -snout to its long, massive neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and -its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid -yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and -nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their -approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a -characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man -and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have -well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in -existence there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in -all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are -identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or -rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made -but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself -in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to -get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. -Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap -to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it -must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it -seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty -feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on -the opposite side of the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning -saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me -with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme -astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that -I had not molested their young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little -Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me -with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which -weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are -muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. -The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in -proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were -one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own -weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me -as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their -fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the -appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people -in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been -pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to -the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to -decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a -rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned -later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, -and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel -is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have -learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which -they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the -extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The -theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but -the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their -wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an -attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of -these death-dealing machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away -in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number -alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred -yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the -warrior by the enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to -have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force -had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, -and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed -and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, -addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is -needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though -waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking -his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on -Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained -to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke -for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear -to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the -intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action -with which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his -open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and -stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and -locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back -toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a -signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really -frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride -behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow -designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him -on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments. - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of -hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A PRISONER - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of -Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the -Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity -of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. -Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined -roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table -land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were -deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not -having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center -of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings -immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred -creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered -them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied -in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were -much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving -nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter -in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which -were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in -height from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all -looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; -older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, -until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon -their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living -Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever -returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once -embarking upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and -possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine -hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in -aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes -during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians -fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is -about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark -were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to -the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to -counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be -considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous -sports and the almost continual warfare between the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact -that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of -destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious -to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of -the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the -plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has -rested upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed -of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which -sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some -hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a -huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a -gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper -squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, -gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings -ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended a -short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in -which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were -entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; -these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the -great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the -chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. -Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of -extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race -in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his -arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were -few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My -captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him -as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of -my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler -followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to -me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, -had their missions been peaceful--otherwise they would have exchanged -shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain -of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and -warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with -his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the -chieftain addressed me at some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that -neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I -smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the -similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me -that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, -therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that -the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is -a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance -with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a -fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest -hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict -death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my -muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to -follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the -amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this -did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering -fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I -did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of -brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's -rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a -felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back -toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance -of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the -unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter -and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, -when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had -won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of -his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out -one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further -mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to -the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated -the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several -jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, -he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and gathering myself -together I "sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good -hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but -landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy -jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the -chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, -and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to -demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently -would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated -commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth -and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions -and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and -together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at -maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light -olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I -afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars -Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings -fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs -upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the -natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all -there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity -which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous -creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now -occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of -the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I -obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its -ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient -puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head -bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were -equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or -two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but -wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left alone -in such close proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of meat; but -my fears were groundless, as the beast, after surveying me intently for -a moment, crossed the room to the only exit which led to the street, -and lay down full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during -the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice saving my -life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the room -in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted scenes of -rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, -trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens--scenes which -might have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a master hand, -so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; yet nowhere was -there a representation of a living animal, either human or brute, by -which I could guess at the likeness of these other and perhaps extinct -denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the -possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met -with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. These she -placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a short ways off -regarded me intently. The food consisted of about a pound of some -solid substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, -while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was not -unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short -time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from -an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare -indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically without water, -but seems to distill its plentiful supply of milk from the products of -the soil, the moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single -plant of this species will give eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need of -rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must have -slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. -I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, but it had become -partially dislodged and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. -Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly -afterwards adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. This -girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in contact, -disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her -ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and her solicitous -care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as there -is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature are -sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from brilliant -daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly illumined or -very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars happen to be in the -sky almost total darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, -rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in the -heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the -further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against -the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us from our moon. -The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be seen -hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or three times each -night, revealing all her phases during each transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well that -nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian night, for -the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual -development, have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil lamp -which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white -light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained by -mining in one of several widely separated and remote localities it is -seldom used by these creatures whose only thought is for today, and -whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in a semi-barbaric state -for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I awaken -until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in number, were -all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley -array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay stretched the -sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen him on the preceding -day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued -upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall me should I -endeavor to escape. - -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the exact -attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room. -I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him should he -pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had begun to take -great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from -the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my -watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by -moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make -reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously -away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to -let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in -my rear as I made my way along the deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we -reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering -strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to -have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when -almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away -from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar -to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the latter would -have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this -is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, -and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the -Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the -beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in -my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me. This maneuver -gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able to reach the city -quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for -a window about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal beneath -me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely had I gained -a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped me by the neck -from behind and dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown -upon my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like creature, -white and hairless except for an enormous shock of bristly hair upon -its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did the -Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one huge foot, -while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering creature behind -me. This other, which was evidently its mate, soon came toward us, -bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain -me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, and -had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or legs, -midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were close -together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but more -laterally located than those of the Martians, while their snouts and -teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. Altogether -they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with the green -Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned face -when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the doorway -full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of fear the ape -which held me leaped through the open window, but its mate closed in a -terrific death struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so hideous a -creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall I -witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. The -strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures is -approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an advantage -in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into the breast of -his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the ape, backed by -muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had -locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his life, -and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where I momentarily -expected the former to fall limp at the end of a broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of its -breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful jaws. -Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one emitting a sound -of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes of my beast bulging -completely from their sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. -That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which seems -ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had fallen to -the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging it with all -the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon the head of the -ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had -returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the -building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway and the -sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched -upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his -rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against the -iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an unknown -world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so far as I -might be concerned, seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I -might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake me; -at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against his -four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first blow, -for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, he could -reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could recover for -a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had turned -to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form of my -erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four winds. He -lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes fastened upon -me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. I could not -withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my -rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf as he -had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to -prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily as I -could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below the knees, -eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him off his balance -that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and -swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed it -with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. The effect was -marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the second -blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and -gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, I -beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in the -doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the second -time, the recipient of their zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had quickly -informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a handful of -warriors to search for me. As they had approached the limits of the -city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into -the building, frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible -that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and had witnessed -my short but decisive battle with him. This encounter, together with -my set-to with the Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of -jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or affection, -these people fairly worship physical prowess and bravery, and nothing -is too good for the object of their adoration as long as he maintains -his position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, was -the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in -laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober -with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the monster, -rushed to me and carefully examined my body for possible wounds or -injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed she smiled -quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing over -the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and whose life -I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in argument, and -finally one of them addressed me, but remembering my ignorance of his -language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave -some command to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, and -I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was well I -did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its holster -and was on the point of putting an end to the creature when I sprang -forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing -of the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the wood and -masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it to -its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise which my -actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they could not -understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such attributes as -gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked -enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my -own devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over me -with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came to -know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more -gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million green -Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which followed -while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the plaza, -where I found the entire community engaged in watching or helping at -the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled -chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, -each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their appearance, -might easily have drawn the entire wagon train when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments -of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the back of each of -the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a young Martian driver. -Like the animals upon which the warriors were mounted, the heavier -draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by -telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively few -spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the universal -language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher and lower -animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater -or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species -and the development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged -me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward -the point by which I had entered the city the day before. At the head -of the caravan rode some two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like -number brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were heavily armed, and -at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own beast -following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature never -left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our -way led out across the little valley before the city, through the -hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my -journey from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the entire -cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we reached the level -expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the -four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by -the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other -lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars -Tarkas explaining something to the principal chieftain, whose name, by -the way, was, as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas -Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling -to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this -time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and -quickly responding to his command I advanced to the side of the -incubator where the warriors stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs -had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little -devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving -restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator -and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of -yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess -that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, -leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the -incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the -incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I was thus -permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which consisted -in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both -male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the -chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the -little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run the -full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the -women and older children; the last in the line capturing the first -little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had left -the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. As the -women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their -respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young -men were later turned over to some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was -over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous -little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching -them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are -loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs -in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation, they -step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely -unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the -common children of the community, and their education devolves upon the -females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as -was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a -year before she became the mother of another woman's offspring. But -this counts for little among the green Martians, as parental and filial -love is as unknown to them as it is common among us. I believe this -horrible system which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause -of the loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother -love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught that -they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by their -physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove -deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they -see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass -through from earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless -struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of -which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional -life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth -rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, -and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are -hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature -is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully -examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all but about one -hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each yearly supply. -At the end of five years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have -been chosen from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in -the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays after a -period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed -today was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one -per cent of the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever -hatched we knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were -not wanted, as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency -to prolonged incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained -for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time -for return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or -no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of -such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another -five years. I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an -alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed -an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty -degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and west by two large -fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this -district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a -supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a -tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden -forth early in the morning and had not returned until just before -darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean -vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported them to the -incubator, which they had then walled up for another five years, and -which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that -period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator -were located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited -yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange -to build their vaults and incubators nearer home has always been a -mystery to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, unsolved and -unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much -attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian -education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and -physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable -amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The -Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I -could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was -said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic -powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went -on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic -messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended for -me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At -first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an -undoubted advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, -but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open -ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and -hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular -evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious -doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, -the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was -nowhere to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in fact, -the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, and, -wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted to an -upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley and the -hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to -cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over -the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and another, -and another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, -sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper -works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device that -gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at -which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding the -forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had -discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not -say, but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly and -without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific volley from -the windows of the buildings facing the little valley across which the -great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, -at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short distance and -then turning back with the evident intention of completing a great -circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite our -firing line; the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening -upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, and -I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had never -been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as -though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of -each bullet, while the banners and upper works dissolved in spurts of -flame as the irresistible projectiles of our warriors mowed through -them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward -learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught -the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the -guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for his -fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For example, -a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct their fire -entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus of the big -guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends to the smaller -guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; still others the -officers; while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon -the other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the -craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control -of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their -energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to -the roofs of the buildings which we occupied and followed the -retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of the -outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This -had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unmanned, -as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung -from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful -manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite -apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in -a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control herself -sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet -her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to -reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I could see the -bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could not make out what -manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign of life was manifest -upon her as she drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but -some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the roofs to -cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of reinforcements. -It soon became evident that she would strike the face of the buildings -about a mile south of our position, and as I watched the progress of -the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being hauled -to ground by their fellows below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel -from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, -evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of them appeared -from below dragging a little figure among them. The creature was -considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, and -from my balcony I could see that it walked erect upon two legs and -surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity with -which I had not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned to -transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, -jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods -and liquids, including many casks of water, the first I had seen since -my advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to -the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged in -what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors and -over the decks and works of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave -the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an -instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose -from the point where the missile struck he swung over the side and was -quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneously released, and the great warship, lightened by the -removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, her decks and -upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the -flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. -Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until -finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was -awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating -funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes -of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying -the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose -unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to the -street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat and -annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than the routing -by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though unfriendly, -creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I -free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my soul -I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, and a mighty -hope surged through me that the fleet would return and demand a -reckoning from the green warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly -attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the -hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as though -I had been the object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was -returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been given up for -that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the open -plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we remained at -the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, and -depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and -happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a -glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish figure, -similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past life. She did -not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing through the -portal of the building which was to be her prison she turned, and her -eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her -every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, -caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was of a -light reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of her -cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a -strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied -her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely -naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect -and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and she -made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, of -course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and then -the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified her face as -she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled with -loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her signal, and -ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively felt that she had -made an appeal for succor and protection which my unfortunate ignorance -had prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her -usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did not -know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; enough -only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited me. -A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled the -trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed the -work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made me -an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely by -the women, who not only attend to the education of the young in the -arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the artisans who -produce every manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They -make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything of -value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare they form -a part of the reserves, and when the necessity arises fight with even -greater intelligence and ferocity than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make the -laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs have -been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of the -culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, but -seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law. In one -respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our -first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as -she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where I had had -my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the -unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola manifested -toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few green Martians who -took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that -they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common -language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by -my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more days I -had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable me to carry -on a passable conversation and to fully understand practically all that -I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and her -youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had retired for -the night it was customary for the adults to carry on a desultory -conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I -could understand their language I was always a keen listener, although -I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience chamber the -conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears on the -instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the beautiful -captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression I had noted -upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. That it -denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, judging all things by -mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to affect -indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola's attitude -toward the object of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and it was -toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes of the -red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her -last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," replied Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She is -very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold her for -ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," snapped -Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled with water, and -the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. In our day we -have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and -atavism. It will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt that he would care -to entrust such as you with the grave responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red woman," -retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would she should we have -fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her kind who war upon us, -and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the -reflection of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their -fellows, except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at -peace with none; forever warring among our own kind as well as upon the -red men, and even in our own communities the individuals fight amongst -themselves. Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from -the time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the -river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an -unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible existence! -Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what -you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a -continuation of the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this -life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked -the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all -lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One thing the episode had -accomplished was to assure me of Sola's friendliness toward the poor -girl, and also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other females. -I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I had discovered that she -hated cruelty and barbarity I was confident that I could depend upon -her to aid me and the girl captive to escape, provided of course that -such a thing was within the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape to, -but I was more than willing to take my chances among people fashioned -after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the hideous and -bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much -of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal life -has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the dreamless -and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed -me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leave -the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, -however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all other -deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled -by the great white apes of my second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola -had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it, -and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by -ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden -territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back -into the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly I -found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the -country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, to -view what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose from -the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity -to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute loved -me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any other -Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for the -acts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty -to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and -thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather -than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful -guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind, -I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the -normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this great brute, -sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground and -putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talking -in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at -home, as I would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkable -to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring the -entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout until -his great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have -ever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial -distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumped -up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight; -then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful puppy presenting -its back for the petting it craves. I could not resist the -ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and -forth in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; the -first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp when his horse, -long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him off -headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then I -remembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, suffering, death. -Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and back, talked -to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded -him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found -nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly -colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until lost in -mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward found -that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height; -the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas -relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically a -prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits -before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile -masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of -my prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth for -good and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment of my -liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to be -discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She -was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned -her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, -that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling of -companionship; it was good to know that someone else on Mars beside -myself had human instincts of a civilized order, even though the -manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused such -passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw her -perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, an -atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved and -loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to -view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and also -convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their -language, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret on the -grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until I -had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to -enter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them -stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women was -Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing of -the preceding day, the results of which she had reported to the -occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentary -nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful -manner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to another she -either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She -seemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the -hatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed -by unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; if -the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at -night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the same -token would she have received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on -me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. -Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused -Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention to -me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take -atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a low, -well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on a -peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. -The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for -you know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of -our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on -Mars to support a single human life. For ages we have maintained the -air and water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of the brutal and -ignorant interference of you green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows? -Must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little -above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without -written language, without art, without homes, without love; the victims -of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in -common. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. -Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the light -of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find -the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may do -still more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the -greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you -come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at -the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. -What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were -moved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been strong -enough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a new and -mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expression -as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior. -It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with -age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of -benignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and -terrible countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of -thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, -and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which -felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and -turning toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did the -aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but the -mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they -smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, for -the brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as that -blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such length -of time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for -I realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow -aimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand -descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him. -The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but I -believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in the -terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in -the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew his -short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking -one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tusks -with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous -chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too close -to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do in -direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not fight a -fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon with -which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild -and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he was -little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment or -two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the -battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised -her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side of the -room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from -my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. I -was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an -ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand upon -my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in -the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of -your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner -of man are you, that you consort with the green men, though your form -is that of my race, while your color is little darker than that of the -white ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that I -fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present, -that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, your -protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and I -claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; -but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that -my regalia was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash one -of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I saw -that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read in -the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by the -other who had brought me my original equipment, and now for the first -time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first battle in the -audience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent; -I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which always -marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to -call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a -conqueror; the trappings and the position of the man I killed. In -truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later was the -cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticed -that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and -the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner. -Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and -dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that you -furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have to -thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other respects -needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented -temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two -chieftains whose metal you now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killed -me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would a -Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other -purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to -dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken into -the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the -headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be -accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chief -who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to our mighty and -most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not of -Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as -I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience -and guided by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave me -alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians -with whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you, -or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure, -whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young -woman, whoever would offer her injury or insult in the future must -figure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that you -belittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and -I can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics are -not incompatible with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was -I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and their -attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only comment -was more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of -Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to her -feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardian -harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I not -now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities -of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by the -faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the audience chamber -of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to -watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume custody -of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two -little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I -informed them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions bestowed -upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to Dejah -Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon Mars, nor -women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and departed to -hatch up deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah -Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters -where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her -that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and -slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I must do -your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any circumstances. -The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was a great warrior, -and had by his promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of -Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. You -are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank -you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor by -the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, -or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, and thus win -first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to kill -Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, which -we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more -pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also found in -this building real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly -wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, -unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed -many human figures in the compositions. These were of people like -myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad -in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, -and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. -The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted -for the most part, a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she -gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long -extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking the -plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining and in the -rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the -bedding and such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your -pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these past -few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and I -think I understand your position among these people, but what I cannot -fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where may you -be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. You speak my -language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned -it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages differ. -Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties into the lost sea -of Korus, is there supposed to be a different language spoken, and, -except in the legends of our ancestors, there is no record of a -Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the -valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They would -kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if that were -true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were pressed -against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia a -gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have never -seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, so far as -I am concerned. Do you believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she should -believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would follow a -general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, -or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should I care what she -thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and as my eyes -met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me -with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, -she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a -'gentleman' is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on -Barsoom no man lies; if he does not wish to speak the truth he is -silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she asked, -and it seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that far-gone -day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, for -I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has permitted me to -serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That it -was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I hope -that she would do so however much I craved her confidence and respect. -I would much rather not have told her anything of my antecedents, but -no man could look into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest -behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not of -the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different--but why should I -trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I -believe because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it satisfied -her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of fact it was -about the only kind of logic that could be brought to bear upon my -problem. We fell into a general conversation then, asking and -answering many questions on each side. She was curious to learn of the -customs of my people and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on -Earth. When I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity with -earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your planet -fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which takes -place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in the -heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general the -instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, which -permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what is -transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures -are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, objects -no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly recognized. I -afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as well as the -instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, "why is -it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants of -that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies with -strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous -contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; -while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings might -cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining -that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange -garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our -meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of course, would -have to share the quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed -much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she -had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our quarters were -located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have -been eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance that -had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of little consequence, -merely promising ourselves to be warned to the utmost caution in the -future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished -over a hundred thousand years before. They were the early progenitors -of her race, but had mixed with the other great race of early Martians, -who were very dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced into -a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had compelled -them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing fertile -areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of life, against -the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the race -of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful daughter. -During the ages of hardships and incessant warring between their own -various races, as well as with the green men, and before they had -fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much of the high -civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point where it -feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more practical -civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with the ancient -Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary race, -but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of readjustment -to new conditions, not only did their advancement and production cease -entirely, but practically all their archives, records, and literature -were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning this -lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city in which -we were camping was supposed to have been a center of commerce and -culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural -harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the harbor, -while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom had been the -channel through which the shipping passed up to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, and -lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging toward -the center of the oceans, as the people had found it necessary to -follow the receding waters until necessity had forced upon them their -ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized it. -We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions by a -messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear -before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the audience -chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated upon the -rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, and, -fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have by -your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are -not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can kill -a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are reported -to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; -a prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are returned -from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, if proved, -would be sufficient grounds for your execution, but we are a just -people and you shall have a trial on our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus -so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run off with -the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; it is I -who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to -command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to a better man, for -such is the custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not wish -to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John Carter, I -should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may you be killed -by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in -self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in -an attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of these -two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. The -safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest -importance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such a -capture; she is the granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, -who is also our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us -that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we are a -just and truthful race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible for -this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, -and now I recalled those portions of our conversation which had touched -upon escape and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted female. -As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no warrior had -the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as did his ablest -lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my mind, -my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my every faculty -on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute necessity for -escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, -for I was convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification -of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he had -descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked -contrast to most of his fellows, a slave to that brute passion which -the waning demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost -stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches -of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far better -that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, as did -those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took their own lives -rather than fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tarkas -approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His demeanor -toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we had not just -parted a few moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I smiled, "I am not -yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the plaza -to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied by Sola -and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he said, "and -the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of -these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman to the -red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, but -you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and so, if you -wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a -chieftain you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the retinues of -the chieftains whose metal you now wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he -promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care of -my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of the sleeping -silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of combat, for the nights -were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the winding -corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. The -beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, I -was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought -me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor of -the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig up some -means of communication whereby she might signal me in case she needed -either my services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and other -sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this floor. -The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which -formed the center of the square made by the buildings which faced the -four contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the quartering -of the various animals belonging to the warriors occupying the -adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, yet -numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like contraptions -bore witness to the beauty which the court must have presented in -bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom -stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the -graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome men; -the happy frolicking children--all sunlight, happiness and peace. It -was difficult to realize that they had gone; down through ages of -darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of -culture and humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final -composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and -casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the air -craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two -chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it had -become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the back -rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second load, which they -advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip -they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it -seemed, formed the retinues of the two chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the -relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it -is most difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians -is owned in common by the community, except the personal weapons, -ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone -can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more of these -than are required for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as -custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the community -as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a military -unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of -instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their -continual roamings and their unending strife with other communities and -with the red Martians. His women are in no sense wives. The green -Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. -Their mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is directed -without reference to natural selection. The council of chieftains of -each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky -racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but -the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of the -mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, -loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men -and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but -better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at the expense -of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether -I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find -quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of -the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, and directed -the others to take up the various activities which had formerly -constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did -I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within -the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they -could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to -be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children -was far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in many -of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, including -lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore the warriors. -These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as dangerous and -vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are sufficiently -tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I -wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the -native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the thoats -did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions -of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with -the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was -continued until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man -and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he -might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, his -torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned in -accordance with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of -kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that they -could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between the ears to -impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won -their confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand with -animals, and by inclination, as well as because it brought more lasting -and satisfactory results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings -with the lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with -far less compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible -brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great snouts -against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond to my -every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the Martian -warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly power unknown -on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, when he -had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my thoats -which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth while -feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer sentiments -have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of battle as well -as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my every command, and -therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior -for the reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community to adopt -my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told -me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often -were the means of turning victory into defeat, since, at a crucial -moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' only -rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it -before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment marked -the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and before I left -the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a -regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to see. -The effect on the precision and celerity of the military movements was -so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented me with a massive anklet of -gold from his own leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to -the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack being -deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little of -Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my -lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of my -thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been absent, -walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in -the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing -far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose ferocity I -was only too well acquainted with. However, since Woola accompanied -them on all their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of -the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced -to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for -Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on -some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I -had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. -There seemed bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though -we had been born under the same roof rather than upon different -planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my -approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to -be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little -right hand upon my left shoulder in true red Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, "and -that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, "notwithstanding -the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you would -not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, but not his -heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she continued, "for -whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars Tarkas' -retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get Sola and me -out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their terrible -projectiles. You know that these have to be manufactured by artificial -light, as exposure to sunlight always results in an explosion. You -have noticed that their bullets explode when they strike an object? -Well, the opaque, outer coating is broken by the impact, exposing a -glass cylinder, almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute -particle of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which nothing -can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you will note the -absence of these explosions, while the morning following the battle -will be filled at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding -missiles fired the preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding -projectiles are used at night." [I have used the word radium in -describing this powder because in the light of recent discoveries on -Earth I believe it to be a mixture of which radium is the base. In -Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned always by the name used in -the written language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it -would be difficult and useless to reproduce.] - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the -immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping -her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that they should -subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?" I -asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my veins -as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing that can -harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a -break to the builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do not -even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who stand for -everything they have not, and for all they most crave and never can -attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even though we die at -their hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater than they and -they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," as applied -by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the surprise of my -life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many months thereafter. -Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with -as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, nevertheless, that -I may be present the next time that any Martian, green, red, pink, or -violet, has the temerity to even so much as frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me with -dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd little laugh, -which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her mouth, she shook -her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not tell -you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, have -listened without anger," she soliloquized in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with my -soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take -him home and nurse him back to health," she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least among -civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with all -her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, and to a -Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead foeman -means so much more to divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so much -perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune her to -enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and that I -have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, as -likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom another -twelve times, remember that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more -positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down -upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in -the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for -an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my -being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and it -seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I was -not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders -longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw -away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the surface of -a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least had been born -that which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had -spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved -her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in -the plaza of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the -helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens -of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands -of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could -not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and -the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her -helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which -sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would -rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I -should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, -are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with -you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel his strong arms -about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained -the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for -and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my tongue had been -cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, -and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and -without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of -the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached the -building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I turned -disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours cross-legged, -and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks -chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed the -five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful women -and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and a -constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to fall furiously -and hopelessly in love with a creature from another world, of a species -similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched -from an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; whose -people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose hopes, whose -pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right and wrong might vary -as greatly from mine as did those of the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for -all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever -love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous and -beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom of my -heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I sat -cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom raced -through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and -marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the Hudson. -Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I lived and fought for -Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do all -Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at the -poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but she -turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount to her -cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace when I -might have pled ignorance of the nature of my offense, or at least the -gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. - -[Illustration: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing -chariots.] - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so I -glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In doing -so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by one ankle to the -side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive spring -lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I -vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, as -they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah -Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape the -Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do not -wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way that will -yet ensure security. I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it was -futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key be taken -from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the prisoner alone in -future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the friendship -that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John Carter; but -have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy the girl, -and I myself will take the custody of the key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris would -attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court of Tal -Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the river Iss." - -"It was better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp I -saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent of -something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. -Could it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an ancient -forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had felt -for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her so -palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior named -Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never made a kill -among his own chieftains, and so was still as an _o mad_, or man with -one name; he could win a second name only with the metal of some -chieftain. It was this custom which entitled me to the names of either -of the chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors addressed -me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames of the two warrior -chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other words, whom I had -slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my direction, -while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some action. I paid -little attention to it at the time, but the next day I had good reason -to recall the circumstances, and at the same time gain a slight insight -into the depths of Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was -capable of going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though I -spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as the -flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my extremity I -did what most other lovers would have done; I sought word from her -through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted -in another part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. "Why -will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the part -of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except -that she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak and -she has been humiliated by a creature who could not polish the teeth of -her grandmother's sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, "What might -a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian women -keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I could -not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely and in -this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded very much -like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then commenced a train of -thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were -doing. I had not seen them for years. There was a family of Carters -in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; I was supposed to -be a great uncle, or something of the kind equally foolish. I could -pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to be a great -uncle always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There were two little kiddies in the -Carter family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no one on -Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, as I stood -there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I -had never longed for any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had -never known the true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of -the Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and -now my heart turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I -had been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I -was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to polish -the teeth of her grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor -came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and -slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only a -single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right what -was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to -investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, including myself, -and we raced across the velvety carpeting of moss to the little -enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison -with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival on -Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that the -cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, the light of -battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open the -entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all the -eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back to join -the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if -these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people than -his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw -hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all -green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of -incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching on -the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting piece -of information, for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the -green Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging from. As a -matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than an ordinary -goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the -light of the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting -several hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to the -incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the -animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the day's -interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding -cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided the day's work -between them, when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply -to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely -refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he -was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was -to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have -used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, -and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a -spear while he held only his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself -upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do -it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and -delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. The entire community -surrounded us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I was -much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes he -would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword upon his -arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor -wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and with -extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he was unable to do -by brute strength. I must admit that he was a magnificent swordsman, -and had it not been for my greater endurance and the remarkable agility -the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to -put up the creditable fight I did against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the -long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and -ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each -effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring more than -I, evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a final blaze of -glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light -struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the mighty blade -that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I was only partially -successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the -sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight -met my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary -blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot stood three -figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above -the heads of the intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, -and Sarkoja, and as my fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau -was presented which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my -death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a young -tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something which -flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had -blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had -found a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me then and -there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an instant entirely from -my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny mirror from her -hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out -her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, -our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was the -great knife descending upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work in -hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, feeling -the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could neither -parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched sword and -with all the weight of my body, determined that I would not die alone -if I could prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees -giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but a -moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and there I -found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who lay stone -dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my -full senses I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only -through the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near the -center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. As I had lunged -I had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the muscles, -inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning my -back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, toward -the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A murmur of -Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death blows -fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a back seat. -They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no great -distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, undoubtedly -would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of Dejah -Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in bandages, -but apparently little the worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose -dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast -ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks and -furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing a -short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not understand -either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held but the -highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, but they are -just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, though she -mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and so it is -difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people weep in -all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, the other -from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago before they -killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known your -mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like to -hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot tonight, -John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have never spoken in -all my life before. And now the signal has been given to resume the -march, you must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah Thoris -I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, and be sure -that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she would speak with -me I but await her command." - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in line, -and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station beside -Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out -across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and -brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two -hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast and one -hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the same -formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty -extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, and the -five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running loose within -the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. The gleaming -metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, -duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and -interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would have -turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and so -we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except when -the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, -or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but -little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like the faint -rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure -of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no sign -that we had passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of the -departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound -or sign we made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust and left no -spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in the cultivated -districts during the winter months, and even then the absence of high -winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been approaching -for two days and which marked the southern boundary of this particular -sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, nor had they had -water for nearly two months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; -but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can -live almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and which, -he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture to meet the -limited demands of the animals. - -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch -upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked up at my approach, her -face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am lonely. -Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. -It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst them, and I often -wish that I were a true green Martian woman, without love and without -hope; but I have known love and so I am lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am sure -that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green Martians it -has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do -our legends hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally for -size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian women, -and caring little for their society, she often roamed the deserted -avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that -deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes which I -believe I alone among Tharkian women today may understand, for am I not -the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it was -to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they roamed not -beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such things as interest -a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they came to meet more often, -and, as was now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. She -trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she felt for the -cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless lives they must ever -lead, and then she waited for the storm of denunciation to break from -his cold, hard lips; but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, was -of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a simple -warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection from the -traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would have paid the -penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel upon -the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined towers of -ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for the five long -years it lay there in the process of incubation. She dared not come -oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her -every move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, and his own -ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal -from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to -claim her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect -the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth -become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in five -short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high in the -councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, in so far -as it could come in time to save his loved ones, for he was ordered -away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is the manner of -the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for what he can wrest in battle -from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over for -three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before the -time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth to fetch the -fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my -mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly and -lavishing upon me the love the community life would have robbed us both -of. She hoped, upon the return of the expedition from the incubator, -to mix me with the other young assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, -and thus escape the fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin -against the ancient traditions of the green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other young -Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced in -education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of -others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and then -drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower chamber, -and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy -of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and -abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that she had -suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly absences from -her quarters accounted for her presence there on that fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name of -my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my mother -to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or -threats could wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would she ever -tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to report -her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me in the -silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely -noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away toward the -outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to the far south, out -toward the man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose face -she wished to look once more before she died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through the -hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from either -north or south or east or west would enter the city. The sounds we -heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with -the occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of a body of -warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was that it was my father -returned from his expedition, but the cunning of the Thark held her -from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming of the -cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its formation and -thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the head of the -procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging -roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous -light. My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, and -from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not that of my -father, but the returning caravan bearing the young Tharks. Instantly -her plan was formed, and as a great chariot swung close to our hiding -place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching -low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a -frenzy of love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would she -hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon each -other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me with -the other children, whose guardians during the journey were now free to -relinquish their responsibility. We were herded together into a great -room, fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the name -of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at last -amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful -torture she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to save -me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my body to -the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day -that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the -present, at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the -identity of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did not -laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. From that -moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day -when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal -Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but waits the -opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that his great love is -as strong in his breast as when it first transfigured him nearly forty -years ago, as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a world-old ocean -while sensible people sleep, John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, nor does he -know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my father's -name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it was she who -carried the tale that brought death and torture upon her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts of -her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless lives -of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of Barsoom -you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the knowledge -may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to -tell you the name of my father, nor place any restrictions or -conditions upon your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if -it seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you are not -cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving truthfulness, -that you could lie like one of your own Virginia gentlemen if a lie -would save others from sorrow or suffering. My father's name is Tars -Tarkas." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were twenty -days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing through or -around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we -crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our -earthly astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior would -be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if no great body of -red Martian troops was in sight we would advance as close as possible -without chance of being seen and then camp until dark, when we would -slowly approach the cultivated tract, and, locating one of the -numerous, broad highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, -creep silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings without a -single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, so that we were -just leaving the confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke -out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through -the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from -time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, rambling buildings, -presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. There were many -trees, methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; -there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced their -presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they scented our -queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which cuts -each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. The -fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came abreast -of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance at the -approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down -the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. The -Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were not out upon the -warpath, and the only sign that I had that they had seen him was a -quickening of the pace of the caravan as we hastened toward the -bordering desert which marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to me -that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept me -from making any advances. I verily believe that a man's way with women -is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the -saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding -in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green men -have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty -thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each -community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under the -rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their -headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among -other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed -by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. -There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned -expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the names of -warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, in the formal -greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered that they brought -two captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris and I -were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day was -devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My home now -was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, the main -artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city. I was at -the far end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable a characteristic -of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were possible, on a larger -and richer scale. My quarters would have been suitable for housing the -greatest of earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing -about a building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the largest -in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next -largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a -lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The -warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose retinues -they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter among any of the -thousands of untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each -community being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection -of building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, except -in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it had -been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the intention -of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined upon having -speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her the necessity of -our at least patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the great red -sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly -head of Woola peering from a second-story window on the opposite side -of the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway -which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the -front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his -great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old -fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his -hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not -seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur from the -far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was -standing beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks upon an -ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose to her full height -and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest -from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and -comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me -in effecting your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my -request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your father's -court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day -I am your master, and you must obey and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I do not -understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and -noble. I only wish that I might read your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has -lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie -beating alone for you until death stills it forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a -strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you saying -to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at -least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from -your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to -say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I -ask of you in return, and that is that you make no sign, either of -condemnation or of approbation of my words until you are safe among -your own people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they -be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve -you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it gives me -more pleasure to serve you than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand the -motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more willingly -than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my law. I have twice -wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the entrance -of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual calm and -possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, "and from -what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great arena -as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the customs -of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us in one -supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a -home and protection among her people, and your fate can be no worse -among them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be better off -among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise you -not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature craves -and which must always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your fate would be -terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. I know that even -that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our escape, but we want -you with us, we want you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, -amongst a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and of -gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat might make it in -three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the -way through thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, but the -chances are small indeed for escape. They would follow us to the very -gates of Helium, and they would take toll of life at every step; you do -not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you not -draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she drew -upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever -seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long straight lines, -sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging toward some great -circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were -other cities closer, but she said she feared to enter many of them, as -they were not all friendly toward Helium. - -[Illustration: She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the -Barsoomian territory I had ever seen.] - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now -flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which -also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it is -one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant waterway," -I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the best route for our -escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this -same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my -thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of -us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for two days, since -the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would -overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving -them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped -quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, -where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the -Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter -grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the -sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which -these creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, owing -to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became more restless -and their hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this -entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their -increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that something was -amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause at all -some great bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon -me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as -this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the -shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap into -the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the -great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I thanked -the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win the love -and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far -side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me -through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body and -nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward them -with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, -and then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked quietly -in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented avenue which led -toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With -the noiselessness of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of the plain -beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. I was sure that Sola -and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous -undetected, but with my great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as -it was quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact -there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and -Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of one of -the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other women of the same -household may have come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their -departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another half hour -had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave anxiety. Then there -broke upon the stillness of the night the sound of an approaching -party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping -stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the -black shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted -warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart -clean into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, and -so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. Our -plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now on to the -fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what fate had -overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous thoats upon -my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by the knowledge of my -escape was a problem of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with a -hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way blindly -through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after me. They had -difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings -fronting the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without sticking -fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where I found, as I had -expected, the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would prove -their food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was -confident, nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter these -outlying buildings, which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, -which caused them the sensation of fear--the great white apes of -Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear doorway -of the building through which we had entered the court, and, turning -the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court to the rear of -the buildings upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured that no one -was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite side and through the -first doorway to the court beyond; thus, crossing through court after -court with only the slight chance of detection which the necessary -crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the -courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in -the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect to -meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another and -safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be -found, and, after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before from the -court side, I took advantage of my relatively great strength and -agility and sprang upward until I grasped the sill of a second-story -window which I thought to be in the rear of her apartment. Drawing -myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward the front of the -building, and not until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was -I made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself that -it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It was -well indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I heard -was in the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally came to me -proved a most timely warning. The speaker was a chieftain and he was -giving orders to four of his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, you four -are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the combined -strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring back from -Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him to the vaults -beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain him securely where he may be -found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor -permit any other to enter this apartment before he comes. There will -be no danger of the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the -arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, for -Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a noble night's -work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when he comes, I commend -your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away I returned -to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of action was formed -upon the instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue upon -the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I soon -discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing I had hoped, -for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled with warriors and -women. I then glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the -third was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance to -the building from that point. It was the work of but a moment for me -to reach the windows above, and soon I had drawn myself within the -sheltering shadows of the unlighted third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors and women, -and at one end was a great raised platform upon which squatted the most -hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, -cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, but accentuated and -debased by the animal passions to which he had given himself over for -many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial -countenance, while his enormous bulk spread itself out upon the -platform where he squatted like some huge devil fish, his six limbs -accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah Thoris -and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of him as he -let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her beautiful -figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor -could I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect -before him, her head high held, and even at the distance I was from -them I could read the scorn and disgust upon her face as she let her -haughty glance rest without sign of fear upon him. She was indeed the -proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious -little body; so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around -her, but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the -mightiest figure among them and I verily believe that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and that -the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, the -warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the surrounding -chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of -the Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him standing -in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously toying with -the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in implacable -hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his -thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon -his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years ago, -had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken a word into his -ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus would have been over; but -finally he also strode from the room, not knowing that he left his own -daughter at the mercy of the creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his intentions, -hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors below. No one -was near to intercept me, and I reached the main floor of the chamber -unobserved, taking my station in the shadow of the same column that -Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus -was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it -shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were -all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of -your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all the ages -to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the night as their fathers -tell them of the awful vengeance of the green men; of the power and -might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you -shall be mine for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth -to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel -upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will -commence; tonight thou art Tal Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, -but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My -short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have -plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I was upon -him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, -with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, weary years, -and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the point of his -jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and -motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and to -the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with the straps -and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris -to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly -around the court in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned -over the same course I had so recently followed from the distant -boundary of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left them, -and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the building to -the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris -behind me upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we turned -to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across which, for -two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main artery leading -to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I could -hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me with her dear -head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty one; -greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it," she -continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, for you -have saved the last of our line from worse than death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the little -fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, and then, in -unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us -occupied with his own thoughts. For my part I could not be other than -joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as gaily as -though we were already entering the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves -without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our -beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to -sight the ending of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or six -hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All the -following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted -no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all -Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor -did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and -stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire -party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far -ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines -of low mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope -that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. Night fell -upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness -and weakness, we lay down and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close to -mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old Woola -snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us across that -trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my -arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I thought of -his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and Sola awakened, -and it was decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain the -hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing -to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had not -attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding -day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him and fell upon -the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor beast was in a pitiable -condition, not even being able to rise, although relieved of our -weight. Sola told me that the coolness of the night, when it fell, -together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I decided not -to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to -leave him alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of -his trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow -to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola -and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this -way we had progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were -endeavoring to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon -the thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both -looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, -were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in a -southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, -and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the -opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I -commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, presenting -as small an object as possible for fear of attracting the attention of -the warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, -before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most -providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length -of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover us. As what -proved to be the last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted -and, to our consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to -his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently he was -a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the green men a -chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung -toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the cold -sweat start from every pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension on our -nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed -for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he -lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the warriors who had -passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to -join him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly -in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising -my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the -button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the -missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward -from his flying mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to -take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach -the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the -ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, and even -though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than -that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers -upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an -escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would -surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. I -have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to smile as I -lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about my -neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, Sola! Dejah -Thoris remains to die with the man she loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give up my -life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but I could -not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet embrace, and -pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and -tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter in -peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, slapping the -thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to -the last to free herself from Sola's grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking for -their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but scarcely -had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat upon my -belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my -rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who had been -first to return from behind the ridge either dead or scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost upon -me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had -disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by Sola and -her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led them -away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention from -endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a projecting -piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. As I looked -up they were upon me, and although I drew my long-sword in an attempt -to sell my life as dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled -beneath their blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head -swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness and I -well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as I realized -that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of a -small room in which were several green warriors, and bending over me -was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching my -couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for his -ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge fellow, -terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one broken tusk and -a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were human skulls and -depending from these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory into -gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him -that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount and -ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had -ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the -beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of the -column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly -had the applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered the -injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after they -had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before the -leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and also -decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead hands -which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the Warhoons, as -well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even -that of the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object of -the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed -who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost studied -efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the ruler he -exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark whom it -is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," replied -the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but he -shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall save him. -O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a -water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an instant, -his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, and then -without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he hurled himself -at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with nature's -weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued was as -fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could picture. They -tore at each others' eyes and ears with their hands and with their -gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly -to ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, quicker -and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was done -saving only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in breaking -away from a clinch. It was the one little opening that Dak Kova -needed, and hurling himself at the body of his adversary he buried his -single mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful effort -ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of his body, the -great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas' jaw. Victor and -vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, a huge mass of torn -and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on the -part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. Three -days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar Comas which, -by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and placing his foot -upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of -Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, -amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was -decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark -community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until -after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in -number, turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an index -to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They are a -smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a day -passed but that some members of the various Warhoon communities met in -deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a -single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor and -walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter -darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there days, or weeks, -or months. It was the most horrible experience of all my life and that -my mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness has been -a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled with creeping, -crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me when I lay down, -and in the darkness I occasionally caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery -eyes, fixed in horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me from -the world above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was -brought to me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures -who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering -reason upon this single emissary who represented to me the entire horde -of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he -could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon -the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the -cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my cell when next -I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great chain -which held me in my hand I waited his coming, crouching like some beast -of prey. As he stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the -chain above my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his -skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell upon -his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently -they came in contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a -number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my -reason with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my -very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck I -glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, -unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back -from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding -my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes -until they reached the dead body at my feet. Then slowly they -retreated but this time with a strange grating sound and finally they -disappeared in some black and distant recess of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to -remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I -reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it -was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming -eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured in their -neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for -months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my -dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared -and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my -reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained -near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I -could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him. As -their retreating footsteps died away in the distance, I called out -softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only -any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the -news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola -could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. -He said that he knew the place well because the defile through which -the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was the only -one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of -Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had -fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' -capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat of -the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward -Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of -Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been -attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which -Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped -during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our -coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors -of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately -seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been -dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in futile search -for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by -the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They -had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past -few days had they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had -had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring -their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect -and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's boundary and on foot -had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days -and nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in search -of his beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of -Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that Dejah -Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the -great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of -the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled -with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult to -say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the -Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of -the ancient city to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping -into the audience, and at each end had been constructed cages to hold -them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the -others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and -women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of -Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, -growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave -forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the -arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be pitted -against each other until only two remained alive; the victor in the -last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The following -morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims, -and so on throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and -within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. -Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side -of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a -dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. -Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve -calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless -women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The -yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent -quality of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan -told me it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and -growling over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good -account of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went -throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I -was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in -agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's play -to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty -multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the -arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some -far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the -liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had -always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins, -especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope -that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed down all before -him during the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to -meet one another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian -swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's every hope of victory and -life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty -feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at -the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor -devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle -until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of escape. -The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other -and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. -Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to Kantos Kan to -thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. As he did so I -staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to -the ground with his weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos -Kan perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his -foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the -final death blow through the neck which is supposed to sever the -jugular vein, but in this instance the cold blade slipped harmlessly -into the sand of the arena. In the darkness which had now fallen none -could tell but that he had really finished me. I whispered to him to -go and claim his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the -city, and so he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and as -the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the -hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come I -started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point where -he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted of -vegetable milk from the plants which gave so bounteously of this -priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights guided -only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some protruding -rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several times I was -attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped -upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my -hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly -acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but once I was down -with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy face pressed close to mine -before I knew that I was even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was large -and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its throat -before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, and slowly -I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon -its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach me -with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and choke -the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms gave to -the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming -tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face -touched mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness full upon the -creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two rolled growling -upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in a frightful manner, -but it was soon over and my preserver stood with lowered head above the -throat of the dead thing which would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up -the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but from -whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. That I -was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at -seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for his -absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a shadow -of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and commenced -greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized that the poor -fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was in but little better -plight but I could not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had -no means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal I again -took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering in quest of the -elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to see -the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon I -dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building which covered -perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred feet in the air. It -showed no aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at -which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to the -inmates of the place, unless a small round role in the wall near the -door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness of a lead -pencil and thinking that it might be in the nature of a speaking tube I -put my mouth to it and was about to call into it when a voice issued -from it asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of my -errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, yet -you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither green nor -red. In the name of the ninth day, what manner of creature are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the -name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk into -the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the left, -exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further end of -which was another door, similar in every respect to the one I had just -passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed the first door -it slid gently into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original -position in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and as it -reached its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders of -steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their lower -ends into apertures countersunk in the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as -the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food -and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to -satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus engaged my -invisible host put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it is -equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by the -conformation of your brain and the strange location of your internal -organs and the shape and size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I -could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, dried -up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a single article -of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold from which depended -upon his chest a great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid -with huge diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied by a -strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine different -and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly prism and two -beautiful rays which, to me, were new and nameless. I cannot describe -them any more than you could describe red to a blind man. I only know -that they were beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part of -our intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he could -not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. - -[Illustration: The old man sat and talked with me for hours.] - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, and -thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me later -and which I would never have known had he suspected my strange power, -for the Martians have such perfect control of their mental machinery -that they are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. The -secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, one of -the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating from the great -stone in my host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of finely -adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge building, -three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which the ninth ray -is stored. This product is then treated electrically, or rather -certain proportions of refined electric vibrations are incorporated -with it, and the result is then pumped to the five principal air -centers of the planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether -of space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great -building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand -years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some -accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium -pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars -with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he told me, he -had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day each at a -stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has -one assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian year, -about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each of these men spend -alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of -the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the -secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with -walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even -the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass covering -five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or -some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the very -existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the -uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that the -outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so -finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a certain -combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I -thought to surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the massive doors -for me from the inner chambers of the building. As quick as a flash -there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as -he answered that this was a secret he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that he -had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a -nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as -they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do not -trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a long and -restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that he -had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me in -the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed -words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were cut -off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me in my -little knowledge of thought transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead I -could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of the -great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of the -planet--all, even Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For the -others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah -Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I -would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had -read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding -runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great -hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I -seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight -noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the -corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly -lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that he -held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening it upon -a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, -which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed -chamber and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and -crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood between -me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought -waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the -great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One -after the other the remaining mighty portals opened at my command and -Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the -first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as -possible. This I reached about morning and entering the first -enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any -response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon -the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened my -eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and -covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been a -prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is -food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for -reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was -only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had -been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a -large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the entrance -hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for -their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm's way -during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising -them from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three similar -houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being government -officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of -war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to -pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent -several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and -arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris -and the old man of the atmosphere plant--they advised me to color my -body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find -employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you -have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher -nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through military -service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," explained one of them, -"and save our richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull -thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The -animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and -shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed -my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, -in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in -front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a -full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in -the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of Ptor, which -was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium -of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the -coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require -it and redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, -the government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out the -amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned by the -government. This suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a -difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great -isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow ribbons -from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and -wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me -they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long -upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out -of sight upon the broad white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive things -concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and -pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. Along -either side of these conduits, and extending their entire length, lie -the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts of about the -same size, each tract being under the supervision of one or more -government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense -quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried -underground through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots -of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there -are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying -birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals -of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a -single article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. -Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by -ages of careful, scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of -them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by -comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class -and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the -older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several years before -and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to -keep these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of Barsoom, -and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah -Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she walks upon -and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has been -draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I fear -will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to his -place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a -popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces -took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their -search for the princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the -city to a sorry plight. It is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a green -warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped from -the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to -fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering -upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered -nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it at all -conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I determined to -make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and -carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter's possible -whereabouts as lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of -Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is -never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down Broadway -with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be somewhat similar -to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great -regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we -arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became imperative -that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure -been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me to turn away the -one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration of -affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered my life in -the service of her in search of whom I was about to challenge the -unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit -even Woola's life to threaten the success of my venture, much less his -momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so -I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, -that if I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should -find the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a -touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, -walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets -were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon their -metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves -presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule -were not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or barred, -since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is -the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone -their homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of -danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be near -the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me letters. -My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of -all Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces -of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility -of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and -shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the -magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which -carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly -toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention -to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I placed my -hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand -the point of his long-sword was at my breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty -feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, -laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further -moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen -that you can change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I had -briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena at -Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly -be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos Mors, Jeddak -of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, our princess. -Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her hidden in the city and has fallen -madly in love with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace between our -countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent -word that he and his people would rather look upon the dead face of -their princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, and that -personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of Than -Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than -Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and -his strength in Helium is greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I have not -yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan -navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of -Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this division of the navy, -and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you are -here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess and two of us -working together should be able to accomplish much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon -the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the -cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of -these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely by -mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it -entered the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and -delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the -touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of the -air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that I be -enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an -examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear -on this score as he would attend to that part of the matter. He -accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, "when -they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is done -and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that -time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances -which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man air -craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, -tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane -upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine which -propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained within the thin metal -walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of -propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter -from what source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar -eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the various planets, -and that it is the individual eighth ray of each planet which -"reflects," or propels the light thus obtained out into space once -more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of -Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to propel light -from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from the planet -constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is -able to lift enormous weights from the surface of the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon -in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control -the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred -years before, the first great battle ship to be built with eighth ray -reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, never to -return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried -her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid of powerful -telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; -a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and -as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the -palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantos -Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific -velocity toward the south, following one of the great waterways which -enter Zodanga from that direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour -when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing -madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach -the confines of one of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of -the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red -Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was -attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the -tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing some -damage when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on the -relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low -to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving -to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his -fate would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I -soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow -of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact -sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, hurled the -fellow's headless body into the air over the head of his thoat, where -it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the -astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and -promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, for it -was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had -saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely -return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening -to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the -needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green -monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they -had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became -unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air -craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he -could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had -now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to -my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his -throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With -a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with -outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the -green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and -after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return -voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail -vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and -troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black -with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long -streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and -picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close -beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, -he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual -officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He then -unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member of -the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the -maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of -Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull -thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore -such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be -struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of -the red Indians of my own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence of -my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. As -they waited for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the -two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and presently -it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled -into position before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced -toward the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded him to -advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which -had won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed -a metal ornament upon the left arm of the lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly -to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I -halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the -entire assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable courage and -skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than Kosis -and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure -of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, -said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a -cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the -jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. -After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of -the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the -palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -I FIND DEJAH - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to -station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is -always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair -in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than -Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, -Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not perceive -my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. -The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the -ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a -few inches below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which -encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. -Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was -in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to -guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be -relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of -heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive -all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been -no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of -the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the -soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and -not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah -Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand -they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in surprise, -and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, -who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me -that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing -at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of -woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters -concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your -son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and -I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the -assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time comes she will -wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It is far -from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, -your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued -forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed -to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to give herself -to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It requires but -the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the word -that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium take to -peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still -followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to -the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, and -from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, -had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I -must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel truth -to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and -hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by -which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this opening -I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching and turning in -every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I -heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite -side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made out -the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that -I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of -which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only -to find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four guards who -had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, -asking the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately with -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The -Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the -opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah -Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at -my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me pass in -peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join -him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further -progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one who had -first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the apartments of -the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard -to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you -cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I -can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed -against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my -way to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the -clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the little -room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and -there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering -over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that -she did not recognize me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only -two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the -fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell -within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men and noble -fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill them, but I -would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I have reached the -side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who -still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me in -my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, "and -yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot be--no, -for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. "Do -you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of -your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, -but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder -and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, and whom -I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before--but now it -is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not have -promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in -the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to -save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that -is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless -formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than does -the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. -I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but -I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to -me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no -other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them now -for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our -ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise would -have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before -all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have -given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended me? -You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and -then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I -should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to -tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of -women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for that they -may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for also, but never -ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may address her as his -princess, or in any of the several terms which signify possession. You -had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you -called me your princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even -then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until -you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through -combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. "You -must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. -What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be -presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my -wife, and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins -you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may never -be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the man who -slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled by -custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the -sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the -memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever -see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to -me until the ceremony had actually been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the -mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah -Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and -as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion -would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly -through the palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The -walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I -secreted myself without being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest -in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to -relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I -knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the -guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, -crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the -antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through -the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and -searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a -number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind -them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing -through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through -a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for -an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which -overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about -thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall -fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in -thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared -impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed -already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before -darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while -the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by -accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling -of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious -bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I settled down -within it than I heard a number of people enter the apartment. The -group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear -their every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe -that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might -reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men -could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, -however, for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your -faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, -but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by -the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than -Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact the -impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four -guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of -one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of -marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished -them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never -seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned -was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one -iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, -and that when she looked there was but one man engaged with the -guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he went -on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his -fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at -once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that -I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in -Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his -name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he knew -as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity among -the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He also is -a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one -is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, -and let every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to -the closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the -palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, "and -not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other -than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, "and -in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of -Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more -than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in -sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to -the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue beyond the -palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -LOST IN THE SKY - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the -building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the -place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered near -the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means of -reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were situated -was through an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I -managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I -stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise at -my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty -must have ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and -when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah -Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to -the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of -Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a resourceful -man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I can -solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal -reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah -Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised -to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder -raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon -your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at -the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah -Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters -in the palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force -patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of -confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at last. -"I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above -the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we -investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering -from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most -unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of -the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly put out -at being detected and commanded me to keep the matter to myself, -explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his -apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the -barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five -minutes; but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say -it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street -and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, -filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common -with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher -than these barracks, though several topped it by a few hundred feet; -the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen -hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and passenger stations -of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with -much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. -The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat -much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges -and projections which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way -to the eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung, and -though I encircled the great building I could find no opening through -them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through -the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not risk -a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of the -long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled a great -hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their -craft for various purposes of repair, and by means of which landing -parties are lowered to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its hold, -but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not know. It -might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the roof, so that -as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would slip off and -launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the strap. -Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard pavements, -and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the supporting eaves, -and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned me cold with -apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver I -found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by the -merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up -from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I -call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning toward the edge -of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, hung all -my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and to -his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped him by -his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the roof. The -weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted -cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him over the -edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few moments before. I knew it -would be morning before he would be discovered, and I needed all the -time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon had -out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast behind mine I -started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I dove down -into the streets of the city far below the plane usually occupied by -the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon the -roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided that -I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the palace -and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow me. He set -my compass for me, a clever little device which will remain steadfastly -fixed upon any given point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each -other farewell we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace -which lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing its -piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out a -command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to his -hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while I rose -steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian sky followed -by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and -later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, now rising -and now falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the -time, but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided -to hazard everything on a straight-away course and leave the result to -fate and the speed of my machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only to the -navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our machines, so -that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I could dodge their -projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, and I -was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. The -concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening plunge she hurtled -downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, -but I must have been very close to the ground when I started to rise -again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising -again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally making out -their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, evidently in -search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture to -flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my -consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly destroyed -my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true I could follow -the stars in the general direction of Helium, but without knowing the -exact location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling my -chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my compass -intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in between four -and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning found me speeding -over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of -continuous flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed below -me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all Barsoomian metropolises -consists in two immense circular walled cities about seventy-five miles -apart and would have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back -in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other -large cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had -given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, -another distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid -scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the -cities, while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks -her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as -I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand -green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them -than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the almost -unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged in -life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for an -instant separate himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with -good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with -drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I -recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle -behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I -recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made -quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for another thrust he -fell over a dead body behind him and was down and at the mercy of his -foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars -Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I had -accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and -quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think -I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned -and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their -thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon -the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or -gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars -Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended -the customary council which immediately follows an engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. It -was Woola--faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark -and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my former -quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly hopeless -watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars Tarkas, on -his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw and recognized you -as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him -tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice from -among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest waterway that leads -to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a -friend as well. Come, we must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling with -Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall not -sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the chance -you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and -that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the most -horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola had -told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in passion -and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been heaped upon -the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible -existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any future -misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were instrumental in -bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. I have -just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has learned of -your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not -our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him tying one end of a -strap about your neck and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test -your fitness to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard -that he would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn -you, for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, -Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely wait -to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering at the -entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it is dares -strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own hands I shall -burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute my person with his -vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council and -ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. You -owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You claim to -be just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as I -command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to set -aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus fumed -and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your mighty -jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the thick of -battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and little -children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen him fight -with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single -blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior and a noble -man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must prove -his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars Tarkas -to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal -Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I could kill him, -and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted upon -Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of his -countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never in my -long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. There -could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." And still -Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal Hajus, -prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus drew -his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the dead -monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank I -had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as -well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in my cause -against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my adventures, and in -a few words had explained to him the thought I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the council, -"which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. Dejah -Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now held by -the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her country from -devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. The -loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought that had -we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain sufficient -assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the size and frequency -of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably supreme among the -green men of all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the -bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half hour -had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead sea -bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred thousand -strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services of three -smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the -heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we were -all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, -through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty -thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days after we -set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, -one hundred and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious green -monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. Never in -the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green -warriors marched to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep -even a semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to me that -he got them to the city without a mighty battle among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by -their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, -who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against -the green men, directing special attention toward despoiling their -incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the city -devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces in two -divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division opposite a -large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. These gates -have no regular guard, but are covered by sentries, who patrol the -avenue that encircles the city just within the walls as our -metropolitan police patrol their beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the task -of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an -impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, I -commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I ordered -to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head of the topmost -warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from -the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from a -short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the next, -and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of the highest I -clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad -expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal -number of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened -together, and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the -other end cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the -avenue below. No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of -my leather strap, I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement -below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, and in -another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within the doomed -city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of the -enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the distance a -blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined to lead a -detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, while the -balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, -with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and open -one of the great gates while with the nine remaining I took the other. -We were to do our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no -general advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries we met were -dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, -and the guards at both gates followed them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed by -Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them to -the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. Once -inside, however, the gate gave me considerable trouble, but I finally -was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my -fierce escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of -the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber of -Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their women, -as though some important function was in progress. There was not a -guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact that the -city and palace walls were considered impregnable, and so I came close -and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with -diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers and -dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad aisle lined on -either side with soldiery, and as I looked there entered this aisle at -the far end of the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing a huge -salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a great golden -chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly behind these -officers came four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the reigning house of -Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a -feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot of -the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had -entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two -officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, -and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab -Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and -placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, springing the -padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned -to the other figure, from which the officers now removed the -enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah -Thoris, Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the -most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were -adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my head, and, with -the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window and sprang -into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the -steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with -surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would -have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me -from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger -he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as -easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my -hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart I held -him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed to the far end -of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty -warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of -fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling -themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to -my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis -now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were -engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the -steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah -Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab -Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the -new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again we -faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of officers, and, -with my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah -Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down -Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My -blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry -the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was -down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to -avenge the death of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! Strike -her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the -little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my -intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked my -chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah Thoris -against any army of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, and -I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save Dejah -Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of -pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway before -him until in another moment he stood upon the platform beside me, -dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted to -escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower of -Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and -leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors -and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had all -left to join the fighters in the throne room, so we searched the -labyrinthine prison without opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by the -sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, -faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that the -air patrol had captured him before he reached the high tower of the -palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the bars -and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I returned to -search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open the padlocks of -his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon we -had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to us -from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct the -fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, the -green warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for other -Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her she -greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom has -never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are as you? -Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have done in a -few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever -done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought -them to fight as allies of a red Martian people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was not I -who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would work -greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I returned. -"I have done many strange things in my life, many things that wiser men -would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have I dreamed of -winning a Dejah Thoris for myself--for never had I dreamed that in all -the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you -are a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to -make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his plea -before the plea were made," she replied, rising and placing her dear -hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true daughter -of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to John Carter, -Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely -destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected -from within. Several battleships had escaped, but there were thousands -of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we could, -man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners and make for -Helium without further loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with a -fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred -thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our -thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches -of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They were -looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In a hundred -places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense smoke were -rising above the city as though to blot out from the eye of heaven the -horrid sights beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers -of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships -rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to -meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our -mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that -we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon -them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out -hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle -I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the -contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were -useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill -in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective, -and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not -wholly determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside -after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in -the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; -with a lurch she turned completely over, the little figures of her crew -plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; -then with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above -the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering -battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower -of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but they were -soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each -hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon -their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers -the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered -Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty -fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that surrender -should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the -commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the brave -fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from the -towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and when she -was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah -Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship -that she might be taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry -arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of -the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper -works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of -the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled her -colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came -forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of -Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than -her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were -men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew -them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to them, -turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as -her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the aid -of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, -and the relief of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "and here -he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward me -they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my surprise, -was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly speech. -Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their -ways lend themselves amazingly well to dignified and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I -would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but partly -won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans to account -for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to have -the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with our land -attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in -triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these beasts -upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and so we put -out for a point about ten miles from the city and began the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and this -work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. Twice we -were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with little loss, -however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command to -advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp from the -north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, as -had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. With -wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of battle-enraged -thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line -confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward noon, I -began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered from -pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, while -pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green warriors. -The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we receive any word -from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats -bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At the -same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the opposite -breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they were being -crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city's gates, a -huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which were -the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within the city -during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round of applause -and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious -jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. Never -before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates of Helium, -and that they came now as friends and allies filled the red men with -rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as we -passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of the -ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and his -jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together with -myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos Mors an -expression of his gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the -palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one of -their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an -arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler of -men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest living -warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may lay his hand -on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a man of -another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning of -friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can -understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the sentiments -so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to -each spoke words of friendship and appreciation. - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and without -one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all Helium, yes, on -all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and father -of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors and seemed -even more affected by the meeting than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice -choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was to -later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a fighter -that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In common with all -Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he think of what she had -escaped without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted and -entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted by ten -thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on -the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a -small party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to cement -more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched to -Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris -and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed -never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that did not -bring some new proof of their love for my princess, the incomparable -Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white egg. -For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak's Guard had constantly -stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the city that Dejah -Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before our little shrine -planning for the future, when the delicate shell should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there -talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven our lives -together and of this wonder which was coming to augment our happiness -and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a sight. -Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the -jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which -must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the -council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and -forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned -toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in -hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand -cruisers have been searching for him until just now one of them returns -bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits beneath his house -horribly mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take -months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already -commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the -pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of -years now; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show -a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom--the engine -has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble -arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed -Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to -show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a -thousand useful years still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do -than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways -with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached -Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever -fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, -but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the -higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium -were filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part -the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. -Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into -the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had -collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. -We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the -grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the -weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at -request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing longingly upon the -unknown little life that now she would never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, -saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom -are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world which -through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not -even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand -upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head -was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. -With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! It is -cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life of -love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang -to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be some -way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world -for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind -a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of lightning in -the darkness their full purport dawned upon me--the key to the three -great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love to -my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. -I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing to -the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at the -rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout machine -that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would have -followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old agility and -strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I -was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only a few -feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time -with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I -turned for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen her -stagger and sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. That she -had dropped into the last coma which would end in death, if the air -supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing caution to -the winds, I flung overboard everything but the engine and compass, -even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly along the deck with one -hand on the steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever to its -last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a -meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the ground -before the small door which was withholding the spark of life from the -inhabitants of an entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the -wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and now -most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air would awaken -them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the engines?" I -asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else -upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days men -crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts to -solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the -nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had -crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel -before us we waited in the silence of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump room -turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to exist -tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and as I -saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees through the -last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments were -upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me as I rose -to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had -been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed -through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets and -in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled paper. One -of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted up what appeared -to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I discovered a strange, -still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that -it was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman with long -black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small charcoal burner -upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a small quantity of -greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and stretching -entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. From the thong -which held them stretched another to the dead hand of the little old -woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a -noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into the -fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which -ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains -in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the -cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarcely -believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself upon me--I was -looking upon Arizona from the same ledge from which ten years before I -had gazed with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the -trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach the -people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my Dejah -Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death beside the -tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner courtyard of -the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. -For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the world of -my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside her there than live on -Earth all those millions of terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously wealthy; -but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, just -twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, -and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before -since that long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful -abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden -of a palace, and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around -her as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at their -feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me -that I shall soon know. - - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 62.txt or 62.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/62/ - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.net - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/62.txt b/old/62.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6e2f73d..0000000 --- a/old/62.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7546 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Princess of Mars - -Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #62] -Last updated: October 12, 2012 -Last updated: December 8, 2012 -Last updated: February 6, 2013 -Last updated: March 11, 2013 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[Frontispiece: With my back against a golden throne, I fought once -again for Dejah Thoris] - - - - -A PRINCESS OF MARS - - -by - -Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - -To My Son Jack - - - - -FOREWORD - - -To the Reader of this Work: - -In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book form, -I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will -be of interest. - -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent -at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil -war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the -tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. - -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the -children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those -pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he -would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with -stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all -loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod. - -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over -six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the -trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his -hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, -reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and -initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of -a typical southern gentleman of the highest type. - -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight -even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my -father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only -laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back -of a horse yet unfoaled. - -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some -fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and -I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, -nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were -with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when -he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into -space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; -and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I -did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward. - -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of -the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was -evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. -As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, -in fact he would not talk of them at all. - -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where -he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a -year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market--my father and -I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia -at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, -situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last -visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in -writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript. - -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished -me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment -in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will -there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to -carry out with absolute fidelity. - -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window -standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the -Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. -I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood -that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man. - -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first -of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to -come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger -generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand. - -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the -morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me -out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend of the -Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found -dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached -to an adjoining property. - -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his -place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body -and of his affairs. - -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local -police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. -The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the -body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, -he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched -above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the -spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen -him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the -skies. - -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a -local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of death -from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and -withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would -find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have -followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able. - -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and -that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had -had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. -The instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this -was carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary. - -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire -income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. -His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to -retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was -I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death. - -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that -the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring -lock which can be opened _only from the inside_. - -Yours very sincerely, - -Edgar Rice Burroughs. - - - - -CONTENTS - - I On the Arizona Hills - II The Escape of the Dead - III My Advent on Mars - IV A Prisoner - V I Elude My Watch Dog - VI A Fight That Won Friends - VII Child-Raising on Mars - VIII A Fair Captive from the Sky - IX I Learn the Language - X Champion and Chief - XI With Dejah Thoris - XII A Prisoner with Power - XIII Love-Making on Mars - XIV A Duel to the Death - XV Sola Tells Me Her Story - XVI We Plan Escape - XVII A Costly Recapture - XVIII Chained in Warhoon - XIX Battling in the Arena - XX In the Atmosphere Factory - XXI An Air Scout for Zodanga - XXII I Find Dejah - XXIII Lost in the Sky - XXIV Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend - XXV The Looting of Zodanga - XXVI Through Carnage to Joy - XXVII From Joy to Death - XXVIII At the Arizona Cave - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -With my back against a golden throne, - I fought once again for Dejah Thoris . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots. - -She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the - Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours. - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, -possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other -men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have -always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did -forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living -forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is -no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have -died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as -you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I -believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the -story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot -explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an -ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that -befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an -Arizona cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript -until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average -human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not -purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and -held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths -which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions -which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in -this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries -of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of -several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the -servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. -Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to -retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate -officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely -fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and -privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein -that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining -engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical -requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to -make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against -the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down -the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of -his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and -all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as -they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight -of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of -the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not -given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself -that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his -trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure -myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to -ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious -marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in -lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless -clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in -the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of -cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no -longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I -strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, -started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a -canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon -dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. -They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies -had been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await -the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the -question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up -impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should -catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I -am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, -wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me -throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me -by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword -has been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed -on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast -walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I -reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon -the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of -having been recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for -such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only -a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of -speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished -to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I -urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope -that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two -shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, -and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and -difficult mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further -sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau -near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, -overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, -and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some -object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly -riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I -easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and -made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any -possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this -episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, -because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts -have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one -where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many -hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am -subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to -tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center -of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but -within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had -whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of -warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, -convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars -was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, -arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon -lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the -braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet -I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches -as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his -cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward -glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more -hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could -distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it -is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, -that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, -and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows -of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass -than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the -summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry -me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which -befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the -yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off -to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse -had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail -was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I -wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, -and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom -of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn -to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was -about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this -opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a -startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced -water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed -his hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour -in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a -polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with -a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude -endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave -to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in -diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn -floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote -period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense -shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into -other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my -long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the -fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present -location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave -against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire -to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' rest, but I -knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the -hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an -effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I -was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of -approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet -but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my -will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I -noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and -only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also -came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume -that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain -my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short -stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff -around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had -ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along -the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped -they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the -thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was -sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the -opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes -bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, -and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the -shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow -ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason -I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were -still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the -fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of -the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they -turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their -efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the -braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their -wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was -still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been -sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror -which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so -I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced -in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through -since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured -during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and unknown -danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn -in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of -wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man -who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of -a powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody -moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to -the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but -vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in -that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging -rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in -search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious -unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within -my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early -morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the -dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my -startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of -a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to -my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an -effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I -could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less -mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary -feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, -and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown -foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own -body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward -the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked -first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then -down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet -here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for -a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My -first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over -forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I -could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my -efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from -every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed -the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and -unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which -menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was -in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I -was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie -in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the -rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the -cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I -leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear -Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as -an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through -me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what -now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with -myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet -nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the -direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises -I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; -probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs -with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I -saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and -level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of -soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona -moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange -lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details -of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and -inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of -some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the -heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for -the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by -a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I -felt a spell of overpowering fascination--it was Mars, the god of war, -and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it -seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw -me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself -drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of -space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was -on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I -was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told -me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you -that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation -which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I -seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of -which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was -rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been -true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there -were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the -sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a -low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no -other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat -thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the -effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried -me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted -softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now -commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in -the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the -muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to -walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a -couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or -back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly -attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the -mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the -lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the -only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan -of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly -well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall -of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but -as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet -and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given -me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches -in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, -perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size -being about two and one-half feet in diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat -blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. -They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six -legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an -intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms -or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a -trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of each -other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or -in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were -small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these -young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center -of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, -this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in -the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of -proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is -dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These -latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and -terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points -which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. -The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest -and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive -skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these -weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to -speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs -were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous -little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach -of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen -areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might -have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. -It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which -warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped -so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its -fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the -butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without -ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to -turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of -that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, -and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I -had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific -incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for -such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, -would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we -sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while -the hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side -of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help -preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins -of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet -at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, -larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out -behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its -snout to its long, massive neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and -its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid -yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and -nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their -approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a -characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man -and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have -well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in -existence there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in -all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are -identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or -rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made -but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself -in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to -get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. -Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap -to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it -must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it -seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty -feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on -the opposite side of the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning -saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me -with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme -astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that -I had not molested their young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little -Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me -with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which -weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are -muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. -The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in -proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were -one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own -weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me -as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their -fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the -appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people -in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been -pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to -the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to -decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a -rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned -later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, -and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel -is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have -learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which -they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the -extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The -theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but -the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their -wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an -attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of -these death-dealing machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away -in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number -alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred -yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the -warrior by the enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to -have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force -had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, -and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed -and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, -addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is -needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though -waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking -his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on -Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained -to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke -for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear -to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the -intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action -with which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his -open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and -stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and -locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back -toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a -signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really -frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride -behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow -designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him -on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments. - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of -hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A PRISONER - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of -Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the -Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity -of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. -Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined -roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table -land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were -deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not -having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center -of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings -immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred -creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered -them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied -in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were -much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving -nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter -in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which -were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in -height from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all -looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; -older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, -until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon -their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living -Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever -returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once -embarking upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and -possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine -hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in -aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes -during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians -fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is -about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark -were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to -the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to -counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be -considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous -sports and the almost continual warfare between the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact -that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of -destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious -to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of -the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the -plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has -rested upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed -of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which -sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some -hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a -huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a -gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper -squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, -gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings -ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended a -short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in -which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were -entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; -these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the -great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the -chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. -Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of -extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race -in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his -arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were -few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My -captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him -as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of -my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler -followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to -me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, -had their missions been peaceful--otherwise they would have exchanged -shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain -of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and -warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with -his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the -chieftain addressed me at some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that -neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I -smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the -similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me -that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, -therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that -the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is -a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance -with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a -fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest -hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict -death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my -muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to -follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the -amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this -did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering -fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I -did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of -brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's -rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a -felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back -toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance -of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the -unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter -and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, -when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had -won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of -his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out -one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further -mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to -the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated -the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several -jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, -he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and gathering myself -together I "sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good -hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but -landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy -jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the -chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, -and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to -demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently -would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated -commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth -and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions -and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and -together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at -maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light -olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I -afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars -Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings -fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs -upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the -natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all -there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity -which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous -creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now -occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of -the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I -obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its -ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient -puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head -bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were -equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or -two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but -wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left alone -in such close proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of meat; but -my fears were groundless, as the beast, after surveying me intently for -a moment, crossed the room to the only exit which led to the street, -and lay down full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during -the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice saving my -life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the room -in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted scenes of -rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, -trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens--scenes which -might have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a master hand, -so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; yet nowhere was -there a representation of a living animal, either human or brute, by -which I could guess at the likeness of these other and perhaps extinct -denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the -possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met -with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. These she -placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a short ways off -regarded me intently. The food consisted of about a pound of some -solid substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, -while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was not -unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short -time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from -an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare -indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically without water, -but seems to distill its plentiful supply of milk from the products of -the soil, the moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single -plant of this species will give eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need of -rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must have -slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. -I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, but it had become -partially dislodged and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. -Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly -afterwards adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. This -girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in contact, -disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her -ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and her solicitous -care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as there -is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature are -sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from brilliant -daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly illumined or -very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars happen to be in the -sky almost total darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, -rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in the -heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the -further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against -the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us from our moon. -The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be seen -hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or three times each -night, revealing all her phases during each transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well that -nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian night, for -the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual -development, have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil lamp -which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white -light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained by -mining in one of several widely separated and remote localities it is -seldom used by these creatures whose only thought is for today, and -whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in a semi-barbaric state -for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I awaken -until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in number, were -all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley -array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay stretched the -sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen him on the preceding -day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued -upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall me should I -endeavor to escape. - -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the exact -attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room. -I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him should he -pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had begun to take -great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from -the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my -watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by -moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make -reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously -away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to -let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in -my rear as I made my way along the deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we -reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering -strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to -have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when -almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away -from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar -to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the latter would -have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this -is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, -and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the -Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the -beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in -my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me. This maneuver -gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able to reach the city -quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for -a window about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal beneath -me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely had I gained -a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped me by the neck -from behind and dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown -upon my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like creature, -white and hairless except for an enormous shock of bristly hair upon -its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did the -Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one huge foot, -while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering creature behind -me. This other, which was evidently its mate, soon came toward us, -bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain -me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, and -had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or legs, -midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were close -together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but more -laterally located than those of the Martians, while their snouts and -teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. Altogether -they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with the green -Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned face -when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the doorway -full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of fear the ape -which held me leaped through the open window, but its mate closed in a -terrific death struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so hideous a -creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall I -witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. The -strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures is -approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an advantage -in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into the breast of -his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the ape, backed by -muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had -locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his life, -and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where I momentarily -expected the former to fall limp at the end of a broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of its -breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful jaws. -Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one emitting a sound -of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes of my beast bulging -completely from their sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. -That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which seems -ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had fallen to -the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging it with all -the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon the head of the -ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had -returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the -building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway and the -sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched -upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his -rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against the -iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an unknown -world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so far as I -might be concerned, seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I -might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake me; -at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against his -four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first blow, -for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, he could -reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could recover for -a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had turned -to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form of my -erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four winds. He -lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes fastened upon -me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. I could not -withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my -rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf as he -had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to -prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily as I -could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below the knees, -eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him off his balance -that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and -swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed it -with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. The effect was -marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the second -blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and -gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, I -beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in the -doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the second -time, the recipient of their zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had quickly -informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a handful of -warriors to search for me. As they had approached the limits of the -city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into -the building, frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible -that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and had witnessed -my short but decisive battle with him. This encounter, together with -my set-to with the Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of -jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or affection, -these people fairly worship physical prowess and bravery, and nothing -is too good for the object of their adoration as long as he maintains -his position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, was -the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in -laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober -with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the monster, -rushed to me and carefully examined my body for possible wounds or -injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed she smiled -quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing over -the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and whose life -I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in argument, and -finally one of them addressed me, but remembering my ignorance of his -language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave -some command to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, and -I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was well I -did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its holster -and was on the point of putting an end to the creature when I sprang -forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing -of the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the wood and -masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it to -its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise which my -actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they could not -understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such attributes as -gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked -enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my -own devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over me -with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came to -know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more -gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million green -Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which followed -while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the plaza, -where I found the entire community engaged in watching or helping at -the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled -chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, -each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their appearance, -might easily have drawn the entire wagon train when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments -of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the back of each of -the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a young Martian driver. -Like the animals upon which the warriors were mounted, the heavier -draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by -telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively few -spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the universal -language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher and lower -animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater -or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species -and the development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged -me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward -the point by which I had entered the city the day before. At the head -of the caravan rode some two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like -number brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were heavily armed, and -at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own beast -following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature never -left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our -way led out across the little valley before the city, through the -hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my -journey from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the entire -cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we reached the level -expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the -four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by -the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other -lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars -Tarkas explaining something to the principal chieftain, whose name, by -the way, was, as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas -Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling -to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this -time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and -quickly responding to his command I advanced to the side of the -incubator where the warriors stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs -had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little -devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving -restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator -and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of -yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess -that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, -leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the -incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the -incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I was thus -permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which consisted -in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both -male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the -chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the -little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run the -full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the -women and older children; the last in the line capturing the first -little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had left -the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. As the -women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their -respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young -men were later turned over to some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was -over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous -little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching -them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are -loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs -in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation, they -step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely -unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the -common children of the community, and their education devolves upon the -females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as -was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a -year before she became the mother of another woman's offspring. But -this counts for little among the green Martians, as parental and filial -love is as unknown to them as it is common among us. I believe this -horrible system which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause -of the loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother -love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught that -they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by their -physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove -deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they -see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass -through from earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless -struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of -which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional -life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth -rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, -and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are -hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature -is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully -examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all but about one -hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each yearly supply. -At the end of five years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have -been chosen from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in -the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays after a -period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed -today was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one -per cent of the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever -hatched we knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were -not wanted, as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency -to prolonged incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained -for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time -for return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or -no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of -such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another -five years. I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an -alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed -an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty -degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and west by two large -fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this -district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a -supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a -tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden -forth early in the morning and had not returned until just before -darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean -vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported them to the -incubator, which they had then walled up for another five years, and -which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that -period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator -were located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited -yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange -to build their vaults and incubators nearer home has always been a -mystery to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, unsolved and -unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much -attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian -education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and -physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable -amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The -Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I -could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was -said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic -powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went -on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic -messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended for -me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At -first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an -undoubted advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, -but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open -ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and -hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular -evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious -doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, -the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was -nowhere to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in fact, -the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, and, -wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted to an -upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley and the -hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to -cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over -the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and another, -and another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, -sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper -works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device that -gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at -which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding the -forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had -discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not -say, but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly and -without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific volley from -the windows of the buildings facing the little valley across which the -great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, -at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short distance and -then turning back with the evident intention of completing a great -circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite our -firing line; the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening -upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, and -I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had never -been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as -though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of -each bullet, while the banners and upper works dissolved in spurts of -flame as the irresistible projectiles of our warriors mowed through -them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward -learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught -the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the -guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for his -fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For example, -a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct their fire -entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus of the big -guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends to the smaller -guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; still others the -officers; while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon -the other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the -craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control -of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their -energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to -the roofs of the buildings which we occupied and followed the -retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of the -outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This -had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unmanned, -as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung -from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful -manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite -apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in -a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control herself -sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet -her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to -reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I could see the -bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could not make out what -manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign of life was manifest -upon her as she drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but -some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the roofs to -cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of reinforcements. -It soon became evident that she would strike the face of the buildings -about a mile south of our position, and as I watched the progress of -the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being hauled -to ground by their fellows below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel -from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, -evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of them appeared -from below dragging a little figure among them. The creature was -considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, and -from my balcony I could see that it walked erect upon two legs and -surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity with -which I had not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned to -transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, -jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods -and liquids, including many casks of water, the first I had seen since -my advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to -the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged in -what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors and -over the decks and works of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave -the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an -instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose -from the point where the missile struck he swung over the side and was -quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneously released, and the great warship, lightened by the -removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, her decks and -upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the -flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. -Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until -finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was -awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating -funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes -of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying -the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose -unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to the -street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat and -annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than the routing -by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though unfriendly, -creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I -free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my soul -I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, and a mighty -hope surged through me that the fleet would return and demand a -reckoning from the green warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly -attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the -hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as though -I had been the object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was -returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been given up for -that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the open -plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we remained at -the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, and -depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and -happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a -glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish figure, -similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past life. She did -not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing through the -portal of the building which was to be her prison she turned, and her -eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her -every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, -caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was of a -light reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of her -cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a -strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied -her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely -naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect -and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and she -made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, of -course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and then -the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified her face as -she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled with -loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her signal, and -ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively felt that she had -made an appeal for succor and protection which my unfortunate ignorance -had prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her -usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did not -know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; enough -only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited me. -A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled the -trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed the -work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made me -an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely by -the women, who not only attend to the education of the young in the -arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the artisans who -produce every manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They -make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything of -value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare they form -a part of the reserves, and when the necessity arises fight with even -greater intelligence and ferocity than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make the -laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs have -been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of the -culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, but -seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law. In one -respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our -first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as -she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where I had had -my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the -unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola manifested -toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few green Martians who -took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that -they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common -language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by -my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more days I -had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable me to carry -on a passable conversation and to fully understand practically all that -I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and her -youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had retired for -the night it was customary for the adults to carry on a desultory -conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I -could understand their language I was always a keen listener, although -I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience chamber the -conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears on the -instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the beautiful -captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression I had noted -upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. That it -denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, judging all things by -mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to affect -indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola's attitude -toward the object of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and it was -toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes of the -red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her -last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," replied Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She is -very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold her for -ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," snapped -Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled with water, and -the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. In our day we -have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and -atavism. It will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt that he would care -to entrust such as you with the grave responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red woman," -retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would she should we have -fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her kind who war upon us, -and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the -reflection of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their -fellows, except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at -peace with none; forever warring among our own kind as well as upon the -red men, and even in our own communities the individuals fight amongst -themselves. Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from -the time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the -river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an -unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible existence! -Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what -you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a -continuation of the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this -life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked -the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all -lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One thing the episode had -accomplished was to assure me of Sola's friendliness toward the poor -girl, and also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other females. -I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I had discovered that she -hated cruelty and barbarity I was confident that I could depend upon -her to aid me and the girl captive to escape, provided of course that -such a thing was within the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape to, -but I was more than willing to take my chances among people fashioned -after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the hideous and -bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much -of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal life -has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the dreamless -and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed -me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leave -the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, -however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all other -deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled -by the great white apes of my second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola -had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it, -and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by -ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden -territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back -into the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly I -found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the -country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, to -view what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose from -the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity -to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute loved -me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any other -Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for the -acts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty -to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and -thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather -than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful -guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind, -I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the -normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this great brute, -sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground and -putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talking -in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at -home, as I would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkable -to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring the -entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout until -his great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have -ever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial -distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumped -up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight; -then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful puppy presenting -its back for the petting it craves. I could not resist the -ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and -forth in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; the -first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp when his horse, -long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him off -headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then I -remembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, suffering, death. -Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and back, talked -to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded -him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found -nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly -colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until lost in -mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward found -that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height; -the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas -relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically a -prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits -before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile -masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of -my prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth for -good and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment of my -liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to be -discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She -was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned -her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, -that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling of -companionship; it was good to know that someone else on Mars beside -myself had human instincts of a civilized order, even though the -manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused such -passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw her -perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, an -atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved and -loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to -view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and also -convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their -language, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret on the -grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until I -had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to -enter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them -stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women was -Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing of -the preceding day, the results of which she had reported to the -occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentary -nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful -manner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to another she -either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She -seemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the -hatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed -by unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; if -the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at -night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the same -token would she have received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on -me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. -Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused -Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention to -me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take -atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a low, -well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on a -peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. -The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for -you know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of -our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on -Mars to support a single human life. For ages we have maintained the -air and water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of the brutal and -ignorant interference of you green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows? -Must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little -above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without -written language, without art, without homes, without love; the victims -of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in -common. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. -Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the light -of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find -the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may do -still more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the -greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you -come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at -the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. -What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were -moved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been strong -enough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a new and -mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expression -as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior. -It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with -age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of -benignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and -terrible countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of -thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, -and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which -felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and -turning toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did the -aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but the -mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they -smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, for -the brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as that -blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such length -of time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for -I realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow -aimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand -descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him. -The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but I -believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in the -terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in -the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew his -short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking -one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tusks -with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous -chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too close -to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do in -direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not fight a -fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon with -which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild -and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he was -little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment or -two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the -battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised -her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side of the -room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from -my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. I -was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an -ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand upon -my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in -the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of -your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner -of man are you, that you consort with the green men, though your form -is that of my race, while your color is little darker than that of the -white ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that I -fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present, -that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, your -protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and I -claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; -but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that -my regalia was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash one -of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I saw -that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read in -the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by the -other who had brought me my original equipment, and now for the first -time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first battle in the -audience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent; -I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which always -marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to -call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a -conqueror; the trappings and the position of the man I killed. In -truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later was the -cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticed -that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and -the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner. -Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and -dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that you -furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have to -thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other respects -needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented -temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two -chieftains whose metal you now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killed -me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would a -Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other -purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to -dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken into -the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the -headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be -accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chief -who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to our mighty and -most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not of -Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as -I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience -and guided by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave me -alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians -with whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you, -or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure, -whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young -woman, whoever would offer her injury or insult in the future must -figure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that you -belittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and -I can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics are -not incompatible with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was -I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and their -attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only comment -was more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of -Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to her -feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardian -harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I not -now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities -of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by the -faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the audience chamber -of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to -watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume custody -of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two -little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I -informed them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions bestowed -upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to Dejah -Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon Mars, nor -women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and departed to -hatch up deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah -Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters -where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her -that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and -slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I must do -your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any circumstances. -The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was a great warrior, -and had by his promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of -Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. You -are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank -you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor by -the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, -or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, and thus win -first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to kill -Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, which -we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more -pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also found in -this building real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly -wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, -unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed -many human figures in the compositions. These were of people like -myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad -in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, -and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. -The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted -for the most part, a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she -gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long -extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking the -plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining and in the -rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the -bedding and such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your -pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these past -few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and I -think I understand your position among these people, but what I cannot -fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where may you -be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. You speak my -language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned -it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages differ. -Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties into the lost sea -of Korus, is there supposed to be a different language spoken, and, -except in the legends of our ancestors, there is no record of a -Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the -valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They would -kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if that were -true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were pressed -against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia a -gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have never -seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, so far as -I am concerned. Do you believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she should -believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would follow a -general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, -or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should I care what she -thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and as my eyes -met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me -with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, -she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a -'gentleman' is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on -Barsoom no man lies; if he does not wish to speak the truth he is -silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she asked, -and it seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that far-gone -day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, for -I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has permitted me to -serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That it -was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I hope -that she would do so however much I craved her confidence and respect. -I would much rather not have told her anything of my antecedents, but -no man could look into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest -behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not of -the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different--but why should I -trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I -believe because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it satisfied -her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of fact it was -about the only kind of logic that could be brought to bear upon my -problem. We fell into a general conversation then, asking and -answering many questions on each side. She was curious to learn of the -customs of my people and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on -Earth. When I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity with -earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your planet -fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which takes -place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in the -heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general the -instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, which -permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what is -transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures -are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, objects -no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly recognized. I -afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as well as the -instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, "why is -it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants of -that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies with -strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous -contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; -while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings might -cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining -that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange -garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our -meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of course, would -have to share the quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed -much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she -had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our quarters were -located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have -been eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance that -had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of little consequence, -merely promising ourselves to be warned to the utmost caution in the -future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished -over a hundred thousand years before. They were the early progenitors -of her race, but had mixed with the other great race of early Martians, -who were very dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced into -a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had compelled -them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing fertile -areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of life, against -the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the race -of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful daughter. -During the ages of hardships and incessant warring between their own -various races, as well as with the green men, and before they had -fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much of the high -civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point where it -feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more practical -civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with the ancient -Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary race, -but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of readjustment -to new conditions, not only did their advancement and production cease -entirely, but practically all their archives, records, and literature -were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning this -lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city in which -we were camping was supposed to have been a center of commerce and -culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural -harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the harbor, -while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom had been the -channel through which the shipping passed up to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, and -lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging toward -the center of the oceans, as the people had found it necessary to -follow the receding waters until necessity had forced upon them their -ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized it. -We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions by a -messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear -before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the audience -chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated upon the -rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, and, -fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have by -your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are -not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can kill -a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are reported -to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; -a prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are returned -from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, if proved, -would be sufficient grounds for your execution, but we are a just -people and you shall have a trial on our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus -so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run off with -the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; it is I -who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to -command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to a better man, for -such is the custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not wish -to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John Carter, I -should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may you be killed -by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in -self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in -an attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of these -two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. The -safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest -importance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such a -capture; she is the granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, -who is also our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us -that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we are a -just and truthful race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible for -this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, -and now I recalled those portions of our conversation which had touched -upon escape and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted female. -As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no warrior had -the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as did his ablest -lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my mind, -my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my every faculty -on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute necessity for -escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, -for I was convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification -of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he had -descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked -contrast to most of his fellows, a slave to that brute passion which -the waning demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost -stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches -of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far better -that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, as did -those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took their own lives -rather than fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tarkas -approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His demeanor -toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we had not just -parted a few moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I smiled, "I am not -yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the plaza -to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied by Sola -and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he said, "and -the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of -these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman to the -red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, but -you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and so, if you -wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a -chieftain you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the retinues of -the chieftains whose metal you now wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he -promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care of -my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of the sleeping -silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of combat, for the nights -were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the winding -corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. The -beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, I -was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought -me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor of -the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig up some -means of communication whereby she might signal me in case she needed -either my services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and other -sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this floor. -The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which -formed the center of the square made by the buildings which faced the -four contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the quartering -of the various animals belonging to the warriors occupying the -adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, yet -numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like contraptions -bore witness to the beauty which the court must have presented in -bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom -stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the -graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome men; -the happy frolicking children--all sunlight, happiness and peace. It -was difficult to realize that they had gone; down through ages of -darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of -culture and humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final -composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and -casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the air -craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two -chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it had -become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the back -rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second load, which they -advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip -they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it -seemed, formed the retinues of the two chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the -relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it -is most difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians -is owned in common by the community, except the personal weapons, -ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone -can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more of these -than are required for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as -custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the community -as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a military -unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of -instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their -continual roamings and their unending strife with other communities and -with the red Martians. His women are in no sense wives. The green -Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. -Their mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is directed -without reference to natural selection. The council of chieftains of -each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky -racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but -the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of the -mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, -loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men -and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but -better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at the expense -of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether -I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find -quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of -the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, and directed -the others to take up the various activities which had formerly -constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did -I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within -the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they -could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to -be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children -was far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in many -of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, including -lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore the warriors. -These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as dangerous and -vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are sufficiently -tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I -wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the -native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the thoats -did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions -of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with -the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was -continued until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man -and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he -might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, his -torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned in -accordance with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of -kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that they -could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between the ears to -impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won -their confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand with -animals, and by inclination, as well as because it brought more lasting -and satisfactory results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings -with the lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with -far less compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible -brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great snouts -against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond to my -every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the Martian -warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly power unknown -on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, when he -had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my thoats -which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth while -feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer sentiments -have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of battle as well -as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my every command, and -therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior -for the reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community to adopt -my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told -me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often -were the means of turning victory into defeat, since, at a crucial -moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' only -rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it -before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment marked -the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and before I left -the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a -regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to see. -The effect on the precision and celerity of the military movements was -so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented me with a massive anklet of -gold from his own leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to -the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack being -deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little of -Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my -lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of my -thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been absent, -walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in -the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing -far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose ferocity I -was only too well acquainted with. However, since Woola accompanied -them on all their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of -the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced -to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for -Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on -some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I -had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. -There seemed bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though -we had been born under the same roof rather than upon different -planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my -approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to -be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little -right hand upon my left shoulder in true red Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, "and -that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, "notwithstanding -the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you would -not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, but not his -heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she continued, "for -whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars Tarkas' -retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get Sola and me -out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their terrible -projectiles. You know that these have to be manufactured by artificial -light, as exposure to sunlight always results in an explosion. You -have noticed that their bullets explode when they strike an object? -Well, the opaque, outer coating is broken by the impact, exposing a -glass cylinder, almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute -particle of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which nothing -can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you will note the -absence of these explosions, while the morning following the battle -will be filled at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding -missiles fired the preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding -projectiles are used at night." [I have used the word radium in -describing this powder because in the light of recent discoveries on -Earth I believe it to be a mixture of which radium is the base. In -Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned always by the name used in -the written language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it -would be difficult and useless to reproduce.] - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the -immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping -her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that they should -subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?" I -asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my veins -as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing that can -harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a -break to the builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do not -even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who stand for -everything they have not, and for all they most crave and never can -attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even though we die at -their hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater than they and -they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," as applied -by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the surprise of my -life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many months thereafter. -Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with -as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, nevertheless, that -I may be present the next time that any Martian, green, red, pink, or -violet, has the temerity to even so much as frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me with -dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd little laugh, -which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her mouth, she shook -her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not tell -you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, have -listened without anger," she soliloquized in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with my -soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take -him home and nurse him back to health," she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least among -civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with all -her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, and to a -Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead foeman -means so much more to divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so much -perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune her to -enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and that I -have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, as -likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom another -twelve times, remember that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more -positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down -upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in -the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for -an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my -being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and it -seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I was -not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders -longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw -away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the surface of -a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least had been born -that which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had -spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved -her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in -the plaza of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the -helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens -of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands -of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could -not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and -the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her -helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which -sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would -rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I -should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, -are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with -you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel his strong arms -about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained -the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for -and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my tongue had been -cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, -and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and -without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of -the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached the -building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I turned -disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours cross-legged, -and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks -chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed the -five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful women -and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and a -constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to fall furiously -and hopelessly in love with a creature from another world, of a species -similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched -from an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; whose -people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose hopes, whose -pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right and wrong might vary -as greatly from mine as did those of the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for -all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever -love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous and -beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom of my -heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I sat -cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom raced -through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and -marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the Hudson. -Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I lived and fought for -Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do all -Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at the -poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but she -turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount to her -cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace when I -might have pled ignorance of the nature of my offense, or at least the -gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. - -[Illustration: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing -chariots.] - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so I -glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In doing -so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by one ankle to the -side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive spring -lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I -vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, as -they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah -Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape the -Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do not -wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way that will -yet ensure security. I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it was -futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key be taken -from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the prisoner alone in -future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the friendship -that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John Carter; but -have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy the girl, -and I myself will take the custody of the key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris would -attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court of Tal -Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the river Iss." - -"It was better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp I -saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent of -something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. -Could it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an ancient -forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had felt -for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her so -palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior named -Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never made a kill -among his own chieftains, and so was still an _o mad_, or man with -one name; he could win a second name only with the metal of some -chieftain. It was this custom which entitled me to the names of either -of the chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors addressed -me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames of the two warrior -chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other words, whom I had -slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my direction, -while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some action. I paid -little attention to it at the time, but the next day I had good reason -to recall the circumstances, and at the same time gain a slight insight -into the depths of Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was -capable of going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though I -spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as the -flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my extremity I -did what most other lovers would have done; I sought word from her -through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted -in another part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. "Why -will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the part -of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except -that she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak and -she has been humiliated by a creature who could not polish the teeth of -her grandmother's sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, "What might -a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian women -keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I could -not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely and in -this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded very much -like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then commenced a train of -thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were -doing. I had not seen them for years. There was a family of Carters -in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; I was supposed to -be a great uncle, or something of the kind equally foolish. I could -pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to be a great -uncle always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There were two little kiddies in the -Carter family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no one on -Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, as I stood -there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I -had never longed for any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had -never known the true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of -the Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and -now my heart turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I -had been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I -was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to polish -the teeth of her grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor -came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and -slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only a -single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right what -was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to -investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, including myself, -and we raced across the velvety carpeting of moss to the little -enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison -with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival on -Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that the -cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, the light of -battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open the -entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all the -eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back to join -the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if -these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people than -his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw -hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all -green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of -incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching on -the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting piece -of information, for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the -green Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging from. As a -matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than an ordinary -goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the -light of the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting -several hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to the -incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the -animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the day's -interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding -cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided the day's work -between them, when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply -to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely -refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he -was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was -to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have -used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, -and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a -spear while he held only his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself -upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do -it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and -delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. The entire community -surrounded us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I was -much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes he -would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword upon his -arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor -wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and with -extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he was unable to do -by brute strength. I must admit that he was a magnificent swordsman, -and had it not been for my greater endurance and the remarkable agility -the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to -put up the creditable fight I did against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the -long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and -ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each -effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring more than -I, evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a final blaze of -glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light -struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the mighty blade -that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I was only partially -successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the -sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight -met my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary -blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot stood three -figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above -the heads of the intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, -and Sarkoja, and as my fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau -was presented which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my -death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a young -tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something which -flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had -blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had -found a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me then and -there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an instant entirely from -my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny mirror from her -hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out -her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, -our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was the -great knife descending upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work in -hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, feeling -the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could neither -parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched sword and -with all the weight of my body, determined that I would not die alone -if I could prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees -giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but a -moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and there I -found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who lay stone -dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my -full senses I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only -through the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near the -center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. As I had lunged -I had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the muscles, -inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning my -back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, toward -the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A murmur of -Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death blows -fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a back seat. -They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no great -distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, undoubtedly -would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of Dejah -Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in bandages, -but apparently little the worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose -dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast -ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks and -furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing a -short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not understand -either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held but the -highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, but they are -just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, though she -mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and so it is -difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people weep in -all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, the other -from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago before they -killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known your -mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like to -hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot tonight, -John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have never spoken in -all my life before. And now the signal has been given to resume the -march, you must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah Thoris -I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, and be sure -that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she would speak with -me I but await her command." - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in line, -and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station beside -Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out -across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and -brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two -hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast and one -hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the same -formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty -extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, and the -five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running loose within -the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. The gleaming -metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, -duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and -interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would have -turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and so -we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except when -the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, -or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but -little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like the faint -rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure -of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no sign -that we had passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of the -departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound -or sign we made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust and left no -spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in the cultivated -districts during the winter months, and even then the absence of high -winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been approaching -for two days and which marked the southern boundary of this particular -sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, nor had they had -water for nearly two months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; -but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can -live almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and which, -he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture to meet the -limited demands of the animals. - -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch -upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked up at my approach, her -face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am lonely. -Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. -It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst them, and I often -wish that I were a true green Martian woman, without love and without -hope; but I have known love and so I am lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am sure -that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green Martians it -has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do -our legends hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally for -size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian women, -and caring little for their society, she often roamed the deserted -avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that -deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes which I -believe I alone among Tharkian women today may understand, for am I not -the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it was -to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they roamed not -beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such things as interest -a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they came to meet more often, -and, as was now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. She -trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she felt for the -cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless lives they must ever -lead, and then she waited for the storm of denunciation to break from -his cold, hard lips; but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, was -of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a simple -warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection from the -traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would have paid the -penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel upon -the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined towers of -ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for the five long -years it lay there in the process of incubation. She dared not come -oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her -every move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, and his own -ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal -from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to -claim her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect -the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth -become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in five -short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high in the -councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, in so far -as it could come in time to save his loved ones, for he was ordered -away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is the manner of -the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for what he can wrest in battle -from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over for -three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before the -time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth to fetch the -fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my -mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly and -lavishing upon me the love the community life would have robbed us both -of. She hoped, upon the return of the expedition from the incubator, -to mix me with the other young assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, -and thus escape the fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin -against the ancient traditions of the green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other young -Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced in -education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of -others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and then -drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower chamber, -and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy -of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and -abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that she had -suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly absences from -her quarters accounted for her presence there on that fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name of -my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my mother -to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or -threats could wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would she ever -tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to report -her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me in the -silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely -noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away toward the -outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to the far south, out -toward the man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose face -she wished to look once more before she died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through the -hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from either -north or south or east or west would enter the city. The sounds we -heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with -the occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of a body of -warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was that it was my father -returned from his expedition, but the cunning of the Thark held her -from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming of the -cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its formation and -thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the head of the -procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging -roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous -light. My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, and -from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not that of my -father, but the returning caravan bearing the young Tharks. Instantly -her plan was formed, and as a great chariot swung close to our hiding -place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching -low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a -frenzy of love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would she -hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon each -other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me with -the other children, whose guardians during the journey were now free to -relinquish their responsibility. We were herded together into a great -room, fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the name -of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at last -amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful -torture she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to save -me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my body to -the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day -that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the -present, at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the -identity of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did not -laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. From that -moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day -when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal -Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but waits the -opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that his great love is -as strong in his breast as when it first transfigured him nearly forty -years ago, as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a world-old ocean -while sensible people sleep, John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, nor does he -know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my father's -name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it was she who -carried the tale that brought death and torture upon her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts of -her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless lives -of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of Barsoom -you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the knowledge -may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to -tell you the name of my father, nor place any restrictions or -conditions upon your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if -it seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you are not -cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving truthfulness, -that you could lie like one of your own Virginia gentlemen if a lie -would save others from sorrow or suffering. My father's name is Tars -Tarkas." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were twenty -days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing through or -around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we -crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our -earthly astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior would -be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if no great body of -red Martian troops was in sight we would advance as close as possible -without chance of being seen and then camp until dark, when we would -slowly approach the cultivated tract, and, locating one of the -numerous, broad highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, -creep silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings without a -single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, so that we were -just leaving the confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke -out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through -the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from -time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, rambling buildings, -presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. There were many -trees, methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; -there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced their -presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they scented our -queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which cuts -each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. The -fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came abreast -of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance at the -approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down -the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. The -Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were not out upon the -warpath, and the only sign that I had that they had seen him was a -quickening of the pace of the caravan as we hastened toward the -bordering desert which marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to me -that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept me -from making any advances. I verily believe that a man's way with women -is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the -saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding -in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green men -have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty -thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each -community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under the -rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their -headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among -other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed -by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. -There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned -expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the names of -warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, in the formal -greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered that they brought -two captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris and I -were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day was -devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My home now -was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, the main -artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city. I was at -the far end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable a characteristic -of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were possible, on a larger -and richer scale. My quarters would have been suitable for housing the -greatest of earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing -about a building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the largest -in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next -largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a -lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The -warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose retinues -they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter among any of the -thousands of untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each -community being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection -of building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, except -in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it had -been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the intention -of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined upon having -speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her the necessity of -our at least patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the great red -sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly -head of Woola peering from a second-story window on the opposite side -of the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway -which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the -front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his -great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old -fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his -hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not -seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur from the -far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was -standing beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks upon an -ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose to her full height -and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest -from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and -comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me -in effecting your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my -request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your father's -court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day -I am your master, and you must obey and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I do not -understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and -noble. I only wish that I might read your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has -lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie -beating alone for you until death stills it forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a -strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you saying -to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at -least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from -your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to -say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I -ask of you in return, and that is that you make no sign, either of -condemnation or of approbation of my words until you are safe among -your own people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they -be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve -you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it gives me -more pleasure to serve you than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand the -motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more willingly -than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my law. I have twice -wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the entrance -of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual calm and -possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, "and from -what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great arena -as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the customs -of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us in one -supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a -home and protection among her people, and your fate can be no worse -among them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be better off -among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise you -not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature craves -and which must always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your fate would be -terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. I know that even -that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our escape, but we want -you with us, we want you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, -amongst a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and of -gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat might make it in -three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the -way through thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, but the -chances are small indeed for escape. They would follow us to the very -gates of Helium, and they would take toll of life at every step; you do -not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you not -draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she drew -upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever -seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long straight lines, -sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging toward some great -circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were -other cities closer, but she said she feared to enter many of them, as -they were not all friendly toward Helium. - -[Illustration: She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the -Barsoomian territory I had ever seen.] - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now -flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which -also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it is -one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant waterway," -I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the best route for our -escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this -same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my -thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of -us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for two days, since -the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would -overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving -them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped -quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, -where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the -Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter -grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the -sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which -these creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, owing -to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became more restless -and their hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this -entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their -increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that something was -amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause at all -some great bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon -me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as -this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the -shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap into -the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the -great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I thanked -the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win the love -and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far -side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me -through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body and -nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward them -with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, -and then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked quietly -in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented avenue which led -toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With -the noiselessness of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of the plain -beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. I was sure that Sola -and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous -undetected, but with my great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as -it was quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact -there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and -Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of one of -the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other women of the same -household may have come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their -departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another half hour -had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave anxiety. Then there -broke upon the stillness of the night the sound of an approaching -party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping -stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the -black shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted -warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart -clean into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, and -so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. Our -plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now on to the -fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what fate had -overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous thoats upon -my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by the knowledge of my -escape was a problem of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with a -hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way blindly -through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after me. They had -difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings -fronting the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without sticking -fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where I found, as I had -expected, the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would provide -their food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was -confident, nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter these -outlying buildings, which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, -which caused them the sensation of fear--the great white apes of -Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear doorway -of the building through which we had entered the court, and, turning -the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court to the rear of -the buildings upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured that no one -was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite side and through the -first doorway to the court beyond; thus, crossing through court after -court with only the slight chance of detection which the necessary -crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the -courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in -the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect to -meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another and -safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be -found, and, after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before from the -court side, I took advantage of my relatively great strength and -agility and sprang upward until I grasped the sill of a second-story -window which I thought to be in the rear of her apartment. Drawing -myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward the front of the -building, and not until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was -I made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself that -it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It was -well indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I heard -was in the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally came to me -proved a most timely warning. The speaker was a chieftain and he was -giving orders to four of his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, you four -are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the combined -strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring back from -Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him to the vaults -beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain him securely where he may be -found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor -permit any other to enter this apartment before he comes. There will -be no danger of the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the -arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, for -Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a noble night's -work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when he comes, I commend -your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away I returned -to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of action was formed -upon the instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue upon -the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I soon -discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing I had hoped, -for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled with warriors and -women. I then glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the -third was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance to -the building from that point. It was the work of but a moment for me -to reach the windows above, and soon I had drawn myself within the -sheltering shadows of the unlighted third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors and women, -and at one end was a great raised platform upon which squatted the most -hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, -cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, but accentuated and -debased by the animal passions to which he had given himself over for -many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial -countenance, while his enormous bulk spread itself out upon the -platform where he squatted like some huge devil fish, his six limbs -accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah Thoris -and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of him as he -let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her beautiful -figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor -could I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect -before him, her head high held, and even at the distance I was from -them I could read the scorn and disgust upon her face as she let her -haughty glance rest without sign of fear upon him. She was indeed the -proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious -little body; so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around -her, but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the -mightiest figure among them and I verily believe that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and that -the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, the -warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the surrounding -chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of -the Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him standing -in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously toying with -the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in implacable -hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his -thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon -his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years ago, -had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken a word into his -ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus would have been over; but -finally he also strode from the room, not knowing that he left his own -daughter at the mercy of the creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his intentions, -hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors below. No one -was near to intercept me, and I reached the main floor of the chamber -unobserved, taking my station in the shadow of the same column that -Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus -was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it -shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were -all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of -your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all the ages -to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the night as their fathers -tell them of the awful vengeance of the green men; of the power and -might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you -shall be mine for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth -to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel -upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will -commence; tonight thou art Tal Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, -but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My -short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have -plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I was upon -him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, -with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, weary years, -and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the point of his -jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and -motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and to -the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with the straps -and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris -to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly -around the court in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned -over the same course I had so recently followed from the distant -boundary of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left them, -and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the building to -the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris -behind me upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we turned -to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across which, for -two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main artery leading -to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I could -hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me with her dear -head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty one; -greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it," she -continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, for you -have saved the last of our line from worse than death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the little -fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, and then, in -unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us -occupied with his own thoughts. For my part I could not be other than -joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as gaily as -though we were already entering the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves -without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our -beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to -sight the ending of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or six -hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All the -following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted -no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all -Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor -did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and -stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire -party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far -ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines -of low mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope -that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. Night fell -upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness -and weakness, we lay down and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close to -mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old Woola -snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us across that -trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my -arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I thought of -his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and Sola awakened, -and it was decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain the -hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing -to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had not -attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding -day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him and fell upon -the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor beast was in a pitiable -condition, not even being able to rise, although relieved of our -weight. Sola told me that the coolness of the night, when it fell, -together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I decided not -to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to -leave him alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of -his trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow -to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola -and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this -way we had progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were -endeavoring to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon -the thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both -looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, -were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in a -southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, -and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the -opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I -commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, presenting -as small an object as possible for fear of attracting the attention of -the warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, -before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most -providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length -of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover us. As what -proved to be the last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted -and, to our consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to -his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently he was -a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the green men a -chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung -toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the cold -sweat start from every pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension on our -nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed -for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he -lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the warriors who had -passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to -join him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly -in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising -my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the -button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the -missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward -from his flying mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to -take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach -the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the -ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, and even -though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than -that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers -upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an -escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would -surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. I -have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to smile as I -lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about my -neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, Sola! Dejah -Thoris remains to die with the man she loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give up my -life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but I could -not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet embrace, and -pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and -tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter in -peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, slapping the -thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to -the last to free herself from Sola's grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking for -their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but scarcely -had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat upon my -belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my -rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who had been -first to return from behind the ridge either dead or scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost upon -me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had -disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by Sola and -her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led them -away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention from -endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a projecting -piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. As I looked -up they were upon me, and although I drew my long-sword in an attempt -to sell my life as dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled -beneath their blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head -swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness and I -well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as I realized -that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of a -small room in which were several green warriors, and bending over me -was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching my -couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for his -ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge fellow, -terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one broken tusk and -a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were human skulls and -depending from these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory into -gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him -that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount and -ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had -ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the -beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of the -column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly -had the applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered the -injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after they -had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before the -leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and also -decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead hands -which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the Warhoons, as -well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even -that of the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object of -the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed -who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost studied -efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the ruler he -exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark whom it -is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," replied -the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but he -shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall save him. -O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a -water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an instant, -his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, and then -without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he hurled himself -at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with nature's -weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued was as -fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could picture. They -tore at each others' eyes and ears with their hands and with their -gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly -to ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, quicker -and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was done -saving only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in breaking -away from a clinch. It was the one little opening that Dak Kova -needed, and hurling himself at the body of his adversary he buried his -single mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful effort -ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of his body, the -great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas' jaw. Victor and -vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, a huge mass of torn -and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on the -part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. Three -days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar Comas which, -by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and placing his foot -upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of -Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, -amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was -decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark -community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until -after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in -number, turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an index -to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They are a -smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a day -passed but that some members of the various Warhoon communities met in -deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a -single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor and -walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter -darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there days, or weeks, -or months. It was the most horrible experience of all my life and that -my mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness has been -a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled with creeping, -crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me when I lay down, -and in the darkness I occasionally caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery -eyes, fixed in horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me from -the world above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was -brought to me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures -who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering -reason upon this single emissary who represented to me the entire horde -of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he -could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon -the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the -cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my cell when next -I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great chain -which held me in my hand I waited his coming, crouching like some beast -of prey. As he stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the -chain above my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his -skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell upon -his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently -they came in contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a -number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my -reason with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my -very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck I -glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, -unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back -from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding -my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes -until they reached the dead body at my feet. Then slowly they -retreated but this time with a strange grating sound and finally they -disappeared in some black and distant recess of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to -remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I -reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it -was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming -eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured in their -neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for -months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my -dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared -and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my -reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained -near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I -could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him. As -their retreating footsteps died away in the distance, I called out -softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only -any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the -news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola -could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. -He said that he knew the place well because the defile through which -the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was the only -one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of -Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had -fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' -capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat of -the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward -Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of -Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been -attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which -Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped -during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our -coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors -of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately -seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been -dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in futile search -for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by -the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They -had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past -few days had they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had -had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring -their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect -and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's boundary and on foot -had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days -and nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in search -of his beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of -Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that Dejah -Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the -great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of -the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled -with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult to -say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the -Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of -the ancient city to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping -into the audience, and at each end had been constructed cages to hold -them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the -others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and -women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of -Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, -growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave -forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the -arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be pitted -against each other until only two remained alive; the victor in the -last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The following -morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims, -and so on throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and -within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. -Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side -of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a -dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. -Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve -calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless -women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The -yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent -quality of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan -told me it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and -growling over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good -account of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went -throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I -was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in -agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's play -to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty -multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the -arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some -far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the -liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had -always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins, -especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope -that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed down all before -him during the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to -meet one another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian -swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's every hope of victory and -life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty -feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at -the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor -devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle -until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of escape. -The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other -and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. -Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to Kantos Kan to -thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. As he did so I -staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to -the ground with his weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos -Kan perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his -foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the -final death blow through the neck which is supposed to sever the -jugular vein, but in this instance the cold blade slipped harmlessly -into the sand of the arena. In the darkness which had now fallen none -could tell but that he had really finished me. I whispered to him to -go and claim his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the -city, and so he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and as -the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the -hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come I -started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point where -he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted of -vegetable milk from the plants which gave so bounteously of this -priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights guided -only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some protruding -rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several times I was -attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped -upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my -hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly -acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but once I was down -with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy face pressed close to mine -before I knew that I was even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was large -and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its throat -before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, and slowly -I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon -its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach me -with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and choke -the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms gave to -the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming -tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face -touched mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness full upon the -creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two rolled growling -upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in a frightful manner, -but it was soon over and my preserver stood with lowered head above the -throat of the dead thing which would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up -the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but from -whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. That I -was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at -seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for his -absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a shadow -of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and commenced -greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized that the poor -fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was in but little better -plight but I could not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had -no means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal I again -took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering in quest of the -elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to see -the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon I -dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building which covered -perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred feet in the air. It -showed no aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at -which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to the -inmates of the place, unless a small round hole in the wall near the -door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness of a lead -pencil and thinking that it might be in the nature of a speaking tube I -put my mouth to it and was about to call into it when a voice issued -from it asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of my -errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, yet -you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither green nor -red. In the name of the ninth ray, what manner of creature are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the -name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk into -the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the left, -exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further end of -which was another door, similar in every respect to the one I had just -passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed the first door -it slid gently into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original -position in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and as it -reached its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders of -steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their lower -ends into apertures countersunk in the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as -the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food -and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to -satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus engaged my -invisible host put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it is -equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by the -conformation of your brain and the strange location of your internal -organs and the shape and size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I -could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, dried -up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a single article -of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold from which depended -upon his chest a great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid -with huge diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied by a -strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine different -and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly prism and two -beautiful rays which, to me, were new and nameless. I cannot describe -them any more than you could describe red to a blind man. I only know -that they were beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part of -our intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he could -not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. - -[Illustration: The old man sat and talked with me for hours.] - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, and -thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me later -and which I would never have known had he suspected my strange power, -for the Martians have such perfect control of their mental machinery -that they are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. The -secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, one of -the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating from the great -stone in my host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of finely -adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge building, -three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which the ninth ray -is stored. This product is then treated electrically, or rather -certain proportions of refined electric vibrations are incorporated -with it, and the result is then pumped to the five principal air -centers of the planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether -of space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great -building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand -years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some -accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium -pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars -with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he told me, he -had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day each at a -stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has -one assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian year, -about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each of these men spend -alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of -the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the -secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with -walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even -the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass covering -five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or -some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the very -existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the -uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that the -outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so -finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a certain -combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I -thought to surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the massive doors -for me from the inner chambers of the building. As quick as a flash -there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as -he answered that this was a secret he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that he -had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a -nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as -they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do not -trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a long and -restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that he -had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me in -the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed -words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were cut -off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me in my -little knowledge of thought transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead I -could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of the -great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of the -planet--all, even Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For the -others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah -Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I -would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had -read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding -runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great -hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I -seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight -noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the -corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly -lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that he -held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening it upon -a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, -which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed -chamber and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and -crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood between -me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought -waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the -great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One -after the other the remaining mighty portals opened at my command and -Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the -first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as -possible. This I reached about morning and entering the first -enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any -response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon -the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened my -eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and -covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been a -prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is -food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for -reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was -only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had -been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a -large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the entrance -hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for -their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm's way -during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising -them from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three similar -houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being government -officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of -war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to -pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent -several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and -arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris -and the old man of the atmosphere plant--they advised me to color my -body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find -employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you -have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher -nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through military -service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," explained one of them, -"and save our richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull -thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The -animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and -shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed -my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, -in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in -front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a -full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in -the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of Ptor, which -was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium -of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the -coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require -it and redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, -the government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out the -amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned by the -government. This suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a -difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great -isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow ribbons -from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and -wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me -they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long -upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out -of sight upon the broad white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive things -concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and -pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. Along -either side of these conduits, and extending their entire length, lie -the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts of about the -same size, each tract being under the supervision of one or more -government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense -quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried -underground through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots -of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there -are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying -birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals -of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a -single article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. -Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by -ages of careful, scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of -them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by -comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class -and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the -older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several years before -and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to -keep these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of Barsoom, -and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah -Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she walks upon -and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has been -draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I fear -will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to his -place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a -popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces -took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their -search for the princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the -city to a sorry plight. It is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a green -warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped from -the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to -fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering -upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered -nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it at all -conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I determined to -make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and -carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter's possible -whereabouts as lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of -Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is -never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down Broadway -with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be somewhat similar -to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great -regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we -arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became imperative -that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure -been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me to turn away the -one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration of -affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered my life in -the service of her in search of whom I was about to challenge the -unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit -even Woola's life to threaten the success of my venture, much less his -momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so -I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, -that if I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should -find the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a -touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, -walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets -were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon their -metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves -presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule -were not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or barred, -since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is -the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone -their homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of -danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be near -the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me letters. -My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of -all Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces -of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility -of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and -shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the -magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which -carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly -toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention -to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I placed my -hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand -the point of his long-sword was at my breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty -feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, -laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further -moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen -that you can change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I had -briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena at -Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly -be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos Mors, Jeddak -of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, our princess. -Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her hidden in the city and has fallen -madly in love with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace between our -countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent -word that he and his people would rather look upon the dead face of -their princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, and that -personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of Than -Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than -Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and -his strength in Helium is greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I have not -yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan -navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of -Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this division of the navy, -and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you are -here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess and two of us -working together should be able to accomplish much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon -the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the -cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of -these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely by -mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it -entered the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and -delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the -touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of the -air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that I be -enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an -examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear -on this score as he would attend to that part of the matter. He -accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, "when -they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is done -and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that -time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances -which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man air -craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, -tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane -upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine which -propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained within the thin metal -walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of -propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter -from what source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar -eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the various planets, -and that it is the individual eighth ray of each planet which -"reflects," or propels the light thus obtained out into space once -more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of -Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to propel light -from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from the planet -constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is -able to lift enormous weights from the surface of the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon -in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control -the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred -years before, the first great battle ship to be built with eighth ray -reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, never to -return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried -her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid of powerful -telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; -a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and -as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the -palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantos -Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific -velocity toward the south, following one of the great waterways which -enter Zodanga from that direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour -when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing -madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach -the confines of one of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of -the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red -Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was -attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the -tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing some -damage when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on the -relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low -to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving -to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his -fate would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I -soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow -of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact -sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, hurled the -fellow's headless body into the air over the head of his thoat, where -it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the -astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and -promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, for it -was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had -saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely -return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening -to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the -needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green -monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they -had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became -unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air -craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he -could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had -now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to -my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his -throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With -a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with -outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the -green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and -after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return -voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail -vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and -troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black -with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long -streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and -picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close -beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, -he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual -officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He then -unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member of -the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the -maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of -Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull -thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore -such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be -struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of -the red Indians of my own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence of -my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. As -they waited for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the -two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and presently -it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled -into position before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced -toward the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded him to -advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which -had won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed -a metal ornament upon the left arm of the lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly -to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I -halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the -entire assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable courage and -skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than Kosis -and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure -of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, -said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a -cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the -jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. -After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of -the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the -palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -I FIND DEJAH - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to -station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is -always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair -in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than -Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, -Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not perceive -my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. -The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the -ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a -few inches below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which -encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. -Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was -in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to -guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be -relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of -heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive -all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been -no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of -the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the -soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and -not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah -Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand -they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in surprise, -and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, -who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me -that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing -at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of -woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters -concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your -son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and -I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the -assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time comes she will -wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It is far -from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, -your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued -forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed -to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to give herself -to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It requires but -the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the word -that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium take to -peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still -followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to -the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, and -from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, -had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I -must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel truth -to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and -hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by -which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this opening -I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching and turning in -every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I -heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite -side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made out -the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that -I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of -which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only -to find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four guards who -had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, -asking the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately with -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The -Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the -opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah -Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at -my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me pass in -peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join -him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further -progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one who had -first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the apartments of -the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard -to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you -cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I -can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed -against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my -way to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the -clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the little -room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and -there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering -over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that -she did not recognize me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only -two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the -fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell -within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men and noble -fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill them, but I -would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I have reached the -side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who -still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me in -my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, "and -yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot be--no, -for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. "Do -you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of -your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, -but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder -and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, and whom -I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before--but now it -is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not have -promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in -the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to -save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that -is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless -formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than does -the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. -I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but -I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to -me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no -other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them now -for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our -ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise would -have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before -all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have -given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended me? -You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and -then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I -should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to -tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of -women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for that they -may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for also, but never -ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may address her as his -princess, or in any of the several terms which signify possession. You -had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you -called me your princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even -then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until -you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through -combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. "You -must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. -What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be -presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my -wife, and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins -you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may never -be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the man who -slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled by -custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the -sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the -memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever -see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to -me until the ceremony had actually been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the -mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah -Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and -as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion -would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly -through the palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The -walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I -secreted myself without being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest -in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to -relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I -knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the -guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, -crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the -antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through -the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and -searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a -number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind -them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing -through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through -a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for -an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which -overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about -thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall -fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in -thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared -impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed -already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before -darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while -the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by -accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling -of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious -bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I settled down -within it than I heard a number of people enter the apartment. The -group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear -their every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe -that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might -reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men -could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, -however, for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your -faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, -but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by -the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than -Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact the -impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four -guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of -one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of -marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished -them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never -seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned -was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one -iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, -and that when she looked there was but one man engaged with the -guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he went -on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his -fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at -once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that -I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in -Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his -name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he knew -as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity among -the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He also is -a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one -is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, -and let every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to -the closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the -palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, "and -not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other -than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, "and -in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of -Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more -than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in -sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to -the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue beyond the -palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -LOST IN THE SKY - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the -building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the -place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered near -the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means of -reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were situated -was through an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I -managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I -stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise at -my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty -must have ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and -when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah -Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to -the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of -Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a resourceful -man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I can -solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal -reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah -Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised -to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder -raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon -your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at -the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah -Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters -in the palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force -patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of -confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at last. -"I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above -the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we -investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering -from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most -unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of -the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly put out -at being detected and commanded me to keep the matter to myself, -explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his -apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the -barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five -minutes; but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say -it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street -and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, -filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common -with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher -than these barracks, though several topped it by a few hundred feet; -the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen -hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and passenger stations -of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with -much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. -The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat -much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges -and projections which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way -to the eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung, and -though I encircled the great building I could find no opening through -them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through -the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not risk -a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of the -long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled a great -hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their -craft for various purposes of repair, and by means of which landing -parties are lowered to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its hold, -but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not know. It -might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the roof, so that -as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would slip off and -launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the strap. -Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard pavements, -and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the supporting eaves, -and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned me cold with -apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver I -found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by the -merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up -from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I -call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning toward the edge -of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, hung all -my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and to -his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped him by -his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the roof. The -weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted -cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him over the -edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few moments before. I knew it -would be morning before he would be discovered, and I needed all the -time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon had -out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast behind mine I -started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I dove down -into the streets of the city far below the plane usually occupied by -the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon the -roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided that -I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the palace -and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow me. He set -my compass for me, a clever little device which will remain steadfastly -fixed upon any given point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each -other farewell we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace -which lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing its -piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out a -command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to his -hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while I rose -steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian sky followed -by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and -later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, now rising -and now falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the -time, but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided -to hazard everything on a straight-away course and leave the result to -fate and the speed of my machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only to the -navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our machines, so -that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I could dodge their -projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, and I -was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. The -concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening plunge she hurtled -downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, -but I must have been very close to the ground when I started to rise -again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising -again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally making out -their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, evidently in -search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture to -flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my -consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly destroyed -my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true I could follow -the stars in the general direction of Helium, but without knowing the -exact location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling my -chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my compass -intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in between four -and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning found me speeding -over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of -continuous flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed below -me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all Barsoomian metropolises -consists in two immense circular walled cities about seventy-five miles -apart and would have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back -in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other -large cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had -given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, -another distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid -scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the -cities, while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks -her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as -I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand -green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them -than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the almost -unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged in -life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for an -instant separate himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with -good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with -drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I -recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle -behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I -recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made -quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for another thrust he -fell over a dead body behind him and was down and at the mercy of his -foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars -Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I had -accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and -quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think -I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned -and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their -thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon -the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or -gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars -Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended -the customary council which immediately follows an engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. It -was Woola--faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark -and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my former -quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly hopeless -watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars Tarkas, on -his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw and recognized you -as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him -tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice from -among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest waterway that leads -to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a -friend as well. Come, we must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling with -Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall not -sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the chance -you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and -that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the most -horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola had -told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in passion -and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been heaped upon -the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible -existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any future -misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were instrumental in -bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. I have -just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has learned of -your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not -our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him tying one end of a -strap about your neck and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test -your fitness to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard -that he would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn -you, for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, -Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely wait -to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering at the -entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it is dares -strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own hands I shall -burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute my person with his -vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council and -ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. You -owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You claim to -be a just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as I -command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to set -aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus fumed -and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your mighty -jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the thick of -battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and little -children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen him fight -with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single -blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior and a noble -man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must prove -his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars Tarkas -to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal -Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I could kill him, -and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted upon -Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of his -countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never in my -long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. There -could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." And still -Tal Hajus stood as though petrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal Hajus, -prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus drew -his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the dead -monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank I -had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as -well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in my cause -against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my adventures, and in -a few words had explained to him the thought I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the council, -"which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. Dejah -Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now held by -the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her country from -devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. The -loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought that had -we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain sufficient -assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the size and frequency -of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably supreme among the -green men of all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the -bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half hour -had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead sea -bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred thousand -strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services of three -smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the -heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we were -all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, -through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty -thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days after we -set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, -one hundred and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious green -monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. Never in -the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green -warriors marched to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep -even a semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to me that -he got them to the city without a mighty battle among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by -their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, -who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against -the green men, directing special attention toward despoiling their -incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the city -devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces in two -divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division opposite a -large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. These gates -have no regular guard, but are covered by sentries, who patrol the -avenue that encircles the city just within the walls as our -metropolitan police patrol their beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the task -of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an -impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, I -commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I ordered -to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head of the topmost -warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from -the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from a -short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the next, -and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of the highest I -clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad -expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal -number of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened -together, and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the -other end cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the -avenue below. No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of -my leather strap, I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement -below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, and in -another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within the doomed -city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of the -enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the distance a -blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined to lead a -detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, while the -balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, -with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and open -one of the great gates while with the nine remaining I took the other. -We were to do our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no -general advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries we met were -dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, -and the guards at both gates followed them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed by -Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them to -the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. Once -inside, however, the gate gave me considerable trouble, but I finally -was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my -fierce escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of -the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber of -Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their women, -as though some important function was in progress. There was not a -guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact that the -city and palace walls were considered impregnable, and so I came close -and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with -diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers and -dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad aisle lined on -either side with soldiery, and as I looked there entered this aisle at -the far end of the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing a huge -salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a great golden -chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly behind these -officers came four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the reigning house of -Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a -feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot of -the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had -entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two -officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, -and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab -Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and -placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, springing the -padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned -to the other figure, from which the officers now removed the -enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah -Thoris, Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the -most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were -adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my head, and, with -the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window and sprang -into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the -steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with -surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would -have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me -from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger -he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as -easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my -hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart I held -him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed to the far end -of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty -warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of -fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling -themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to -my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis -now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were -engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the -steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah -Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab -Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the -new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again we -faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of officers, and, -with my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah -Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down -Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My -blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry -the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was -down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to -avenge the death of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! Strike -her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the -little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my -intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked my -chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah Thoris -against an army of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, and -I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save Dejah -Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of -pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway before -him until in another moment he stood upon the platform beside me, -dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted to -escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower of -Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and -leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors -and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had all -left to join the fighters in the throne room, so we searched the -labyrinthine prison without opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by the -sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, -faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that the -air patrol had captured him before he reached the high tower of the -palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the bars -and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I returned to -search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open the padlocks of -his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon we -had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to us -from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct the -fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, the -green warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for other -Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her she -greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom has -never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are as you? -Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have done in a -few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever -done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought -them to fight as allies of a red Martian people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was not I -who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would work -greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I returned. -"I have done many strange things in my life, many things that wiser men -would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have I dreamed of -winning a Dejah Thoris for myself--for never had I dreamed that in all -the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you -are a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to -make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his plea -before the plea were made," she replied, rising and placing her dear -hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true daughter -of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to John Carter, -Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely -destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected -from within. Several battleships had escaped, but there were thousands -of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we could, -man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners and make for -Helium without further loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with a -fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred -thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our -thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches -of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They were -looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In a hundred -places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense smoke were -rising above the city as though to blot out from the eye of heaven the -horrid sights beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers -of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships -rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to -meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our -mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that -we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon -them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out -hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle -I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the -contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were -useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill -in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective, -and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not -wholly determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside -after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in -the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; -with a lurch she turned completely over, the little figures of her crew -plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; -then with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above -the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering -battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower -of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but they were -soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each -hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon -their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers -the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered -Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty -fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that surrender -should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the -commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the brave -fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from the -towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and when she -was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah -Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship -that she might be taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry -arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of -the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper -works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of -the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled her -colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came -forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of -Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than -her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were -men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew -them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to them, -turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as -her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the aid -of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, -and the relief of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "and here -he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward me -they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my surprise, -was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly speech. -Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their -ways lend themselves amazingly to dignified and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I -would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but partly -won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans to account -for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to have -the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with our land -attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in -triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these beasts -upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and so we put -out for a point about ten miles from the city and began the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and this -work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. Twice we -were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with little loss, -however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command to -advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp from the -north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, as -had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. With -wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of battle-enraged -thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line -confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward noon, I -began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered from -pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, while -pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green warriors. -The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we receive any word -from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats -bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At the -same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the opposite -breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they were being -crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city's gates, a -huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which were -the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within the city -during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round of applause -and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious -jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. Never -before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates of Helium, -and that they came now as friends and allies filled the red men with -rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as we -passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of the -ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and his -jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together with -myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos Mors an -expression of his gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the -palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one of -their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an -arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler of -men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest living -warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may lay his hand -on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a man of -another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning of -friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can -understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the sentiments -so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to -each spoke words of friendship and appreciation. - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and without -one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all Helium, yes, on -all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and father -of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors and seemed -even more affected by the meeting than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice -choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was to -later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a fighter -that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In common with all -Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he think of what she had -escaped without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted and -entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted by ten -thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on -the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a -small party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to cement -more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched to -Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris -and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed -never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that did not -bring some new proof of their love for my princess, the incomparable -Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white egg. -For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak's Guard had constantly -stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the city that Dejah -Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before our little shrine -planning for the future, when the delicate shell should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there -talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven our lives -together and of this wonder which was coming to augment our happiness -and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a sight. -Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the -jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which -must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the -council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and -forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned -toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in -hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand -cruisers have been searching for him until just now one of them returns -bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits beneath his house -horribly mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take -months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already -commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the -pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of -years; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show -a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom--the engine -has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble -arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed -Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to -show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a -thousand useful years still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do -than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways -with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached -Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever -fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, -but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the -higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium -were filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part -the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. -Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into -the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had -collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. -We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the -grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the -weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at -request of Dejah Thoris and she sat gazing longingly upon the -unknown little life that now she would never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, -saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom -are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world which -through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not -even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand -upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head -was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. -With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! It is -cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life of -love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang -to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be some -way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world -for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind -a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of lightning in -the darkness their full purport dawned upon me--the key to the three -great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love to -my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. -I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing to -the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at the -rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout machine -that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would have -followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old agility and -strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I -was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only a few -feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time -with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I -turned for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen her -stagger and sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. That she -had dropped into the last coma which would end in death, if the air -supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing caution to -the winds, I flung overboard everything but the engine and compass, -even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly along the deck with one -hand on the steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever to its -last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a -meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the ground -before the small door which was withholding the spark of life from the -inhabitants of an entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the -wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and now -most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air would awaken -them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the engines?" I -asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else -upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days men -crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts to -solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the -nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had -crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel -before us we waited in the silence of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump room -turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to exist -tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and as I -saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees through the -last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments were -upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me as I rose -to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had -been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed -through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets and -in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled paper. One -of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted up what appeared -to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I discovered a strange, -still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that -it was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman with long -black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small charcoal burner -upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a small quantity of -greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and stretching -entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. From the thong -which held them stretched another to the dead hand of the little old -woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a -noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into the -fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which -ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains -in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the -cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarce -believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself upon me--I was -looking upon Arizona from the same ledge from which ten years before I -had gazed with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the -trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach the -people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my Dejah -Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death beside the -tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner courtyard of -the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. -For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the world of -my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside her there than live on -Earth all those millions of terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously wealthy; -but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, just -twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, -and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before -since that long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful -abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden -of a palace, and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around -her as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at their -feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me -that I shall soon know. - - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 62.txt or 62.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/6/62/ - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: A Princess of Mars - -Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Illustrator: Frank E. Schoonover - -Release Date: April 26, 1993 [eBook #62] -[Most recently updated: May 14, 2022] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -[Illustration] - - - - -A Princess of Mars - -by Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - - -To My Son Jack - - - - -CONTENTS - - FOREWORD - CHAPTER I On the Arizona Hills - CHAPTER II The Escape of the Dead - CHAPTER III My Advent on Mars - CHAPTER IV A Prisoner - CHAPTER V I Elude My Watch Dog - CHAPTER VI A Fight That Won Friends - CHAPTER VII Child-Raising on Mars - CHAPTER VIII A Fair Captive from the Sky - CHAPTER IX I Learn the Language - CHAPTER X Champion and Chief - CHAPTER XI With Dejah Thoris - CHAPTER XII A Prisoner with Power - CHAPTER XIII Love-Making on Mars - CHAPTER XIV A Duel to the Death - CHAPTER XV Sola Tells Me Her Story - CHAPTER XVI We Plan Escape - CHAPTER XVII A Costly Recapture - CHAPTER XVIII Chained in Warhoon - CHAPTER XIX Battling in the Arena - CHAPTER XX In the Atmosphere Factory - CHAPTER XXI An Air Scout for Zodanga - CHAPTER XXII I Find Dejah - CHAPTER XXIII Lost in the Sky - CHAPTER XXIV Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend - CHAPTER XXV The Looting of Zodanga - CHAPTER XXVI Through Carnage to Joy - CHAPTER XXVII From Joy to Death - CHAPTER XXVIII At the Arizona Cave - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots. - She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. - The old man sat and talked with me for hours. - With my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris. - - - - -FOREWORD - - -To the Reader of this Work: - - -In submitting Captain Carter’s strange manuscript to you in book form, -I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will -be of interest. - -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent -at my father’s home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil -war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the -tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. - -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the -children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those -pastimes in which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he -would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old grandmother with -stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of the world. We all -loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the ground he trod. - -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over -six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the -trained fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his hair -black and closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, -reflecting a strong and loyal character, filled with fire and -initiative. His manners were perfect, and his courtliness was that of a -typical southern gentleman of the highest type. - -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight -even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my -father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would only -laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from the back -of a horse yet unfoaled. - -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some -fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and -I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, -nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when others were -with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of old, but when -he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for hours gazing off into -space, his face set in a look of wistful longing and hopeless misery; -and at night he would sit thus looking up into the heavens, at what I -did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward. - -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of -the time since the war; and that he had been very successful was -evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. -As to the details of his life during these years he was very reticent, -in fact he would not talk of them at all. - -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where -he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a -year on the occasions of my trips to the New York market—my father and -I owning and operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia -at that time. Captain Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, -situated on a bluff overlooking the river, and during one of my last -visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he was much occupied in -writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript. - -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished -me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment -in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will -there and some personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to -carry out with absolute fidelity. - -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window -standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the -Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. -I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never understood -that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious man. - -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first -of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to -come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger -generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his demand. - -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the -morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me -out to Captain Carter’s he replied that if I was a friend of the -Captain’s he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found -dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the watchman attached -to an adjoining property. - -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his -place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body -and of his affairs. - -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local -police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. -The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of the -body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, -he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms outstretched -above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when he showed me the -spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical one where I had seen -him on those other nights, with his arms raised in supplication to the -skies. - -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a -local physician the coroner’s jury quickly reached a decision of death -from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and -withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would -find my instructions. They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have -followed them to each last detail as faithfully as I was able. - -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and -that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had -had constructed and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. The -instructions impressed upon me that I must personally see that this was -carried out just as he directed, even in secrecy if necessary. - -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire -income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. -His further instructions related to this manuscript which I was to -retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was -I to divulge its contents until twenty-one years after his death. - -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that -the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring -lock which can be opened _only from the inside_. - -Yours very sincerely, -Edgar Rice Burroughs. - - - - -CHAPTER I -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, -possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other -men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have -always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty -years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever; -that some day I shall die the real death from which there is no -resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have died -twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as you -who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I -believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the -story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot -explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words of an -ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events that -befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an -Arizona cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript -until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average -human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not -purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the press, and -held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the simple truths -which some day science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions -which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down in -this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries -of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of -several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain’s -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; the -servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the South. -Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and attempt to -retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate -officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely -fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships and -privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein -that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining -engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical -requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to -make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against -the remote possibility of its being jumped by some wandering -prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down -the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first stage of -his journey. - -The morning of Powell’s departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, and -all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them as -they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight -of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the shadows of -the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not -given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself -that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his -trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure -myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to -ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious -marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in -lives and torture of every white party which fell into their merciless -clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in -the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of -cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no -longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, I -strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle horse, -started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a -canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon -dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. -They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies -had been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await -the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the -question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up -impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when I should -catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. However, I am -not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, -wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me -throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me -by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword -has been red many a time. - -About nine o’clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed -on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast -walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I -reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon -the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of -having been recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for -such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only -a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of -speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished -to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I -urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope -that I would catch up with the red rascals before they attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two -shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, -and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and -difficult mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further -sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau -near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, overhanging -gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table land, and the sight -which met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some -object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly -riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice me, and I -easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and -made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes any -possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this -episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, -because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts -have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single one -where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me until many -hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that I am -subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse to -tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center -of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but -within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had -whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of -warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for the red men, -convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars -was upon them, turned and fled in every direction for their bows, -arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon -lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of the -braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, and yet -I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches -as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his -cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward -glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come would be more -hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which I could -distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it is -difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, -that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, -and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach the shadows -of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass -than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which led to the -summit of the range and not to the pass which I had hoped would carry -me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and adventures which -befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the -yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off -to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse -had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail -was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general direction I -wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and -on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of -a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn -to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was -about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, and at this -opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a -startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced water -from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed his -hands, working over him continuously for the better part of an hour in -the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a -polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with -a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude -endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell’s body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave -to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in -diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn -floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some remote -period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in dense -shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were openings into -other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my -long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the -fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present location -as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave against an -army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire -to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments’ rest, but I -knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the -hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an -effort I started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I -was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of -approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet -but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my -will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I noticed -a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and only -noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also came -to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume that I -had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my -mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short -stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff -around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had -ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along -the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped -they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the -thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was sure -for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes -bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, and -a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the shoulders of -their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face -was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason I did not know, -nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were still other -braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from the fact that the -leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of -the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they -turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their -efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of the -braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. Their -wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then all was -still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been -sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror -which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so -I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced -in previous positions of danger and by those that I have passed through -since; but I can say without shame that if the sensations I endured -during the next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one’s back toward some horrible and unknown -danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn -in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of -wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man -who had ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of -a powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody -moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to -the contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but -vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in -that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging -rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in -search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious -unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just within -my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early -morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the -dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my -startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the sound of -a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to my -already overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. It was an -effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I -could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less -mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary -feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, -and I stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown -foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own -body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward -the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked -first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave and then -down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet -here I stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for -a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My -first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over -forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as I -could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my -efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out from -every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching revealed -the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and -unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which -menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was -in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I -was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed to lie in -flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling -sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the cave and -to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I -leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear -Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as -an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing through -me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what now -seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with myself -that I had lain helpless for many hours within the cave, yet nothing -had molested me, and my better judgment, when permitted the direction -of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises I had -heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; -probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs -with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I -saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and -level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of -soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona -moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange -lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details -of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and -inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of -some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the -heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for -the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a -large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt -a spell of overpowering fascination—it was Mars, the god of war, and -for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of irresistible -enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it seemed to call -across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw me as the -lodestone attracts a particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself -drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of -space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was -on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I -was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told -me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you -that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation -which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I -seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of -which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was -rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been -true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there were -slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the -sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a -low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and no other -vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty -I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the -effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried -me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted -softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now -commenced a series of evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in -the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the -muscular exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to -walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a -couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or -back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly -attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, played the -mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope with the -lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the -only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan -of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly -well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, encircling wall -of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but -as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet -and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given -me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches -in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, -perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size -being about two and one-half feet in diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat -blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. -They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six -legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an -intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms -or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a -trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of each -other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or -in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were -small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these -young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center -of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, -this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in -the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of -proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is -dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These latter -add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and terrible -countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points which end -about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. The whiteness -of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest and most -gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive skins -their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these weapons -present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to -speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs -were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous -little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach -of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen -areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, they might -have captured me easily, but their intentions were far more sinister. -It was the rattling of the accouterments of the foremost warrior which -warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped -so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its -fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the -butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without -ever knowing that death was near me. But the little sound caused me to -turn, and there upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of -that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, -and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the little devils I -had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific -incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for -such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, -would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit -a horse, grasping the animal’s barrel with his lower limbs, while the -hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the side of -his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally to help -preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins -of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet -at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, -larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight out -behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its -snout to its long, massive neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and -its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid -yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and -nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness of their -approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a -characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man -and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have -well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in -existence there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in -all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us are -identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This picture, or -rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at length, made -but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself -in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to -get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging spear. -Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time superhuman leap -to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such I had determined it -must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it -seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty -feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on -the opposite side of the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning -saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me -with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme -astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves that -I had not molested their young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little -Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me -with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the thing which -weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are -muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. -The result is that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in -proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were -one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he could lift his own -weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do -so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me -as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their -fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely the -appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these people -in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day before, had been -pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to -the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to -decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a -rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned -later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, -and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel -is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel which they have -learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which -they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the -extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The -theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but -the best they can do in actual service when equipped with their -wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an -attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of -these death-dealing machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away -in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number -alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred yards -they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat watching the -warrior by the enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to -have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force -had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, -and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed -and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, -addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is -needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though -waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking -his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on -Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained -to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke -for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear -to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the -intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action -with which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his -open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and -stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and -locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back -toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a -signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really -frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride -behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow -designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him -on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian’s weapons and ornaments. - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of -hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV -A PRISONER - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of -Mars’ long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the -Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity -of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. -Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined -roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table -land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were -deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not -having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center of -the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings -immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred -creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered -them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied -in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were -much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances curving -nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter in -color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which -were entirely lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in -height from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all -looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; -older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, -until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon -their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living -Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever -returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after once -embarking upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and -possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine -hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in -aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes -during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of the little Martians -fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is -about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark -were it not for the various means leading to violent death. Owing to -the waning resources of the planet it evidently became necessary to -counteract the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come to be -considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous -sports and the almost continual warfare between the various -communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact -that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of -destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious -to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of the -party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza -to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested -upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed -of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which -sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some -hundred feet in width and projected from the building proper to form a -huge canopy above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a -gentle incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper squatted -an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, gay-colored -feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with -precious stones. From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur -lined with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in -which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were -entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; -these being of a size adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the -great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the -chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for their long legs. -Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of -extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race -in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his arm -in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were few -formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My captor -merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for him as he -advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name of my -escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the ruler followed -by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to -me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged ornaments, -had their missions been peaceful—otherwise they would have exchanged -shots, or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain -of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and -warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected with -his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded the -chieftain addressed me at some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that -neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I -smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the -similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me -that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, -therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that -the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian laugh is -a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance -with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a -fellow being are, to these strange creatures, provocative of the -wildest hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement is to -inflict death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and -horrible ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my -muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to -follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas’ arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to the -amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, but this -did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering -fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I -did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of -brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger’s -rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a -felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back toward -the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his -fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the unequal -odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter -and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, but later, when -I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned that I had won -what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of -his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out one -of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further mishap. -I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come to the -open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated the -word “sak” a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made several jumps, -repeating the same word before each leap; then, turning to me, he said, -“sak!” I saw what they were after, and gathering myself together I -“sakked” with such marvelous success that I cleared a good hundred and -fifty feet; nor did I, this time, lose my equilibrium, but landed -squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned by easy jumps of -twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the -chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, -and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation was to -demand the consideration from these creatures which they evidently -would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated commands -to “sak,” and each time they were made I motioned to my mouth and -rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions -and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and -together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at -maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light -olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I afterward -learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of Tars Tarkas. She -conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the buildings fronting on -the plaza, and which, from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor, -I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all -there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity -which convinced me that the architects and builders of these wondrous -creations had nothing in common with the crude half-brutes which now -occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of -the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I -obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its -ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient -puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head -bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were -equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - -Sola stared into the brute’s wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or -two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but -wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left alone -in such close proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of meat; but -my fears were groundless, as the beast, after surveying me intently for -a moment, crossed the room to the only exit which led to the street, -and lay down full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during -the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice saving my -life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the room -in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted scenes of -rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, -trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens—scenes which -might have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a master hand, -so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; yet nowhere was -there a representation of a living animal, either human or brute, by -which I could guess at the likeness of these other and perhaps extinct -denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the -possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met -with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. These she -placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a short ways off -regarded me intently. The food consisted of about a pound of some solid -substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, while the -liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was not unpleasant to -the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short time to prize -it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from an animal, as -there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare indeed, but -from a large plant which grows practically without water, but seems to -distill its plentiful supply of milk from the products of the soil, the -moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single plant of this -species will give eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need of -rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must have -slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. -I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, but it had become -partially dislodged and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. -Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly -afterwards adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. This -girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in contact, -disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her -ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and her solicitous -care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as there -is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature are -sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from brilliant -daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly illumined or -very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars happen to be in the -sky almost total darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, -rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in the -heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. - -Both of Mars’ moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the -further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against -the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us from our moon. -The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be seen -hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or three times each -night, revealing all her phases during each transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well that -nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian night, for -the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual -development, have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil lamp -which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white -light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained by -mining in one of several widely separated and remote localities it is -seldom used by these creatures whose only thought is for today, and -whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in a semi-barbaric state -for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I awaken -until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in number, were -all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley -array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay stretched the -sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen him on the preceding -day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued -upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall me should I -endeavor to escape. - -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the exact -attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room. -I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him should he -pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had begun to take -great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from -the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my -watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by -moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make -reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously -away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to -let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in -my rear as I made my way along the deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we -reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering -strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to -have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when -almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away -from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar -to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the latter would -have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this -is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, -and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the -Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the -beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in -my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me. This maneuver -gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able to reach the city -quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for -a window about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal beneath -me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely had I gained a -secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped me by the neck from -behind and dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown upon -my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like creature, -white and hairless except for an enormous shock of bristly hair upon -its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did the -Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one huge foot, -while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering creature behind -me. This other, which was evidently its mate, soon came toward us, -bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain -me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, and -had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or legs, -midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were close -together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but more -laterally located than those of the Martians, while their snouts and -teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. Altogether -they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with the green -Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned face -when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the doorway -full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of fear the ape -which held me leaped through the open window, but its mate closed in a -terrific death struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so hideous a -creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall I -witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. The -strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures is -approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an advantage -in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into the breast of -his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the ape, backed by -muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had -locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his life, -and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where I momentarily -expected the former to fall limp at the end of a broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of its -breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful jaws. Back -and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one emitting a sound of -fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes of my beast bulging -completely from their sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. That -he was weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which seems -ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had fallen to -the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging it with all -the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon the head of the -ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape’s mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had -returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the -building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway and the -sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched -upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his -rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against the -iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an unknown -world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so far as I -might be concerned, seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I -might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake me; -at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against his -four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first blow, -for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, he could -reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could recover for -a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had turned -to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form of my -erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four winds. He -lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes fastened upon -me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. I could not -withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my -rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf as he -had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to -prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily as I -could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below the knees, -eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him off his balance -that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and -swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed it -with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. The effect was -marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the second -blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and -gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, I -beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in the -doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the second -time, the recipient of their zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had quickly -informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a handful of -warriors to search for me. As they had approached the limits of the -city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into -the building, frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible -that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and had witnessed -my short but decisive battle with him. This encounter, together with my -set-to with the Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of -jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or affection, -these people fairly worship physical prowess and bravery, and nothing -is too good for the object of their adoration as long as he maintains -his position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, was -the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in -laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober with -apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the monster, rushed -to me and carefully examined my body for possible wounds or injuries. -Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed she smiled quietly, -and, taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing over -the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and whose life -I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in argument, and -finally one of them addressed me, but remembering my ignorance of his -language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave -some command to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, and -I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was well I did -so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its holster and -was on the point of putting an end to the creature when I sprang -forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing of -the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the wood and -masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it to -its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise which my -actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they could not -understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such attributes as -gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked -enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my -own devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over me -with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came to -know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more -gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million green -Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which followed -while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the plaza, -where I found the entire community engaged in watching or helping at -the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled -chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, -each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their appearance, -might easily have drawn the entire wagon train when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments of -metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the back of each of the -beasts which drew the chariots was perched a young Martian driver. Like -the animals upon which the warriors were mounted, the heavier draft -animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by -telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively few -spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the universal -language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher and lower -animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater -or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species -and the development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged -me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward -the point by which I had entered the city the day before. At the head -of the caravan rode some two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like -number brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself—men, women, and children—were heavily armed, and -at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own beast -following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature never -left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our -way led out across the little valley before the city, through the -hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my -journey from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the entire -cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we reached the level -expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the -four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by -the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other -lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars -Tarkas explaining something to the principal chieftain, whose name, by -the way, was, as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas -Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling -to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this -time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and -quickly responding to his command I advanced to the side of the -incubator where the warriors stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs -had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little -devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving -restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator -and said, “Sak.” I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of -yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess -that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, -leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the -incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the -incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I was thus -permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which consisted -in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both -male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the -chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the -little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run the -full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the -women and older children; the last in the line capturing the first -little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had left -the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. As the -women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their -respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young -men were later turned over to some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was -over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous -little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching -them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are -loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs -in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation, they -step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely -unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the -common children of the community, and their education devolves upon the -females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as -was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a -year before she became the mother of another woman’s offspring. But -this counts for little among the green Martians, as parental and filial -love is as unknown to them as it is common among us. I believe this -horrible system which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause -of the loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother -love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught that -they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by their -physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove -deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they -see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass -through from earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless -struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of -which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional -life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth -rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, -and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are -hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature -is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully examined -by a council of twenty chieftains, and all but about one hundred of the -most perfect are destroyed out of each yearly supply. At the end of -five years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen from -the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in the almost -air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun’s rays after a period of -another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed today was a -fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one per cent of -the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we -knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, -as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged -incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained for ages and -which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time for return -to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or -no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of -such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another -five years. I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an -alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed -an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty -degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and west by two large -fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this -district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a -supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a -tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden -forth early in the morning and had not returned until just before -darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean -vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported them to the -incubator, which they had then walled up for another five years, and -which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that -period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator -were located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited -yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange to -build their vaults and incubators nearer home has always been a mystery -to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable -by earthly reasoning and customs. - -Sola’s duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much -attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian -education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and -physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable -amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The -Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I -could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was -said to me. Likewise, under Sola’s tutelage, I developed my telepathic -powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went -on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic -messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended for -me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At -first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an -undoubted advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, -but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open -ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and -hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular evolution, -the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious doorways of the -nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, the entire -cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was nowhere to be -seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in fact, -the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, and, -wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted to an -upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley and the -hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to -cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over the -crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and another, and -another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, sailed -slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper -works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device that -gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at -which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding the -forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had -discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not -say, but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly and -without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific volley from -the windows of the buildings facing the little valley across which the -great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, -at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short distance and -then turning back with the evident intention of completing a great -circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite our -firing line; the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening -upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, and -I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had never -been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as -though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of -each bullet, while the banners and upper works dissolved in spurts of -flame as the irresistible projectiles of our warriors mowed through -them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward -learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught -the ship’s crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the -guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for his -fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For example, -a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct their fire -entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus of the big -guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends to the smaller -guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; still others the -officers; while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon -the other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the -craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control -of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely and all their -energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to the -roofs of the buildings which we occupied and followed the retreating -armada with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of the -outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This -had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unmanned, -as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung -from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful -manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite apparent -that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in a -position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control herself -sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet -her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to -reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I could see the -bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could not make out what -manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign of life was manifest upon -her as she drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but -some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the roofs to -cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of reinforcements. -It soon became evident that she would strike the face of the buildings -about a mile south of our position, and as I watched the progress of -the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being hauled -to ground by their fellows below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel -from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, -evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of them appeared -from below dragging a little figure among them. The creature was -considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, and -from my balcony I could see that it walked erect upon two legs and -surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity with -which I had not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned to -transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, -jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods -and liquids, including many casks of water, the first I had seen since -my advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to -the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged in -what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors and -over the decks and works of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave the -deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an -instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose -from the point where the missile struck he swung over the side and was -quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneously released, and the great warship, lightened by the -removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, her decks and -upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the -flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. -Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until -finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was -awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating -funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes -of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying -the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose -unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to the -street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat and -annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than the routing -by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though unfriendly, -creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I -free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my soul -I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, and a mighty -hope surged through me that the fleet would return and demand a -reckoning from the green warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly -attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the -hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as though -I had been the object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was -returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been given up for -that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the open -plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we remained at -the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, and -depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and -happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a -glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish figure, -similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past life. She did -not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing through the -portal of the building which was to be her prison she turned, and her -eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her -every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, -caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was of a -light reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of her -cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a -strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied -her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely -naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect -and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and she -made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, of -course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and then -the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified her face as -she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled with -loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her signal, and -ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively felt that she had -made an appeal for succor and protection which my unfortunate ignorance -had prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her -usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did not -know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; enough -only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited me. -A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled the -trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed the -work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made me -an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely by -the women, who not only attend to the education of the young in the -arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the artisans who -produce every manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They -make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything of -value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare they form a -part of the reserves, and when the necessity arises fight with even -greater intelligence and ferocity than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make the -laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs have -been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of the -culprit’s peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, but -seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law. In one -respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our -first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as -she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where I had had -my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the -unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola manifested -toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few green Martians who -took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that -they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common -language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by -my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more days I -had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable me to carry -on a passable conversation and to fully understand practically all that -I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and her -youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had retired for -the night it was customary for the adults to carry on a desultory -conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I -could understand their language I was always a keen listener, although -I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner’s visit to the audience chamber the -conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears on the -instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the beautiful -captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression I had noted -upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. That it -denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, judging all things by -mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to affect -indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola’s attitude -toward the object of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive’s guards, and it was -toward her the question turned. - -“When,” asked one of the women, “will we enjoy the death throes of the -red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for ransom?” - -“They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her -last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus,” replied Sarkoja. - -“What will be the manner of her going out?” inquired Sola. “She is very -small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold her for -ransom.” - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. - -“It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago,” snapped -Sarkoja, “when all the hollows of the land were filled with water, and -the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. In our day we -have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and -atavism. It will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt that he would care -to entrust such as you with the grave responsibilities of maternity.” - -“I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red woman,” -retorted Sola. “She has never harmed us, nor would she should we have -fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her kind who war upon us, -and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the -reflection of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their -fellows, except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at -peace with none; forever warring among our own kind as well as upon the -red men, and even in our own communities the individuals fight amongst -themselves. Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the -time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the river -of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an unknown, -but at least no more frightful and terrible existence! Fortunate indeed -is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what you please to Tars -Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a continuation of the -horrible existence we are forced to lead in this life.” - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked -the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all -lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One thing the episode had -accomplished was to assure me of Sola’s friendliness toward the poor -girl, and also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other females. -I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I had discovered that she -hated cruelty and barbarity I was confident that I could depend upon -her to aid me and the girl captive to escape, provided of course that -such a thing was within the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape to, -but I was more than willing to take my chances among people fashioned -after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the hideous and -bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much -of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal life -has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the dreamless -and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed -me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leave -the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, -however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all other -deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled -by the great white apes of my second day’s adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola -had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it, -and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by -ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden -territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back -into the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -“preferably dead,” she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly I -found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the country -before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, to view -what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose from the -summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity -to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute loved -me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any other -Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for the -acts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty -to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and -thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather -than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful -guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind, -I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the -normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this great brute, -sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground and -putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talking -in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at -home, as I would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkable -to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring the -entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout until -his great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have -ever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of Woola’s facial -distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumped -up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight; -then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful puppy presenting -its back for the petting it craves. I could not resist the -ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and -forth in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; the -first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp when his horse, -long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him off -headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then I -remembered what laughter signified on Mars—torture, suffering, death. -Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow’s head and back, talked -to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded -him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found -nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly -colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until lost in -mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward found -that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height; -the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. - -My morning’s walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas -relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically a -prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits -before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile -masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of my -prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth for good -and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment of my liberties, -as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to be discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She -was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned -her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, that -though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling of -companionship; it was good to know that someone else on Mars beside -myself had human instincts of a civilized order, even though the -manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused such -passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw her -perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, an -atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved and -loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to -view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and also -convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their -language, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret on the grounds -that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until I had -perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to enter -the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them -stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women was -Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing of -the preceding day, the results of which she had reported to the -occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentary -nails into the poor girl’s flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful -manner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to another she -either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She -seemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the -hatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed -by unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; if -the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at -night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the same -token would she have received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on -me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. -Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused -Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention to -me. - -“What is your name?” asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. - -“Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium.” - -“And the nature of your expedition?” he continued. - -“It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father’s -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take -atmospheric density tests,” replied the fair prisoner, in a low, -well-modulated voice. - -“We were unprepared for battle,” she continued, “as we were on a -peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. -The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for -you know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of -our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on -Mars to support a single human life. For ages we have maintained the -air and water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of the brutal and -ignorant interference of you green men. - -“Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows. -Must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little -above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without -written language, without art, without homes, without love; the victims -of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in -common. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. -Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the light -of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find the -hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may do still -more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the greatest -and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you come?” - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at -the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. What -was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were moved I -truly believe, and if one man high among them had been strong enough to -rise above custom, that moment would have marked a new and mighty era -for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expression -as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior. It -bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with -age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of -benignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and -terrible countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of -thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, -and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which -felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and -turning toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did the -aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but the -mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they -smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, for -the brute’s act constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as that -blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such length -of time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for I -realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow aimed -at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand descended I -was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him. -The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but I -believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in the -terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in -the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew his -short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking -one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tusks -with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous -chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too close -to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do in -direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not fight a -fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon with -which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild and -futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he was little -if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment or two -before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the -battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised -her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side of the -room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from -my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. I -was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an -ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand upon -my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -“Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in the -first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of your -companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner of man -are you, that you consort with the green men, though your form is that -of my race, while your color is little darker than that of the white -ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than human?” - -“It is a strange tale,” I replied, “too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that I -fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present, -that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, your -protector and your servant.” - -“Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the regalia -of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your country?” - -“Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and I -claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; -but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that -my regalia was that of a chieftain.” - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash one -of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I saw -that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read in -the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by the -other who had brought me my original equipment, and now for the first -time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first battle in the -audience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent; -I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which always -marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to -call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a -conqueror; the trappings and the position of the man I killed. In -truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later was the -cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior’s chattels I had noticed -that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and -the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner. -Finally he addressed me: - -“You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and -dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?” - -“You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas,” I replied, “in that you -furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have to -thank Sola for my learning.” - -“She has done well,” he answered, “but your education in other respects -needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented temerity -would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two chieftains -whose metal you now wear?” - -“I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killed -me,” I answered, smiling. - -“No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would a -Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other -purposes,” and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to -dwell upon. - -“But one thing can save you now,” he continued. “Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken into -the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the -headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be -accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chief -who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to our mighty and -most ferocious ruler. I am done.” - -“I hear you, Tars Tarkas,” I answered. “As you know I am not of -Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as -I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience -and guided by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave me -alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians -with whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you, -or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure, -whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young -woman, whoever would offer her injury or insult in the future must -figure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that you -belittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and -I can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics are -not incompatible with an ability to fight.” - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was -I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and their -attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only comment -was more or less enigmatical—“And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of -Thark.” - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to her -feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardian -harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I not -now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities -of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by the -faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the audience chamber -of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to -watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume custody -of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two -little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I -informed them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions bestowed -upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja’s sudden and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to Dejah -Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon Mars, nor -women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and departed to -hatch up deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah -Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters -where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her -that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and -slung across my shoulder. - -“You are a great chieftain now, John Carter,” she said, “and I must do -your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any circumstances. -The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was a great warrior, -and had by his promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of -Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. You -are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank -you in prowess.” - -“And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?” I asked. - -“You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor by -the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, -or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, and thus win -first place.” - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to kill -Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, which -we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more -pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also found in -this building real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly -wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, -unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed -many human figures in the compositions. These were of people like -myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad -in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, -and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. -The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted -for the most part, a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she -gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long -extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking the -plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining and in the -rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the -bedding and such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -“And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your -pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these past -few days?” - -“You are right,” I answered, “there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together.” - -“I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and I -think I understand your position among these people, but what I cannot -fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom.” - -“In the name of my first ancestor, then,” she continued, “where may you -be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. You speak my -language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned -it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages differ. -Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties into the lost sea -of Korus, is there supposed to be a different language spoken, and, -except in the legends of our ancestors, there is no record of a -Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the -valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They would -kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if that were -true; tell me it is not!” - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were pressed -against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. - -“I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia a -gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have never -seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, so far as -I am concerned. Do you believe me?” - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she should -believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would follow a -general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, -or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should I care what she -thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and as my eyes -met hers I knew why, and—I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me -with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, -she whispered: “I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a -‘gentleman’ is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on -Barsoom no man lies; if he does not wish to speak the truth he is -silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John Carter?” she asked, -and it seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that far-gone -day. - -“I am of another world,” I answered, “the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, for -I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has permitted me to -serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here.” - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That it was -difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I hope that -she would do so however much I craved her confidence and respect. I -would much rather not have told her anything of my antecedents, but no -man could look into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest -behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: “I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not of -the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different—but why should I -trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I -believe because I wish to believe!” - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it satisfied -her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of fact it was -about the only kind of logic that could be brought to bear upon my -problem. We fell into a general conversation then, asking and answering -many questions on each side. She was curious to learn of the customs of -my people and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on Earth. When -I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity with earthly -things she laughed, and cried out: - -“Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your planet -fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which takes -place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in the -heavens in plain sight?” - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general the -instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, which -permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what is -transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures -are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, objects -no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly recognized. I -afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as well as the -instruments which produced them. - -“If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things,” I asked, “why is -it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants of -that planet?” - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. - -“Because, John Carter,” she replied, “nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies with -strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous -contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; -while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -“The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings might -cause a doubt as to your earthliness.” - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining -that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange -garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our -meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of course, would -have to share the quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed -much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she -had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our quarters were -located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have -been eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance that -had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of little consequence, -merely promising ourselves to be warned to the utmost caution in the -future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished over -a hundred thousand years before. They were the early progenitors of her -race, but had mixed with the other great race of early Martians, who -were very dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced into -a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had compelled -them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing fertile -areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of life, against -the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the race -of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful daughter. -During the ages of hardships and incessant warring between their own -various races, as well as with the green men, and before they had -fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much of the high -civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point where it -feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more practical -civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with the ancient -Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary race, -but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of readjustment -to new conditions, not only did their advancement and production cease -entirely, but practically all their archives, records, and literature -were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning this -lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city in which -we were camping was supposed to have been a center of commerce and -culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural -harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the harbor, -while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom had been the -channel through which the shipping passed up to the city’s gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, and -lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging toward -the center of the oceans, as the people had found it necessary to -follow the receding waters until necessity had forced upon them their -ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized it. -We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions by a -messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear -before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the audience -chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated upon the -rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, and, -fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -“You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have by -your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are -not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. - -“Your position is a peculiar one,” he continued; “you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can kill -a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are reported -to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; -a prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are returned -from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, if proved, -would be sufficient grounds for your execution, but we are a just -people and you shall have a trial on our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus -so commands. - -“But,” he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, “if you run off with -the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; it is I -who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to -command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to a better man, for -such is the custom of the Tharks. - -“I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not wish -to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John Carter, I -should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may you be killed -by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in -self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in -an attempt to escape. - -“As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of these -two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. The -safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest -importance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such a -capture; she is the granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, -who is also our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us -that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we are a -just and truthful race. You may go.” - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja’s persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible for -this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, -and now I recalled those portions of our conversation which had touched -upon escape and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas’ oldest and most trusted female. -As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no warrior had -the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as did his ablest -lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my mind, -my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my every faculty -on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute necessity for -escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, -for I was convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification -of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he had -descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked contrast -to most of his fellows, a slave to that brute passion which the waning -demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost stilled in -the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches -of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far better -that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, as did -those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took their own lives -rather than fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tarkas -approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His demeanor toward -me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we had not just parted a -few moments before. - -“Where are your quarters, John Carter?” he asked. - -“I have selected none,” I replied. “It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know,” and I smiled, “I am not -yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks.” - -“Come with me,” he directed, and together we moved off across the plaza -to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied by Sola -and her charges. - -“My quarters are on the first floor of this building,” he said, “and -the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of -these. - -“I understand,” he continued, “that you have given up your woman to the -red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, but -you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and so, if you -wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a -chieftain you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the retinues of -the chieftains whose metal you now wear.” - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he -promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care of -my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of the sleeping -silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of combat, for the nights -were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the winding -corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. The -beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, I -was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought -me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor of -the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig up some -means of communication whereby she might signal me in case she needed -either my services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and other -sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this floor. -The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which -formed the center of the square made by the buildings which faced the -four contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the quartering -of the various animals belonging to the warriors occupying the -adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, yet -numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like contraptions -bore witness to the beauty which the court must have presented in -bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom -stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the -graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome men; -the happy frolicking children—all sunlight, happiness and peace. It was -difficult to realize that they had gone; down through ages of darkness, -cruelty, and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of culture and -humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final composite -race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and -casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the air -craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two chieftains -I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it had become mine. -At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the back rooms, and -then departed, only to return with a second load, which they advised me -constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip they were -accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it seemed, -formed the retinues of the two chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the -relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it -is most difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians is -owned in common by the community, except the personal weapons, -ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone -can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more of these -than are required for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as -custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the community -as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man’s retinue may be likened to a military -unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of -instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their -continual roamings and their unending strife with other communities and -with the red Martians. His women are in no sense wives. The green -Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. -Their mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is directed -without reference to natural selection. The council of chieftains of -each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky -racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but -the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of the -mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, -loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men -and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but -better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at the expense -of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether -I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find -quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of the -girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, and directed the -others to take up the various activities which had formerly constituted -their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within -the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they -could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to -be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children -was far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in many -of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, including -lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore the warriors. -These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as dangerous and -vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are sufficiently -tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I -wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the -native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the thoats -did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions -of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with -the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was -continued until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man -and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he might -live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, his torn and -mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned in accordance with -Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of -kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that they -could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between the ears to -impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won -their confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand with animals, -and by inclination, as well as because it brought more lasting and -satisfactory results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings with -the lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with far -less compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great snouts -against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond to my -every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the Martian -warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly power unknown -on Mars. - -“How have you bewitched them?” asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, when he -had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my thoats -which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth while -feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -“By kindness,” I replied. “You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer sentiments -have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of battle as well as -upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my every command, and -therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior -for the reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community to adopt -my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told -me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often -were the means of turning victory into defeat, since, at a crucial -moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their riders.” - -“Show me how you accomplish these results,” was Tars Tarkas’ only -rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it -before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment marked -the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and before I left -the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a -regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to see. -The effect on the precision and celerity of the military movements was -so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented me with a massive anklet of -gold from his own leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to -the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack being -deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little of -Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my -lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of my -thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been absent, -walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in -the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing far -from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose ferocity I was -only too well acquainted with. However, since Woola accompanied them on -all their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of -the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced -to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for -Dejah Thoris’ safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on -some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I -had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. -There seemed bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though -we had been born under the same roof rather than upon different -planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my -approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to -be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little -right hand upon my left shoulder in true red Martian salute. - -“Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark,” she said, “and -that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other warriors.” - -“Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude,” I replied, “notwithstanding -the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity.” - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -“I knew that even though you became a member of the community you would -not cease to be my friend; ‘A warrior may change his metal, but not his -heart,’ as the saying is upon Barsoom.” - -“I think they have been trying to keep us apart,” she continued, “for -whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars Tarkas’ -retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get Sola and me -out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their terrible -projectiles. You know that these have to be manufactured by artificial -light, as exposure to sunlight always results in an explosion. You have -noticed that their bullets explode when they strike an object? Well, -the opaque, outer coating is broken by the impact, exposing a glass -cylinder, almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute -particle of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which nothing -can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you will note the -absence of these explosions, while the morning following the battle -will be filled at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding -missiles fired the preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding -projectiles are used at night.”[1] - - [1] I have used the word radium in describing this powder because in - the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a mixture - of which radium is the base. In Captain Carter’s manuscript it is - mentioned always by the name used in the written language of Helium - and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it would be difficult and - useless to reproduce. - - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris’ explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the -immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping her -away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that they should -subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -“Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?” I -asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my veins -as I awaited her reply. - -“Only in little ways, John Carter,” she answered. “Nothing that can -harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a -break to the builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do not -even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who stand for -everything they have not, and for all they most crave and never can -attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even though we die at their -hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater than they and they -know it.” - -Had I known the significance of those words “my chieftain,” as applied -by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the surprise of my -life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many months thereafter. -Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. - -“I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with -as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, nevertheless, that -I may be present the next time that any Martian, green, red, pink, or -violet, has the temerity to even so much as frown on you, my princess.” - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me with -dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd little laugh, -which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her mouth, she shook -her head and cried: - -“What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child.” - -“What have I done now?” I asked, in sore perplexity. - -“Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not tell -you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, have -listened without anger,” she soliloquized in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with my -soft heart and natural kindliness. - -“I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take -him home and nurse him back to health,” she laughed. - -“That is precisely what we do on Earth,” I answered. “At least among -civilized men.” - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with all -her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, and to a -Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead foeman -means so much more to divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so much -perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune her to -enlighten me. - -“No,” she exclaimed, “it is enough that you have said it and that I -have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, as -likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom another -twelve times, remember that I listened and that I—smiled.” - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more -positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down -upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in -the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for -an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my -being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and it -seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I was -not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders -longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw -away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the surface of a -dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least had been born that -which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had -spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved -her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in -the plaza of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the -helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens -of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands -of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could -not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and -the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her -helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which -sealed my lips. - -“Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?” I asked. “Possibly you would -rather return to Sola and your quarters.” - -“No,” she murmured, “I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I -should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, -are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with -you, I shall soon return to my father’s court and feel his strong arms -about me and my mother’s tears and kisses on my cheek.” - -“Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?” I asked, when she had explained -the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. - -“Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and,” she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, “lovers.” - -“And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?” - -“Yes.” - -“And a—lover?” - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -“The man of Barsoom,” she finally ventured, “does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for -and won.” - -“But I have fought—” I started, and then I wished my tongue had been -cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, -and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and -without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of -the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached the -building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I turned -disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours cross-legged, -and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks -chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed the -five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful women -and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and a -constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to fall furiously -and hopelessly in love with a creature from another world, of a species -similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched -from an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; whose -people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose hopes, whose -pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right and wrong might vary -as greatly from mine as did those of the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for -all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever -love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous and -beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom of my -heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I sat -cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom raced -through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and -marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the Hudson. -Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I lived and fought for -Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do all -Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at the -poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but she -turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount to her -cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace when I -might have pled ignorance of the nature of my offense, or at least the -gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. - - -[Illustration: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing -chariots.] - - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so I -glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In doing so -I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by one ankle to the -side of the vehicle. - -“What does this mean?” I cried, turning to Sola. - -“Sarkoja thought it best,” she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive spring -lock. - -“Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it.” - -“Sarkoja wears it, John Carter,” she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I -vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, as -they seemed to my lover’s eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah -Thoris. - -“John Carter,” he answered, “if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape the -Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do not -wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way that will -yet ensure security. I have spoken.” - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it was -futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key be taken -from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the prisoner alone in -future. - -“This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the friendship -that, I must confess, I feel for you.” - -“Friendship?” he replied. “There is no such thing, John Carter; but -have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy the girl, -and I myself will take the custody of the key.” - -“Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility,” I said, smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -“Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris would -attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court of Tal -Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the river Iss.” - -“It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas,” I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp I -saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris’ fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent of -something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. Could -it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an ancient -forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people’s ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris’ chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had felt -for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her so -palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior named -Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never made a kill -among his own chieftains, and so was still an _o mad_, or man with one -name; he could win a second name only with the metal of some chieftain. -It was this custom which entitled me to the names of either of the -chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors addressed me as -Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames of the two warrior -chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other words, whom I had -slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my direction, -while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some action. I paid -little attention to it at the time, but the next day I had good reason -to recall the circumstances, and at the same time gain a slight insight -into the depths of Sarkoja’s hatred and the lengths to which she was -capable of going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though I -spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as the -flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my extremity I -did what most other lovers would have done; I sought word from her -through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted in -another part of camp. - -“What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?” I blurted out at her. “Why will -she not speak to me?” - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the part -of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor child. - -“She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except -that she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak and -she has been humiliated by a creature who could not polish the teeth of -her grandmother’s sorak.” - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, “What might -a sorak be, Sola?” - -“A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian women -keep to play with,” explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother’s cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I could -not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely and in -this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded very much -like “not fit to polish her shoes.” And then commenced a train of -thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were -doing. I had not seen them for years. There was a family of Carters in -Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; I was supposed to be a -great uncle, or something of the kind equally foolish. I could pass -anywhere for twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to be a great -uncle always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There were two little kiddies in the -Carter family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no one on -Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, as I stood -there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I -had never longed for any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had -never known the true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of -the Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and -now my heart turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I -had been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I -was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to polish -the teeth of her grandmother’s cat; and then my saving sense of humor -came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and -slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only a -single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the tediousness -of the march. About noon we espied far to our right what was evidently -an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to investigate -it. The latter took a dozen warriors, including myself, and we raced -across the velvety carpeting of moss to the little enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison -with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival on -Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that the -cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. - -“They cannot be a day’s march ahead of us,” he exclaimed, the light of -battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open the -entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all the -eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back to join -the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if -these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people than -his Tharks. - -“I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw -hatching in your incubator,” I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all -green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of -incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching on -the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting piece -of information, for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the -green Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging from. As a -matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than an ordinary -goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the -light of the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting -several hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to the -incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the -animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the day’s -interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding -cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided the day’s work -between them, when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply -to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely -refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he -was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was -to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have -used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, -and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a -spear while he held only his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself -upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do -it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and -delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. The entire community -surrounded us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I was -much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes he -would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword upon his -arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor -wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and with -extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he was unable to do -by brute strength. I must admit that he was a magnificent swordsman, -and had it not been for my greater endurance and the remarkable agility -the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to -put up the creditable fight I did against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the -long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and -ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each -effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring more than I, -evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a final blaze of -glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light -struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the mighty blade -that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I was only partially -successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the -sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight -met my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary -blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris’ chariot stood three -figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above -the heads of the intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, and -Sarkoja, and as my fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was -presented which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a young -tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something which -flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had -blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had -found a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me then and -there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an instant entirely from -my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny mirror from her -hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out -her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, -our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was the -great knife descending upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work in -hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, ’til suddenly, feeling -the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could neither -parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched sword and -with all the weight of my body, determined that I would not die alone -if I could prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees -giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but a -moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and there I -found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who lay stone -dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my -full senses I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only -through the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near the -center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. As I had lunged I -had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the muscles, -inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning my -back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, toward -the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A murmur of -Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death blows -fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a back seat. -They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no great -distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, undoubtedly -would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of Dejah -Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in bandages, -but apparently little the worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose -dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of Sola’s metal breast -ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks and -furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my presence, -nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing a short -distance from the vehicle. - -“Is she injured?” I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. - -“No,” she answered, “she thinks that you are dead.” - -“And that her grandmother’s cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?” I queried, smiling. - -“I think you wrong her, John Carter,” said Sola. “I do not understand -either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held but the -highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, but they are -just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, though she -mourns you dead. - -“Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom,” she continued, “and so it is -difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people weep in -all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, the other -from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago before they -killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me -today.” - -“Your mother!” I exclaimed, “but, Sola, you could not have known your -mother, child.” - -“But I did. And my father also,” she added. “If you would like to hear -the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot tonight, John -Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have never spoken in all my -life before. And now the signal has been given to resume the march, you -must go.” - -“I will come tonight, Sola,” I promised. “Be sure to tell Dejah Thoris -I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, and be sure -that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she would speak with -me I but await her command.” - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in line, -and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station beside -Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out -across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and -brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two -hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast and one -hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the same -formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty -extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, and the -five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running loose within -the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. The gleaming -metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, -duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and -interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would have -turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and so -we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except when -the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, -or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but -little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like the faint -rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure -of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no sign -that we had passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of the -departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound -or sign we made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust and left no -spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in the cultivated -districts during the winter months, and even then the absence of high -winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been approaching -for two days and which marked the southern boundary of this particular -sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, nor had they had -water for nearly two months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; -but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can -live almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and which, -he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture to meet the -limited demands of the animals. - -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch -upon some of Tars Tarkas’ trappings. She looked up at my approach, her -face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. - -“I am glad you came,” she said; “Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am lonely. -Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. -It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst them, and I often -wish that I were a true green Martian woman, without love and without -hope; but I have known love and so I am lost. - -“I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am sure -that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green Martians it -has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do -our legends hold many similar tales. - -“My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally for -size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian women, -and caring little for their society, she often roamed the deserted -avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that -deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes which I -believe I alone among Tharkian women today may understand, for am I not -the child of my mother? - -“And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it was -to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they roamed not -beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such things as interest a -community of Tharks, but gradually, as they came to meet more often, -and, as was now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. She -trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she felt for the -cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless lives they must ever -lead, and then she waited for the storm of denunciation to break from -his cold, hard lips; but instead he took her in his arms and kissed -her. - -“They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, was -of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a simple -warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection from the -traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would have paid the -penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. - -“The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel upon -the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined towers of -ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for the five long -years it lay there in the process of incubation. She dared not come -oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her -every move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, and his own -ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal -from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to -claim her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect -the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth -become known. - -“It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in five -short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high in the -councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, in so far -as it could come in time to save his loved ones, for he was ordered -away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is the manner of -the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for what he can wrest in battle -from others. - -“He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over for -three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before the -time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth to fetch the -fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my -mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly and -lavishing upon me the love the community life would have robbed us both -of. She hoped, upon the return of the expedition from the incubator, to -mix me with the other young assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, and -thus escape the fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin -against the ancient traditions of the green men. - -“She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other young -Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced in -education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of -others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and then -drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of my father. - -“And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower chamber, -and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy -of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and -abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that she had -suspected something wrong from my mother’s long nightly absences from -her quarters accounted for her presence there on that fateful night. - -“One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name of -my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my mother -to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or -threats could wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would she ever -tell her child. - -“With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to report -her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me in the -silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely -noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away toward the -outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to the far south, out -toward the man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose face -she wished to look once more before she died. - -“As we neared the city’s southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through the -hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from either -north or south or east or west would enter the city. The sounds we -heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with -the occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of a body of -warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was that it was my father -returned from his expedition, but the cunning of the Thark held her -from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him. - -“Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming of the -cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its formation and -thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the head of the -procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging -roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous -light. My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, and -from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not that of my -father, but the returning caravan bearing the young Tharks. Instantly -her plan was formed, and as a great chariot swung close to our hiding -place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching -low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a -frenzy of love. - -“She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would she -hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon each -other’s face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me with the -other children, whose guardians during the journey were now free to -relinquish their responsibility. We were herded together into a great -room, fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. - -“I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the name -of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at last -amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful -torture she was undergoing. - -“I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to save -me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my body to -the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day -that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the -present, at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the -identity of my father. - -“When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother’s fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did not -laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. From that -moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day -when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal -Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but waits the -opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that his great love is -as strong in his breast as when it first transfigured him nearly forty -years ago, as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a world-old ocean -while sensible people sleep, John Carter.” - -“And your father, Sola, is he with us now?” I asked. - -“Yes,” she replied, “but he does not know me for what I am, nor does he -know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my father’s -name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it was she who -carried the tale that brought death and torture upon her he loved.” - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts of -her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless lives -of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. - -“John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of Barsoom -you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the knowledge may -someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to tell -you the name of my father, nor place any restrictions or conditions -upon your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if it seems best -to you. I trust you because I know that you are not cursed with the -terrible trait of absolute and unswerving truthfulness, that you could -lie like one of your own Virginia gentlemen if a lie would save others -from sorrow or suffering. My father’s name is Tars Tarkas.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were twenty -days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing through or -around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we -crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our -earthly astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior would be -sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if no great body of red -Martian troops was in sight we would advance as close as possible -without chance of being seen and then camp until dark, when we would -slowly approach the cultivated tract, and, locating one of the -numerous, broad highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, -creep silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings without a -single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, so that we were -just leaving the confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke -out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through -the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from -time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, rambling buildings, -presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. There were many trees, -methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; there -were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced their -presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they scented our -queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which cuts -each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. The fellow -must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came abreast of him, -he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance at the approaching -caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down the road, -scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. The Tharks paid -him not the slightest attention; they were not out upon the warpath, -and the only sign that I had that they had seen him was a quickening of -the pace of the caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert -which marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to me -that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept me -from making any advances. I verily believe that a man’s way with women -is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the -saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding -in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green men -have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty -thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each -community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under the -rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their -headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among -other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed -by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. -There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned -expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the names of -warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, in the formal -greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered that they brought -two captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris and I -were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day was -devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My home now -was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, the main -artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city. I was at -the far end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable a characteristic -of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were possible, on a larger -and richer scale. My quarters would have been suitable for housing the -greatest of earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing -about a building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the largest -in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next -largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a -lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The -warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose retinues -they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter among any of the -thousands of untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each -community being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection -of building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, except -in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it had -been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the intention -of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined upon having -speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her the necessity of -our at least patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the great red -sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly -head of Woola peering from a second-story window on the opposite side -of the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway -which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the -front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his -great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old -fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his -hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not -seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur from the -far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was -standing beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks upon an -ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose to her full height and -looking me straight in the eye said: - -“What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?” - -“Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest -from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and -comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me -in effecting your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my -request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your father’s -court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day -I am your master, and you must obey and aid me.” - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. - -“I understand your words, Dotar Sojat,” she replied, “but you I do not -understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and -noble. I only wish that I might read your heart.” - -“Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has -lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie -beating alone for you until death stills it forever.” - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a -strange, groping gesture. - -“What do you mean, John Carter?” she whispered. “What are you saying to -me?” - -“I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at -least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from -your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to -say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I -ask of you in return, and that is that you make no sign, either of -condemnation or of approbation of my words until you are safe among -your own people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they -be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve -you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it gives me -more pleasure to serve you than not.” - -“I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand the -motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more willingly -than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my law. I have twice -wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness.” - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the entrance -of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual calm and -possessed self. - -“That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus,” she cried, “and from -what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of you.” - -“What do they say?” inquired Dejah Thoris. - -“That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great arena -as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games.” - -“Sola,” I said, “you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the customs -of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us in one -supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a -home and protection among her people, and your fate can be no worse -among them than it must ever be here.” - -“Yes,” cried Dejah Thoris, “come with us, Sola, you will be better off -among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise you -not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature craves -and which must always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your fate would be -terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. I know that even -that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our escape, but we want -you with us, we want you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, -amongst a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and of -gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will.” - -“The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south,” murmured Sola, half to herself; “a swift thoat might make it in -three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the -way through thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, but the -chances are small indeed for escape. They would follow us to the very -gates of Helium, and they would take toll of life at every step; you do -not know them.” - -“Is there no other way we might reach Helium?” I asked. “Can you not -draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah Thoris?” - -“Yes,” she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she drew -upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever -seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long straight lines, -sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging toward some great -circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were -other cities closer, but she said she feared to enter many of them, as -they were not all friendly toward Helium. - - -[Illustration: She drew upon the marble floor the first map of -Barsoomian territory I had ever seen.] - - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now -flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which -also seemed to lead to Helium. - -“Does not this pierce your grandfather’s territory?” I asked. - -“Yes,” she answered, “but it is two hundred miles north of us; it is -one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark.” - -“They would never suspect that we would try for that distant waterway,” -I answered, “and that is why I think that it is the best route for our -escape.” - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this -same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my -thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of -us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for two days, since -the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would -overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving -them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped -quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, -where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the -Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter -grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the -sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which -these creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, owing to -the absence of man, but as they scented me they became more restless -and their hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this entering -a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their increasing -noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that something was amiss, and -also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause at all some great -bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as -this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the -shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant’s warning to leap into -the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the -great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I thanked -the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win the love -and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far -side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me -through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body and -nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward them -with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, and -then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked quietly -in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented avenue which led -toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With the -noiselessness of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of the plain -beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. I was sure that Sola -and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous -undetected, but with my great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as -it was quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact -there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and -Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of one of -the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other women of the same -household may have come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their -departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another half hour -had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave anxiety. Then there -broke upon the stillness of the night the sound of an approaching -party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping -stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the -black shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted -warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart -clean into the top of my head. - -“He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, and -so—” I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. Our plan -had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now on to the -fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what fate had -overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous thoats upon -my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by the knowledge of my -escape was a problem of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with a -hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way blindly -through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after me. They had -difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings -fronting the city’s principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without sticking -fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where I found, as I had -expected, the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would provide -their food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was -confident, nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter these -outlying buildings, which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, -which caused them the sensation of fear—the great white apes of -Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear doorway -of the building through which we had entered the court, and, turning -the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court to the rear of -the buildings upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured that no one -was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite side and through the -first doorway to the court beyond; thus, crossing through court after -court with only the slight chance of detection which the necessary -crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the -courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris’ quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in -the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect to -meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another and -safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be -found, and, after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before from the -court side, I took advantage of my relatively great strength and -agility and sprang upward until I grasped the sill of a second-story -window which I thought to be in the rear of her apartment. Drawing -myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward the front of the -building, and not until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was -I made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself that -it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It was well -indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I heard was in -the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally came to me proved -a most timely warning. The speaker was a chieftain and he was giving -orders to four of his warriors. - -“And when he returns to this chamber,” he was saying, “as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city’s edge, you four -are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the combined -strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring back from -Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him to the vaults -beneath the jeddak’s quarters and chain him securely where he may be -found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor -permit any other to enter this apartment before he comes. There will be -no danger of the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the -arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, for -Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a noble night’s -work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when he comes, I commend -your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVII -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away I returned -to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of action was formed -upon the instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue upon -the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I soon -discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing I had hoped, -for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled with warriors and -women. I then glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the -third was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance to -the building from that point. It was the work of but a moment for me to -reach the windows above, and soon I had drawn myself within the -sheltering shadows of the unlighted third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors and women, -and at one end was a great raised platform upon which squatted the most -hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, -cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, but accentuated and -debased by the animal passions to which he had given himself over for -many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial -countenance, while his enormous bulk spread itself out upon the -platform where he squatted like some huge devil fish, his six limbs -accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah Thoris -and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of him as he -let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her beautiful -figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor could -I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect before -him, her head high held, and even at the distance I was from them I -could read the scorn and disgust upon her face as she let her haughty -glance rest without sign of fear upon him. She was indeed the proud -daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious little -body; so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around her, but -in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the mightiest -figure among them and I verily believe that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and that -the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, the -warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the surrounding -chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of -the Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him standing -in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously toying with -the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in implacable -hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his -thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon -his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years ago, had -stood before this beast, and could I have spoken a word into his ear at -that moment the reign of Tal Hajus would have been over; but finally he -also strode from the room, not knowing that he left his own daughter at -the mercy of the creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his intentions, -hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors below. No one was -near to intercept me, and I reached the main floor of the chamber -unobserved, taking my station in the shadow of the same column that -Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus was -speaking. - -“Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it -shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were -all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of -your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all the ages -to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the night as their fathers -tell them of the awful vengeance of the green men; of the power and -might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you -shall be mine for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth -to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel -upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will -commence; tonight thou art Tal Hajus’; come!” - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, -but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My -short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have -plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I was upon -him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, -with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, weary years, -and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the point of his -jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and -motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and to -the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with the straps -and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris -to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly -around the court in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned -over the same course I had so recently followed from the distant -boundary of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left them, -and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the building to -the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris -behind me upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we turned -to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across which, for -two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main artery leading -to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I could -hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me with her dear -head resting against my shoulder. - -“If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty one; -greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it,” she -continued, “the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, for you -have saved the last of our line from worse than death.” - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the little -fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, and then, in -unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us -occupied with his own thoughts. For my part I could not be other than -joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris’ warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as gaily as -though we were already entering the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves -without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our -beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to -sight the ending of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or six -hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All the -following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted -no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all -Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us—we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor -did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and -stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire -party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far -ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines -of low mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope that -from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. Night fell upon -us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness and -weakness, we lay down and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close to -mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old Woola -snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us across that -trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my -arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I thought of -his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and Sola awakened, and -it was decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain the hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing -to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had not -attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding -day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him and fell upon -the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor beast was in a pitiable -condition, not even being able to rise, although relieved of our -weight. Sola told me that the coolness of the night, when it fell, -together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I decided not -to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to -leave him alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of his -trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow to -his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola and I -walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this way we -had progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring -to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the thoat, -cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing down from a -pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both looked in the -direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, were several -hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in a southwesterly -direction, which would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, -and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the -opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I -commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, presenting -as small an object as possible for fear of attracting the attention of -the warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, -before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most -providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length -of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover us. As what proved -to be the last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted and, to -our consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to his eye -and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently he was a -chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the green men a -chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung -toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the cold -sweat start from every pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and—stopped. The tension on our nerves -was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed for the -few moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he lowered it and -we could see him shout a command to the warriors who had passed from -our sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to join him, -however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly in our -direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising -my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the -button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the -missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward -from his flying mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to -take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach -the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the -ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, and even -though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than -that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers -upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an -escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would -surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command. - -“Good-bye, my princess,” I whispered, “we may meet in Helium yet. I -have escaped from worse plights than this,” and I tried to smile as I -lied. - -“What,” she cried, “are you not coming with us?” - -“How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together.” - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about my -neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: “Fly, Sola! Dejah -Thoris remains to die with the man she loves.” - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give up my -life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but I could -not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet embrace, and -pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and -tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter in -peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, slapping the -thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to -the last to free herself from Sola’s grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking for -their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but scarcely -had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat upon my -belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my -rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who had been -first to return from behind the ridge either dead or scurrying to -cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost upon -me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had -disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by Sola and -her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led them -away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention from -endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a projecting -piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. As I looked -up they were upon me, and although I drew my long-sword in an attempt -to sell my life as dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled -beneath their blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head -swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness and I -well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as I realized -that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of a -small room in which were several green warriors, and bending over me -was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -“He will live, O Jed.” - -“’Tis well,” replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching my -couch, “he should render rare sport for the great games.” - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for his -ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge fellow, -terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one broken tusk and -a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were human skulls and -depending from these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory into -gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him -that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount and -ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had -ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the -beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of the -column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly -had the applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered the -injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after they -had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before the leader, -who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and also -decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead hands -which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the Warhoons, as -well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even -that of the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object of -the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed -who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost studied -efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the ruler he -exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -“I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark whom it -is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the great games.” - -“He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all,” replied -the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -“If at all?” roared Dak Kova. “By the dead hands at my throat but he -shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall save him. -O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a -water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!” - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an instant, -his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, and then -without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he hurled himself -at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with nature’s -weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued was as -fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could picture. They -tore at each others’ eyes and ears with their hands and with their -gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly -to ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, quicker -and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was done saving -only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in breaking away -from a clinch. It was the one little opening that Dak Kova needed, and -hurling himself at the body of his adversary he buried his single -mighty tusk in Bar Comas’ groin and with a last powerful effort ripped -the young jeddak wide open the full length of his body, the great tusk -finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas’ jaw. Victor and vanquished -rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, a huge mass of torn and bloody -flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on the -part of Dak Kova’s females saved him from the fate he deserved. Three -days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar Comas which, -by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and placing his foot -upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of -Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak’s hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, -amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was -decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark -community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until -after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in -number, turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an index -to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They are a -smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a day passed -but that some members of the various Warhoon communities met in deadly -combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor and -walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter darkness -of the place I do not know whether I lay there days, or weeks, or -months. It was the most horrible experience of all my life and that my -mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness has been a -wonder to me ever since. The place was filled with creeping, crawling -things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me when I lay down, and in the -darkness I occasionally caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed -in horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me from the world -above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was brought to -me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures -who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering -reason upon this single emissary who represented to me the entire horde -of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he -could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon -the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the -cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my cell when next -I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great chain -which held me in my hand I waited his coming, crouching like some beast -of prey. As he stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the -chain above my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his -skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell upon -his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently -they came in contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a -number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my -reason with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my -very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim’s neck I -glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, -unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back -from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding -my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes -until they reached the dead body at my feet. Then slowly they retreated -but this time with a strange grating sound and finally they disappeared -in some black and distant recess of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to -remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I -reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it -was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming -eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured in their -neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for -months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my -dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared -and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my -reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained -near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I -could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him. As -their retreating footsteps died away in the distance, I called out -softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. - -“Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?” he answered - -“John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium.” - -“I am of Helium,” he said, “but I do not recall your name.” - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only -any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the -news of Helium’s princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola -could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. He -said that he knew the place well because the defile through which the -Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was the only one -ever used by them when marching to the south. - -“Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe,” he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of -Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had -fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris’ -capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat of -the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward -Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of -Helium’s hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been -attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which -Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped -during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our -coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors -of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately -seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been -dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in futile search -for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by -the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They -had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past -few days had they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had -had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring -their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect -and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city’s boundary and on foot -had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days and -nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in search of -his beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of Warhoons -as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was -not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the -great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of -the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled -with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult to -say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the -Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of -the ancient city to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping -into the audience, and at each end had been constructed cages to hold -them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the -others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and -women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of -Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, -growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave -forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the -arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be pitted -against each other until only two remained alive; the victor in the -last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The following -morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims, -and so on throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and -within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. -Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side -of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a -dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. -Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve -calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless -women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The yells -and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent quality -of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me -it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and growling over -the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good account of -themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went -throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I -was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in -agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child’s play -to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty -multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the -arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some -far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the -liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had -always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins, -especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope -that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed down all before -him during the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to -meet one another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian -swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan’s every hope of victory and -life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty -feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at -the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor -devil’s heart laid him dead upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle -until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of escape. -The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other -and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. Just -as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to Kantos Kan to thrust -his sword between my left arm and my body. As he did so I staggered -back clasping the sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to the ground -with his weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos Kan -perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his foot -upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the final -death blow through the neck which is supposed to sever the jugular -vein, but in this instance the cold blade slipped harmlessly into the -sand of the arena. In the darkness which had now fallen none could tell -but that he had really finished me. I whispered to him to go and claim -his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the city, and so -he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and as -the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the -hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come I -started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point where -he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted of -vegetable milk from the plants which gave so bounteously of this -priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights guided -only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some protruding -rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several times I was -attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped -upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my -hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly acquired -telepathic power warned me in ample time, but once I was down with -vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy face pressed close to mine -before I knew that I was even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was large -and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its throat -before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, and slowly -I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon -its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach me -with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and choke -the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms gave to -the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming -tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face -touched mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness full upon the -creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two rolled growling -upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in a frightful manner, -but it was soon over and my preserver stood with lowered head above the -throat of the dead thing which would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up -the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but from -whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. That I -was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at -seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for his absence -from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a shadow -of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and commenced -greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized that the poor -fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was in but little better -plight but I could not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had -no means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal I again -took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering in quest of the -elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to see -the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon I -dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building which covered -perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred feet in the air. It -showed no aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at -which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to the -inmates of the place, unless a small round hole in the wall near the -door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness of a lead pencil -and thinking that it might be in the nature of a speaking tube I put my -mouth to it and was about to call into it when a voice issued from it -asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of my errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. - -“You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, yet -you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither green nor -red. In the name of the ninth ray, what manner of creature are you?” - -“I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the name -of humanity open to us,” I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk into -the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the left, -exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further end of -which was another door, similar in every respect to the one I had just -passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed the first door -it slid gently into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original -position in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and as it -reached its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders of -steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their lower -ends into apertures countersunk in the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as -the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food -and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to -satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus engaged my -invisible host put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. - -“Your statements are most remarkable,” said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, “but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it is -equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by the -conformation of your brain and the strange location of your internal -organs and the shape and size of your heart.” - -“Can you see through me?” I exclaimed. - -“Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I -could read those.” - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, dried -up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a single article -of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold from which depended -upon his chest a great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid -with huge diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied by a -strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine different -and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly prism and two -beautiful rays which, to me, were new and nameless. I cannot describe -them any more than you could describe red to a blind man. I only know -that they were beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part of -our intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he could -not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. - - -[Illustration: The old man sat and talked with me for hours.] - - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, and -thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me later -and which I would never have known had he suspected my strange power, -for the Martians have such perfect control of their mental machinery -that they are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. The -secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, one of -the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating from the great -stone in my host’s diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of finely -adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge building, -three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which the ninth ray -is stored. This product is then treated electrically, or rather certain -proportions of refined electric vibrations are incorporated with it, -and the result is then pumped to the five principal air centers of the -planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether of space -transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great -building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand -years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some -accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium -pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars -with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he told me, he -had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day each at a -stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has -one assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian year, -about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each of these men spend -alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of -the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the -secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with -walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even -the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass covering -five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or -some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the very -existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the -uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that the -outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so -finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a certain -combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I -thought to surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the massive doors -for me from the inner chambers of the building. As quick as a flash -there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as -he answered that this was a secret he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that he -had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a -nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -“But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as -they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men—though we do not -trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it,” he added. - -“And so good-night, my friend,” he continued, “may you have a long and -restful sleep—yes, a long sleep.” - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that he -had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me in -the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed -words, “I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom.” - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were cut -off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me in my -little knowledge of thought transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? Easily -could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead I could no -more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of the great plant -I should die with all the other inhabitants of the planet—all, even -Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For the others I did not give -the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah Thoris drove from my -mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I -would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had -read in my host’s mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding -runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great -hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I -seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight -noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the -corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly -lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that he -held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening it upon -a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, -which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed -chamber and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and -crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood between -me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought -waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the -great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One -after the other the remaining mighty portals opened at my command and -Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the -first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as -possible. This I reached about morning and entering the first enclosure -I came to I searched for some evidences of a habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any -response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon -the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened my -eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and -covering me with their rifles. - -“I am unarmed and no enemy,” I hastened to explain. “I have been a -prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is -food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for -reaching my destination.” - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was -only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had -been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a -large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the entrance -hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for -their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm’s way -during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising -them from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three similar -houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being government -officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of -war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to -pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent -several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and -arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story—I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris -and the old man of the atmosphere plant—they advised me to color my -body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find -employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. - -“The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you -have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher -nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through military -service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom,” explained one of them, -“and save our richest favors for the fighting man.” - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull -thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The -animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and -shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed -my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, -in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in -front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a -full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in -the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of Ptor, which -was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium of -exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the coins -are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require it and -redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, the -government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out the -amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned by the -government. This suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a -difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great -isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow ribbons -from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and -wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me -they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long -upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out -of sight upon the broad white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive things -concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and -pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. Along -either side of these conduits, and extending their entire length, lie -the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts of about the -same size, each tract being under the supervision of one or more -government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense -quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried -underground through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots -of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there -are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying -birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth—large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals -of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a -single article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. -Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by -ages of careful, scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of -them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by -comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class -and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the -older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several years before -and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to -keep these two countries at war. - -“Helium,” he said, “rightly boasts the most beautiful women of Barsoom, -and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah -Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. - -“Why,” he added, “the people really worship the ground she walks upon -and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has been -draped in mourning. - -“That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I fear -will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to his -place.” - -“Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a -popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces took -advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their -search for the princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the -city to a sorry plight. It is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon.” - -“And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?” I asked as casually as possible. - -“She is dead,” he answered. “This much was learned from a green warrior -recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped from the -hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to fall -into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering upon -the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered -nearby.” - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it at all -conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I determined to -make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and -carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter’s possible -whereabouts as lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of -Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is -never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down Broadway -with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be somewhat similar -to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great -regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we -arrived at the city’s gates; but then, finally, it became imperative -that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure -been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me to turn away the -one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration of -affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered my life in -the service of her in search of whom I was about to challenge the -unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit -even Woola’s life to threaten the success of my venture, much less his -momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so -I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, -that if I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should -find the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a -touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, -walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets -were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon their metal -columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves -presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule were -not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or barred, since -thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is the -ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone their -homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be near -the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me letters. -My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of -all Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces -of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility -of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and -shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the -magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which -carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly -toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention -to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I placed my -hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -“Kaor, Kantos Kan!” - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand -the point of his long-sword was at my breast. - -“Who are you?” he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty -feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, -laughing, - -“I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further -moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen -that you can change your color at will?” - -“You gave me a bad half minute my friend,” he continued, after I had -briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena at -Warhoon. “Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly -be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, our princess. Sab -Than, prince of Zodanga, has her hidden in the city and has fallen -madly in love with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace between our -countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent -word that he and his people would rather look upon the dead face of -their princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, and that -personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of Than -Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than -Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and -his strength in Helium is greater today than ever. - -“I have been here three days,” continued Kantos Kan, “but I have not -yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan -navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of -Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this division of the navy, -and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you are -here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess and two of us -working together should be able to accomplish much.” - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon -the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the -cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of -these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely by -mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it entered -the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and delicious upon -the tables before the guests, in response to the touching of tiny -buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of the -air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that I be -enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an -examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear -on this score as he would attend to that part of the matter. He -accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -“This ruse will be discovered later,” he cheerfully explained, “when -they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is done -and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that -time.” - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances -which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man air -craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, -tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane -upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine which -propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained within the thin metal -walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of -propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter -from what source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar -eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the various planets, -and that it is the individual eighth ray of each planet which -“reflects,” or propels the light thus obtained out into space once -more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of Barsoom, -but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to propel light from Mars -into space, is constantly streaming out from the planet constituting a -force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is able to lift -enormous weights from the surface of the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon -in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control -the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred -years before, the first great battle ship to be built with eighth ray -reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, never to -return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried -her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid of powerful -telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; -a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and -as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the -palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantos -Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific -velocity toward the south, following one of the great waterways which -enter Zodanga from that direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour -when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing -madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach -the confines of one of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of -the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red -Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was -attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the -tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing some -damage when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on the -relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low -to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving -to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his -fate would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I -soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow -of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact -sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, hurled the -fellow’s headless body into the air over the head of his thoat, where -it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the -astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and -promised that my day’s work would bring the reward it merited, for it -was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had -saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely -return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening to -his damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the needed -repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green -monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they -had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became -unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air -craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he -could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had -now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to -my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his -throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With a -bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with -outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the -green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and -after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return -voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail -vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and -troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black with -naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long -streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and -picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close -beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, -he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual -officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He then -unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member of -the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the -maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of -Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull -thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore -such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be -struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of -the red Indians of my own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence of -my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. As -they waited for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the -two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and presently it -ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled into -position before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced toward -the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded him to advance. -The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which had won the -approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed a metal -ornament upon the left arm of the lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -“John Carter, air scout!” - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly -to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I -halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the -entire assemblage of troops and spectators. - -“In recognition, John Carter,” he said, “of your remarkable courage and -skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than Kosis -and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure -of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem.” - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, -said: - -“My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a -cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the -jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter.” - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. -After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of -the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the -palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII -I FIND DEJAH - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to -station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is -always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair -in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than -Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, Sab -Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not perceive my -entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. -The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the -ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a -few inches below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which -encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. -Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was -in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to -guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be -relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of -heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive -all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been -no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of -the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the soldiers -fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and not ten -feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand -they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in surprise, -and, rising, saluted her. - -“To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, -who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me -that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?” - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing -at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -“From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of -woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters -concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your -son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and -I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the -assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time comes she will -wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga.” - -“I am glad that you have so decided,” replied Than Kosis. “It is far -from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, -your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued -forthwith.” - -“It were better, Than Kosis,” interrupted Dejah Thoris, “that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed -to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to give herself -to her country’s enemy in the midst of hostilities.” - -“Cannot the war be ended at once?” spoke Sab Than. “It requires but the -word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the word that -will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife.” - -“We shall see,” replied Than Kosis, “how the people of Helium take to -peace. I shall at least offer it to them.” - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still -followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to -the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, and -from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, -had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people’s most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I must -search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel truth to me -alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and -hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by -which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this opening I -discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching and turning in every -direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I -heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite -side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made out -the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that I -could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of -which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only to -find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four guards who -had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, -asking the nature of my business. - -“I am from Than Kosis,” I replied, “and wish to speak privately with -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium.” - -“And your order?” asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The -Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the -opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah -Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, - -“No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass.” - -“The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at -my side,” I answered, tapping my long-sword; “will you let me pass in -peace or no?” - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join -him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further -progress. - -“You are not here by the order of Than Kosis,” cried the one who had -first addressed me, “and not only shall you not enter the apartments of -the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard -to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you cannot -hope to overcome four of us,” he added with a grim smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I -can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed -against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my -way to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the -clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the little -room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and -there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering -over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that she -did not recognize me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only -two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the -fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell -within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men and noble -fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill them, but I -would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I have reached the -side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who -still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. - -“Who are you, Zodangan?” she whispered. “Another enemy to harass me in -my misery?” - -“I am a friend,” I answered, “a once cherished friend.” - -“No friend of Helium’s princess wears that metal,” she replied, “and -yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not—it cannot be—no, for -he is dead.” - -“It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter,” I said. “Do -you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of -your chieftain?” - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, -but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder -and a little moan of misery. - -“Too late, too late,” she grieved. “O my chieftain that was, and whom I -thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before—but now it is -too late, too late.” - -“What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?” I cried. “That you would not have -promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I lived?” - -“Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in -the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to -save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army.” - -“But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it.” - -“It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that -is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless -formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than does -the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. -I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain.” - -“I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but -I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to -me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no -other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true.” - -“I meant them, John Carter,” she whispered. “I cannot repeat them now -for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our ways, -my friend,” she continued, half to herself, “the promise would have -been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before all -others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have given -my empire for my Tharkian chief.” - -Then aloud she said: “Do you remember the night when you offended me? -You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and -then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I -should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to -tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of -women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for that they -may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for also, but never -ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may address her as his -princess, or in any of the several terms which signify possession. You -had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you -called me your princess, you see,” she faltered, “I was hurt, but even -then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until -you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through -combat.” - -“I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris,” I cried. “You -must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. -What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be -presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my -wife, and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins -you shall be.” - -“No, John Carter, it is useless,” she cried, hopelessly, “I may never -be yours while Sab Than lives.” - -“You have sealed his death warrant, my princess—Sab Than dies.” - -“Nor that either,” she hastened to explain. “I may not wed the man who -slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled by -custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the sorrow -with me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the memory of -the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever see me -again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was.” - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to -me until the ceremony had actually been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the -mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah -Thoris’ apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and -as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion -would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly -through the palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The -walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I -secreted myself without being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest -in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to -relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I -knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the -guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, -crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the -antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through -the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and -searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a -number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind -them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing -through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through -a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for -an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which -overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about -thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall -fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in -thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared -impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed -already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before -darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while -the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by -accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling -of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious -bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I settled down -within it than I heard a number of people enter the apartment. The -group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear -their every word. - -“It is the work of Heliumites,” said one of the men. - -“Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe -that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might -reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men -could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, -however, for here comes the royal psychologist.” - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: - -“O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your -faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, -but by a single opponent.” - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by -the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than -Kosis. - -“What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?” he cried. - -“It is the truth, my Jeddak,” replied the psychologist. “In fact the -impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four -guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of -one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of -marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished -them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never -seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom. - -“The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned -was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one -iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, and -that when she looked there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen; -a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen.” - -“Where is my erstwhile savior?” spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. “By the metal of my first ancestor,” he went -on, “but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his -fighting ability.” - -“Where is this man?” cried Than Kosis. “Have him brought to me at once. -What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that I think -upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in Zodanga, of -whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his name too, John -Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!” - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he knew -as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity among -the Warhoons. - -“Keep your eyes on this other one,” commanded Than Kosis. “He also is a -stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one is -we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, and -let every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to the -closest scrutiny.” - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the -palace walls. - -“The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined,” concluded the fellow, “and -not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other -than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered.” - -“Then we will have him shortly,” commented Than Kosis contentedly, “and -in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of -Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more than -she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come.” - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in -sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to -the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue beyond the -palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII -LOST IN THE SKY - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the -building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the -place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered near the -front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means of reaching, -unseen, the upper story where our apartments were situated was through -an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I managed to -attain the roof of a shop several doors away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I -stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise at my -coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty must -have ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and -when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah -Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. - -“It cannot be,” he exclaimed. “It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to -the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of -Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance.” - -“What can be done, John Carter?” he continued. “You are a resourceful -man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace?” - -“If I can come within sword’s reach of Sab Than,” I answered, “I can -solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal -reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah -Thoris.” - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -“You love her!” he said. “Does she know it?” - -“She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised -to Sab Than.” - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder -raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -“And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon -your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at -the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah -Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters -in the palace.” - -“How?” I asked. “You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force patrols -the sky.” - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of -confidence. - -“I only need to pass these guards and I can do it,” he said at last. “I -know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above -the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we -investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering -from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most -unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of the -peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly put out at -being detected and commanded me to keep the matter to myself, -explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his -apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the -barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab Than’s quarters in five -minutes; but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say -it is?” - -“How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?” I asked. - -“There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof.” - -“Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there.” - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street -and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, -filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common -with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher -than these barracks, though several topped it by a few hundred feet; -the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen -hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and passenger stations -of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with -much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. The -fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat -much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges -and projections which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way -to the eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung, and -though I encircled the great building I could find no opening through -them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through -the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take—it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not risk a -thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of the -long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled a great -hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their -craft for various purposes of repair, and by means of which landing -parties are lowered to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its hold, -but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not know. It -might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the roof, so that -as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would slip off and -launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the strap. -Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard pavements, -and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the supporting eaves, -and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned me cold with -apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver I -found myself looking. - -“Who are you and whence came you?” he cried. - -“I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by the -merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below,” I replied. - -“But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up from -the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I call the -guard.” - -“Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all,” I answered, turning toward the edge -of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, hung all -my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and to -his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped him by -his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the roof. The -weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted -cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him over the -edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few moments before. I knew it -would be morning before he would be discovered, and I needed all the -time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon had -out both my machine and Kantos Kan’s. Making his fast behind mine I -started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I dove down -into the streets of the city far below the plane usually occupied by -the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon the -roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided that I -was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the palace and -dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow me. He set my -compass for me, a clever little device which will remain steadfastly -fixed upon any given point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each -other farewell we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace -which lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing its -piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out a -command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to his -hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while I rose -steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian sky followed -by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and -later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, now rising -and now falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the -time, but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided -to hazard everything on a straight-away course and leave the result to -fate and the speed of my machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only to the -navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our machines, so -that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I could dodge their -projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, and I -was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. The -concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening plunge she hurtled -downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, -but I must have been very close to the ground when I started to rise -again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising -again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally making out -their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, evidently in -search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture to -flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my -consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly destroyed -my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true I could follow -the stars in the general direction of Helium, but without knowing the -exact location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling my -chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my compass -intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in between four -and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning found me speeding -over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of -continuous flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed below -me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all Barsoomian metropolises -consists in two immense circular walled cities about seventy-five miles -apart and would have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back -in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other -large cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had -given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, -another distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid -scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the -cities, while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks -her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as -I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand -green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them -than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the almost -unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged in -life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for an -instant separate himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with -good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with -drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I -recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle -behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I -recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made -quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for another thrust he -fell over a dead body behind him and was down and at the mercy of his -foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars -Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I had -accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and -quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, - -“I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think I -have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend.” - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned -and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their -thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon -the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or gave -quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars -Tarkas’ quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended -the customary council which immediately follows an engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. It was -Woola—faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark and, -as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my former -quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly hopeless -watch for my return. - -“Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter,” said Tars Tarkas, on -his return from the jeddak’s quarters; “Sarkoja saw and recognized you -as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him -tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice from -among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest waterway that leads -to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a -friend as well. Come, we must start.” - -“And when you return, Tars Tarkas?” I asked. - -“The wild calots, possibly, or worse,” he replied. “Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling with -Tal Hajus.” - -“We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall not -sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the chance -you wait.” - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and -that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the most -horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola had -told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in passion -and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been heaped upon -the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible -existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any future -misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -“Sarkoja,” said Tars Tarkas, “forty years ago you were instrumental in -bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. I have -just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has learned of -your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not -our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him tying one end of a -strap about your neck and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test -your fitness to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard that -he would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn you, -for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, Sarkoja. -Come, John Carter.” - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak’s palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely wait -to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering at the -entrance as I came in. - -“Strap him to that pillar,” he shrieked. “We shall see who it is dares -strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own hands I shall -burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute my person with his -vile gaze.” - -“Chieftains of Thark,” I cried, turning to the assembled council and -ignoring Tal Hajus, “I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. You -owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You claim to -be a just people—” - -“Silence,” roared Tal Hajus. “Gag the creature and bind him as I -command.” - -“Justice, Tal Hajus,” exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. “Who are you to set -aside the customs of ages among the Tharks.” - -“Yes, justice!” echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus fumed -and frothed, I continued. - -“You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your mighty -jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the thick of -battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and little -children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen him fight -with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single -blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior and a noble -man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?” - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -“It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must prove -his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars Tarkas to -combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal Hajus, -your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I could kill him, and he -knows it.” - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted upon -Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of his -countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. - -“Tal Hajus,” said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, “never in my -long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. There could -be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it.” And still Tal Hajus -stood as though petrified. - -“Chieftains,” continued Lorquas Ptomel, “shall the jeddak, Tal Hajus, -prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?” - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus drew -his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the dead -monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank I -had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as -well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in my cause -against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my adventures, and in -a few words had explained to him the thought I had in mind. - -“John Carter has made a proposal,” he said, addressing the council, -“which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. Dejah -Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now held by -the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her country from -devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -“John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. The -loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought that had -we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain sufficient -assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the size and frequency -of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably supreme among the -green men of all Barsoom. What say you?” - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the -bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half hour -had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead sea -bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred thousand -strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services of three -smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the -heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we were -all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, -through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty -thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days after we -set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, -one hundred and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious green -monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. Never in -the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green -warriors marched to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep -even a semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to me that -he got them to the city without a mighty battle among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by -their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, -who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against -the green men, directing special attention toward despoiling their -incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the city -devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces in two -divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division opposite a -large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. These gates -have no regular guard, but are covered by sentries, who patrol the -avenue that encircles the city just within the walls as our -metropolitan police patrol their beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the task -of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an -impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, I -commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I ordered -to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head of the topmost -warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from -the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from a -short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the next, -and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of the highest I -clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad -expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal number -of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened together, and -passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the other end -cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the avenue below. -No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of my leather -strap, I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, and in -another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within the doomed -city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of the -enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the distance a -blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined to lead a -detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, while the -balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, -with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and open -one of the great gates while with the nine remaining I took the other. -We were to do our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no -general advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries we met were -dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, -and the guards at both gates followed them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed by -Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them to -the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. Once -inside, however, the gate gave me considerable trouble, but I finally -was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my -fierce escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of -the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber of -Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their women, -as though some important function was in progress. There was not a -guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact that the -city and palace walls were considered impregnable, and so I came close -and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with -diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers and -dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad aisle lined on -either side with soldiery, and as I looked there entered this aisle at -the far end of the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak’s Guard bearing a huge -salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a great golden -chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly behind these -officers came four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the reigning house of -Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a -feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot of the -throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had -entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two -officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, -and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab -Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and -placed one of the collars of gold about his son’s neck, springing the -padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned to -the other figure, from which the officers now removed the enshrouding -silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah Thoris, Princess -of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the -most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were -adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my head, and, with -the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window and sprang -into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the -steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with -surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would -have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me -from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger -he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as -easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my -hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart I held -him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed to the far end -of the hall. - -“Zodanga has fallen,” I cried. “Look!” - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty -warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of -fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling -themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to -my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis -now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were -engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the -steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah -Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab -Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the -new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris’ grasp, and again we -faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of officers, and, -with my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah -Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down Sab -Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My blade -was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry the -thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was down, -when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to avenge -the death of the old. - - -[Illustration: With my back against a golden throne, I fought once -again for Dejah Thoris.] - - -As they advanced there were cries of “The woman! The woman! Strike her -down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!” - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the -little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my -intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked my -chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah Thoris -against an army of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, and -I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save Dejah -Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of -pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway before -him until in another moment he stood upon the platform beside me, -dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted to -escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower of -Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody -shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and -leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors -and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had all -left to join the fighters in the throne room, so we searched the -labyrinthine prison without opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan’s name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by the -sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, -faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that the -air patrol had captured him before he reached the high tower of the -palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the bars -and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I returned to -search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open the padlocks of -his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon we -had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to us -from the city’s streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct the -fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, the green -warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for other Zodangans -and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her she -greeted me with a wan smile. - -“Was there ever such a man!” she exclaimed. “I know that Barsoom has -never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are as you? -Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have done in a -few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever -done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought -them to fight as allies of a red Martian people.” - -“The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris,” I replied smiling. “It was not I -who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would work -greater miracles than this you have seen.” - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -“You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free.” - -“And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late,” I returned. -“I have done many strange things in my life, many things that wiser men -would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have I dreamed of -winning a Dejah Thoris for myself—for never had I dreamed that in all -the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you are -a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to make me -doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine.” - -“He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his plea -before the plea were made,” she replied, rising and placing her dear -hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true daughter -of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to John Carter, -Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely destroyed -or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected from within. -Several battleships had escaped, but there were thousands of war and -merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we could, -man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners and make for -Helium without further loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with a -fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred -thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our -thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches -of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They were -looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In a hundred -places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense smoke were -rising above the city as though to blot out from the eye of heaven the -horrid sights beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers -of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships -rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to -meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our -mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that -we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon -them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out -hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle -I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the -contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were -useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill -in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective, -and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not -wholly determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside -after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in the -hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; with a -lurch she turned completely over, the little figures of her crew -plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; -then with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above -the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering -battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower -of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but they were -soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each -hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon -their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers -the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered -Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty -fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that surrender -should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the -commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the brave -fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from the -towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium’s navy to approach, and when she -was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah -Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship -that she might be taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry -arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of -the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper -works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of the -signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled her -colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came -forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of -Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than -her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were -men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew -them well. - -“Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter,” she said to them, -turning toward me, “the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as -her victory today.” - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the aid -of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, -and the relief of Helium. - -“You owe your thanks more to another man than to me,” I said, “and here -he is; meet one of Barsoom’s greatest soldiers and statesmen, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark.” - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward me -they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my surprise, -was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly speech. Though -not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their ways -lend themselves amazingly to dignified and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I -would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but partly -won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans to account -for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had been -accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to have -the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with our land -attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in -triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these beasts -upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and so we put -out for a point about ten miles from the city and began the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and this -work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. Twice we -were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with little loss, -however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command to -advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp from the -north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, as -had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. With wild, -ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of battle-enraged thoats -we bore down upon the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line -confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward noon, I -began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered from -pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, while -pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green warriors. -The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we receive any word -from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats -bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At the -same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the opposite -breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they were being -crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city’s gates, a -huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which were -the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within the city -during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round of applause -and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious -jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. Never -before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates of Helium, -and that they came now as friends and allies filled the red men with -rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as we -passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of the -ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and his -jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together with -myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos Mors an -expression of his gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the -palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one of -their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an -arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler of -men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of -Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. - -“That Tardos Mors,” he said, earnestly, “may meet the greatest living -warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may lay his hand -on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater boon.” - -“Jeddak of Helium,” returned Tars Tarkas, “it has remained for a man of -another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning of -friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can -understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the sentiments -so graciously expressed.” - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to -each spoke words of friendship and appreciation. - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -“Welcome, my son,” he said; “that you are granted, gladly, and without -one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all Helium, yes, on -all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem.” - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and father -of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors and seemed -even more affected by the meeting than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice -choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was to -later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a fighter -that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In common with all -Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he think of what she had -escaped without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted and -entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted by ten -thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on -the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a -small party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to cement -more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched to -Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris -and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed never -to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that did not bring -some new proof of their love for my princess, the incomparable Dejah -Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white egg. -For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak’s Guard had constantly -stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the city that Dejah -Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before our little shrine -planning for the future, when the delicate shell should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there -talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven our lives -together and of this wonder which was coming to augment our happiness -and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a sight. -Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the -jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which -must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the -council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and -forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned -toward us. - -“This morning,” he said, “word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. - -“The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in -hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand -cruisers have been searching for him until just now one of them returns -bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits beneath his house -horribly mutilated by some assassin. - -“I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take -months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already -commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the -pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of -years; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show a -rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom—the engine has -stopped.” - -“My gentlemen,” he concluded, “we have at best three days to live.” - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble -arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed -Tardos Mors. - -“The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to -show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a -thousand useful years still lay before us.” - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do -than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways -with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached -Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -“We have been very happy, John Carter,” she said, “and I thank whatever -fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together.” - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, -but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the -higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium were -filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part the -people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. Here and -there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into -the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had -collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. -We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the -grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the -weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at -request of Dejah Thoris and she sat gazing longingly upon the unknown -little life that now she would never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, -saying, - -“Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom -are over. Tomorrow’s sun will look down upon a dead world which through -all eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not even by -memories. It is the end.” - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand -upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head was -drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. With a -cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -“Kiss me, John Carter,” she murmured. “I love you! I love you! It is -cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life of -love and happiness.” - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang -to life in my veins. - -“It shall not be, my princess,” I cried. “There is, there must be some -way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world -for love of you, will find it.” - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind -a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of lightning in -the darkness their full purport dawned upon me—the key to the three -great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love to -my breast I cried. - -“A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. I -can save Barsoom yet.” - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing to -the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at the -rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout machine -that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would have -followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old agility and -strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I -was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only a few -feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time -with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I turned -for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen her stagger and -sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. That she had dropped -into the last coma which would end in death, if the air supply remained -unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing caution to the winds, I -flung overboard everything but the engine and compass, even to my -ornaments, and lying on my belly along the deck with one hand on the -steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever to its last notch -I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the ground -before the small door which was withholding the spark of life from the -inhabitants of an entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the -wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and now -most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air would awaken -them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -“If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the engines?” I -asked. - -“I can,” he replied, “if you open quickly. I can last but a few moments -more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else upon -Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days men crazed -with fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts to solve its -mystery.” - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the -nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had -crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel -before us we waited in the silence of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. - -“After it,” I cried to my companion, “and if you reach the pump room -turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to exist -tomorrow!” - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and as I -saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees through the -last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments were -upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me as I rose -to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had -been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed -through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets and -in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled paper. One -of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted up what appeared -to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I discovered a strange, -still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that -it was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman with long -black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small charcoal burner -upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a small quantity of -greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and stretching -entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. From the thong -which held them stretched another to the dead hand of the little old -woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a -noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into the -fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which -ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains in -the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the -cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarce believe -my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself upon me—I was looking upon -Arizona from the same ledge from which ten years before I had gazed -with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the -trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach the -people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my Dejah Thoris -alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death beside the tiny -golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner courtyard of the -palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. -For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the world of -my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside her there than live on -Earth all those millions of terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously wealthy; -but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, just -twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, -and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before -since that long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful -abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden -of a palace, and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around -her as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at their -feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me -that I shall soon know. - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: A Princess of Mars</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Frank E. Schoonover</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 26, 1993 [eBook #62]<br /> -[Most recently updated: May 14, 2022]</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS ***</div> - -<div class="fig" style="width:55%;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="[Illustration]" /> -</div> - -<h1>A Princess of Mars</h1> - -<h2 class="no-break">by Edgar Rice Burroughs</h2> - -<hr /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="center"> -To My Son Jack -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<table summary="" style=""> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap00">FOREWORD</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I On the Arizona Hills</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II The Escape of the Dead</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III My Advent on Mars</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV A Prisoner</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V I Elude My Watch Dog</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI A Fight That Won Friends</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII Child-Raising on Mars</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII A Fair Captive from the Sky</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX I Learn the Language</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X Champion and Chief</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI With Dejah Thoris</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap12">CHAPTER XII A Prisoner with Power</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap13">CHAPTER XIII Love-Making on Mars</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap14">CHAPTER XIV A Duel to the Death</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap15">CHAPTER XV Sola Tells Me Her Story</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap16">CHAPTER XVI We Plan Escape</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap17">CHAPTER XVII A Costly Recapture</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap18">CHAPTER XVIII Chained in Warhoon</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap19">CHAPTER XIX Battling in the Arena</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap20">CHAPTER XX In the Atmosphere Factory</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap21">CHAPTER XXI An Air Scout for Zodanga</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap22">CHAPTER XXII I Find Dejah</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap23">CHAPTER XXIII Lost in the Sky</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap24">CHAPTER XXIV Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap25">CHAPTER XXV The Looting of Zodanga</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap26">CHAPTER XXVI Through Carnage to Joy</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap27">CHAPTER XXVII From Joy to Death</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#chap28">CHAPTER XXVIII At the Arizona Cave</a></td> -</tr> - -</table> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - -<table summary="" style=""> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#img-142"> -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#img-178"> -She drew upon the marble floor the first map of the Barsoomian territory I had ever seen.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#img-224"> -The old man sat and talked with me for hours.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> -<td> <a href="#img-front"> -With my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris.</a></td> -</tr> - -</table> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap00"></a>FOREWORD</h2> - -<p class="center"> -To the Reader of this Work: -</p> - -<p> -In submitting Captain Carter’s strange manuscript to you in book form, I -believe that a few words relative to this remarkable personality will be of -interest. -</p> - -<p> -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he spent at my -father’s home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of the civil war. I -was then a child of but five years, yet I well remember the tall, dark, -smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called Uncle Jack. -</p> - -<p> -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports of the children -with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed toward those pastimes in -which the men and women of his own age indulged; or he would sit for an hour at -a time entertaining my old grandmother with stories of his strange, wild life -in all parts of the world. We all loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped -the ground he trod. -</p> - -<p> -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches over six -feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the carriage of the trained -fighting man. His features were regular and clear cut, his hair black and -closely cropped, while his eyes were of a steel gray, reflecting a strong and -loyal character, filled with fire and initiative. His manners were perfect, and -his courtliness was that of a typical southern gentleman of the highest type. -</p> - -<p> -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight even in -that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard my father caution him -against his wild recklessness, but he would only laugh, and say that the tumble -that killed him would be from the back of a horse yet unfoaled. -</p> - -<p> -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some fifteen or -sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, and I was much -surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a moment, nor had he changed -in any other outward way. He was, when others were with him, the same genial, -happy fellow we had known of old, but when he thought himself alone I have seen -him sit for hours gazing off into space, his face set in a look of wistful -longing and hopeless misery; and at night he would sit thus looking up into the -heavens, at what I did not know until I read his manuscript years afterward. -</p> - -<p> -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part of the time -since the war; and that he had been very successful was evidenced by the -unlimited amount of money with which he was supplied. As to the details of his -life during these years he was very reticent, in fact he would not talk of them -at all. -</p> - -<p> -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, where he -purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited him once a year on the -occasions of my trips to the New York market—my father and I owning and -operating a string of general stores throughout Virginia at that time. Captain -Carter had a small but beautiful cottage, situated on a bluff overlooking the -river, and during one of my last visits, in the winter of 1885, I observed he -was much occupied in writing, I presume now, upon this manuscript. -</p> - -<p> -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he wished me to -take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a compartment in the safe -which stood in his study, telling me I would find his will there and some -personal instructions which he had me pledge myself to carry out with absolute -fidelity. -</p> - -<p> -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window standing in -the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the Hudson with his arms -stretched out to the heavens as though in appeal. I thought at the time that he -was praying, although I never understood that he was in the strict sense of the -term a religious man. -</p> - -<p> -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the first of -March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking me to come to him -at once. I had always been his favorite among the younger generation of Carters -and so I hastened to comply with his demand. -</p> - -<p> -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on the morning -of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to drive me out to Captain -Carter’s he replied that if I was a friend of the Captain’s he had -some very bad news for me; the Captain had been found dead shortly after -daylight that very morning by the watchman attached to an adjoining property. -</p> - -<p> -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to his place -as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the body and of his -affairs. -</p> - -<p> -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local police -chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. The watchman -related the few details connected with the finding of the body, which he said -had been still warm when he came upon it. It lay, he said, stretched full -length in the snow with the arms outstretched above the head toward the edge of -the bluff, and when he showed me the spot it flashed upon me that it was the -identical one where I had seen him on those other nights, with his arms raised -in supplication to the skies. -</p> - -<p> -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a local -physician the coroner’s jury quickly reached a decision of death from -heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the safe and withdrew the -contents of the drawer in which he had told me I would find my instructions. -They were in part peculiar indeed, but I have followed them to each last detail -as faithfully as I was able. -</p> - -<p> -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, and that he -be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he previously had had constructed -and which, as I later learned, was well ventilated. The instructions impressed -upon me that I must personally see that this was carried out just as he -directed, even in secrecy if necessary. -</p> - -<p> -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the entire income for -twenty-five years, when the principal was to become mine. His further -instructions related to this manuscript which I was to retain sealed and -unread, just as I found it, for eleven years; nor was I to divulge its contents -until twenty-one years after his death. -</p> - -<p> -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is that the -massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated spring lock which can -be opened <i>only from the inside</i>. -</p> - -<p class="right"> -Yours very sincerely,<br/> -Edgar Rice Burroughs. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap01"></a>CHAPTER I<br/> -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS</h2> - -<p> -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly -more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men, nor do I -remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a -man of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet -I feel that I cannot go on living forever; that some day I shall die the real -death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear -death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror -of it as you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I -believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality. -</p> - -<p> -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the story of the -interesting periods of my life and of my death. I cannot explain the phenomena; -I can only set down here in the words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a -chronicle of the strange events that befell me during the ten years that my -dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave. -</p> - -<p> -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this manuscript until -after I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average human mind will -not believe what it cannot grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by -the public, the pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am -but telling the simple truths which some day science will substantiate. -Possibly the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I -can set down in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the -mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to -me. -</p> - -<p> -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of Virginia. -At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed of several hundred -thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain’s commission in the cavalry -arm of an army which no longer existed; the servant of a state which had -vanished with the hopes of the South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only -means of livelihood, fighting, gone, I determined to work my way to the -southwest and attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. -</p> - -<p> -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate officer, -Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely fortunate, for late in -the winter of 1865, after many hardships and privations, we located the most -remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. -Powell, who was a mining engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered -over a million dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. -</p> - -<p> -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us must return -to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and return with a sufficient -force of men properly to work the mine. -</p> - -<p> -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the mechanical -requirements of mining we determined that it would be best for him to make the -trip. It was agreed that I was to hold down our claim against the remote -possibility of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. -</p> - -<p> -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our burros, and -bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started down the mountainside -toward the valley, across which led the first stage of his journey. -</p> - -<p> -The morning of Powell’s departure was, like nearly all Arizona mornings, -clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack animals picking their -way down the mountainside toward the valley, and all during the morning I would -catch occasional glimpses of them as they topped a hog back or came out upon a -level plateau. My last sight of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he -entered the shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley. -</p> - -<p> -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley and was -much surprised to note three little dots in about the same place I had last -seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not given to needless worrying, -but the more I tried to convince myself that all was well with Powell, and that -the dots I had seen on his trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was -able to assure myself. -</p> - -<p> -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, and we -had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont to ridicule the -stories we had heard of the great numbers of these vicious marauders that were -supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in lives and torture of every -white party which fell into their merciless clutches. -</p> - -<p> -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian fighter; but -I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in the North, and I knew -that his chances were small against a party of cunning trailing Apaches. -Finally I could endure the suspense no longer, and, arming myself with my two -Colt revolvers and a carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and -catching my saddle horse, started down the trail taken by Powell in the -morning. -</p> - -<p> -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount into a canter -and continued this, where the going permitted, until, close upon dusk, I -discovered the point where other tracks joined those of Powell. They were the -tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies had been galloping. -</p> - -<p> -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to await the -rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate on the question of -the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured up impossible dangers, like -some nervous old housewife, and when I should catch up with Powell would get a -good laugh for my pains. However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the -following of a sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of -fetich with me throughout my life; which may account for the honors bestowed -upon me by three republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword has been -red many a time. -</p> - -<p> -About nine o’clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to proceed on -my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail at a fast walk, and in -some places at a brisk trot until, about midnight, I reached the water hole -where Powell had expected to camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding -it entirely deserted, with no signs of having been recently occupied as a camp. -</p> - -<p> -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, for such I -was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell with only a brief stop -at the hole for water; and always at the same rate of speed as his. -</p> - -<p> -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they wished to -capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the torture, so I urged my -horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping against hope that I would catch -up with the red rascals before they attacked him. -</p> - -<p> -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of two shots far -ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if ever, and I instantly -urged my horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and difficult mountain trail. -</p> - -<p> -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing further sounds, -when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open plateau near the summit of -the pass. I had passed through a narrow, overhanging gorge just before entering -suddenly upon this table land, and the sight which met my eyes filled me with -consternation and dismay. -</p> - -<p> -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and there were -probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around some object near the -center of the camp. Their attention was so wholly riveted to this point of -interest that they did not notice me, and I easily could have turned back into -the dark recesses of the gorge and made my escape with perfect safety. The -fact, however, that this thought did not occur to me until the following day -removes any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of this -episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. -</p> - -<p> -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, because, -in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts have placed me face -to face with death, I cannot recall a single one where any alternative step to -that I took occurred to me until many hours later. My mind is evidently so -constituted that I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty without -recourse to tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never -regretted that cowardice is not optional with me. -</p> - -<p> -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the center of -attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not know, but within an -instant from the moment the scene broke upon my view I had whipped out my -revolvers and was charging down upon the entire army of warriors, shooting -rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. Singlehanded, I could not have -pursued better tactics, for the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not -less than a regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled in every -direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles. -</p> - -<p> -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with apprehension and -with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona moon lay Powell, his body fairly -bristling with the hostile arrows of the braves. That he was already dead I -could not but be convinced, and yet I would have saved his body from mutilation -at the hands of the Apaches as quickly as I would have saved the man himself -from death. -</p> - -<p> -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping his cartridge -belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A backward glance convinced me -that to return by the way I had come would be more hazardous than to continue -across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my poor beast, I made a dash for the -opening to the pass which I could distinguish on the far side of the table -land. -</p> - -<p> -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was pursued with -imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that it is difficult to aim -anything but imprecations accurately by moonlight, that they were upset by the -sudden and unexpected manner of my advent, and that I was a rather rapidly -moving target saved me from the various deadly projectiles of the enemy and -permitted me to reach the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly -pursuit could be organized. -</p> - -<p> -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had probably less -knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the pass than he, and thus it -happened that he entered a defile which led to the summit of the range and not -to the pass which I had hoped would carry me to the valley and to safety. It is -probable, however, that to this fact I owe my life and the remarkable -experiences and adventures which befell me during the following ten years. -</p> - -<p> -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard the yells of -the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter far off to my left. -</p> - -<p> -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock formation at -the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my horse had borne me and the -body of Powell. -</p> - -<p> -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below and to my -left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing around the point of a -neighboring peak. -</p> - -<p> -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong trail and -that the search for me would be renewed in the right direction as soon as they -located my tracks. -</p> - -<p> -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an excellent -trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The trail was level and quite -broad and led upward and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff -arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and -nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine. -</p> - -<p> -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp turn to the -right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The opening was about four feet -in height and three to four feet wide, and at this opening the trail ended. -</p> - -<p> -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a startling -characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost without warning. -</p> - -<p> -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced water from my -canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and rubbed his hands, working -over him continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of the fact -that I knew him to be dead. -</p> - -<p> -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; a polished -southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was with a feeling of the -deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation. -</p> - -<p> -Leaving Powell’s body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the cave to -reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred feet in diameter and -thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and well-worn floor, and many other -evidences that the cave had, at some remote period, been inhabited. The back of -the cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not distinguish whether there -were openings into other apartments or not. -</p> - -<p> -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant drowsiness -creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my long and strenuous -ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the fight and the pursuit. I felt -comparatively safe in my present location as I knew that one man could defend -the trail to the cave against an army. -</p> - -<p> -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong desire to throw -myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments’ rest, but I knew that -this would never do, as it would mean certain death at the hands of my red -friends, who might be upon me at any moment. With an effort I started toward -the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly against a side wall, and from -there slip prone upon the floor. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap02"></a>CHAPTER II<br/> -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD</h2> - -<p> -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I was on -the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of approaching -horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to -discover that my muscles refused to respond to my will. I was now thoroughly -awake, but as unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, -for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was -extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led to -daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could -only assume that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should -retain my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. -</p> - -<p> -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short stretch of -trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff around which the -trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the -Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to my -living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I did -not particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they might do to -me if the spirit prompted them. -</p> - -<p> -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their nearness, -and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust cautiously around the -shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked into mine. That he could see me -in the dim light of the cave I was sure for the early morning sun was falling -full upon me through the opening. -</p> - -<p> -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes bulging -and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face appeared, and a third and -fourth and fifth, craning their necks over the shoulders of their fellows whom -they could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and -fear, but for what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years -later. That there were still other braves behind those who regarded me was -apparent from the fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those -behind them. -</p> - -<p> -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses of the cave -behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, they turned and fled in -terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were their efforts to escape from the unseen -thing behind me that one of the braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to -the rocks below. Their wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and -then all was still once more. -</p> - -<p> -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had been -sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible horror which -lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative term and so I can only -measure my feelings at that time by what I had experienced in previous -positions of danger and by those that I have passed through since; but I can -say without shame that if the sensations I endured during the next few minutes -were fear, then may God help the coward, for cowardice is of a surety its own -punishment. -</p> - -<p> -To be held paralyzed, with one’s back toward some horrible and unknown -danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache warriors turn in wild -stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly flee from a pack of wolves, seems to -me the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man who had ever been used to -fighting for his life with all the energy of a powerful physique. -</p> - -<p> -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of somebody moving -cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I was left to the -contemplation of my position without interruption. I could but vaguely -conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in that it might -pass off as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. -</p> - -<p> -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging rein -before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in search of food and -water, and I was left alone with my mysterious unknown companion and the dead -body of my friend, which lay just within my range of vision upon the ledge -where I had placed it in the early morning. -</p> - -<p> -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of the dead; -then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon my startled ears, and -there came again from the black shadows the sound of a moving thing, and a -faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to my already overstrained nervous -system was terrible in the extreme, and with a superhuman effort I strove to -break my awful bonds. It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; -not muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little finger, but none -the less mighty for all that. And then something gave, there was a momentary -feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and I -stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown foe. -</p> - -<p> -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my own body as -it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring toward the open ledge -and the hands resting limply upon the ground. I looked first at my lifeless -clay there upon the floor of the cave and then down at myself in utter -bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet here I stood but naked as at the -minute of my birth. -</p> - -<p> -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me for a -moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. My first thought -was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over forever into that other -life! But I could not well believe this, as I could feel my heart pounding -against my ribs from the exertion of my efforts to release myself from the -anaesthesis which had held me. My breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold -sweat stood out from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of -pinching revealed the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. -</p> - -<p> -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a repetition of -the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and unarmed as I was, I had -no desire to face the unseen thing which menaced me. -</p> - -<p> -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some unfathomable -reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine was in its boot, strapped -to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered off I was left without means of -defense. My only alternative seemed to lie in flight and my decision was -crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling sound from the thing which now -seemed, in the darkness of the cave and to my distorted imagination, to be -creeping stealthily upon me. -</p> - -<p> -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place I leaped -quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear Arizona night. The -crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted as an immediate tonic and I -felt new life and new courage coursing through me. Pausing upon the brink of -the ledge I upbraided myself for what now seemed to me wholly unwarranted -apprehension. I reasoned with myself that I had lain helpless for many hours -within the cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when -permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me that the -noises I had heard must have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; -probably the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had caused -the sounds I heard. -</p> - -<p> -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my lungs with the -pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I did so I saw stretching far -below me the beautiful vista of rocky gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, -wrought by the moonlight into a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous -enchantment. -</p> - -<p> -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona moonlit -landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange lights and -shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet -beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as though one -were catching for the first time a glimpse of some dead and forgotten world, so -different is it from the aspect of any other spot upon our earth. -</p> - -<p> -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the heavens -where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for the wonders of -the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close -to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering -fascination—it was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it -had always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that -far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, -to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. -</p> - -<p> -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, stretched out -my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself drawn with the suddenness -of thought through the trackless immensity of space. There was an instant of -extreme cold and utter darkness. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap03"></a>CHAPTER III<br/> -MY ADVENT ON MARS</h2> - -<p> -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was on Mars; -not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, -no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was -upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not -question the fact; neither did I. -</p> - -<p> -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation which -stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. I seemed to be -lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer verge of which I could -distinguish the irregularities of low hills. -</p> - -<p> -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it was rather -intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would have been true under -similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here and there were slight -outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the sunlight; and a -little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a low, walled enclosure -about four feet in height. No water, and no other vegetation than the moss was -in evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little -exploring. -</p> - -<p> -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for the effort, -which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, carried me into the -Martian air to the height of about three yards. I alighted softly upon the -ground, however, without appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced a series of -evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. I found that I must -learn to walk all over again, as the muscular exertion which carried me easily -and safely upon Earth played strange antics with me upon Mars. -</p> - -<p> -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts to walk -resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the ground a couple of -feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my face or back at the end of -each second or third hop. My muscles, perfectly attuned and accustomed to the -force of gravity on Earth, played the mischief with me in attempting for the -first time to cope with the lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. -</p> - -<p> -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was the only -evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique plan of reverting -to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a -few moments had reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure. -</p> - -<p> -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, but as the -wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my feet and peered over -the top upon the strangest sight it had ever been given me to see. -</p> - -<p> -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five inches in -thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large eggs, perfectly round -and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform in size being about two and -one-half feet in diameter. -</p> - -<p> -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat -blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. They -seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as -I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs -which could be used at will either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at the -extreme sides of their heads a trifle above the center and protruded in such a -manner that they could be directed either forward or back and also -independently of each other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any -direction, or in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the -head. -</p> - -<p> -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were small, -cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these young specimens. -Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center of their faces, midway -between their mouths and ears. -</p> - -<p> -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light yellowish-green -color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, this color deepens to an -olive green and is darker in the male than in the female. Further, the heads of -the adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies as in the case of the -young. -</p> - -<p> -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is dark. The -eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These latter add a most -ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and terrible countenance, as the -lower tusks curve upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes of -earthly human beings are located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that of -ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against the dark -background of their olive skins their tusks stand out in a most striking -manner, making these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. -</p> - -<p> -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to -speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs were in -the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous little monsters -break from their shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown -Martians from behind me. -</p> - -<p> -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers practically -the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the frozen areas at the poles -and the scattered cultivated districts, they might have captured me easily, but -their intentions were far more sinister. It was the rattling of the -accouterments of the foremost warrior which warned me. -</p> - -<p> -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I escaped so -easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party swung from its fastenings -beside his saddle in such a way as to strike against the butt of his great -metal-shod spear I should have snuffed out without ever knowing that death was -near me. But the little sound caused me to turn, and there upon me, not ten -feet from my breast, was the point of that huge spear, a spear forty feet long, -tipped with gleaming metal, and held low at the side of a mounted replica of -the little devils I had been watching. -</p> - -<p> -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and terrific -incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man himself, for such I may -call him, was fully fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed -some four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the -animal’s barrel with his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right -arms held his immense spear low at the side of his mount; his two left arms -were outstretched laterally to help preserve his balance, the thing he rode -having neither bridle or reins of any description for guidance. -</p> - -<p> -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet at the -shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip -than at the root, and which it held straight out behind while running; a gaping -mouth which split its head from its snout to its long, massive neck. -</p> - -<p> -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark slate color -and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, and its legs shaded from -the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet -themselves were heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed to -the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of -legs, is a characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of man -and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed -nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence there. -</p> - -<p> -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar in all -respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual characteristics peculiar -to themselves; precisely as no two of us are identical although we are all cast -in a similar mold. This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I have -described at length, made but one terrible and swift impression on me as I -turned to meet it. -</p> - -<p> -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested itself in the -only possible solution of my immediate problem, and that was to get out of the -vicinity of the point of the charging spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly -and at the same time superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, -for such I had determined it must be. -</p> - -<p> -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than it seemed -to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully thirty feet into the -air and landed me a hundred feet from my pursuers and on the opposite side of -the enclosure. -</p> - -<p> -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning saw my -enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying me with -expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme astonishment, and the -others were evidently satisfying themselves that I had not molested their -young. -</p> - -<p> -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and pointing -toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the little Martians, and that -I was unarmed, must have caused them to look upon me with less ferocity; but, -as I was to learn later, the thing which weighed most in my favor was my -exhibition of hurdling. -</p> - -<p> -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are muscled -only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. The result is -that they are infinitely less agile and less powerful, in proportion to their -weight, than an Earth man, and I doubt that were one of them suddenly to be -transported to Earth he could lift his own weight from the ground; in fact, I -am convinced that he could not do so. -</p> - -<p> -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon Earth, and -from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon me as a wonderful -discovery to be captured and exhibited among their fellows. -</p> - -<p> -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to formulate plans -for the immediate future and to note more closely the appearance of the -warriors, for I could not disassociate these people in my mind from those other -warriors who, only the day before, had been pursuing me. -</p> - -<p> -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition to the huge -spear which I have described. The weapon which caused me to decide against an -attempt at escape by flight was what was evidently a rifle of some description, -and which I felt, for some reason, they were peculiarly efficient in handling. -</p> - -<p> -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned later was -a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on Mars, and entirely -unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of the barrel is an alloy composed -principally of aluminum and steel which they have learned to temper to a -hardness far exceeding that of the steel with which we are familiar. The weight -of these rifles is comparatively little, and with the small caliber, explosive, -radium projectiles which they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are -deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The -theoretic effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but the best -they can do in actual service when equipped with their wireless finders and -sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. -</p> - -<p> -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an attempt to -escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty of these -death-dealing machines. -</p> - -<p> -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away in the -direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number alone by the -enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and -turning their mounts toward us sat watching the warrior by the enclosure. -</p> - -<p> -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was evidently the -leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to have moved to their -present position at his direction. When his force had come to a halt he -dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, and came around the end of the -incubator toward me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the -ornaments strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast. -</p> - -<p> -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous metal -armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, addressed me in -a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is needless to say, I could not -understand. He then stopped as though waiting for my reply, pricking up his -antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking eyes still further toward -me. -</p> - -<p> -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little conversation on my -own part, as I had guessed that he was making overtures of peace. The throwing -down of his weapons and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward -me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, -on Mars! -</p> - -<p> -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained to him -that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke for the peace -and friendship that at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course -I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried -to him, but he understood the action with which I immediately followed my -words. -</p> - -<p> -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his open -palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at him and stood -waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and locking one of his -intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back toward his mount. At the -same time he motioned his followers to advance. They started toward us on a -wild run, but were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were -I to be really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. -</p> - -<p> -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride behind -one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow designated reached -down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy back of his -mount, where I hung on as best I could by the belts and straps which held the -Martian’s weapons and ornaments. -</p> - -<p> -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of hills in -the distance. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap04"></a>CHAPTER IV<br/> -A PRISONER</h2> - -<p> -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very rapidly. We -were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of Mars’ long-dead -seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the Martians had taken place. -</p> - -<p> -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after traversing a -narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity of which was a low -table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. Toward this we galloped, -entering it by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, -but only to the edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of -broad steps. -</p> - -<p> -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings were -deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not having been -tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center of the city was a -large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it were -camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors, for -such I now considered them despite the suave manner in which I had been -trapped. -</p> - -<p> -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women varied in -appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks were much larger in -proportion to their height, in some instances curving nearly to their high-set -ears. Their bodies were smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers and -toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely lacking among the males. -The adult females ranged in height from ten to twelve feet. -</p> - -<p> -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and all looked -precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than others; older, I -presumed. -</p> - -<p> -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, until, at -about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily upon their last -strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads no living Martian knows -whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned, or would be allowed -to live did he return after once embarking upon its cold, dark waters. -</p> - -<p> -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, and possibly -about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other nine hundred and -seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in hunting, in aviation and in war; -but perhaps by far the greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood, -when vast numbers of the little Martians fall victims to the great white apes -of Mars. -</p> - -<p> -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity is about -three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand mark were it not for -the various means leading to violent death. Owing to the waning resources of -the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract the increasing longevity -which their remarkable skill in therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human -life has come to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their -dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between the various -communities. -</p> - -<p> -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of population, -but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the fact that no male or -female Martian is ever voluntarily without a weapon of destruction. -</p> - -<p> -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were immediately -surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious to pluck me from my -seat behind my guard. A word from the leader of the party stilled their clamor, -and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the entrance of as magnificent -an edifice as mortal eye has rested upon. -</p> - -<p> -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was constructed of -gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant stones which sparkled and -scintillated in the sunlight. The main entrance was some hundred feet in width -and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy above the entrance -hall. There was no stairway, but a gentle incline to the first floor of the -building opened into an enormous chamber encircled by galleries. -</p> - -<p> -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved wooden desks -and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male Martians around the steps -of a rostrum. On the platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily -loaded with metal ornaments, gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought -leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders -depended a short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. -</p> - -<p> -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the hall in which -they were congregated was the fact that the creatures were entirely out of -proportion to the desks, chairs, and other furnishings; these being of a size -adapted to human beings such as I, whereas the great bulks of the Martians -could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs, nor was there room beneath the -desks for their long legs. Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars -than the wild and grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the -evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten race in the -dim antiquity of Mars. -</p> - -<p> -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign from the -leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his arm in mine, we had -proceeded into the audience chamber. There were few formalities observed in -approaching the Martian chieftain. My captor merely strode up to the rostrum, -the others making way for him as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet -and uttered the name of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of -the ruler followed by his title. -</p> - -<p> -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing to me, but -later I came to know that this was the customary greeting between green -Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore unable to exchange names, -they would have silently exchanged ornaments, had their missions been -peaceful—otherwise they would have exchanged shots, or have fought out -their introduction with some other of their various weapons. -</p> - -<p> -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain of the -community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and warrior. He evidently -explained briefly the incidents connected with his expedition, including my -capture, and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at some length. -</p> - -<p> -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that neither of -us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on -concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the similar occurrence during my -first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me that we had at least something in -common; the ability to smile, therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. -But I was to learn that the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the -Martian laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. -</p> - -<p> -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance with our -conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies of a fellow being are, -to these strange creatures, provocative of the wildest hilarity, while their -chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death on their prisoners of war -in various ingenious and horrible ways. -</p> - -<p> -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling my muscles -and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then evidently signified a -desire to see me perform, and, motioning me to follow, he started with Tars -Tarkas for the open plaza. -</p> - -<p> -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, except while -tightly grasping Tars Tarkas’ arm, and so now I went skipping and -flitting about among the desks and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper. -After bruising myself severely, much to the amusement of the Martians, I again -had recourse to creeping, but this did not suit them and I was roughly jerked -to my feet by a towering fellow who had laughed most heartily at my -misfortunes. -</p> - -<p> -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine and I did the -only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances of brutality, -boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger’s rights; I swung -my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to -the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest desk, expecting to -be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his fellows, but determined to give them as -good a battle as the unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. -</p> - -<p> -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first struck dumb -with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of laughter and applause. I did -not recognize the applause as such, but later, when I had become acquainted -with their customs, I learned that I had won what they seldom accord, a -manifestation of approbation. -</p> - -<p> -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of his mates -approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out one of his arms, and -we thus proceeded to the plaza without further mishap. I did not, of course, -know the reason for which we had come to the open, but I was not long in being -enlightened. They first repeated the word “sak” a number of times, -and then Tars Tarkas made several jumps, repeating the same word before each -leap; then, turning to me, he said, “sak!” I saw what they were -after, and gathering myself together I “sakked” with such marvelous -success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I, this time, -lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then -returned by easy jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group of -warriors. -</p> - -<p> -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, and they -immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the chieftain then -ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and thirsty, and determined on the -spot that my only method of salvation was to demand the consideration from -these creatures which they evidently would not voluntarily accord. I therefore -ignored the repeated commands to “sak,” and each time they were -made I motioned to my mouth and rubbed my stomach. -</p> - -<p> -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, calling to a -young female among the throng, gave her some instructions and motioned me to -accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza -toward a large building on the far side. -</p> - -<p> -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived at maturity, -but not yet to her full height. She was of a light olive-green color, with a -smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I afterward learned, was Sola, and she -belonged to the retinue of Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber -in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of -silks and furs upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters of several of -the natives. -</p> - -<p> -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was beautifully -decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon all there seemed to rest -that indefinable touch of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the -architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing in common with -the crude half-brutes which now occupied them. -</p> - -<p> -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of the room, -and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though signaling to someone in -an adjoining room. In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new -Martian wonder. It waddled in on its ten short legs, and squatted down before -the girl like an obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland -pony, but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the -jaws were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap05"></a>CHAPTER V<br/> -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG</h2> - -<p> -Sola stared into the brute’s wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or two -of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but wonder what -this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left alone in such close -proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of meat; but my fears were -groundless, as the beast, after surveying me intently for a moment, crossed the -room to the only exit which led to the street, and lay down full length across -the threshold. -</p> - -<p> -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was destined not -to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully during the time I remained -a captive among these green men; twice saving my life, and never voluntarily -being away from me a moment. -</p> - -<p> -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the room in which -I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted scenes of rare and -wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, -winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens—scenes which might have portrayed -earthly views but for the different colorings of the vegetation. The work had -evidently been wrought by a master hand, so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect -the technique; yet nowhere was there a representation of a living animal, -either human or brute, by which I could guess at the likeness of these other -and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars. -</p> - -<p> -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the possible -explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met with on Mars, Sola -returned bearing both food and drink. These she placed on the floor beside me, -and seating herself a short ways off regarded me intently. The food consisted -of about a pound of some solid substance of the consistency of cheese and -almost tasteless, while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was -not unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short -time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from an -animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare indeed, but -from a large plant which grows practically without water, but seems to distill -its plentiful supply of milk from the products of the soil, the moisture of the -air, and the rays of the sun. A single plant of this species will give eight or -ten quarts of milk per day. -</p> - -<p> -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need of rest I -stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must have slept several -hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. I noticed that someone -had thrown a fur over me, but it had become partially dislodged and in the -darkness I could not see to replace it. Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled -the fur over me, shortly afterwards adding another to my covering. -</p> - -<p> -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. This girl -alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in contact, disclosed -characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her ministrations to my -bodily wants were unfailing, and her solicitous care saved me from much -suffering and many hardships. -</p> - -<p> -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as there is -practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature are sudden and most -uncomfortable, as are the transitions from brilliant daylight to darkness. The -nights are either brilliantly illumined or very dark, for if neither of the two -moons of Mars happen to be in the sky almost total darkness results, since the -lack of atmosphere, or, rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the -starlight to any great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in -the heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. -</p> - -<p> -Both of Mars’ moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; the -nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the further is -but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against the nearly -one-quarter million miles which separate us from our moon. The nearer moon of -Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet in a little over seven and -one-half hours, so that she may be seen hurtling through the sky like some huge -meteor two or three times each night, revealing all her phases during each -transit of the heavens. -</p> - -<p> -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and one-quarter -hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal Martian scene one of -splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well that nature has so graciously and -abundantly lighted the Martian night, for the green men of Mars, being a -nomadic race without high intellectual development, have but crude means for -artificial lighting; depending principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and -a peculiar oil lamp which generates a gas and burns without a wick. -</p> - -<p> -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white light, but -as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained by mining in one of -several widely separated and remote localities it is seldom used by these -creatures whose only thought is for today, and whose hatred for manual labor -has kept them in a semi-barbaric state for countless ages. -</p> - -<p> -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I awaken until -daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in number, were all females, -and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley array of silks and furs. -Across the threshold lay stretched the sleepless guardian brute, just as I had -last seen him on the preceding day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his -eyes were fairly glued upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might befall -me should I endeavor to escape. -</p> - -<p> -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and experiment -where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It therefore now occurred to -me that the surest way of learning the exact attitude of this beast toward me -would be to attempt to leave the room. I felt fairly secure in my belief that I -could escape him should he pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had -begun to take great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see -from the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. -</p> - -<p> -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my watcher -did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by moving with a -shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make reasonably rapid -progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously away from me, and when I -had reached the open he moved to one side to let me pass. He then fell in -behind me and followed about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the -deserted street. -</p> - -<p> -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we reached -the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering strange sounds and -baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to have some amusement at his -expense, I rushed toward him, and when almost upon him sprang into the air, -alighting far beyond him and away from the city. He wheeled instantly and -charged me with the most appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his -short legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the -latter would have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, -this is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, -and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the Martian -man. -</p> - -<p> -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the beast -on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in my tracks and -leaping over him as he was almost upon me. This maneuver gave me a considerable -advantage, and I was able to reach the city quite a bit ahead of him, and as he -came tearing after me I jumped for a window about thirty feet from the ground -in the face of one of the buildings overlooking the valley. -</p> - -<p> -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without looking into -the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal beneath me. My exultation -was short-lived, however, for scarcely had I gained a secure seat upon the sill -than a huge hand grasped me by the neck from behind and dragged me violently -into the room. Here I was thrown upon my back, and beheld standing over me a -colossal ape-like creature, white and hairless except for an enormous shock of -bristly hair upon its head. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap06"></a>CHAPTER VI<br/> -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS</h2> - -<p> -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did the Martians -I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one huge foot, while it -jabbered and gesticulated at some answering creature behind me. This other, -which was evidently its mate, soon came toward us, bearing a mighty stone -cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain me. -</p> - -<p> -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, and had, -like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or legs, midway between -their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were close together and non-protruding; -their ears were high set, but more laterally located than those of the -Martians, while their snouts and teeth were strikingly like those of our -African gorilla. Altogether they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison -with the green Martians. -</p> - -<p> -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned face when a -bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the doorway full upon the -breast of my executioner. With a shriek of fear the ape which held me leaped -through the open window, but its mate closed in a terrific death struggle with -my preserver, which was nothing less than my faithful watch-thing; I cannot -bring myself to call so hideous a creature a dog. -</p> - -<p> -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall I -witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. The strength, -agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures is approached by nothing -known to earthly man. My beast had an advantage in his first hold, having sunk -his mighty fangs far into the breast of his adversary; but the great arms and -paws of the ape, backed by muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I -had seen, had locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his -life, and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where I momentarily -expected the former to fall limp at the end of a broken neck. -</p> - -<p> -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of its breast, -which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful jaws. Back and forth upon -the floor they rolled, neither one emitting a sound of fear or pain. Presently -I saw the great eyes of my beast bulging completely from their sockets and -blood flowing from its nostrils. That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, -but so also was the ape, whose struggles were growing momentarily less. -</p> - -<p> -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which seems ever to -prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had fallen to the floor at the -commencement of the battle, and swinging it with all the power of my earthly -arms I crashed it full upon the head of the ape, crushing his skull as though -it had been an eggshell. -</p> - -<p> -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new danger. The -ape’s mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had returned to the -scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the building. I glimpsed him -just before he reached the doorway and the sight of him, now roaring as he -perceived his lifeless fellow stretched upon the floor, and frothing at the -mouth, in the extremity of his rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire -forebodings. -</p> - -<p> -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too overwhelmingly -against me, but in this instance I perceived neither glory nor profit in -pitting my relatively puny strength against the iron muscles and brutal -ferocity of this enraged denizen of an unknown world; in fact, the only outcome -of such an encounter, so far as I might be concerned, seemed sudden death. -</p> - -<p> -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I might gain -the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake me; at least there was -a chance for safety in flight, against almost certain death should I remain and -fight however desperately. -</p> - -<p> -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against his four -great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first blow, for I figured -that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, he could reach out and annihilate -me with the others before I could recover for a second attack. -</p> - -<p> -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had turned to make -for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form of my erstwhile guardian -threw all thoughts of flight to the four winds. He lay gasping upon the floor -of the chamber, his great eyes fastened upon me in what seemed a pitiful appeal -for protection. I could not withstand that look, nor could I, on second -thought, have deserted my rescuer without giving as good an account of myself -in his behalf as he had in mine. -</p> - -<p> -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the infuriated bull -ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to prove of any effective -assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily as I could at his advancing bulk. -It struck him just below the knees, eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so -throwing him off his balance that he lunged full upon me with arms wide -stretched to ease his fall. -</p> - -<p> -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and swinging -my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed it with a smashing -left to the pit of his stomach. The effect was marvelous, for, as I lightly -sidestepped, after delivering the second blow, he reeled and fell upon the -floor doubled up with pain and gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate -body, I seized the cudgel and finished the monster before he could regain his -feet. -</p> - -<p> -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, I beheld -Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in the doorway of the -chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the second time, the recipient of -their zealously guarded applause. -</p> - -<p> -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had quickly -informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a handful of warriors to -search for me. As they had approached the limits of the city they had witnessed -the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into the building, frothing with rage. -</p> - -<p> -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible that his -actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and had witnessed my short but -decisive battle with him. This encounter, together with my set-to with the -Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of jumping placed me upon a -high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently devoid of all the finer sentiments of -friendship, love, or affection, these people fairly worship physical prowess -and bravery, and nothing is too good for the object of their adoration as long -as he maintains his position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and -courage. -</p> - -<p> -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, was the only -one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in laughter as I battled -for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober with apparent solicitude and, as -soon as I had finished the monster, rushed to me and carefully examined my body -for possible wounds or injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off -unscathed she smiled quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of -the chamber. -</p> - -<p> -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing over the now -rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and whose life I, in turn, had -rescued. They seemed to be deep in argument, and finally one of them addressed -me, but remembering my ignorance of his language turned back to Tars Tarkas, -who, with a word and gesture, gave some command to the fellow and turned to -follow us from the room. -</p> - -<p> -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, and I -hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was well I did so, for -the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its holster and was on the point -of putting an end to the creature when I sprang forward and struck up his arm. -The bullet striking the wooden casing of the window exploded, blowing a hole -completely through the wood and masonry. -</p> - -<p> -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it to its feet -motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise which my actions elicited -from the Martians were ludicrous; they could not understand, except in a feeble -and childish way, such attributes as gratitude and compassion. The warrior -whose gun I had struck up looked enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter -signed that I be left to my own devices, and so we returned to the plaza with -my great beast following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the -arm. -</p> - -<p> -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over me with -motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came to know, held in -its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more gratitude than could have -been found in the entire five million green Martians who rove the deserted -cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap07"></a>CHAPTER VII<br/> -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS</h2> - -<p> -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the preceding day -and an index of practically every meal which followed while I was with the -green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the plaza, where I found the entire -community engaged in watching or helping at the harnessing of huge mastodonian -animals to great three-wheeled chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty -of these vehicles, each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their -appearance, might easily have drawn the entire wagon train when fully loaded. -</p> - -<p> -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously decorated. In -each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments of metal, with jewels -and silks and furs, and upon the back of each of the beasts which drew the -chariots was perched a young Martian driver. Like the animals upon which the -warriors were mounted, the heavier draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, -but were guided entirely by telepathic means. -</p> - -<p> -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts largely for -the simplicity of their language and the relatively few spoken words exchanged -even in long conversations. It is the universal language of Mars, through the -medium of which the higher and lower animals of this world of paradoxes are -able to communicate to a greater or less extent, depending upon the -intellectual sphere of the species and the development of the individual. -</p> - -<p> -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola dragged me into -an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession toward the point by which -I had entered the city the day before. At the head of the caravan rode some two -hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like number brought up the rear, while -twenty-five or thirty outriders flanked us on either side. -</p> - -<p> -Every one but myself—men, women, and children—were heavily armed, -and at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own beast following -closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature never left me voluntarily -during the entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our way led out across the little -valley before the city, through the hills, and down into the dead sea bottom -which I had traversed on my journey from the incubator to the plaza. The -incubator, as it proved, was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, -as the entire cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we reached the level -expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within sight of our goal. -</p> - -<p> -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the four -sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by the enormous -chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other lesser chiefs, -dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something -to the principal chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, as nearly as I can -translate it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. -</p> - -<p> -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling to Sola, -Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this time mastered the -intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and quickly responding to his -command I advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors stood. -</p> - -<p> -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs had -hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little devils. They -ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving restlessly about the -enclosure as though searching for food. -</p> - -<p> -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator and -said, “Sak.” I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of -yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess that my -prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, leaping entirely -over the parked chariots on the far side of the incubator. As I returned, -Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and turning to his warriors gave a few -words of command relative to the incubator. They paid no further attention to -me and I was thus permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which -consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. -</p> - -<p> -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both male -and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the chariots and quite -away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the little Martians scampered, -wild as deer; being permitted to run the full length of the aisle, where they -were captured one at a time by the women and older children; the last in the -line capturing the first little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her -opposite in the line capturing the second, and so on until all the little -fellows had left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. -As the women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their -respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young men were -later turned over to some of the women. -</p> - -<p> -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was over, and -seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous little creature held -tightly in her arms. -</p> - -<p> -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching them to -talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are loaded down from -the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs in which they have lain -for five years, the period of incubation, they step forth into the world -perfectly developed except in size. Entirely unknown to their mothers, who, in -turn, would have difficulty in pointing out the fathers with any degree of -accuracy, they are the common children of the community, and their education -devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as they leave the -incubator. -</p> - -<p> -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as was the -case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a year before she -became the mother of another woman’s offspring. But this counts for -little among the green Martians, as parental and filial love is as unknown to -them as it is common among us. I believe this horrible system which has been -carried on for ages is the direct cause of the loss of all the finer feelings -and higher humanitarian instincts among these poor creatures. From birth they -know no father or mother love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they -are taught that they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by -their physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove -deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they see a tear -shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from -earliest infancy. -</p> - -<p> -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or intentionally cruel -to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless struggle for existence upon a -dying planet, the natural resources of which have dwindled to a point where the -support of each additional life means an added tax upon the community into -which it is thrown. -</p> - -<p> -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each species, and -with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth rate to merely -offset the loss by death. -</p> - -<p> -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, and those -which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are hidden in the -recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature is too low for -incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty -chieftains, and all but about one hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out -of each yearly supply. At the end of five years about five hundred almost -perfect eggs have been chosen from the thousands brought forth. These are then -placed in the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun’s rays -after a period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed today -was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one per cent of -the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew -nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, as their -offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged incubation, and -thus upset the system which has maintained for ages and which permits the adult -Martians to figure the proper time for return to the incubators, almost to an -hour. -</p> - -<p> -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or no -likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of such a -catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another five years. I -was later to witness the results of the discovery of an alien incubator. -</p> - -<p> -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast formed a -part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed an enormous tract -of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty degrees south latitude, and -bounded on the east and west by two large fertile tracts. Their headquarters -lay in the southwest corner of this district, near the crossing of two of the -so-called Martian canals. -</p> - -<p> -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a -supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a tremendous -journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. -</p> - -<p> -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden forth -early in the morning and had not returned until just before darkness fell. As I -later learned, they had been to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs were -kept and had transported them to the incubator, which they had then walled up -for another five years, and which, in all probability, would not be visited -again during that period. -</p> - -<p> -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator were -located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited yearly by the -council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange to build their vaults -and incubators nearer home has always been a mystery to me, and, like many -other Martian mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable by earthly reasoning and -customs. -</p> - -<p> -Sola’s duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much attention, -and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian education, Sola took it -upon herself to train us together. -</p> - -<p> -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and physically -perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable amusement, at least -I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The Martian language, as I have -said, is extremely simple, and in a week I could make all my wants known and -understand nearly everything that was said to me. Likewise, under Sola’s -tutelage, I developed my telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense -practically everything that went on around me. -</p> - -<p> -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic messages -easily from others, and often when they were not intended for me, no one could -read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At first this vexed me, but -later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an undoubted advantage over the -Martians. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap08"></a>CHAPTER VIII<br/> -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY</h2> - -<p> -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, but -scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open ground before -the city than orders were given for an immediate and hasty return. As though -trained for years in this particular evolution, the green Martians melted like -mist into the spacious doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than -three minutes, the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors -was nowhere to be seen. -</p> - -<p> -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in fact, the same -one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, and, wishing to see what had -caused the sudden retreat, I mounted to an upper floor and peered from the -window out over the valley and the hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of -their sudden scurrying to cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, -swung slowly over the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and -another, and another, until twenty of them, swinging low above the ground, -sailed slowly and majestically toward us. -</p> - -<p> -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the upper works, -and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device that gleamed in the -sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance at which we were from the -vessels. I could see figures crowding the forward decks and upper works of the -air craft. Whether they had discovered us or simply were looking at the -deserted city I could not say, but in any event they received a rude reception, -for suddenly and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific -volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little valley across which -the great ships were so peacefully advancing. -</p> - -<p> -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung broadside -toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our fire, at the same time -moving parallel to our front for a short distance and then turning back with -the evident intention of completing a great circle which would bring her up to -position once more opposite our firing line; the other vessels followed in her -wake, each one opening upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never -diminished, and I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had -never been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as though -a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the explosion of each bullet, -while the banners and upper works dissolved in spurts of flame as the -irresistible projectiles of our warriors mowed through them. -</p> - -<p> -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward learned, -to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught the ship’s -crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the guns unprotected -from the deadly aim of our warriors. -</p> - -<p> -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for his fire -under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For example, a proportion -of them, always the best marksmen, direct their fire entirely upon the wireless -finding and sighting apparatus of the big guns of an attacking naval force; -another detail attends to the smaller guns in the same way; others pick off the -gunners; still others the officers; while certain other quotas concentrate -their attention upon the other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and -upon the steering gear and propellers. -</p> - -<p> -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing off in the -direction from which it had first appeared. Several of the craft were limping -perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the control of their depleted crews. -Their fire had ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused upon -escape. Our warriors then rushed up to the roofs of the buildings which we -occupied and followed the retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of -deadly fire. -</p> - -<p> -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of the outlying -hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. This had received the -brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely unmanned, as not a moving figure -was visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung from her course, circling back -toward us in an erratic and pitiful manner. Instantly the warriors ceased -firing, for it was quite apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, -far from being in a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even -control herself sufficiently to escape. -</p> - -<p> -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to meet her, but -it was evident that she still was too high for them to hope to reach her decks. -From my vantage point in the window I could see the bodies of her crew strewn -about, although I could not make out what manner of creatures they might be. -Not a sign of life was manifest upon her as she drifted slowly with the light -breeze in a southeasterly direction. -</p> - -<p> -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all but some -hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the roofs to cover the -possibility of a return of the fleet, or of reinforcements. It soon became -evident that she would strike the face of the buildings about a mile south of -our position, and as I watched the progress of the chase I saw a number of -warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter the building she seemed destined to -touch. -</p> - -<p> -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the Martian -warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their great spears eased -the shock of the collision, and in a few moments they had thrown out grappling -hooks and the big boat was being hauled to ground by their fellows below. -</p> - -<p> -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel from stem -to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, evidently for signs of -life, and presently a party of them appeared from below dragging a little -figure among them. The creature was considerably less than half as tall as the -green Martian warriors, and from my balcony I could see that it walked erect -upon two legs and surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity -with which I had not as yet become acquainted. -</p> - -<p> -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a systematic -rifling of the vessel. This operation required several hours, during which time -a number of the chariots were requisitioned to transport the loot, which -consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, jewels, strangely carved stone -vessels, and a quantity of solid foods and liquids, including many casks of -water, the first I had seen since my advent upon Mars. -</p> - -<p> -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to the craft -and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly direction. A few of -them then boarded her and were busily engaged in what appeared, from my distant -position, as the emptying of the contents of various carboys upon the dead -bodies of the sailors and over the decks and works of the vessel. -</p> - -<p> -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, sliding down -the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave the deck turned and -threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an instant to note the outcome of -his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose from the point where the missile struck -he swung over the side and was quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he -alighted than the guy ropes were simultaneously released, and the great -warship, lightened by the removal of the loot, soared majestically into the -air, her decks and upper works a mass of roaring flames. -</p> - -<p> -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the flames ate -away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. Ascending to the roof -of the building I watched her for hours, until finally she was lost in the dim -vistas of the distance. The sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one -contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned -through the lonely wastes of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and -destruction, typifying the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures -into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it. -</p> - -<p> -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to the street. -The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat and annihilation of the -forces of a kindred people, rather than the routing by our green warriors of a -horde of similar, though unfriendly, creatures. I could not fathom the seeming -hallucination, nor could I free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost -recesses of my soul I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, and -a mighty hope surged through me that the fleet would return and demand a -reckoning from the green warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly attacked -it. -</p> - -<p> -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the hound, and -as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as though I had been the -object of some search on her part. The cavalcade was returning to the plaza, -the homeward march having been given up for that day; nor, in fact, was it -recommenced for more than a week, owing to the fear of a return attack by the -air craft. -</p> - -<p> -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the open plains -with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we remained at the deserted -city until the danger seemed passed. -</p> - -<p> -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my whole being -with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, and depression, and yet -most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and happiness; for just as we neared -the throng of Martians I caught a glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft -who was being roughly dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green -Martian females. -</p> - -<p> -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish figure, similar -in every detail to the earthly women of my past life. She did not see me at -first, but just as she was disappearing through the portal of the building -which was to be her prison she turned, and her eyes met mine. Her face was oval -and beautiful in the extreme, her every feature was finely chiseled and -exquisite, her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of -coal black, waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. -Her skin was of a light reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of -her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a strangely -enhancing effect. -</p> - -<p> -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied her; -indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely naked, nor could -any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure. -</p> - -<p> -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and she made a -little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, of course, understand. -Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and then the look of hope and renewed -courage which had glorified her face as she discovered me, faded into one of -utter dejection, mingled with loathing and contempt. I realized I had not -answered her signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively -felt that she had made an appeal for succor and protection which my unfortunate -ignorance had prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap09"></a>CHAPTER IX<br/> -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE</h2> - -<p> -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this encounter -and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her usually -expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did not know, for as yet I -had learned but little of the Martian tongue; enough only to suffice for my -daily needs. -</p> - -<p> -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited me. A -warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full accouterments of his -kind. These he presented to me with a few unintelligible words, and a bearing -at once respectful and menacing. -</p> - -<p> -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled the -trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed the work I -went about garbed in all the panoply of war. -</p> - -<p> -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various weapons, and -with the Martian young I spent several hours each day practicing upon the -plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the weapons, but my great familiarity -with similar earthly weapons made me an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed -in a very satisfactory manner. -</p> - -<p> -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely by the -women, who not only attend to the education of the young in the arts of -individual defense and offense, but are also the artisans who produce every -manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They make the powder, the -cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything of value is produced by the -females. In time of actual warfare they form a part of the reserves, and when -the necessity arises fight with even greater intelligence and ferocity than the -men. -</p> - -<p> -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in strategy and -the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make the laws as they are -needed; a new law for each emergency. They are unfettered by precedent in the -administration of justice. Customs have been handed down by ages of repetition, -but the punishment for ignoring a custom is a matter for individual treatment -by a jury of the culprit’s peers, and I may say that justice seldom -misses fire, but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of -law. In one respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no -lawyers. -</p> - -<p> -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our first -encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as she was being -conducted to the great audience chamber where I had had my first meeting with -Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the unnecessary harshness and brutality -with which her guards treated her; so different from the almost maternal -kindliness which Sola manifested toward me, and the respectful attitude of the -few green Martians who took the trouble to notice me at all. -</p> - -<p> -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the prisoner -exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that they spoke, or at -least could make themselves understood by a common language. With this added -incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by my importunities to hasten on my -education and within a few more days I had mastered the Martian tongue -sufficiently well to enable me to carry on a passable conversation and to fully -understand practically all that I heard. -</p> - -<p> -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four females and a -couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and her youthful ward, -myself, and Woola the hound. After they had retired for the night it was -customary for the adults to carry on a desultory conversation for a short time -before lapsing into sleep, and now that I could understand their language I was -always a keen listener, although I never proffered any remarks myself. -</p> - -<p> -On the night following the prisoner’s visit to the audience chamber the -conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears on the instant. -I had feared to question Sola relative to the beautiful captive, as I could not -but recall the strange expression I had noted upon her face after my first -encounter with the prisoner. That it denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, -judging all things by mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to -affect indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola’s -attitude toward the object of my solicitude. -</p> - -<p> -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been present at -the audience as one of the captive’s guards, and it was toward her the -question turned. -</p> - -<p> -“When,” asked one of the women, “will we enjoy the death -throes of the red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for -ransom?” -</p> - -<p> -“They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her -last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus,” replied Sarkoja. -</p> - -<p> -“What will be the manner of her going out?” inquired Sola. -“She is very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold -her for ransom.” -</p> - -<p> -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of weakness on the -part of Sola. -</p> - -<p> -“It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago,” -snapped Sarkoja, “when all the hollows of the land were filled with -water, and the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. In our day -we have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and atavism. -It will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn that you hold such -degenerate sentiments, as I doubt that he would care to entrust such as you -with the grave responsibilities of maternity.” -</p> - -<p> -“I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red -woman,” retorted Sola. “She has never harmed us, nor would she -should we have fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her kind who war -upon us, and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the -reflection of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their fellows, -except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at peace with none; -forever warring among our own kind as well as upon the red men, and even in our -own communities the individuals fight amongst themselves. Oh, it is one -continual, awful period of bloodshed from the time we break the shell until we -gladly embrace the bosom of the river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss -which carries us to an unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible -existence! Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what -you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a -continuation of the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this -life.” -</p> - -<p> -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked the -other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all lapsed into -silence and were soon asleep. One thing the episode had accomplished was to -assure me of Sola’s friendliness toward the poor girl, and also to -convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in falling into her hands -rather than those of some of the other females. I knew that she was fond of me, -and now that I had discovered that she hated cruelty and barbarity I was -confident that I could depend upon her to aid me and the girl captive to -escape, provided of course that such a thing was within the range of -possibilities. -</p> - -<p> -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape to, but I -was more than willing to take my chances among people fashioned after my own -mold rather than to remain longer among the hideous and bloodthirsty green men -of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much of a puzzle to me as the age-old -search for the spring of eternal life has been to earthly men since the -beginning of time. -</p> - -<p> -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my confidence -and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution strong upon me I turned -among my silks and furs and slept the dreamless and refreshing sleep of Mars. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap10"></a>CHAPTER X<br/> -CHAMPION AND CHIEF</h2> - -<p> -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed me, as -Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leave the city I was -free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, however, against venturing -forth unarmed, as this city, like all other deserted metropolises of an ancient -Martian civilization, was peopled by the great white apes of my second -day’s adventure. -</p> - -<p> -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola had -explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it, and she -warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by ignoring his -warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden territory. His nature was -such, she said, that he would bring me back into the city dead or alive should -I persist in opposing him; “preferably dead,” she added. -</p> - -<p> -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly I found -myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills pierced by narrow -and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the country before me, and, like the -pioneer stock from which I sprang, to view what the landscape beyond the -encircling hills might disclose from the summits which shut out my view. -</p> - -<p> -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity to test -the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute loved me; I had seen -more evidences of affection in him than in any other Martian animal, man or -beast, and I was sure that gratitude for the acts that had twice saved his life -would more than outweigh his loyalty to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and -loveless masters. -</p> - -<p> -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and thrust his -body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather than ferocious, nor -did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful guttural warnings. Denied the -friendship and companionship of my kind, I had developed considerable affection -for Woola and Sola, for the normal earthly man must have some outlet for his -natural affections, and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this -great brute, sure that I would not be disappointed. -</p> - -<p> -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground and putting -my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talking in my newly -acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at home, as I would have -talked to any other friend among the lower animals. His response to my -manifestation of affection was remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great -mouth to its full width, baring the entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks -and wrinkling his snout until his great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of -flesh. If you have ever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of -Woola’s facial distortion. -</p> - -<p> -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumped up and -sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight; then wriggling -and squirming around me like a playful puppy presenting its back for the -petting it craves. I could not resist the ludicrousness of the spectacle, and -holding my sides I rocked back and forth in the first laughter which had passed -my lips in many days; the first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left -camp when his horse, long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him -off headforemost into a pot of frijoles. -</p> - -<p> -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled pitifully toward -me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then I remembered what laughter -signified on Mars—torture, suffering, death. Quieting myself, I rubbed -the poor old fellow’s head and back, talked to him for a few minutes, and -then in an authoritative tone commanded him to follow me, and arising started -for the hills. -</p> - -<p> -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my devoted -slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed master. My walk to -the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found nothing of particular -interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly colored and strangely formed wild -flowers dotted the ravines and from the summit of the first hill I saw still -other hills stretching off toward the north, and rising, one range above -another, until lost in mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I -afterward found that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in -height; the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. -</p> - -<p> -My morning’s walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas relied -for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically a prisoner I was -virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits before the defection -of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile masters. The adventure decided me -never again to leave the limits of my prescribed stamping grounds until I was -ready to venture forth for good and all, as it would certainly result in a -curtailment of my liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to -be discovered. -</p> - -<p> -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She was -standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience chamber, and as I -approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned her back full upon me. The -act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, that though it stung my pride it also -warmed my heart with a feeling of companionship; it was good to know that -someone else on Mars beside myself had human instincts of a civilized order, -even though the manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. -</p> - -<p> -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she would, in all -likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a movement of her trigger -finger; but as their sentiments are mostly atrophied it would have required a -serious injury to have aroused such passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an -exception; I never saw her perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform -kindliness and good nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of -her, an atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved and -loving ancestor. -</p> - -<p> -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to view the -proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas Ptomel and his -retinue of chieftains approached the building and, signing the guards to follow -with the prisoner entered the audience chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat -favored character, and also convinced that the warriors did not know of my -proficiency in their language, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret -on the grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until I -had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to enter the -audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. -</p> - -<p> -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them stood the -prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women was Sarkoja, and thus -understood how she had been present at the hearing of the preceding day, the -results of which she had reported to the occupants of our dormitory last night. -Her attitude toward the captive was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, -she sunk her rudimentary nails into the poor girl’s flesh, or twisted her -arm in a most painful manner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to -another she either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She -seemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the hatred, -cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed by unguessable -ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. -</p> - -<p> -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; if the -prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at night, she -would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the same token would she have -received any attention at all. -</p> - -<p> -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on me and -he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. Tars Tarkas -made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to -smile; after which they paid no further attention to me. -</p> - -<p> -“What is your name?” asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. -</p> - -<p> -“Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium.” -</p> - -<p> -“And the nature of your expedition?” he continued. -</p> - -<p> -“It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father’s -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take -atmospheric density tests,” replied the fair prisoner, in a low, -well-modulated voice. -</p> - -<p> -“We were unprepared for battle,” she continued, “as we were -on a peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. The -work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for you know full -well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of our scientific -operations there would not be enough air or water on Mars to support a single -human life. For ages we have maintained the air and water supply at practically -the same point without an appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face -of the brutal and ignorant interference of you green men. -</p> - -<p> -“Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows. Must -you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little above the -plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without written language, -without art, without homes, without love; the victims of eons of the horrible -community idea. Owning everything in common, even to your women and children, -has resulted in your owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you hate -all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come -back to the light of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you -will find the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may do -still more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the greatest -and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you come?” -</p> - -<p> -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at the young -woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. What was passing in -their minds no man may know, but that they were moved I truly believe, and if -one man high among them had been strong enough to rise above custom, that -moment would have marked a new and mighty era for Mars. -</p> - -<p> -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expression as I -had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior. It bespoke an -inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and as -he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of benignity, of kindliness, -momentarily lighted up his fierce and terrible countenance. -</p> - -<p> -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never spoken, as -just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of thought among the -older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, and striking the frail -captive a powerful blow across the face, which felled her to the floor, placed -his foot upon her prostrate form and turning toward the assembled council broke -into peals of horrid, mirthless laughter. -</p> - -<p> -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did the aspect -of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but the mood passed, -their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they smiled. It was -portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, for the brute’s act -constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the ethics which rule green -Martian humor. -</p> - -<p> -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as that blow -fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such length of time. I -think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for I realize now that I -was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow aimed at her beautiful, -upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand descended I was halfway across the -hall. -</p> - -<p> -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him. The -brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but I believe that I -could have accounted for the whole roomful in the terrific intensity of my -rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in the face as he turned at my -warning cry and then as he drew his short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again -upon his breast, hooking one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one -of his huge tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his -enormous chest. -</p> - -<p> -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too close to him, -nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do in direct opposition to -Martian custom which says that you may not fight a fellow warrior in private -combat with any other than the weapon with which you are attacked. In fact he -could do nothing but make a wild and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all -his immense bulk he was little if any stronger than I, and it was but the -matter of a moment or two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the battle with -wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised her in my arms and -bore her to one of the benches at the side of the room. -</p> - -<p> -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from my cape I -endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. I was soon -successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an ordinary nosebleed, -and when she could speak she placed her hand upon my arm and looking up into my -eyes, said: -</p> - -<p> -“Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in the -first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of your -companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner of man are -you, that you consort with the green men, though your form is that of my race, -while your color is little darker than that of the white ape? Tell me, are you -human, or are you more than human?” -</p> - -<p> -“It is a strange tale,” I replied, “too long to attempt to -tell you now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that I -fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present, that I -am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, your protector and your -servant.” -</p> - -<p> -“Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the regalia -of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your country?” -</p> - -<p> -“Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and I -claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; but why -I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that my regalia was -that of a chieftain.” -</p> - -<p> -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the warriors, -bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash one of her questions -was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I saw that the body of my dead -antagonist had been stripped, and I read in the menacing yet respectful -attitude of the warrior who had brought me these trophies of the kill the same -demeanor as that evinced by the other who had brought me my original equipment, -and now for the first time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first -battle in the audience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary. -</p> - -<p> -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent; I had -won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which always marks Martian -dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to call her the planet -of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a conqueror; the trappings and the -position of the man I killed. In truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I -learned later was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the -audience chamber. -</p> - -<p> -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior’s chattels I had noticed that -Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and the eyes of -the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner. Finally he addressed me: -</p> - -<p> -“You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and -dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?” -</p> - -<p> -“You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas,” I replied, “in -that you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have to -thank Sola for my learning.” -</p> - -<p> -“She has done well,” he answered, “but your education in -other respects needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented -temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two -chieftains whose metal you now wear?” -</p> - -<p> -“I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killed -me,” I answered, smiling. -</p> - -<p> -“No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would a -Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other -purposes,” and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to -dwell upon. -</p> - -<p> -“But one thing can save you now,” he continued. “Should you, -in recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be considered -by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken into the community and -become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the headquarters of Tal Hajus it -is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded the respect your acts have -earned you. You will be treated by us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not -forget that every chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to -our mighty and most ferocious ruler. I am done.” -</p> - -<p> -“I hear you, Tars Tarkas,” I answered. “As you know I am not -of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as I -have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience and guided -by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave me alone I will go in -peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians with whom I must deal either -respect my rights as a stranger among you, or take whatever consequences may -befall. Of one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your ultimate intentions -toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever would offer her injury or insult -in the future must figure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that -you belittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and I -can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics are not -incompatible with an ability to fight.” -</p> - -<p> -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I descended to -bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would strike an answering chord -in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was I wrong, for my harangue -evidently deeply impressed them, and their attitude toward me thereafter was -still further respectful. -</p> - -<p> -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only comment was more -or less enigmatical—“And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of -Thark.” -</p> - -<p> -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to her feet I -turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardian harpies as well -as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I not now a chieftain also! -Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities of one. They did not molest us, -and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of -Virginia, followed by the faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the -audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap11"></a>CHAPTER XI<br/> -WITH DEJAH THORIS</h2> - -<p> -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to watch -over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume custody of her once -more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two little hands fold -tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I informed them that Sola would -attend the captive hereafter, and I further warned Sarkoja that any more of her -cruel attentions bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja’s -sudden and painful demise. -</p> - -<p> -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to Dejah Thoris, -for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon Mars, nor women, men. So -Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and departed to hatch up deviltries against -us. -</p> - -<p> -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah Thoris -as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters where they -would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her that I myself -would take up my quarters among the men. -</p> - -<p> -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and slung -across my shoulder. -</p> - -<p> -“You are a great chieftain now, John Carter,” she said, “and -I must do your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any -circumstances. The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was a great -warrior, and had by his promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of -Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. You are -eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank you in -prowess.” -</p> - -<p> -“And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?” I asked. -</p> - -<p> -“You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor by the -will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, or should he -attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, and thus win first place.” -</p> - -<p> -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to kill Lorquas -Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, which we -found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more pretentious -architecture than our former habitation. We also found in this building real -sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought metal swinging from -enormous gold chains depending from the marble ceilings. The decoration of the -walls was most elaborate, and, unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had -examined, portrayed many human figures in the compositions. These were of -people like myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were -clad in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, and -their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. The men were -beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted for the most part, a -fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she gazed upon -these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long extinct; while Sola, -on the other hand, apparently did not see them. -</p> - -<p> -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking the plaza, for -Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining and in the rear for the -cooking and supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the bedding and such food -and utensils as she might need, telling her that I would guard Dejah Thoris -until her return. -</p> - -<p> -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. -</p> - -<p> -“And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your pardon for -the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these past few days?” -</p> - -<p> -“You are right,” I answered, “there is no escape for either -of us unless we go together.” -</p> - -<p> -“I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and I think -I understand your position among these people, but what I cannot fathom is your -statement that you are not of Barsoom.” -</p> - -<p> -“In the name of my first ancestor, then,” she continued, -“where may you be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. -You speak my language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but -learned it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages differ. Only in the -valley Dor, where the river Iss empties into the lost sea of Korus, is there -supposed to be a different language spoken, and, except in the legends of our -ancestors, there is no record of a Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from -the shores of Korus in the valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus -returned! They would kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if -that were true; tell me it is not!” -</p> - -<p> -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was pleading, and -her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were pressed against me as though -to wring a denial from my very heart. -</p> - -<p> -“I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia a -gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have never seen the -mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, so far as I am concerned. -Do you believe me?” -</p> - -<p> -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she should believe -me. It was not that I feared the results which would follow a general belief -that I had returned from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, or whatever it was. Why -was it, then! Why should I care what she thought? I looked down at her; her -beautiful face upturned, and her wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of -her soul; and as my eyes met hers I knew why, and—I shuddered. -</p> - -<p> -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me with a -sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, she whispered: -“I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a ‘gentleman’ -is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on Barsoom no man lies; if he -does not wish to speak the truth he is silent. Where is this Virginia, your -country, John Carter?” she asked, and it seemed that this fair name of my -fair land had never sounded more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect -lips on that far-gone day. -</p> - -<p> -“I am of another world,” I answered, “the great planet Earth, -which revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your Barsoom, -which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, for I do not know; -but here I am, and since my presence has permitted me to serve Dejah Thoris I -am glad that I am here.” -</p> - -<p> -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That it was -difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I hope that she would -do so however much I craved her confidence and respect. I would much rather not -have told her anything of my antecedents, but no man could look into the depth -of those eyes and refuse her slightest behest. -</p> - -<p> -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: “I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not of the -Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different—but why should I trouble -my poor head with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I believe because -I wish to believe!” -</p> - -<p> -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it satisfied her I -certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of fact it was about the only -kind of logic that could be brought to bear upon my problem. We fell into a -general conversation then, asking and answering many questions on each side. -She was curious to learn of the customs of my people and displayed a remarkable -knowledge of events on Earth. When I questioned her closely on this seeming -familiarity with earthly things she laughed, and cried out: -</p> - -<p> -“Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your planet fully as -well as of his own. Can we not see everything which takes place upon Earth, as -you call it; is it not hanging there in the heavens in plain sight?” -</p> - -<p> -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had confounded -her; and I told her so. She then explained in general the instruments her -people had used and been perfecting for ages, which permit them to throw upon a -screen a perfect image of what is transpiring upon any planet and upon many of -the stars. These pictures are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and -enlarged, objects no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly -recognized. I afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as well as the -instruments which produced them. -</p> - -<p> -“If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things,” I asked, -“why is it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants -of that planet?” -</p> - -<p> -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning child. -</p> - -<p> -“Because, John Carter,” she replied, “nearly every planet and -star having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, shows -forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, further, Earth men, -almost without exception, cover their bodies with strange, unsightly pieces of -cloth, and their heads with hideous contraptions the purpose of which we have -been unable to conceive; while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were -entirely undisfigured and unadorned. -</p> - -<p> -“The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings might cause a -doubt as to your earthliness.” -</p> - -<p> -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining that my -body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange garments of mundane -dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our meager belongings and her young -Martian protege, who, of course, would have to share the quarters with them. -</p> - -<p> -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed much -surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she had mounted -the approach to the upper floors where our quarters were located, she had met -Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have been eavesdropping, but as we -could recall nothing of importance that had passed between us we dismissed the -matter as of little consequence, merely promising ourselves to be warned to the -utmost caution in the future. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and decorations of -the beautiful chambers of the building we were occupying. She told me that -these people had presumably flourished over a hundred thousand years before. -They were the early progenitors of her race, but had mixed with the other great -race of early Martians, who were very dark, almost black, and also with the -reddish yellow race which had flourished at the same time. -</p> - -<p> -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced into a -mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had compelled them to seek -the comparatively few and always diminishing fertile areas, and to defend -themselves, under new conditions of life, against the wild hordes of green men. -</p> - -<p> -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the race of red -men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful daughter. During the ages -of hardships and incessant warring between their own various races, as well as -with the green men, and before they had fitted themselves to the changed -conditions, much of the high civilization and many of the arts of the -fair-haired Martians had become lost; but the red race of today has reached a -point where it feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more -practical civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with the ancient -Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. -</p> - -<p> -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary race, but -during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of readjustment to new -conditions, not only did their advancement and production cease entirely, but -practically all their archives, records, and literature were lost. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning this lost -race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city in which we were -camping was supposed to have been a center of commerce and culture known as -Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural harbor, landlocked by -magnificent hills. The little valley on the west front of the city, she -explained, was all that remained of the harbor, while the pass through the -hills to the old sea bottom had been the channel through which the shipping -passed up to the city’s gates. -</p> - -<p> -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, and lesser -ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging toward the center of -the oceans, as the people had found it necessary to follow the receding waters -until necessity had forced upon them their ultimate salvation, the so-called -Martian canals. -</p> - -<p> -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our conversation -that it was late in the afternoon before we realized it. We were brought back -to a realization of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons -from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah -Thoris and Sola farewell, and commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened -to the audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated -upon the rostrum. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap12"></a>CHAPTER XII<br/> -A PRISONER WITH POWER</h2> - -<p> -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, and, fixing -his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: -</p> - -<p> -“You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have by your -prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are not one of us; -you owe us no allegiance. -</p> - -<p> -“Your position is a peculiar one,” he continued; “you are a -prisoner and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can kill a -mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are reported to have -been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; a prisoner who, -from her own admission, half believes you are returned from the valley of Dor. -Either one of these accusations, if proved, would be sufficient grounds for -your execution, but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on our -return to Thark, if Tal Hajus so commands. -</p> - -<p> -“But,” he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, “if you -run off with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; it is -I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to -command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to a better man, for such is -the custom of the Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -“I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not wish to fight -between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John Carter, I should be glad. -Under two conditions only, however, may you be killed by us without orders from -Tal Hajus; in personal combat in self-defense, should you attack one of us, or -were you apprehended in an attempt to escape. -</p> - -<p> -“As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of these -two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. The safe -delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest importance. Not in a -thousand years have the Tharks made such a capture; she is the granddaughter of -the greatest of the red jeddaks, who is also our bitterest enemy. I have -spoken. The red girl told us that we were without the softer sentiments of -humanity, but we are a just and truthful race. You may go.” -</p> - -<p> -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja’s persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible for -this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, and now I -recalled those portions of our conversation which had touched upon escape and -upon my origin. -</p> - -<p> -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas’ oldest and most trusted female. As -such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no warrior had the -confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as did his ablest lieutenant, -Tars Tarkas. -</p> - -<p> -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my mind, my -audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my every faculty on this -subject. Now, more than before, the absolute necessity for escape, in so far as -Dejah Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, for I was convinced that -some horrible fate awaited her at the headquarters of Tal Hajus. -</p> - -<p> -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification of all -the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he had descended. Cold, -cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked contrast to most of his fellows, -a slave to that brute passion which the waning demands for procreation upon -their dying planet has almost stilled in the Martian breast. -</p> - -<p> -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches of such -an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far better that we save -friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, as did those brave frontier -women of my lost land, who took their own lives rather than fall into the hands -of the Indian braves. -</p> - -<p> -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tarkas -approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His demeanor toward me was -unchanged, and he greeted me as though we had not just parted a few moments -before. -</p> - -<p> -“Where are your quarters, John Carter?” he asked. -</p> - -<p> -“I have selected none,” I replied. “It seemed best that I -quartered either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know,” and I smiled, “I am -not yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks.” -</p> - -<p> -“Come with me,” he directed, and together we moved off across the -plaza to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied by Sola and -her charges. -</p> - -<p> -“My quarters are on the first floor of this building,” he said, -“and the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of these. -</p> - -<p> -“I understand,” he continued, “that you have given up your -woman to the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, -but you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and so, if you wish to -give your woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a chieftain you -should have those to serve you, and in accordance with our customs you may -select any or all the females from the retinues of the chieftains whose metal -you now wear.” -</p> - -<p> -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely without -assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he promised to send -women to me for this purpose and also for the care of my arms and the -manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be necessary. I suggested -that they might also bring some of the sleeping silks and furs which belonged -to me as spoils of combat, for the nights were cold and I had none of my own. -</p> - -<p> -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the winding corridor -to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. The beauties of the other -buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, I was soon lost in a tour of -investigation and discovery. -</p> - -<p> -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought me nearer -to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor of the adjoining -building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig up some means of -communication whereby she might signal me in case she needed either my services -or my protection. -</p> - -<p> -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and other sleeping -and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this floor. The windows of the -back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which formed the center of the square -made by the buildings which faced the four contiguous streets, and which was -now given over to the quartering of the various animals belonging to the -warriors occupying the adjoining buildings. -</p> - -<p> -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like vegetation -which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, yet numerous fountains, -statuary, benches, and pergola-like contraptions bore witness to the beauty -which the court must have presented in bygone times, when graced by the -fair-haired, laughing people whom stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven -not only from their homes, but from all except the vague legends of their -descendants. -</p> - -<p> -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the graceful -figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome men; the happy -frolicking children—all sunlight, happiness and peace. It was difficult -to realize that they had gone; down through ages of darkness, cruelty, and -ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of culture and humanitarianism had -risen ascendant once more in the final composite race which now is dominant -upon Mars. -</p> - -<p> -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females bearing loads -of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and casks of food and drink, -including considerable loot from the air craft. All this, it seemed, had been -the property of the two chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the -Tharks, it had become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the -back rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second load, which they -advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip they were -accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it seemed, formed -the retinues of the two chieftains. -</p> - -<p> -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the -relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it is most -difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians is owned in common -by the community, except the personal weapons, ornaments and sleeping silks and -furs of the individuals. These alone can one claim undisputed right to, nor may -he accumulate more of these than are required for his actual needs. The surplus -he holds merely as custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the -community as necessity demands. -</p> - -<p> -The women and children of a man’s retinue may be likened to a military -unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of instruction, -discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their continual roamings and -their unending strife with other communities and with the red Martians. His -women are in no sense wives. The green Martians use no word corresponding in -meaning with this earthly word. Their mating is a matter of community interest -solely, and is directed without reference to natural selection. The council of -chieftains of each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a -Kentucky racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole. -</p> - -<p> -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but the -results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the community interest -in the offspring being held paramount to that of the mother, is shown in the -cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, loveless, mirthless existence. -</p> - -<p> -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men and women, -with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but better far a finer -balance of human characteristics even at the expense of a slight and occasional -loss of chastity. -</p> - -<p> -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether I would -or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find quarters on the upper -floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of the girls I charged with the -duties of my simple cuisine, and directed the others to take up the various -activities which had formerly constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw -little of them, nor did I care to. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap13"></a>CHAPTER XIII<br/> -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS</h2> - -<p> -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within the city -for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they could feel -reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to be caught on the -open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children was far from the desire -of even so warlike a people as the green Martians. -</p> - -<p> -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in many of the -customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, including lessons in riding and -guiding the great beasts which bore the warriors. These creatures, which are -known as thoats, are as dangerous and vicious as their masters, but when once -subdued are sufficiently tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. -</p> - -<p> -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I wore, and -in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the native warriors. The -method was not at all complicated. If the thoats did not respond with -sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they were -dealt a terrific blow between the ears with the butt of a pistol, and if they -showed fight this treatment was continued until the brutes either were subdued, -or had unseated their riders. -</p> - -<p> -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man and the -beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he might live to ride -again, though upon some other beast; if not, his torn and mangled body was -gathered up by his women and burned in accordance with Tharkian custom. -</p> - -<p> -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of kindness in -my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that they could not unseat me, -and even rapped them sharply between the ears to impress upon them my authority -and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won their confidence in much the same manner -as I had adopted countless times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good -hand with animals, and by inclination, as well as because it brought more -lasting and satisfactory results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings -with the lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with far less -compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible brute. -</p> - -<p> -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire community. -They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great snouts against my body in -awkward evidence of affection, and respond to my every command with an alacrity -and docility which caused the Martian warriors to ascribe to me the possession -of some earthly power unknown on Mars. -</p> - -<p> -“How have you bewitched them?” asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, -when he had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my thoats -which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth while feeding upon -the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. -</p> - -<p> -“By kindness,” I replied. “You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer -sentiments have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of battle as well -as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my every command, and -therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior for the -reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find it to the -advantage of themselves as well as of the community to adopt my methods in this -respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told me that these great brutes, -by the uncertainty of their tempers, often were the means of turning victory -into defeat, since, at a crucial moment, they might elect to unseat and rend -their riders.” -</p> - -<p> -“Show me how you accomplish these results,” was Tars Tarkas’ -only rejoinder. -</p> - -<p> -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of training I had -adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it before Lorquas Ptomel and -the assembled warriors. That moment marked the beginning of a new existence for -the poor thoats, and before I left the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the -satisfaction of observing a regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one -might care to see. The effect on the precision and celerity of the military -movements was so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented me with a massive -anklet of gold from his own leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to -the horde. -</p> - -<p> -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again took up the -march toward Thark, all probability of another attack being deemed remote by -Lorquas Ptomel. -</p> - -<p> -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little of Dejah -Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my lessons in the art -of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of my thoats. The few times I -had visited her quarters she had been absent, walking upon the streets with -Sola, or investigating the buildings in the near vicinity of the plaza. I had -warned them against venturing far from the plaza for fear of the great white -apes, whose ferocity I was only too well acquainted with. However, since Woola -accompanied them on all their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. -</p> - -<p> -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along one of the -great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. I advanced to meet them, -and telling Sola that I would take the responsibility for Dejah Thoris’ -safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on some trivial errand. I -liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I desired to be alone with Dejah -Thoris, who represented to me all that I had left behind upon Earth in -agreeable and congenial companionship. There seemed bonds of mutual interest -between us as powerful as though we had been born under the same roof rather -than upon different planets, hurtling through space some forty-eight million -miles apart. -</p> - -<p> -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for on my -approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet countenance to be -replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she placed her little right hand upon -my left shoulder in true red Martian salute. -</p> - -<p> -“Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark,” she said, -“and that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other -warriors.” -</p> - -<p> -“Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude,” I replied, -“notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity.” -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris laughed. -</p> - -<p> -“I knew that even though you became a member of the community you would -not cease to be my friend; ‘A warrior may change his metal, but not his -heart,’ as the saying is upon Barsoom.” -</p> - -<p> -“I think they have been trying to keep us apart,” she continued, -“for whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars -Tarkas’ retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get Sola -and me out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their terrible -projectiles. You know that these have to be manufactured by artificial light, -as exposure to sunlight always results in an explosion. You have noticed that -their bullets explode when they strike an object? Well, the opaque, outer -coating is broken by the impact, exposing a glass cylinder, almost solid, in -the forward end of which is a minute particle of radium powder. The moment the -sunlight, even though diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence -which nothing can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you will note -the absence of these explosions, while the morning following the battle will be -filled at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding missiles fired the -preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding projectiles are used at -night.”<a href="#fn1" name="fnref1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> -</p> - -<p class="footnote"> -<a name="fn1"></a> <a href="#fnref1">[1]</a> -I have used the word radium in describing this powder because in the light of -recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a mixture of which radium is the -base. In Captain Carter’s manuscript it is mentioned always by the name -used in the written language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it -would be difficult and useless to reproduce. -</p> - -<p> -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris’ explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the immediate -problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping her away from me was -not a matter for surprise, but that they should subject her to dangerous and -arduous labor filled me with rage. -</p> - -<p> -“Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah -Thoris?” I asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in -my veins as I awaited her reply. -</p> - -<p> -“Only in little ways, John Carter,” she answered. “Nothing -that can harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a break to the -builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do not even know their own -mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate their horrid fates, and so wreak -their poor spite on me who stand for everything they have not, and for all they -most crave and never can attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even -though we die at their hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater than -they and they know it.” -</p> - -<p> -Had I known the significance of those words “my chieftain,” as -applied by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the surprise of my -life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many months thereafter. Yes, I -still had much to learn upon Barsoom. -</p> - -<p> -“I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with -as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, nevertheless, that I may -be present the next time that any Martian, green, red, pink, or violet, has the -temerity to even so much as frown on you, my princess.” -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me with dilated -eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd little laugh, which brought -roguish dimples to the corners of her mouth, she shook her head and cried: -</p> - -<p> -“What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child.” -</p> - -<p> -“What have I done now?” I asked, in sore perplexity. -</p> - -<p> -“Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not tell -you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, have listened -without anger,” she soliloquized in conclusion. -</p> - -<p> -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; joking -with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with my soft heart and -natural kindliness. -</p> - -<p> -“I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take him -home and nurse him back to health,” she laughed. -</p> - -<p> -“That is precisely what we do on Earth,” I answered. “At -least among civilized men.” -</p> - -<p> -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with all her -tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, and to a Martian the -only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead foeman means so much more to -divide between those who live. -</p> - -<p> -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so much -perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune her to enlighten -me. -</p> - -<p> -“No,” she exclaimed, “it is enough that you have said it and -that I have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, as -likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom another twelve -times, remember that I listened and that I—smiled.” -</p> - -<p> -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more positive -became her denials of my request, and, so, in very hopelessness, I desisted. -</p> - -<p> -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great avenue -lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down upon us out of -her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in the universe, and I, at -least, was content that it should be so. -</p> - -<p> -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I threw them -across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for an instant upon her -I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my being such as contact with no -other mortal had even produced; and it seemed to me that she had leaned -slightly toward me, but of that I was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm -rested there across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the silk -required she did not draw away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we -walked the surface of a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least -had been born that which is ever oldest, yet ever new. -</p> - -<p> -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had spoken to -me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved her since the -first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza of the dead -city of Korad. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap14"></a>CHAPTER XIV<br/> -A DUEL TO THE DEATH</h2> - -<p> -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the -helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens of her -captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands of hereditary -enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could not chance causing her -additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love which, in all probability she did -not return. Should I be so indiscreet, her position would be even more -unbearable than now, and the thought that she might feel that I was taking -advantage of her helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument -which sealed my lips. -</p> - -<p> -“Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?” I asked. “Possibly you -would rather return to Sola and your quarters.” -</p> - -<p> -“No,” she murmured, “I am happy here. I do not know why it is -that I should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, -are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with you, I -shall soon return to my father’s court and feel his strong arms about me -and my mother’s tears and kisses on my cheek.” -</p> - -<p> -“Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?” I asked, when she had -explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. -</p> - -<p> -“Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and,” she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, “lovers.” -</p> - -<p> -“And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?” -</p> - -<p> -“Yes.” -</p> - -<p> -“And a—lover?” -</p> - -<p> -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. -</p> - -<p> -“The man of Barsoom,” she finally ventured, “does not ask -personal questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for -and won.” -</p> - -<p> -“But I have fought—” I started, and then I wished my tongue -had been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, -and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and without a -word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of the queen she was -toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters. -</p> - -<p> -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached the -building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I turned -disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours cross-legged, and -cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks chance plays -upon us poor devils of mortals. -</p> - -<p> -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed the five -continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful women and urging -opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and a constant search for my -ideal, it had remained for me to fall furiously and hopelessly in love with a -creature from another world, of a species similar possibly, yet not identical -with mine. A woman who was hatched from an egg, and whose span of life might -cover a thousand years; whose people had strange customs and ideas; a woman -whose hopes, whose pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right and wrong -might vary as greatly from mine as did those of the green Martians. -</p> - -<p> -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the greatest -misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for all the riches of -Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever love is known. -</p> - -<p> -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous and -beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom of my heart, from -the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I sat cross-legged upon my silks -while the nearer moon of Barsoom raced through the western sky toward the -horizon, and lighted up the gold and marble, and jeweled mosaics of my -world-old chamber, and I believe it today as I sit at my desk in the little -study overlooking the Hudson. Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I -lived and fought for Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived upon -her memory. -</p> - -<p> -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do all Martian -mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at the poles. -</p> - -<p> -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but she turned -her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount to her cheek. With the -foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace when I might have pled ignorance -of the nature of my offense, or at least the gravity of it, and so have -effected, at worst, a half conciliation. -</p> - -<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> -<a name="img-142"></a> -<img src="images/img-142.jpg" width="451" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> -<p class="caption">I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots.</p> -</div> - -<p> -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so I glanced -into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In doing so I noted with -horror that she was heavily chained by one ankle to the side of the vehicle. -</p> - -<p> -“What does this mean?” I cried, turning to Sola. -</p> - -<p> -“Sarkoja thought it best,” she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. -</p> - -<p> -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive spring lock. -</p> - -<p> -“Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it.” -</p> - -<p> -“Sarkoja wears it, John Carter,” she answered. -</p> - -<p> -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I vehemently -objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, as they seemed to my -lover’s eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah Thoris. -</p> - -<p> -“John Carter,” he answered, “if ever you and Dejah Thoris -escape the Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do not wish to -manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way that will yet ensure -security. I have spoken.” -</p> - -<p> -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it was futile to -appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key be taken from Sarkoja and -that she be directed to leave the prisoner alone in future. -</p> - -<p> -“This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the friendship -that, I must confess, I feel for you.” -</p> - -<p> -“Friendship?” he replied. “There is no such thing, John -Carter; but have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy the -girl, and I myself will take the custody of the key.” -</p> - -<p> -“Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility,” I said, smiling. -</p> - -<p> -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. -</p> - -<p> -“Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris would -attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court of Tal Hajus you -might have the key and throw the chains into the river Iss.” -</p> - -<p> -“It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas,” I replied -</p> - -<p> -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp I saw him -unfasten Dejah Thoris’ fetters himself. -</p> - -<p> -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent of something -in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. Could it be a vestige -of some human instinct come back from an ancient forbear to haunt him with the -horror of his people’s ways! -</p> - -<p> -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris’ chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had felt for many -hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her so palpably that one might -almost have cut it with a sword. -</p> - -<p> -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior named Zad; a -big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never made a kill among his own -chieftains, and so was still an <i>o mad</i>, or man with one name; he could -win a second name only with the metal of some chieftain. It was this custom -which entitled me to the names of either of the chieftains I had killed; in -fact, some of the warriors addressed me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the -surnames of the two warrior chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other -words, whom I had slain in fair fight. -</p> - -<p> -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my direction, while -she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some action. I paid little -attention to it at the time, but the next day I had good reason to recall the -circumstances, and at the same time gain a slight insight into the depths of -Sarkoja’s hatred and the lengths to which she was capable of going to -wreak her horrid vengeance on me. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though I spoke -her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as the flutter of an -eyelid that she realized my existence. In my extremity I did what most other -lovers would have done; I sought word from her through an intimate. In this -instance it was Sola whom I intercepted in another part of camp. -</p> - -<p> -“What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?” I blurted out at her. -“Why will she not speak to me?” -</p> - -<p> -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the part of two -humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor child. -</p> - -<p> -“She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except that -she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak and she has been -humiliated by a creature who could not polish the teeth of her -grandmother’s sorak.” -</p> - -<p> -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, “What might a -sorak be, Sola?” -</p> - -<p> -“A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian women -keep to play with,” explained Sola. -</p> - -<p> -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother’s cat! I must rank pretty -low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I could not help -laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely and in this respect so -earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded very much like “not fit to -polish her shoes.” And then commenced a train of thought quite new to me. -I began to wonder what my people at home were doing. I had not seen them for -years. There was a family of Carters in Virginia who claimed close relationship -with me; I was supposed to be a great uncle, or something of the kind equally -foolish. I could pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to -be a great uncle always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There were two little kiddies in the Carter -family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no one on Earth like -Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, as I stood there under the -moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I had never longed for any -mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had never known the true meaning of the -word home, but the great hall of the Carters had always stood for all that the -word did mean to me, and now my heart turned toward it from the cold and -unfriendly peoples I had been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris -despise me! I was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to -polish the teeth of her grandmother’s cat; and then my saving sense of -humor came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and slept -upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy fighting man. -</p> - -<p> -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only a single halt -until just before dark. Two incidents broke the tediousness of the march. About -noon we espied far to our right what was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas -Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to investigate it. The latter took a dozen -warriors, including myself, and we raced across the velvety carpeting of moss -to the little enclosure. -</p> - -<p> -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison with -those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival on Mars. -</p> - -<p> -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally announcing -that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that the cement was scarcely -dry where it had been walled up. -</p> - -<p> -“They cannot be a day’s march ahead of us,” he exclaimed, the -light of battle leaping to his fierce face. -</p> - -<p> -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open the entrance -and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all the eggs with their -short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back to join the cavalcade. During the -ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if these Warhoons whose eggs we had -destroyed were a smaller people than his Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -“I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw hatching -in your incubator,” I added. -</p> - -<p> -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all green -Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of incubation until -they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching on the day of my arrival on -Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting piece of information, for it had always -seemed remarkable to me that the green Martian women, large as they were, could -bring forth such enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging -from. As a matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than an -ordinary goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the -light of the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting several -hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to the incubators. -</p> - -<p> -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the animals, -and it was during this halt that the second of the day’s interesting -episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding cloths from one of my -thoats to the other, for I divided the day’s work between them, when Zad -approached me, and without a word struck my animal a terrific blow with his -long-sword. -</p> - -<p> -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply to make, -for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely refrain from -drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he was; but he stood -waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was to draw my own and meet -him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or a lesser one. -</p> - -<p> -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have used my -short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, and been entirely -within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a spear while he held only -his long-sword. -</p> - -<p> -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself upon his -ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do it with his own -weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and delayed the resumption of -the march for an hour. The entire community surrounded us, leaving a clear -space about one hundred feet in diameter for our battle. -</p> - -<p> -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I was much too -quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes he would go lunging past -me, only to receive a nick from my sword upon his arm or back. He was soon -streaming blood from a half dozen minor wounds, but I could not obtain an -opening to deliver an effective thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and -fighting warily and with extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he -was unable to do by brute strength. I must admit that he was a magnificent -swordsman, and had it not been for my greater endurance and the remarkable -agility the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to -put up the creditable fight I did against him. -</p> - -<p> -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; the long, -straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and ringing out upon the -stillness as they crashed together with each effective parry. Finally Zad, -realizing that he was tiring more than I, evidently decided to close in and end -the battle in a final blaze of glory for himself; just as he rushed me a -blinding flash of light struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his -approach and could only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the -mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I was only -partially successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the -sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight met my -astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness had -caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris’ chariot stood three figures, for the -purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above the heads of the -intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, and Sarkoja, and as my -fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was presented which will stand -graven in my memory to the day of my death. -</p> - -<p> -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a young tigress -and struck something from her upraised hand; something which flashed in the -sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had blinded me at that -crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had found a way to kill me without -herself delivering the final thrust. Another thing I saw, too, which almost -lost my life for me then and there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an -instant entirely from my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny -mirror from her hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, -whipped out her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then -Sola, our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was the -great knife descending upon her shielding breast. -</p> - -<p> -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely interesting -for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work in hand, but my mind was -not upon the battle. -</p> - -<p> -We rushed each other furiously time after time, ’til suddenly, feeling -the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could neither parry nor -escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched sword and with all the weight -of my body, determined that I would not die alone if I could prevent it. I felt -the steel tear into my chest, all went black before me, my head whirled in -dizziness, and I felt my knees giving beneath me. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap15"></a>CHAPTER XV<br/> -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY</h2> - -<p> -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but a moment, I -sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and there I found it, buried -to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who lay stone dead upon the ochre moss -of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my full senses I found his weapon -piercing my left breast, but only through the flesh and muscles which cover my -ribs, entering near the center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. -As I had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the -muscles, inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. -</p> - -<p> -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning my back -upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, toward the chariots -which bore my retinue and my belongings. A murmur of Martian applause greeted -me, but I cared not for it. -</p> - -<p> -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such happenings, -dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and remedial agents which -make only the most instantaneous of death blows fatal. Give a Martian woman a -chance and death must take a back seat. They soon had me patched up so that, -except for weakness from loss of blood and a little soreness around the wound, -I suffered no great distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, -undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back for days. -</p> - -<p> -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of Dejah Thoris, -where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in bandages, but apparently -little the worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose dagger it seemed had -struck the edge of one of Sola’s metal breast ornaments and, thus -deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. -</p> - -<p> -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks and furs, her -lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my presence, nor did she hear -me speaking with Sola, who was standing a short distance from the vehicle. -</p> - -<p> -“Is she injured?” I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. -</p> - -<p> -“No,” she answered, “she thinks that you are dead.” -</p> - -<p> -“And that her grandmother’s cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?” I queried, smiling. -</p> - -<p> -“I think you wrong her, John Carter,” said Sola. “I do not -understand either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held but the highest -claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, but they are just, as are all -Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her grievously that she will not -admit your existence living, though she mourns you dead. -</p> - -<p> -“Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom,” she continued, “and -so it is difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people weep in -all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, the other from -baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago before they killed her; the -other was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today.” -</p> - -<p> -“Your mother!” I exclaimed, “but, Sola, you could not have -known your mother, child.” -</p> - -<p> -“But I did. And my father also,” she added. “If you would -like to hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot tonight, -John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have never spoken in all my -life before. And now the signal has been given to resume the march, you must -go.” -</p> - -<p> -“I will come tonight, Sola,” I promised. “Be sure to tell -Dejah Thoris I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, and be -sure that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she would speak with me I -but await her command.” -</p> - -<p> -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in line, and I -hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station beside Tars Tarkas at -the rear of the column. -</p> - -<p> -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out across the -yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and brightly colored -chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two hundred mounted warriors and -chieftains riding five abreast and one hundred yards apart, and followed by a -like number in the same formation, with a score or more of flankers on either -side; the fifty extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, -and the five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running loose within -the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. The gleaming metal and -jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, duplicated in the -trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and interspersed with the flashing colors -of magnificent silks and furs and feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the -caravan which would have turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. -</p> - -<p> -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the animals -brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and so we moved in -utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except when the stillness was -broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, or the squealing of -fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but little, and then usually in -monosyllables, low and like the faint rumbling of distant thunder. -</p> - -<p> -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure of broad -tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no sign that we had -passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of the departed dead upon the -dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound or sign we made in passing. It -was the first march of a large body of men and animals I had ever witnessed -which raised no dust and left no spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except -in the cultivated districts during the winter months, and even then the absence -of high winds renders it almost unnoticeable. -</p> - -<p> -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been approaching for two -days and which marked the southern boundary of this particular sea. Our animals -had been two days without drink, nor had they had water for nearly two months, -not since shortly after leaving Thark; but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, -they require but little and can live almost indefinitely upon the moss which -covers Barsoom, and which, he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient -moisture to meet the limited demands of the animals. -</p> - -<p> -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable milk I -sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch upon some of Tars -Tarkas’ trappings. She looked up at my approach, her face lighting with -pleasure and with welcome. -</p> - -<p> -“I am glad you came,” she said; “Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am -lonely. Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. -It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst them, and I often wish that -I were a true green Martian woman, without love and without hope; but I have -known love and so I am lost. -</p> - -<p> -“I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. From -what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am sure that the tale -will not seem strange to you, but among green Martians it has no parallel -within the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do our legends hold many -similar tales. -</p> - -<p> -“My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally for size. -She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian women, and caring -little for their society, she often roamed the deserted avenues of Thark alone, -or went and sat among the wild flowers that deck the nearby hills, thinking -thoughts and wishing wishes which I believe I alone among Tharkian women today -may understand, for am I not the child of my mother? -</p> - -<p> -“And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it was to -guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they roamed not beyond the -hills. They spoke at first only of such things as interest a community of -Tharks, but gradually, as they came to meet more often, and, as was now quite -evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked about themselves, their -likes, their ambitions and their hopes. She trusted him and told him of the -awful repugnance she felt for the cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, -loveless lives they must ever lead, and then she waited for the storm of -denunciation to break from his cold, hard lips; but instead he took her in his -arms and kissed her. -</p> - -<p> -“They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, was of -the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a simple warrior, -wearing only his own metal. Had their defection from the traditions of the -Tharks been discovered both would have paid the penalty in the great arena -before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. -</p> - -<p> -“The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel upon -the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined towers of ancient -Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for the five long years it lay there -in the process of incubation. She dared not come oftener, for in the mighty -guilt of her conscience she feared that her every move was watched. During this -period my father gained great distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal -from several chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, and his -own ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal from -Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to claim her as -his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect the child which -otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth become known. -</p> - -<p> -“It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in five -short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high in the councils -of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, in so far as it could come -in time to save his loved ones, for he was ordered away upon a long expedition -to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the natives there and despoil them of -their furs, for such is the manner of the green Barsoomian; he does not labor -for what he can wrest in battle from others. -</p> - -<p> -“He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over for -three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before the time for -the return of an expedition which had gone forth to fetch the fruits of a -community incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my mother continued to -keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly and lavishing upon me the love -the community life would have robbed us both of. She hoped, upon the return of -the expedition from the incubator, to mix me with the other young assigned to -the quarters of Tal Hajus, and thus escape the fate which would surely follow -discovery of her sin against the ancient traditions of the green men. -</p> - -<p> -“She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one night -she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, impressing upon me -the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great caution I must exercise after -she had placed me with the other young Tharks to permit no one to guess that I -was further advanced in education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the -presence of others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and -then drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of my father. -</p> - -<p> -“And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower chamber, and -there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy of loathing -and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and abuse she poured out -upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. That she had heard the entire -story was apparent, and that she had suspected something wrong from my -mother’s long nightly absences from her quarters accounted for her -presence there on that fateful night. -</p> - -<p> -“One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name of my -father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my mother to disclose -the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or threats could wring -this from her, and to save me from needless torture she lied, for she told -Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would she ever tell her child. -</p> - -<p> -“With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to report -her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me in the silks and -furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely noticeable, descended to -the streets and ran wildly away toward the outskirts of the city, in the -direction which led to the far south, out toward the man whose protection she -might not claim, but on whose face she wished to look once more before she -died. -</p> - -<p> -“As we neared the city’s southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through the hills -which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from either north or south -or east or west would enter the city. The sounds we heard were the squealing of -thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with the occasional clank of arms which -announced the approach of a body of warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind -was that it was my father returned from his expedition, but the cunning of the -Thark held her from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him. -</p> - -<p> -“Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming of the -cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its formation and -thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the head of the procession -passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging roofs and lit up the -scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous light. My mother shrank further -back into the friendly shadows, and from her hiding place saw that the -expedition was not that of my father, but the returning caravan bearing the -young Tharks. Instantly her plan was formed, and as a great chariot swung close -to our hiding place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, -crouching low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a -frenzy of love. -</p> - -<p> -“She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would she -hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon each -other’s face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me with the -other children, whose guardians during the journey were now free to relinquish -their responsibility. We were herded together into a great room, fed by women -who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next day we were parceled out -among the retinues of the chieftains. -</p> - -<p> -“I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal Hajus, -and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful torture, was brought -to bear upon her to wring from her lips the name of my father; but she remained -steadfast and loyal, dying at last amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his -chieftains during some awful torture she was undergoing. -</p> - -<p> -“I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to save -me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my body to the -white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day that she -suspects my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the present, at all -events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the identity of my father. -</p> - -<p> -“When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother’s fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did not laugh -as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. From that moment on he -was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day when he shall win the -goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal Hajus beneath his foot, for I -am as sure that he but waits the opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and -that his great love is as strong in his breast as when it first transfigured -him nearly forty years ago, as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a -world-old ocean while sensible people sleep, John Carter.” -</p> - -<p> -“And your father, Sola, is he with us now?” I asked. -</p> - -<p> -“Yes,” she replied, “but he does not know me for what I am, -nor does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my -father’s name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it was she -who carried the tale that brought death and torture upon her he loved.” -</p> - -<p> -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts of her -terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the heartless, -senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless lives of cruelty and of -hate. Presently she spoke. -</p> - -<p> -“John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of Barsoom -you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the knowledge may someday -help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to tell you the name of -my father, nor place any restrictions or conditions upon your tongue. When the -time comes, speak the truth if it seems best to you. I trust you because I know -that you are not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving -truthfulness, that you could lie like one of your own Virginia gentlemen if a -lie would save others from sorrow or suffering. My father’s name is Tars -Tarkas.” -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap16"></a>CHAPTER XVI<br/> -WE PLAN ESCAPE</h2> - -<p> -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were twenty days upon -the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing through or around a number of -ruined cities, mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we crossed the famous Martian -waterways, or canals, so-called by our earthly astronomers. When we approached -these points a warrior would be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and -if no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we would advance as close -as possible without chance of being seen and then camp until dark, when we -would slowly approach the cultivated tract, and, locating one of the numerous, -broad highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, creep silently and -stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other side. It required five hours -to make one of these crossings without a single halt, and the other consumed -the entire night, so that we were just leaving the confines of the high-walled -fields when the sun broke out upon us. -</p> - -<p> -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, except as -the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through the Barsoomian -heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from time to time, disclosing -walled fields and low, rambling buildings, presenting much the appearance of -earthly farms. There were many trees, methodically arranged, and some of them -were of enormous height; there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they -announced their presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they scented -our queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. -</p> - -<p> -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the intersection of our -crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which cuts each cultivated district -longitudinally at its exact center. The fellow must have been sleeping beside -the road, for, as I came abreast of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a -single glance at the approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled -madly down the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. -The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were not out upon the -warpath, and the only sign that I had that they had seen him was a quickening -of the pace of the caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert which -marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. -</p> - -<p> -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to me that I -would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept me from making any -advances. I verily believe that a man’s way with women is in inverse -ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the saphead have often great -ability to charm the fair sex, while the fighting man who can face a thousand -real dangers unafraid, sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child. -</p> - -<p> -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient city of -Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green men have stolen -even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty thousand souls, and are -divided into twenty-five communities. Each community has its own jed and lesser -chieftains, but all are under the rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five -communities make their headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are -scattered among other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district -claimed by Tal Hajus. -</p> - -<p> -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. There -were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned expedition. Those who -chanced to be in sight spoke the names of warriors or women with whom they came -in direct contact, in the formal greeting of their kind, but when it was -discovered that they brought two captives a greater interest was aroused, and -Dejah Thoris and I were the centers of inquiring groups. -</p> - -<p> -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day was devoted -to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My home now was upon an avenue -leading into the plaza from the south, the main artery down which we had -marched from the gates of the city. I was at the far end of the square and had -an entire building to myself. The same grandeur of architecture which was so -noticeable a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were -possible, on a larger and richer scale. My quarters would have been suitable -for housing the greatest of earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures -nothing about a building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the largest in the -city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next largest was -reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a lesser rank, and so on -to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The warriors occupied the buildings -with the chieftains to whose retinues they belonged; or, if they preferred, -sought shelter among any of the thousands of untenanted buildings in their own -quarter of town; each community being assigned a certain section of the city. -The selection of building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, -except in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. -</p> - -<p> -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it had been done, -it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the intention of locating Sola -and her charges, as I had determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris and -trying to impress on her the necessity of our at least patching up a truce -until I could find some way of aiding her to escape. I searched in vain until -the upper rim of the great red sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and -then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from a second-story window on the -opposite side of the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. -</p> - -<p> -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway which -led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the front of the -building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his great carcass upon -me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old fellow was so glad to see me -that I thought he would devour me, his head split from ear to ear, showing his -three rows of tusks in his hobgoblin smile. -</p> - -<p> -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly through -the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not seeing her, I -called her name. There was an answering murmur from the far corner of the -apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was standing beside her where -she crouched among the furs and silks upon an ancient carved wooden seat. As I -waited she rose to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said: -</p> - -<p> -“What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?” -</p> - -<p> -“Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest -from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and comfort. -Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me in effecting your -escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my request, but my command. When -you are safe once more at your father’s court you may do with me as you -please, but from now on until that day I am your master, and you must obey and -aid me.” -</p> - -<p> -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was softening toward -me. -</p> - -<p> -“I understand your words, Dotar Sojat,” she replied, “but you -I do not understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and -noble. I only wish that I might read your heart.” -</p> - -<p> -“Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has -lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie beating alone -for you until death stills it forever.” -</p> - -<p> -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a -strange, groping gesture. -</p> - -<p> -“What do you mean, John Carter?” she whispered. “What are you -saying to me?” -</p> - -<p> -“I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at -least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from your -attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to say to you; -I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, to serve you, to -fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I ask of you in return, and -that is that you make no sign, either of condemnation or of approbation of my -words until you are safe among your own people, and that whatever sentiments -you harbor toward me they be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I -may do to serve you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it -gives me more pleasure to serve you than not.” -</p> - -<p> -“I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand the -motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more willingly than I -bow to your authority; your word shall be my law. I have twice wronged you in -my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness.” -</p> - -<p> -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the entrance of -Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual calm and possessed -self. -</p> - -<p> -“That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus,” she cried, -“and from what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of -you.” -</p> - -<p> -“What do they say?” inquired Dejah Thoris. -</p> - -<p> -“That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great arena as -soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games.” -</p> - -<p> -“Sola,” I said, “you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the -customs of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us in one -supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a home and -protection among her people, and your fate can be no worse among them than it -must ever be here.” -</p> - -<p> -“Yes,” cried Dejah Thoris, “come with us, Sola, you will be -better off among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise you -not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature craves and -which must always be denied you by the customs of your own race. Come with us, -Sola; we might go without you, but your fate would be terrible if they thought -you had connived to aid us. I know that even that fear would not tempt you to -interfere in our escape, but we want you with us, we want you to come to a land -of sunshine and happiness, amongst a people who know the meaning of love, of -sympathy, and of gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you -will.” -</p> - -<p> -“The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south,” murmured Sola, half to herself; “a swift thoat might make -it in three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the way -through thinly settled districts. They would know and they would follow us. We -might hide among the great trees for a time, but the chances are small indeed -for escape. They would follow us to the very gates of Helium, and they would -take toll of life at every step; you do not know them.” -</p> - -<p> -“Is there no other way we might reach Helium?” I asked. “Can -you not draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah -Thoris?” -</p> - -<p> -“Yes,” she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she -drew upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever -seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long straight lines, -sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging toward some great circle. -The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and one far to the -northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were other cities closer, but -she said she feared to enter many of them, as they were not all friendly toward -Helium. -</p> - -<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> -<a name="img-178"></a> -<img src="images/img-178.jpg" width="447" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> -<p class="caption">She drew upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I had ever seen.</p> -</div> - -<p> -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now flooded -the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which also seemed to -lead to Helium. -</p> - -<p> -“Does not this pierce your grandfather’s territory?” I asked. -</p> - -<p> -“Yes,” she answered, “but it is two hundred miles north of -us; it is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark.” -</p> - -<p> -“They would never suspect that we would try for that distant -waterway,” I answered, “and that is why I think that it is the best -route for our escape.” -</p> - -<p> -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this same -night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my thoats. Sola was -to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of us carrying sufficient -food and drink to last us for two days, since the animals could not be urged -too rapidly for so long a distance. -</p> - -<p> -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less frequented -avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would overtake them with -the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving them to gather what food, -silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped quietly to the rear of the first -floor, and entered the courtyard, where our animals were moving restlessly -about, as was their habit, before settling down for the night. -</p> - -<p> -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the Martian -moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter grunting their -low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the sharp squeal which -denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which these creatures passed their -existence. They were quieter now, owing to the absence of man, but as they -scented me they became more restless and their hideous noise increased. It was -risky business, this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, -because their increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that -something was amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause -at all some great bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon -me. -</p> - -<p> -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as this, where -so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the shadows of the -buildings, ready at an instant’s warning to leap into the safety of a -nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the great gates which opened -upon the street at the back of the court, and as I neared the exit I called -softly to my two animals. How I thanked the kind providence which had given me -the foresight to win the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for -presently from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way -toward me through the surging mountains of flesh. -</p> - -<p> -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body and nosing -for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward them with. Opening the -gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, and then slipping quietly -after them I closed the portals behind me. -</p> - -<p> -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked quietly in the -shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented avenue which led toward the -point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With the noiselessness of -disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the deserted streets, but not -until we were within sight of the plain beyond the city did I commence to -breathe freely. I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty -in reaching our rendezvous undetected, but with my great thoats I was not so -sure for myself, as it was quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after -dark; in fact there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride. -</p> - -<p> -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and Sola were -not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of one of the large -buildings. Presuming that one of the other women of the same household may have -come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their departure, I did not feel any -undue apprehension until nearly an hour had passed without a sign of them, and -by the time another half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave -anxiety. Then there broke upon the stillness of the night the sound of an -approaching party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping -stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the black -shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted warriors, who, in -passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart clean into the top of my -head. -</p> - -<p> -“He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, and -so—” I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. Our -plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now on to the fearful -end would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return undetected to the -quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what fate had overtaken her, but how to do -it with these great monstrous thoats upon my hands, now that the city probably -was aroused by the knowledge of my escape was a problem of no mean proportions. -</p> - -<p> -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the construction -of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with a hollow court within the -center of each square, I groped my way blindly through the dark chambers, -calling the great thoats after me. They had difficulty in negotiating some of -the doorways, but as the buildings fronting the city’s principal -exposures were all designed upon a magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle -through without sticking fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where I -found, as I had expected, the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would -provide their food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was confident, -nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would be discovered, as -the green men had no great desire to enter these outlying buildings, which were -frequented by the only thing, I believe, which caused them the sensation of -fear—the great white apes of Barsoom. -</p> - -<p> -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear doorway of the -building through which we had entered the court, and, turning the beasts loose, -quickly made my way across the court to the rear of the buildings upon the -further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. Waiting in the doorway of the -building until I was assured that no one was approaching, I hurried across to -the opposite side and through the first doorway to the court beyond; thus, -crossing through court after court with only the slight chance of detection -which the necessary crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety -to the courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris’ quarters. -</p> - -<p> -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in the -adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect to meet within -if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another and safer method of -reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be found, and, after first -determining as nearly as possible which of the buildings she occupied, for I -had never observed them before from the court side, I took advantage of my -relatively great strength and agility and sprang upward until I grasped the -sill of a second-story window which I thought to be in the rear of her -apartment. Drawing myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward the front -of the building, and not until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was -I made aware by voices that it was occupied. -</p> - -<p> -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself that it was -Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It was well indeed that I -took this precaution, for the conversation I heard was in the low gutturals of -men, and the words which finally came to me proved a most timely warning. The -speaker was a chieftain and he was giving orders to four of his warriors. -</p> - -<p> -“And when he returns to this chamber,” he was saying, “as he -surely will when he finds she does not meet him at the city’s edge, you -four are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the combined -strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring back from Korad are -correct. When you have him fast bound bear him to the vaults beneath the -jeddak’s quarters and chain him securely where he may be found when Tal -Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor permit any other to enter -this apartment before he comes. There will be no danger of the girl returning, -for by this time she is safe in the arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her -ancestors have pity upon her, for Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja -has done a noble night’s work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when -he comes, I commend your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss.” -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap17"></a>CHAPTER XVII<br/> -A COSTLY RECAPTURE</h2> - -<p> -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door where I was -standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard enough to fill my soul -with dread, and stealing quietly away I returned to the courtyard by the way I -had come. My plan of action was formed upon the instant, and crossing the -square and the bordering avenue upon the opposite side I soon stood within the -courtyard of Tal Hajus. -</p> - -<p> -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where first to -seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I soon discovered that my -approach was not to be the easy thing I had hoped, for the rear rooms bordering -the court were filled with warriors and women. I then glanced up at the stories -above, discovering that the third was apparently unlighted, and so decided to -make my entrance to the building from that point. It was the work of but a -moment for me to reach the windows above, and soon I had drawn myself within -the sheltering shadows of the unlighted third floor. -</p> - -<p> -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping noiselessly to -the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the apartments ahead of me. -Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I discovered that it was but an opening -upon an immense inner chamber which towered from the first floor, two stories -below me, to the dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor -of this great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors and women, -and at one end was a great raised platform upon which squatted the most hideous -beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, cruel, terrible -features of the green warriors, but accentuated and debased by the animal -passions to which he had given himself over for many years. There was not a -mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial countenance, while his enormous bulk -spread itself out upon the platform where he squatted like some huge devil -fish, his six limbs accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling -manner. -</p> - -<p> -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah Thoris and Sola -standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of him as he let his great -protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her beautiful figure. She was speaking, -but I could not hear what she said, nor could I make out the low grumbling of -his reply. She stood there erect before him, her head high held, and even at -the distance I was from them I could read the scorn and disgust upon her face -as she let her haughty glance rest without sign of fear upon him. She was -indeed the proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, -precious little body; so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around -her, but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the -mightiest figure among them and I verily believe that they felt it. -</p> - -<p> -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and that the -prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, the warriors and the -women melted away into the shadows of the surrounding chambers, and Dejah -Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of the Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him standing in the -shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously toying with the hilt of his -great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in implacable hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was -Tars Tarkas, and I could read his thoughts as they were an open book for the -undisguised loathing upon his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, -forty years ago, had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken a word -into his ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus would have been over; but -finally he also strode from the room, not knowing that he left his own daughter -at the mercy of the creature he most loathed. -</p> - -<p> -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his intentions, hurried -to the winding runway which led to the floors below. No one was near to -intercept me, and I reached the main floor of the chamber unobserved, taking my -station in the shadow of the same column that Tars Tarkas had but just -deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus was speaking. -</p> - -<p> -“Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people would -I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather would I watch -that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it shall be long drawn out, -that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were all too short to show the love I -harbor for your race. The terrors of your death shall haunt the slumbers of the -red men through all the ages to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the -night as their fathers tell them of the awful vengeance of the green men; of -the power and might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture -you shall be mine for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth to -Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel upon the -ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will commence; tonight -thou art Tal Hajus’; come!” -</p> - -<p> -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, but -scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My short-sword, sharp -and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have plunged it into his putrid -heart before he realized that I was upon him; but as I raised my arm to strike -I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could -not rob him of that sweet moment for which he had lived and hoped all these -long, weary years, and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the -point of his jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one dead. -</p> - -<p> -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and motioning -Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and to the floor above. -Unseen we reached a rear window and with the straps and leather of my trappings -I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris to the ground below. Dropping -lightly after them I drew them rapidly around the court in the shadows of the -buildings, and thus we returned over the same course I had so recently followed -from the distant boundary of the city. -</p> - -<p> -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left them, and -placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the building to the avenue -beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris behind me upon the -other, we rode from the city of Thark through the hills to the south. -</p> - -<p> -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward the -nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we turned to the -northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across which, for two hundred -dangerous and weary miles, lay another main artery leading to Helium. -</p> - -<p> -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I could hear the -quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me with her dear head resting -against my shoulder. -</p> - -<p> -“If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty one; -greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it,” she -continued, “the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, for you -have saved the last of our line from worse than death.” -</p> - -<p> -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the little fingers -of her I loved where they clung to me for support, and then, in unbroken -silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us occupied with his -own thoughts. For my part I could not be other than joyful had I tried, with -Dejah Thoris’ warm body pressed close to mine, and with all our unpassed -danger my heart was singing as gaily as though we were already entering the -gates of Helium. -</p> - -<p> -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves without -food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our beasts to a speed -that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to sight the ending of the -first stage of our journey. -</p> - -<p> -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short rests. On the -second night both we and our animals were completely fagged, and so we lay down -upon the moss and slept for some five or six hours, taking up the journey once -more before daylight. All the following day we rode, and when, late in the -afternoon we had sighted no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways -throughout all Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us—we were lost. -</p> - -<p> -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor did it -seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and stars by night. -At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire party was almost ready to -drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far ahead of us and a trifle to the right -we could distinguish the outlines of low mountains. These we decided to attempt -to reach in the hope that from some ridge we might discern the missing -waterway. Night fell upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting -from weariness and weakness, we lay down and slept. -</p> - -<p> -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close to mine, -and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old Woola snuggling close -to me; the faithful brute had followed us across that trackless waste to share -our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my arms about his neck I pressed my -cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed that I did it, nor of the tears that came -to my eyes as I thought of his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and -Sola awakened, and it was decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain -the hills. -</p> - -<p> -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing to -stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had not attempted to -force them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding day. Suddenly he -lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to the ground. Dejah Thoris -and I were thrown clear of him and fell upon the soft moss with scarcely a jar; -but the poor beast was in a pitiable condition, not even being able to rise, -although relieved of our weight. Sola told me that the coolness of the night, -when it fell, together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I -decided not to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel -to leave him alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of his -trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow to his fate, -and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola and I walked, making -Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this way we had progressed to -within about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring to reach when Dejah -Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the thoat, cried out that she saw a -great party of mounted men filing down from a pass in the hills several miles -away. Sola and I both looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly -discernible, were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in -a southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us. -</p> - -<p> -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, and we -breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the opposite -direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I commanded the animal -to lie down and we three did the same, presenting as small an object as -possible for fear of attracting the attention of the warriors toward us. -</p> - -<p> -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, before -they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most providential -ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length of time, they scarcely -could have failed to discover us. As what proved to be the last warrior came -into view from the pass, he halted and, to our consternation, threw his small -but powerful fieldglass to his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all -directions. Evidently he was a chieftain, for in certain marching formations -among the green men a chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As -his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel -the cold sweat start from every pore in my body. -</p> - -<p> -Presently it swung full upon us and—stopped. The tension on our nerves -was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed for the few -moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he lowered it and we could -see him shout a command to the warriors who had passed from our sight behind -the ridge. He did not wait for them to join him, however, instead he wheeled -his thoat and came tearing madly in our direction. -</p> - -<p> -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising my -strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the button which -controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its -goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying mount. -</p> - -<p> -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to take Dejah -Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach the hills before the -green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might -find a temporary hiding place, and even though they died there of hunger and -thirst it would be better so than that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. -Forcing my two revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a -last resort, as an escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture -would surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command. -</p> - -<p> -“Good-bye, my princess,” I whispered, “we may meet in Helium -yet. I have escaped from worse plights than this,” and I tried to smile -as I lied. -</p> - -<p> -“What,” she cried, “are you not coming with us?” -</p> - -<p> -“How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together.” -</p> - -<p> -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about my neck, -turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: “Fly, Sola! Dejah Thoris -remains to die with the man she loves.” -</p> - -<p> -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give up my life a -thousand times could I only hear them once again; but I could not then give -even a second to the rapture of her sweet embrace, and pressing my lips to hers -for the first time, I picked her up bodily and tossed her to her seat behind -Sola again, commanding the latter in peremptory tones to hold her there by -force, and then, slapping the thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; -Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself from Sola’s grasp. -</p> - -<p> -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking for their -chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but scarcely had they -discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat upon my belly in the moss. I -had an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my rifle, and another hundred in -the belt at my back, and I kept up a continuous stream of fire until I saw all -of the warriors who had been first to return from behind the ridge either dead -or scurrying to cover. -</p> - -<p> -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, numbering some -thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly toward me. I fired until my -rifle was empty and they were almost upon me, and then a glance showing me that -Dejah Thoris and Sola had disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing -down my useless gun, and started away in the direction opposite to that taken -by Sola and her charge. -</p> - -<p> -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those astonished -warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led them away from Dejah -Thoris it did not distract their attention from endeavoring to capture me. -</p> - -<p> -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a projecting piece of -quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. As I looked up they were upon -me, and although I drew my long-sword in an attempt to sell my life as dearly -as possible, it was soon over. I reeled beneath their blows which fell upon me -in perfect torrents; my head swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them -to oblivion. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap18"></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br/> -CHAINED IN WARHOON</h2> - -<p> -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness and I well -remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as I realized that I was -not dead. -</p> - -<p> -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of a small -room in which were several green warriors, and bending over me was an ancient -and ugly female. -</p> - -<p> -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, -</p> - -<p> -“He will live, O Jed.” -</p> - -<p> -“’Tis well,” replied the one so addressed, rising and -approaching my couch, “he should render rare sport for the great -games.” -</p> - -<p> -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for his ornaments -and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge fellow, terribly scarred about -the face and chest, and with one broken tusk and a missing ear. Strapped on -either breast were human skulls and depending from these a number of dried -human hands. -</p> - -<p> -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while among the -Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory into gehenna. -</p> - -<p> -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him that I was -now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount and ride after the main -column. -</p> - -<p> -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had ever seen, -and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the beast from bolting, -we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of the column. My wounds gave me but -little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly had the applications and injections of -the female exercised their therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and -plastered the injuries. -</p> - -<p> -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after they had made -camp for the night. I was immediately taken before the leader, who proved to be -the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. -</p> - -<p> -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and also decorated -with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead hands which seemed to mark -all the greater warriors among the Warhoons, as well as to indicate their awful -ferocity, which greatly transcends even that of the Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object of the -fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed who had -captured me, and I could not but note the almost studied efforts which the -latter made to affront his superior. -</p> - -<p> -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the presence of -the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the ruler he exclaimed in a loud -and menacing voice. -</p> - -<p> -“I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark whom it -is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the great games.” -</p> - -<p> -“He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all,” -replied the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. -</p> - -<p> -“If at all?” roared Dak Kova. “By the dead hands at my throat -but he shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall save him. -O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a -water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal with -his bare hands!” -</p> - -<p> -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an instant, his -expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, and then without drawing -a weapon and without uttering a word he hurled himself at the throat of his -defamer. -</p> - -<p> -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with nature’s -weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued was as fearful a -thing as the most disordered imagination could picture. They tore at each -others’ eyes and ears with their hands and with their gleaming tusks -repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly to ribbons from head to -foot. -</p> - -<p> -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, quicker and -more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was done saving only the -final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in breaking away from a clinch. It -was the one little opening that Dak Kova needed, and hurling himself at the -body of his adversary he buried his single mighty tusk in Bar Comas’ -groin and with a last powerful effort ripped the young jeddak wide open the -full length of his body, the great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar -Comas’ jaw. Victor and vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, -a huge mass of torn and bloody flesh. -</p> - -<p> -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on the part of -Dak Kova’s females saved him from the fate he deserved. Three days later -he walked without assistance to the body of Bar Comas which, by custom, had not -been moved from where it fell, and placing his foot upon the neck of his -erstwhile ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of Warhoon. -</p> - -<p> -The dead jeddak’s hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, amid -wild and terrible laughter. -</p> - -<p> -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was decided -to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark community in -retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until after the great games, -and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in number, turned back toward -Warhoon. -</p> - -<p> -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an index to the -scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They are a smaller horde than -the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a day passed but that some members of -the various Warhoon communities met in deadly combat. I have seen as high as -eight mortal duels within a single day. -</p> - -<p> -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor and walls. -Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter darkness of the place I -do not know whether I lay there days, or weeks, or months. It was the most -horrible experience of all my life and that my mind did not give way to the -terrors of that inky blackness has been a wonder to me ever since. The place -was filled with creeping, crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me -when I lay down, and in the darkness I occasionally caught glimpses of -gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed in horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me -from the world above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was -brought to me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. -</p> - -<p> -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures who had -placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering reason upon this -single emissary who represented to me the entire horde of Warhoons. -</p> - -<p> -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he could -place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon the floor his -head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the cunning of a madman, I -backed into the far corner of my cell when next I heard him approaching and -gathering a little slack of the great chain which held me in my hand I waited -his coming, crouching like some beast of prey. As he stooped to place my food -upon the ground I swung the chain above my head and crashed the links with all -my strength upon his skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone -dead. -</p> - -<p> -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell upon his -prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently they came in -contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a number of keys. The -touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my reason with the suddenness of -thought. No longer was I a jibbering idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the -means of escape within my very hands. -</p> - -<p> -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim’s neck I -glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, -unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back from the -awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding my hands palms -out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes until they reached the -dead body at my feet. Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange -grating sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess of -my dungeon. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap19"></a>CHAPTER XIX<br/> -BATTLING IN THE ARENA</h2> - -<p> -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to remove -the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I reached out into the -darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it was gone. Then the truth -flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged my prize away from -me to be devoured in their neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, -for weeks, for months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to -drag my dead carcass to their feast. -</p> - -<p> -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared and my -incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my reason to be -submerged by the horror of my position. -</p> - -<p> -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained near me. -By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I could scarcely -await the departure of his guards to address him. As their retreating footsteps -died away in the distance, I called out softly the Martian word of greeting, -kaor. -</p> - -<p> -“Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?” he answered -</p> - -<p> -“John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium.” -</p> - -<p> -“I am of Helium,” he said, “but I do not recall your -name.” -</p> - -<p> -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only any -reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the news of -Helium’s princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola could -easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. He said that he -knew the place well because the defile through which the Warhoon warriors had -passed when they discovered us was the only one ever used by them when marching -to the south. -</p> - -<p> -“Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe,” he assured me. -</p> - -<p> -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of Helium. -He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had fallen into the -hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris’ capture, and he briefly -related the events which followed the defeat of the battleships. -</p> - -<p> -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward Helium, -but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of Helium’s -hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been attacked by a -great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan belonged -were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was chased for days by three of -the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless -night. -</p> - -<p> -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our coming -to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors of the -original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately seven great -fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been dispatched to search for -Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two thousand smaller craft had been kept -out continuously in futile search for the missing princess. -</p> - -<p> -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by the -avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They had been -searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past few days had they -extended their quest to the south. -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had had the -misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring their city. The -bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect and admiration. Alone he -had landed at the city’s boundary and on foot had penetrated to the -buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days and nights he had explored their -quarters and their dungeons in search of his beloved princess only to fall into -the hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring -himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there. -</p> - -<p> -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well acquainted, -and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only elapsed, however, before -we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the great games. We were conducted -early one morning to an enormous amphitheater, which instead of having been -built upon the surface of the ground was excavated below the surface. It had -partially filled with debris so that how large it had originally been was -difficult to say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. -</p> - -<p> -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the Warhoons -had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of the ancient city -to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping into the audience, and at -each end had been constructed cages to hold them until their turns came to meet -some horrible death upon the arena. -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the others were -wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and women of other hordes, -and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had never before -seen. The din of their roaring, growling and squealing was deafening and the -formidable appearance of any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart -feel grave forebodings. -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these prisoners -would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the arena. The winners -in the various contests of the day would be pitted against each other until -only two remained alive; the victor in the last encounter being set free, -whether animal or man. The following morning the cages would be filled with a -new consignment of victims, and so on throughout the ten days of the games. -</p> - -<p> -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and within an -hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. Dak Kova, with his -jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side of the arena upon a large -raised platform. -</p> - -<p> -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a dozen -green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. Each was given a -dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve calots, or wild dogs were -loosed upon them. -</p> - -<p> -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless women I -turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The yells and laughter of -the green horde bore witness to the excellent quality of the sport and when I -turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me it was over, I saw three -victorious calots, snarling and growling over the bodies of their prey. The -women had given a good account of themselves. -</p> - -<p> -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went -throughout the long, hot, horrible day. -</p> - -<p> -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I was -armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in agility and -generally in strength as well, it proved but child’s play to me. Time and -time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty multitude, and toward the end -there were cries that I be taken from the arena and be made a member of the -hordes of Warhoon. -</p> - -<p> -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some far -northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. -</p> - -<p> -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the liberty -which was accorded the final winner. -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had always -proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins, especially when -pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope that he could best his -giant adversary who had mowed down all before him during the day. The fellow -towered nearly sixteen feet in height, while Kantos Kan was some inches under -six feet. As they advanced to meet one another I saw for the first time a trick -of Martian swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan’s every hope of -victory and life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about -twenty feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at the green -warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor devil’s heart -laid him dead upon the arena. -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we approached to the -encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle until nearly dark in the -hope that we might find some means of escape. The horde evidently guessed that -we had no hearts to fight each other and so they howled in rage as neither of -us placed a fatal thrust. Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered -to Kantos Kan to thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. As he did so -I staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to the -ground with his weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos Kan -perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his foot upon my -neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the final death blow -through the neck which is supposed to sever the jugular vein, but in this -instance the cold blade slipped harmlessly into the sand of the arena. In the -darkness which had now fallen none could tell but that he had really finished -me. I whispered to him to go and claim his freedom and then look for me in the -hills east of the city, and so he left me. -</p> - -<p> -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and as the -great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted portion of the -great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the hills beyond. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap20"></a>CHAPTER XX<br/> -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY</h2> - -<p> -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come I started -off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point where he had told me -lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted of vegetable milk from the -plants which gave so bounteously of this priceless fluid. -</p> - -<p> -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights guided only by -the stars and hiding during the days behind some protruding rock or among the -occasional hills I traversed. Several times I was attacked by wild beasts; -strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped upon me in the dark, so that I had -ever to grasp my long-sword in my hand that I might be ready for them. Usually -my strange, newly acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but once I -was down with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy face pressed close to -mine before I knew that I was even threatened. -</p> - -<p> -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was large and -heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its throat before the -fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, and slowly I forced the hairy -face from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon its windpipe. -</p> - -<p> -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach me with -those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and choke the life from -it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms gave to the unequal struggle, -and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming tusks of my antagonist crept -toward me, until, as the hairy face touched mine again, I realized that all was -over. And then a living mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding -darkness full upon the creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two -rolled growling upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in a frightful -manner, but it was soon over and my preserver stood with lowered head above the -throat of the dead thing which would have killed me. -</p> - -<p> -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up the -Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but from whence he had -come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. That I was glad of his -companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at seeing him was tempered -by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt -sure, could account for his absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to -my commands. -</p> - -<p> -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a shadow of his -former self, and as he turned from my caress and commenced greedily to devour -the dead carcass at my feet I realized that the poor fellow was more than half -starved. I, myself, was in but little better plight but I could not bring -myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had no means of making a fire. When -Woola had finished his meal I again took up my weary and seemingly endless -wandering in quest of the elusive waterway. -</p> - -<p> -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to see the high -trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon I dragged myself wearily -to the portals of a huge building which covered perhaps four square miles and -towered two hundred feet in the air. It showed no aperture in the mighty walls -other than the tiny door at which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of -life about it. -</p> - -<p> -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to the inmates -of the place, unless a small round hole in the wall near the door was for that -purpose. It was of about the bigness of a lead pencil and thinking that it -might be in the nature of a speaking tube I put my mouth to it and was about to -call into it when a voice issued from it asking me whom I might be, where from, -and the nature of my errand. -</p> - -<p> -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of starvation -and exhaustion. -</p> - -<p> -“You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, yet -you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither green nor red. In -the name of the ninth ray, what manner of creature are you?” -</p> - -<p> -“I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the name -of humanity open to us,” I replied. -</p> - -<p> -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk into the -wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the left, exposing a short, -narrow corridor of concrete, at the further end of which was another door, -similar in every respect to the one I had just passed. No one was in sight, yet -immediately we passed the first door it slid gently into place behind us and -receded rapidly to its original position in the front wall of the building. As -the door had slipped aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, -and as it reached its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders -of steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their lower ends -into apertures countersunk in the floor. -</p> - -<p> -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as the first, -before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food and drink set out -upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to satisfy my hunger and to feed -my calot, and while I was thus engaged my invisible host put me through a -severe and searching cross-examination. -</p> - -<p> -“Your statements are most remarkable,” said the voice, on -concluding its questioning, “but you are evidently speaking the truth, -and it is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by the -conformation of your brain and the strange location of your internal organs and -the shape and size of your heart.” -</p> - -<p> -“Can you see through me?” I exclaimed. -</p> - -<p> -“Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I could -read those.” -</p> - -<p> -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, dried up, -little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a single article of clothing -or adornment, a small collar of gold from which depended upon his chest a great -ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid with huge diamonds, except for -the exact center which was occupied by a strange stone, an inch in diameter, -that scintillated nine different and distinct rays; the seven colors of our -earthly prism and two beautiful rays which, to me, were new and nameless. I -cannot describe them any more than you could describe red to a blind man. I -only know that they were beautiful in the extreme. -</p> - -<p> -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part of our -intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he could not fathom -an iota from my mind unless I spoke. -</p> - -<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> -<a name="img-224"></a> -<img src="images/img-224.jpg" width="456" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> -<p class="caption">The old man sat and talked with me for hours.</p> -</div> - -<p> -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, and thus I -learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me later and which I -would never have known had he suspected my strange power, for the Martians have -such perfect control of their mental machinery that they are able to direct -their thoughts with absolute precision. -</p> - -<p> -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which produces -that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. The secret of the -entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, one of the beautiful -scintillations which I had noted emanating from the great stone in my -host’s diadem. -</p> - -<p> -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of finely -adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge building, three-quarters -of which is used for reservoirs in which the ninth ray is stored. This product -is then treated electrically, or rather certain proportions of refined electric -vibrations are incorporated with it, and the result is then pumped to the five -principal air centers of the planet where, as it is released, contact with the -ether of space transforms it into atmosphere. -</p> - -<p> -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the great -building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a thousand years, and -the only fear, as my new friend told me, was that some accident might befall -the pumping apparatus. -</p> - -<p> -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty radium pumps -any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing all Mars with the -atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he told me, he had watched these -pumps which are used alternately a day each at a stretch, or a little over -twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has one assistant who divides the -watch with him. Half a Martian year, about three hundred and forty-four of our -days, each of these men spend alone in this huge, isolated plant. -</p> - -<p> -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles of the -manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold the secret of -ingress to the great building, which, built as it is with walls a hundred and -fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, even the roof being guarded from -assault by air craft by a glass covering five feet thick. -</p> - -<p> -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians or some -demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the very existence of every -form of life of Mars is dependent upon the uninterrupted working of this plant. -</p> - -<p> -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that the outer -doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are so finely adjusted -that the doors are released by the action of a certain combination of thought -waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I thought to surprise him into -revealing this combination and so I asked him in a casual manner how he had -managed to unlock the massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the -building. As quick as a flash there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but -as quickly faded as he answered that this was a secret he must not divulge. -</p> - -<p> -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that he had been -surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read suspicion and fear in his -looks and thoughts, though his words were still fair. -</p> - -<p> -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a nearby -agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, which he said, was -the nearest Martian city. -</p> - -<p> -“But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium as -they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no country, we -belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear protects us in all lands, -even among the green men—though we do not trust ourselves to their hands -if we can avoid it,” he added. -</p> - -<p> -“And so good-night, my friend,” he continued, “may you have a -long and restful sleep—yes, a long sleep.” -</p> - -<p> -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that he had -never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me in the night, and -the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half formed words, “I am sorry, -but it is for the best good of Barsoom.” -</p> - -<p> -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were cut off from -me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me in my little knowledge -of thought transference. -</p> - -<p> -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? Easily could I -kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead I could no more escape, -and with the stopping of the machinery of the great plant I should die with all -the other inhabitants of the planet—all, even Dejah Thoris were she not -already dead. For the others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the -thought of Dejah Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. -</p> - -<p> -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, sought the -inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; I would attempt to -force the great locks by the nine thought waves I had read in my host’s -mind. -</p> - -<p> -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding runways -which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great hall in which I had -broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had I seen my host, nor did I know -where he kept himself by night. -</p> - -<p> -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a slight noise -behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess in the corridor. Dragging -Woola after me I crouched low in the darkness. -</p> - -<p> -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly lighted -chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that he held a long thin -dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening it upon a stone. In his mind was -the decision to inspect the radium pumps, which would take about thirty -minutes, and then return to my bed chamber and finish me. -</p> - -<p> -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway which led -to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place and crossed to the -great door, the inner of the three which stood between me and liberty. -</p> - -<p> -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine thought waves -against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when finally the great door -moved softly toward me and slid quietly to one side. One after the other the -remaining mighty portals opened at my command and Woola and I stepped forth -into the darkness, free, but little better off than we had been before, other -than that we had full stomachs. -</p> - -<p> -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for the first -crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as quickly as possible. -This I reached about morning and entering the first enclosure I came to I -searched for some evidences of a habitation. -</p> - -<p> -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy impassable -doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought any response. Weary and -exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself upon the ground commanding Woola to -stand guard. -</p> - -<p> -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened my eyes to -see three red Martians standing a short distance from us and covering me with -their rifles. -</p> - -<p> -“I am unarmed and no enemy,” I hastened to explain. “I have -been a prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask is -food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions for reaching my -destination.” -</p> - -<p> -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing their right -hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their custom of salute, and -asking me many questions about myself and my wanderings. They then took me to -the house of one of them which was only a short distance away. -</p> - -<p> -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were occupied only -by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing among a grove of enormous -trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, had been raised at night some forty or -fifty feet from the ground on a large round metal shaft which slid up or down -within a sleeve sunk in the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in -the entrance hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and bars for -their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out of harm’s way -during the night. They also have private means for lowering or raising them -from the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. -</p> - -<p> -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three similar houses on -this farm. They did no work themselves, being government officers in charge. -The labor was performed by convicts, prisoners of war, delinquent debtors and -confirmed bachelors who were too poor to pay the high celibate tax which all -red-Martian governments impose. -</p> - -<p> -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I spent several -days with them, resting and recuperating from my long and arduous experiences. -</p> - -<p> -When they had heard my story—I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris and -the old man of the atmosphere plant—they advised me to color my body to -more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to find employment in -Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. -</p> - -<p> -“The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after you -have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the higher nobles of the -court. This you can most easily do through military service, as we are a -warlike people on Barsoom,” explained one of them, “and save our -richest favors for the fighting man.” -</p> - -<p> -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic bull thoat, -such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. The animal is about -the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and shape an exact replica -of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. -</p> - -<p> -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed my entire -body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite long, in the prevailing -fashion of the time, square at the back and banged in front, so that I could -have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a full-fledged red Martian. My metal and -ornaments were also renewed in the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to -the house of Ptor, which was the family name of my benefactors. -</p> - -<p> -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The medium of -exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except that the coins are -oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as they require it and redeemed -twice yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, the government pays his -creditors in full and the debtor works out the amount upon the farms or in -mines, which are all owned by the government. This suits everybody except the -debtor as it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to -work the great isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow -ribbons from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and -wilder men. -</p> - -<p> -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me they -assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long upon Barsoom, -and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was out of sight upon the broad -white turnpike. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap21"></a>CHAPTER XXI<br/> -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA</h2> - -<p> -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and interesting sights -arrested my attention, and at the several farm houses where I stopped I learned -a number of new and instructive things concerning the methods and manners of -Barsoom. -</p> - -<p> -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense underground -reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, and pumped through long -conduits to the various populated centers. Along either side of these conduits, -and extending their entire length, lie the cultivated districts. These are -divided into tracts of about the same size, each tract being under the -supervision of one or more government officers. -</p> - -<p> -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting immense -quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is carried underground -through a vast network of small pipes directly to the roots of the vegetation. -The crops upon Mars are always uniform, for there are no droughts, no rains, no -high winds, and no insects, or destroying birds. -</p> - -<p> -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth—large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic animals of -the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, but not a single -article of food which was exactly similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and -flower and vegetable and animal has been so refined by ages of careful, -scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of them on Earth dwindled -into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by comparison. -</p> - -<p> -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble class and -while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One of the older men had -been there on a diplomatic mission several years before and spoke with regret -of the conditions which seemed destined ever to keep these two countries at -war. -</p> - -<p> -“Helium,” he said, “rightly boasts the most beautiful women -of Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah -Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. -</p> - -<p> -“Why,” he added, “the people really worship the ground she -walks upon and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium has -been draped in mourning. -</p> - -<p> -“That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I fear will -sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to his place.” -</p> - -<p> -“Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is not a popular -one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our forces took advantage of -the absence of the principal fleet of Helium on their search for the princess, -and so we have been able easily to reduce the city to a sorry plight. It is -said she will fall within the next few passages of the further moon.” -</p> - -<p> -“And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?” I asked as casually as possible. -</p> - -<p> -“She is dead,” he answered. “This much was learned from a -green warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped from -the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, only to fall into -the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering upon the sea -bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were discovered nearby.” -</p> - -<p> -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it at all -conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I determined to make -every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly as I could and carry to Tardos -Mors such news of his granddaughter’s possible whereabouts as lay in my -power. -</p> - -<p> -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. From the -moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants of Mars I had -noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome attention to me, since the -huge brute belonged to a species which is never domesticated by the red men. -Were one to stroll down Broadway with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect -would be somewhat similar to that which I should have produced had I entered -Zodanga with Woola. -</p> - -<p> -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so great regret -and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before we arrived at the -city’s gates; but then, finally, it became imperative that we separate. -Had nothing further than my own safety or pleasure been at stake no argument -could have prevailed upon me to turn away the one creature upon Barsoom that -had never failed in a demonstration of affection and loyalty; but as I would -willingly have offered my life in the service of her in search of whom I was -about to challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious city, I could -not permit even Woola’s life to threaten the success of my venture, much -less his momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so -I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, that if -I came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should find the means -to search him out. -</p> - -<p> -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the direction of -Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to watch him go; but -resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with a touch of heartsickness -approached her frowning walls. -</p> - -<p> -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the vast, walled -city. It was still very early in the morning and the streets were practically -deserted. The residences, raised high upon their metal columns, resembled huge -rookeries, while the uprights themselves presented the appearance of steel tree -trunks. The shops as a rule were not raised from the ground nor were their -doors bolted or barred, since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. -Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, and for this reason -alone their homes are raised high above the ground at night, or in times of -danger. -</p> - -<p> -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the point of -the city where I could find living accommodations and be near the offices of -the government agents to whom they had given me letters. My way led to the -central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of all Martian cities. -</p> - -<p> -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the palaces of the -jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty and nobility of Zodanga, as -well as by the principal public buildings, cafes, and shops. -</p> - -<p> -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the -magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which carpeted the -broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly toward me from one of -the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention to me, but as he came abreast -I recognized him, and turning I placed my hand upon his shoulder, calling out: -</p> - -<p> -“Kaor, Kantos Kan!” -</p> - -<p> -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand the point -of his long-sword was at my breast. -</p> - -<p> -“Who are you?” he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me -fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, -laughing, -</p> - -<p> -“I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom who -can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further moon, John -Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen that you can change -your color at will?” -</p> - -<p> -“You gave me a bad half minute my friend,” he continued, after I -had briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena at -Warhoon. “Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly be -sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and departed -ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to -discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, our princess. Sab Than, prince of -Zodanga, has her hidden in the city and has fallen madly in love with her. His -father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has made her voluntary marriage to his -son the price of peace between our countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede -to the demands and has sent word that he and his people would rather look upon -the dead face of their princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, -and that personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of Than Kosis. His -reply was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than Kosis and the -Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and his strength in Helium -is greater today than ever. -</p> - -<p> -“I have been here three days,” continued Kantos Kan, “but I -have not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the Zodangan -navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the confidence of Sab Than, -the prince, who is commander of this division of the navy, and thus learn the -whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you are here, John Carter, for I -know your loyalty to my princess and two of us working together should be able -to accomplish much.” -</p> - -<p> -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon the -daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening and the cafes filling -with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of these gorgeous eating -places where we were served entirely by mechanical apparatus. No hand touched -the food from the time it entered the building in its raw state until it -emerged hot and delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the -touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. -</p> - -<p> -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of the -air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that I be enrolled -as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom an examination was -necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear on this score as he would -attend to that part of the matter. He accomplished this by taking my order for -examination to the examining officer and representing himself as John Carter. -</p> - -<p> -“This ruse will be discovered later,” he cheerfully explained, -“when they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is done and our -mission should be accomplished or have failed long before that time.” -</p> - -<p> -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the intricacies of -flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances which the Martians use -for this purpose. The body of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet long, -two feet wide and three inches thick, tapering to a point at each end. The -driver sits on top of this plane upon a seat constructed over the small, -noiseless radium engine which propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained -within the thin metal walls of the body and consists of the eighth Barsoomian -ray, or ray of propulsion, as it may be termed in view of its properties. -</p> - -<p> -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians have -discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no matter from what -source it emanates. They have learned that it is the solar eighth ray which -propels the light of the sun to the various planets, and that it is the -individual eighth ray of each planet which “reflects,” or propels -the light thus obtained out into space once more. The solar eighth ray would be -absorbed by the surface of Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends -to propel light from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from the -planet constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when confined is able -to lift enormous weights from the surface of the ground. -</p> - -<p> -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that battle ships -far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as gracefully and lightly -through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy balloon in the heavy atmosphere of -Earth. -</p> - -<p> -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange accidents -occurred before the Martians learned to measure and control the wonderful power -they had found. In one instance, some nine hundred years before, the first -great battle ship to be built with eighth ray reservoirs was stored with too -great a quantity of the rays and she had sailed up from Helium with five -hundred officers and men, never to return. -</p> - -<p> -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had carried her far -into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid of powerful telescopes, -hurtling through the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; a tiny satellite -that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. -</p> - -<p> -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, and as a -result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in the palace of Than -Kosis. -</p> - -<p> -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen Kantos Kan do, -and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced at terrific velocity toward -the south, following one of the great waterways which enter Zodanga from that -direction. -</p> - -<p> -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an hour when I -descried far below me a party of three green warriors racing madly toward a -small figure on foot which seemed to be trying to reach the confines of one of -the walled fields. -</p> - -<p> -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear of the -warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a red Martian wearing -the metal of the scout squadron to which I was attached. A short distance away -lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the tools with which he had evidently been -occupied in repairing some damage when surprised by the green warriors. -</p> - -<p> -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on the -relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors leaned low to the -right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving to be the first -to impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his fate would have been -sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. -</p> - -<p> -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors I soon -overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed the prow of my little -flier between the shoulders of the nearest. The impact sufficient to have torn -through inches of solid steel, hurled the fellow’s headless body into the -air over the head of his thoat, where it fell sprawling upon the moss. The -mounts of the other two warriors turned squealing in terror, and bolted in -opposite directions. -</p> - -<p> -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the -astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and promised -that my day’s work would bring the reward it merited, for it was none -other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had saved. -</p> - -<p> -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely return as -soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening to his damaged -machine we were bending every effort to finish the needed repairs and had -almost completed them when we saw the two green monsters returning at top speed -from opposite sides of us. When they had approached within a hundred yards -their thoats again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance -further toward the air craft which had frightened them. -</p> - -<p> -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced toward us -on foot with drawn long-swords. -</p> - -<p> -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he could -with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had now from much -practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to my new acquaintance -whom I found indeed in desperate straits. -</p> - -<p> -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his throat -and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With a bound I -cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with outstretched point -drove my sword completely through the body of the green warrior. His sword -fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank limply upon the prostrate form of the -Zodangan. -</p> - -<p> -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and after a -brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return voyage. He would -have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail vessels are not intended -to convey but a single person. -</p> - -<p> -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, cloudless -Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap returned to Zodanga. -</p> - -<p> -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and troops -assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black with naval vessels -and private and public pleasure craft, flying long streamers of gay-colored -silks, and banners and flags of odd and picturesque design. -</p> - -<p> -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close beside -mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, he said, was for -the purpose of conferring honors on individual officers and men for bravery and -other distinguished service. He then unfurled a little ensign which denoted -that his craft bore a member of the royal family of Zodanga, and together we -made our way through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly -over the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small -domestic bull thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation -bore such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be -struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of the red -Indians of my own Earth. -</p> - -<p> -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence of my -companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. As they waited -for the troops to move into position facing the jeddak the two talked earnestly -together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally glancing up at me. I could not -hear their conversation and presently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last -body of troops had wheeled into position before their emperor. A member of the -staff advanced toward the troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded -him to advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which had -won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced and placed a metal -ornament upon the left arm of the lucky man. -</p> - -<p> -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, -</p> - -<p> -“John Carter, air scout!” -</p> - -<p> -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military discipline -is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine lightly to the ground and -advanced on foot as I had seen the others do. As I halted before the officer, -he addressed me in a voice audible to the entire assemblage of troops and -spectators. -</p> - -<p> -“In recognition, John Carter,” he said, “of your remarkable -courage and skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than -Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the pleasure -of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem.” -</p> - -<p> -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, said: -</p> - -<p> -“My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, which -seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a cousin of the -jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the jeddak himself. You -are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and will be quartered in my -palace hereafter.” -</p> - -<p> -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. After the -ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of the barracks of -the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the palace to guide me I -reported to the officer in charge of the palace. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap22"></a>CHAPTER XXII<br/> -I FIND DEJAH</h2> - -<p> -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to station me -near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is always in great danger -of assassination, as the rule that all is fair in war seems to constitute the -entire ethics of Martian conflict. -</p> - -<p> -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than Kosis then -was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, Sab Than, and several -courtiers of his household, and did not perceive my entrance. -</p> - -<p> -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid tapestries which -hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. The room was lighted by -imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the ceiling proper and what appeared -to be a ground-glass false ceiling a few inches below. -</p> - -<p> -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which encircled -the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. Within this -passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was in the apartment. -When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to guard the ruler and keep out -of sight as much as possible. I would be relieved after a period of four hours. -The major-domo then left me. -</p> - -<p> -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of heavy -solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive all that took -place within the room as readily as though there had been no curtain -intervening. -</p> - -<p> -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of the -chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, surrounding a female -figure. As they approached Than Kosis the soldiers fell to either side and -there standing before the jeddak and not ten feet from me, her beautiful face -radiant with smiles, was Dejah Thoris. -</p> - -<p> -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand they -approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in surprise, and, rising, -saluted her. -</p> - -<p> -“To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, -who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me that she -would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?” -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing at the -corners of her mouth she made answer: -</p> - -<p> -“From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of -woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters concerning -her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your son. Two days ago I -was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and I have come to beg of you to -forget my rash words and to accept the assurance of the Princess of Helium that -when the time comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga.” -</p> - -<p> -“I am glad that you have so decided,” replied Than Kosis. “It -is far from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and, -your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued -forthwith.” -</p> - -<p> -“It were better, Than Kosis,” interrupted Dejah Thoris, “that -the proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange indeed to -my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to give herself to her -country’s enemy in the midst of hostilities.” -</p> - -<p> -“Cannot the war be ended at once?” spoke Sab Than. “It -requires but the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the -word that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife.” -</p> - -<p> -“We shall see,” replied Than Kosis, “how the people of Helium -take to peace. I shall at least offer it to them.” -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, still followed -by her guards. -</p> - -<p> -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, to the -ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, and from whose -lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love for me, had lightly -forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to the son of her -people’s most hated enemy. -</p> - -<p> -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. I must search -out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel truth to me alone before I -would be convinced, and so I deserted my post and hastened through the passage -behind the tapestries toward the door by which she had left the chamber. -Slipping quietly through this opening I discovered a maze of winding corridors, -branching and turning in every direction. -</p> - -<p> -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when I heard -voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite side of the -partition against which I leaned and presently I made out the tones of Dejah -Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew that I could not possibly be -mistaken in the voice. -</p> - -<p> -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of which lay a -door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room only to find myself in a -small antechamber in which were the four guards who had accompanied her. One of -them instantly arose and accosted me, asking the nature of my business. -</p> - -<p> -“I am from Than Kosis,” I replied, “and wish to speak -privately with Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium.” -</p> - -<p> -“And your order?” asked the fellow. -</p> - -<p> -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The Guard, and -without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the opposite door of the -antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah Thoris conversing. -</p> - -<p> -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman stepped -before me, saying, -</p> - -<p> -“No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the password. -You must give me one or the other before you may pass.” -</p> - -<p> -“The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at my -side,” I answered, tapping my long-sword; “will you let me pass in -peace or no?” -</p> - -<p> -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join him, and -thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further progress. -</p> - -<p> -“You are not here by the order of Than Kosis,” cried the one who -had first addressed me, “and not only shall you not enter the apartments -of the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard to -explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you cannot hope to -overcome four of us,” he added with a grim smile. -</p> - -<p> -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I can -assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed against the -wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my way to a corner of -the room where I could force them to come at me only one at a time, and thus we -fought upward of twenty minutes; the clanging of steel on steel producing a -veritable bedlam in the little room. -</p> - -<p> -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and there she -stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering over her shoulder. -Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that she did not recognize me, nor -did Sola. -</p> - -<p> -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only two -opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the fashion of my -fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell within ten seconds -after the second, and the last lay dead upon the bloody floor a few moments -later. They were brave men and noble fighters, and it grieved me that I had -been forced to kill them, but I would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom -could I have reached the side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. -</p> - -<p> -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who still -stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. -</p> - -<p> -“Who are you, Zodangan?” she whispered. “Another enemy to -harass me in my misery?” -</p> - -<p> -“I am a friend,” I answered, “a once cherished friend.” -</p> - -<p> -“No friend of Helium’s princess wears that metal,” she -replied, “and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not—it -cannot be—no, for he is dead.” -</p> - -<p> -“It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter,” I said. -“Do you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of -your chieftain?” -</p> - -<p> -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, but as I -reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder and a little moan -of misery. -</p> - -<p> -“Too late, too late,” she grieved. “O my chieftain that was, -and whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before—but -now it is too late, too late.” -</p> - -<p> -“What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?” I cried. “That you would -not have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I -lived?” -</p> - -<p> -“Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday and -today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in the pits of -Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to save my people from -the curse of a victorious Zodangan army.” -</p> - -<p> -“But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it.” -</p> - -<p> -“It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that is -final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless formalities. They -make the fact of marriage no more certain than does the funeral cortege of a -jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. I am as good as married, John -Carter. No longer may you call me your princess. No longer are you my -chieftain.” -</p> - -<p> -“I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but I -do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to me that -day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no other man shall -ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my princess, and you mean -them still! Say that it is true.” -</p> - -<p> -“I meant them, John Carter,” she whispered. “I cannot repeat -them now for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our -ways, my friend,” she continued, half to herself, “the promise -would have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before all -others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have given my -empire for my Tharkian chief.” -</p> - -<p> -Then aloud she said: “Do you remember the night when you offended me? You -called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and then you -boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I should not have -been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to tell you what I could -not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of women in the cities of the red -men. The one they fight for that they may ask them in marriage; the other kind -they fight for also, but never ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he -may address her as his princess, or in any of the several terms which signify -possession. You had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so -when you called me your princess, you see,” she faltered, “I was -hurt, but even then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, -until you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through -combat.” -</p> - -<p> -“I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris,” I cried. -“You must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. -What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be -presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, -and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins you shall -be.” -</p> - -<p> -“No, John Carter, it is useless,” she cried, hopelessly, “I -may never be yours while Sab Than lives.” -</p> - -<p> -“You have sealed his death warrant, my princess—Sab Than -dies.” -</p> - -<p> -“Nor that either,” she hastened to explain. “I may not wed -the man who slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled -by custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the sorrow with -me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the memory of the brief -days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever see me again. Good-bye, my -chieftain that was.” -</p> - -<p> -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not entirely -discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to me until the -ceremony had actually been performed. -</p> - -<p> -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the mazes of -winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah Thoris’ -apartments. -</p> - -<p> -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for the matter -of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and as I could never -reach my original post without a guide, suspicion would surely rest on me so -soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly through the palace. -</p> - -<p> -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and this I -followed downward for several stories until I reached the doorway of a large -apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The walls of this room were hung -with transparent tapestries behind which I secreted myself without being -apprehended. -</p> - -<p> -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest in me -until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to relieve the -detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles would -commence in earnest and indeed they were upon me all too soon, for it seemed -that the squad had scarcely left the guardroom before one of their number burst -in again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four comrades butchered -in the antechamber. -</p> - -<p> -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, officers, -courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through the corridors and -apartments carrying messages and orders, and searching for signs of the -assassin. -</p> - -<p> -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a number -of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind them and -followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing through a great -hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through a series of larger -windows. -</p> - -<p> -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for an -avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which overlooked one -of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about thirty feet below, and at -a like distance from the building was a wall fully twenty feet high, -constructed of polished glass about a foot in thickness. To a red Martian -escape by this path would have appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly -strength and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear was in being -detected before darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight -while the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. -</p> - -<p> -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by accident, -inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling of the hall, and -about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with -ease, and scarcely had I settled down within it than I heard a number of people -enter the apartment. The group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could -plainly overhear their every word. -</p> - -<p> -“It is the work of Heliumites,” said one of the men. -</p> - -<p> -“Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe -that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might reach -the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men could have -done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, however, for here comes -the royal psychologist.” -</p> - -<p> -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal greetings to his -ruler, said: -</p> - -<p> -“O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your -faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, but by a -single opponent.” -</p> - -<p> -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his hearers, and -that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by the impatient -exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than Kosis. -</p> - -<p> -“What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?” he cried. -</p> - -<p> -“It is the truth, my Jeddak,” replied the psychologist. “In -fact the impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four -guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of one of -your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of marvelous for -he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished them by his surpassing -skill and superhuman strength and endurance. Though he wore the metal of -Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never seen before in this or any other -country upon Barsoom. -</p> - -<p> -“The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned -was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one iota of -it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, and that when she -looked there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen; a man whom she did not -recognize as ever having seen.” -</p> - -<p> -“Where is my erstwhile savior?” spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued from the -green warriors. “By the metal of my first ancestor,” he went on, -“but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his -fighting ability.” -</p> - -<p> -“Where is this man?” cried Than Kosis. “Have him brought to -me at once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that I -think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in Zodanga, of -whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his name too, John Carter, -who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!” -</p> - -<p> -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the palace or -at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout squadron. Kantos Kan, -they had found and questioned, but he knew nothing of my whereabouts, and as to -my past, he had told them he knew as little, since he had but recently met me -during our captivity among the Warhoons. -</p> - -<p> -“Keep your eyes on this other one,” commanded Than Kosis. “He -also is a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one -is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, and let -every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to the closest -scrutiny.” -</p> - -<p> -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the palace -walls. -</p> - -<p> -“The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace grounds -today has been carefully examined,” concluded the fellow, “and not -one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other than that -which was recorded of him at the time he entered.” -</p> - -<p> -“Then we will have him shortly,” commented Than Kosis contentedly, -“and in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of -Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more than she -cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come.” -</p> - -<p> -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped lightly from -my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in sight, and choosing a -moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to the top of the glass wall and -from there to the avenue beyond the palace grounds. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap23"></a>CHAPTER XXIII<br/> -LOST IN THE SKY</h2> - -<p> -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our quarters, where -I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the building I became more -careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the place would be guarded. Several men -in civilian metal loitered near the front entrance and in the rear were others. -My only means of reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were -situated was through an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering -I managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. -</p> - -<p> -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the building where -I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I stood in the room before -him. He was alone and showed no surprise at my coming, saying he had expected -me much earlier, as my tour of duty must have ended some time since. -</p> - -<p> -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and when I -had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah Thoris had -promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. -</p> - -<p> -“It cannot be,” he exclaimed. “It is impossible! Why no man -in all Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to -the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have assented to -such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of Helium love the -members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the horror with which I -contemplate such an unholy alliance.” -</p> - -<p> -“What can be done, John Carter?” he continued. “You are a -resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this -disgrace?” -</p> - -<p> -“If I can come within sword’s reach of Sab Than,” I answered, -“I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for -personal reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah -Thoris.” -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. -</p> - -<p> -“You love her!” he said. “Does she know it?” -</p> - -<p> -“She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised -to Sab Than.” -</p> - -<p> -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder raised -his sword on high, exclaiming: -</p> - -<p> -“And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon your -shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at the point of -my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah Thoris, and for you. -This very night I shall try to reach his quarters in the palace.” -</p> - -<p> -“How?” I asked. “You are strongly guarded and a quadruple -force patrols the sky.” -</p> - -<p> -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of confidence. -</p> - -<p> -“I only need to pass these guards and I can do it,” he said at -last. “I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above the -palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we investigate any -unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering from the pinnacle of the -high tower of the palace was, to me, most unusual. I therefore drew near and -discovered that the possessor of the peering face was none other than Sab Than. -He was slightly put out at being detected and commanded me to keep the matter -to myself, explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his -apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the barracks -and get my machine I can be in Sab Than’s quarters in five minutes; but -how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say it is?” -</p> - -<p> -“How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?” I asked. -</p> - -<p> -“There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the -roof.” -</p> - -<p> -“Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there.” -</p> - -<p> -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street and -hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, filled as it -was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common with all Zodanga, -were on the lookout for me. -</p> - -<p> -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a thousand feet -into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher than these barracks, -though several topped it by a few hundred feet; the docks of the great -battleships of the line standing some fifteen hundred feet from the ground, -while the freight and passenger stations of the merchant squadrons rose nearly -as high. -</p> - -<p> -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with much -danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. The fact that -Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat much simpler than I -had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges and projections which fairly -formed a perfect ladder for me all the way to the eaves of the building. Here I -met my first real obstacle. The eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the -wall to which I clung, and though I encircled the great building I could find -no opening through them. -</p> - -<p> -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the pastimes of -their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through the building. -</p> - -<p> -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must take—it -was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not risk a thousand deaths -for such as she. -</p> - -<p> -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of the long -leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled a great hook by -which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their craft for various -purposes of repair, and by means of which landing parties are lowered to the -ground from the battleships. -</p> - -<p> -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it finally found -lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its hold, but whether it would -bear the weight of my body I did not know. It might be barely caught upon the -very outer verge of the roof, so that as my body swung out at the end of the -strap it would slip off and launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. -</p> - -<p> -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the supporting -ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the strap. Far below me lay the -brilliantly lighted streets, the hard pavements, and death. There was a little -jerk at the top of the supporting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating sound -which turned me cold with apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. -</p> - -<p> -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew myself to the -surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was confronted by the sentry -on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver I found myself looking. -</p> - -<p> -“Who are you and whence came you?” he cried. -</p> - -<p> -“I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by the -merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below,” I replied. -</p> - -<p> -“But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up from -the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I call the -guard.” -</p> - -<p> -“Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all,” I answered, turning toward the edge of -the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, hung all my -weapons. -</p> - -<p> -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and to his -undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped him by his throat -and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the roof. The weapon dropped from -his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted cry for assistance. I gagged -and bound him and then hung him over the edge of the roof as I myself had hung -a few moments before. I knew it would be morning before he would be discovered, -and I needed all the time that I could gain. -</p> - -<p> -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon had out both -my machine and Kantos Kan’s. Making his fast behind mine I started my -engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I dove down into the streets of -the city far below the plane usually occupied by the air patrol. In less than a -minute I was settling safely upon the roof of our apartment beside the -astonished Kantos Kan. -</p> - -<p> -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a discussion of our -plans for the immediate future. It was decided that I was to try to make Helium -while Kantos Kan was to enter the palace and dispatch Sab Than. If successful -he was then to follow me. He set my compass for me, a clever little device -which will remain steadfastly fixed upon any given point on the surface of -Barsoom, and bidding each other farewell we rose together and sped in the -direction of the palace which lay in the route which I must take to reach -Helium. -</p> - -<p> -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing its -piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out a command to -halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to his hail. Kantos Kan -dropped quickly into the darkness, while I rose steadily and at terrific speed -raced through the Martian sky followed by a dozen of the air-scout craft which -had joined the pursuit, and later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and -a battery of rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, now -rising and now falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the -time, but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided to hazard -everything on a straight-away course and leave the result to fate and the speed -of my machine. -</p> - -<p> -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only to the navy of -Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our machines, so that I felt sure I -could distance my pursuers if I could dodge their projectiles for a few -moments. -</p> - -<p> -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me convinced me -that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was cast, and throwing on -full speed I raced a straight course toward Helium. Gradually I left my -pursuers further and further behind, and I was just congratulating myself on my -lucky escape, when a well-directed shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow -of my little craft. The concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening -plunge she hurtled downward through the dark night. -</p> - -<p> -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, but I must -have been very close to the ground when I started to rise again, as I plainly -heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising again I scanned the heavens for -my pursuers, and finally making out their lights far behind me, saw that they -were landing, evidently in search of me. -</p> - -<p> -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture to flash my -little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my consternation that a -fragment of the projectile had utterly destroyed my only guide, as well as my -speedometer. It was true I could follow the stars in the general direction of -Helium, but without knowing the exact location of the city or the speed at -which I was traveling my chances for finding it were slim. -</p> - -<p> -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my compass intact I -should have made the trip, barring accidents, in between four and five hours. -As it turned out, however, morning found me speeding over a vast expanse of -dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of continuous flight at high speed. -Presently a great city showed below me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of -all Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular walled cities -about seventy-five miles apart and would have been easily distinguishable from -the altitude at which I was flying. -</p> - -<p> -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back in a -southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other large -cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had given me of -Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, another -distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid scarlet rising -nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the cities, while the -other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks her sister. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap24"></a>CHAPTER XXIV<br/> -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND</h2> - -<p> -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as I -skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand green -warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them than a volley -of shots was directed at me, and with the almost unfailing accuracy of their -aim my little craft was instantly a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to the -ground. -</p> - -<p> -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among warriors who -had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged in life and death -struggles. The men were fighting on foot with long-swords, while an occasional -shot from a sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict would bring down a -warrior who might for an instant separate himself from the entangled mass. -</p> - -<p> -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with good -chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with drawn long-sword -ready to defend myself as I could. -</p> - -<p> -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, and as I -glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I recognized Tars -Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle behind him, and just -then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I recognized as Warhoons, -charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made quick work of one of them, but -in stepping back for another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and was -down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were -upon him, and Tars Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short -order had I not sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I -had accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and -quickly settled the other. -</p> - -<p> -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, touching my -shoulder, he said, -</p> - -<p> -“I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think I have -learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend.” -</p> - -<p> -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were closing in -about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, during all that long, -hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned and the remnant of the fierce -Warhoon horde fell back upon their thoats, and fled into the gathering -darkness. -</p> - -<p> -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon the field -of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or gave quarter, nor did -they attempt to take prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars -Tarkas’ quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended the -customary council which immediately follows an engagement. -</p> - -<p> -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something move in an -adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed suddenly upon me a huge -and hideous creature which bore me backward upon the pile of silks and furs -upon which I had been reclining. It was Woola—faithful, loving Woola. He -had found his way back to Thark and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone -immediately to my former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and -seemingly hopeless watch for my return. -</p> - -<p> -“Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter,” said Tars Tarkas, -on his return from the jeddak’s quarters; “Sarkoja saw and -recognized you as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you -before him tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice -from among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest waterway that leads to -Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a friend as -well. Come, we must start.” -</p> - -<p> -“And when you return, Tars Tarkas?” I asked. -</p> - -<p> -“The wild calots, possibly, or worse,” he replied. “Unless I -should chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling with -Tal Hajus.” -</p> - -<p> -“We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall not -sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the chance you -wait.” -</p> - -<p> -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild fits of -passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and that if ever he -laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the most horrible tortures. -</p> - -<p> -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola had told me -that night upon the sea bottom during the march to Thark. -</p> - -<p> -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in passion and in -agony at recollection of the horrors which had been heaped upon the only thing -he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible existence. -</p> - -<p> -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, only saying -that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his request I accompanied him -to her quarters, and the look of venomous hatred she cast upon me was almost -adequate recompense for any future misfortunes this accidental return to Thark -might bring me. -</p> - -<p> -“Sarkoja,” said Tars Tarkas, “forty years ago you were -instrumental in bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. I -have just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has learned of your -part in the transaction. He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not our custom, -but there is nothing to prevent him tying one end of a strap about your neck -and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test your fitness to survive and -help perpetuate our race. Having heard that he would do this on the morrow, I -thought it only right to warn you, for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a -short pilgrimage, Sarkoja. Come, John Carter.” -</p> - -<p> -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. -</p> - -<p> -In silence we hastened to the jeddak’s palace, where we were immediately -admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely wait to see me and was -standing erect upon his platform glowering at the entrance as I came in. -</p> - -<p> -“Strap him to that pillar,” he shrieked. “We shall see who it -is dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own hands I shall -burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute my person with his vile -gaze.” -</p> - -<p> -“Chieftains of Thark,” I cried, turning to the assembled council -and ignoring Tal Hajus, “I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. You owe me, at -least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You claim to be a just -people—” -</p> - -<p> -“Silence,” roared Tal Hajus. “Gag the creature and bind him -as I command.” -</p> - -<p> -“Justice, Tal Hajus,” exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. “Who are you -to set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks.” -</p> - -<p> -“Yes, justice!” echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus -fumed and frothed, I continued. -</p> - -<p> -“You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your mighty -jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the thick of battle; he -was not there. He rends defenseless women and little children in his lair, but -how recently has one of you seen him fight with men? Why, even I, a midget -beside him, felled him with a single blow of my fist. Is it of such that the -Tharks fashion their jeddaks? There stands beside me now a great Thark, a -mighty warrior and a noble man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of -Thark?” -</p> - -<p> -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. -</p> - -<p> -“It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must prove his -fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars Tarkas to combat, for -he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal Hajus, your jeddak, is a -coward. With my bare hands I could kill him, and he knows it.” -</p> - -<p> -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted upon Tal -Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of his countenance -turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. -</p> - -<p> -“Tal Hajus,” said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, -“never in my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. -There could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it.” And still -Tal Hajus stood as though petrified. -</p> - -<p> -“Chieftains,” continued Lorquas Ptomel, “shall the jeddak, -Tal Hajus, prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?” -</p> - -<p> -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords flashed high -in assent. -</p> - -<p> -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus drew his -long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. -</p> - -<p> -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the dead monster, -Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank I had won -by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among them. -</p> - -<p> -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as well as -toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in my cause against -Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my adventures, and in a few words had -explained to him the thought I had in mind. -</p> - -<p> -“John Carter has made a proposal,” he said, addressing the council, -“which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. Dejah -Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now held by the jeddak -of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her country from devastation at the -hands of the Zodangan forces. -</p> - -<p> -“John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. The -loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought that had we an -alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain sufficient assurance of -sustenance to permit us to increase the size and frequency of our hatchings, -and thus become unquestionably supreme among the green men of all Barsoom. What -say you?” -</p> - -<p> -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the bait as -a speckled trout to a fly. -</p> - -<p> -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half hour had -passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead sea bottoms to call -the hordes together for the expedition. -</p> - -<p> -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred thousand strong, -as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services of three smaller hordes on -the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. -</p> - -<p> -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the heels of -my mount trotted my beloved Woola. -</p> - -<p> -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped during the -day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we were all kept indoors -during the daylight hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, through his remarkable -ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty thousand more warriors from various -hordes, so that, ten days after we set out we halted at midnight outside the -great walled city of Zodanga, one hundred and fifty thousand strong. -</p> - -<p> -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious green monsters -was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. Never in the history of -Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green warriors marched to -battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep even a semblance of harmony -among them, and it was a marvel to me that he got them to the city without a -mighty battle among themselves. -</p> - -<p> -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by their -greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, who had for -years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against the green men, -directing special attention toward despoiling their incubators. -</p> - -<p> -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the city -devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces in two divisions -out of earshot of the city, with each division opposite a large gateway, I took -twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of the small gates that pierced -the walls at short intervals. These gates have no regular guard, but are -covered by sentries, who patrol the avenue that encircles the city just within -the walls as our metropolitan police patrol their beats. -</p> - -<p> -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet thick. They -are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the task of entering the city -seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an impossibility. The fellows who had -been detailed to accompany me were of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore -did not know me. -</p> - -<p> -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, I commanded -two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I ordered to climb upon the -shoulders of the upper two. The head of the topmost warrior towered over forty -feet from the ground. -</p> - -<p> -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from the ground -to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from a short distance behind -them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the next, and with a final bound from -the broad shoulders of the highest I clutched the top of the great wall and -quietly drew myself to its broad expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of -leather from an equal number of my warriors. These lengths we had previously -fastened together, and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the -other end cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the avenue -below. No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of my leather strap, -I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement below. -</p> - -<p> -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, and in another -moment my twenty great fighting men stood within the doomed city of Zodanga. -</p> - -<p> -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of the enormous -palace grounds. The building itself showed in the distance a blaze of glorious -light, and on the instant I determined to lead a detachment of warriors -directly within the palace itself, while the balance of the great horde was -attacking the barracks of the soldiery. -</p> - -<p> -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, with -word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and open one of the -great gates while with the nine remaining I took the other. We were to do our -work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no general advance made until I had -reached the palace with my fifty Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The -two sentries we met were dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of the lost -sea of Korus, and the guards at both gates followed them in silence. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap25"></a>CHAPTER XXV<br/> -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA</h2> - -<p> -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed by Tars -Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them to the palace -walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. Once inside, however, the -gate gave me considerable trouble, but I finally was rewarded by seeing it -swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my fierce escort was riding across the -gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. -</p> - -<p> -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of the first -floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber of Than Kosis. The -immense hall was crowded with nobles and their women, as though some important -function was in progress. There was not a guard in sight without the palace, -due, I presume, to the fact that the city and palace walls were considered -impregnable, and so I came close and peered within. -</p> - -<p> -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with diamonds, -sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers and dignitaries of -state. Before them stretched a broad aisle lined on either side with soldiery, -and as I looked there entered this aisle at the far end of the hall, the head -of a procession which advanced to the foot of the throne. -</p> - -<p> -First there marched four officers of the jeddak’s Guard bearing a huge -salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a great golden chain -with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly behind these officers came four -others carrying a similar salver which supported the magnificent ornaments of a -prince and princess of the reigning house of Zodanga. -</p> - -<p> -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, facing each -other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more dignitaries, and the -officers of the palace and of the army, and finally two figures entirely -muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a feature of either was discernible. These -two stopped at the foot of the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of -the procession had entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the -couple standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two -officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, and I -saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab Than, Prince of -Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. -</p> - -<p> -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and placed -one of the collars of gold about his son’s neck, springing the padlock -fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned to the other -figure, from which the officers now removed the enshrouding silks, disclosing -to my now comprehending view Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. -</p> - -<p> -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah Thoris -would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an impressive and -beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the most fiendish sight I -had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were adjusted upon her beautiful -figure and her collar of gold swung open in the hands of Than Kosis I raised my -long-sword above my head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of -the great window and sprang into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a -bound I was on the steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood -riveted with surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that -would have bound Dejah Thoris to another. -</p> - -<p> -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me from every -quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger he had drawn from -his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as easily as I might a fly, but -the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my hand, and grasping his wrist as the -dagger flew toward my heart I held him as though in a vise and with my -long-sword pointed to the far end of the hall. -</p> - -<p> -“Zodanga has fallen,” I cried. “Look!” -</p> - -<p> -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging through -the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty warriors on their -great thoats. -</p> - -<p> -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of fear, -and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling themselves upon -the advancing Tharks. -</p> - -<p> -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to my side. -Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis now stood facing -me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were engaged, and I found no mean -antagonist. -</p> - -<p> -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the steps to -aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah Thoris sprang -before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab Than jeddak of -Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the new jeddak tore himself -free from Dejah Thoris’ grasp, and again we faced each other. He was soon -joined by a quartet of officers, and, with my back against a golden throne, I -fought once again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet -not strike down Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I -loved. My blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to -parry the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was -down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to avenge the -death of the old. -</p> - -<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> -<a name="img-front"></a> -<img src="images/img-front.jpg" width="445" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> -<p class="caption">With my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris.</p> -</div> - -<p> -As they advanced there were cries of “The woman! The woman! Strike her -down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!” -</p> - -<p> -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the little -doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my intentions, and three -of them sprang in behind me and blocked my chances for gaining a position where -I could have defended Dejah Thoris against an army of swordsmen. -</p> - -<p> -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, and I began -to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save Dejah Thoris and myself, -when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of pygmies that swarmed about -him. With one swing of his mighty longsword he laid a dozen corpses at his -feet, and so he hewed a pathway before him until in another moment he stood -upon the platform beside me, dealing death and destruction right and left. -</p> - -<p> -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted to escape, -and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks remained alive in the -great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and myself. -</p> - -<p> -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower of Zodangan -nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody shambles. -</p> - -<p> -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and leaving Dejah -Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors and hastened to the -dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had all left to join the fighters in -the throne room, so we searched the labyrinthine prison without opposition. -</p> - -<p> -I called Kantos Kan’s name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by the sound, we -soon found him helpless in a dark recess. -</p> - -<p> -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, faint -echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that the air patrol had -captured him before he reached the high tower of the palace, so that he had not -even seen Sab Than. -</p> - -<p> -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the bars and -chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I returned to search the -bodies on the floor above for keys to open the padlocks of his cell and of his -chains. -</p> - -<p> -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon we had -Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. -</p> - -<p> -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to us from the -city’s streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct the fighting -without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, the green warriors -commencing a thorough search of the palace for other Zodangans and for loot, -and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. -</p> - -<p> -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her she greeted -me with a wan smile. -</p> - -<p> -“Was there ever such a man!” she exclaimed. “I know that -Barsoom has never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are as -you? Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have done in a few -short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever done: joined -together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought them to fight as allies -of a red Martian people.” -</p> - -<p> -“The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris,” I replied smiling. “It -was not I who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would -work greater miracles than this you have seen.” -</p> - -<p> -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, -</p> - -<p> -“You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am -free.” -</p> - -<p> -“And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late,” I -returned. “I have done many strange things in my life, many things that -wiser men would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have I dreamed -of winning a Dejah Thoris for myself—for never had I dreamed that in all -the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you are a -princess does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to make me doubt my -sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine.” -</p> - -<p> -“He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his plea -before the plea were made,” she replied, rising and placing her dear -hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and kissed her. -</p> - -<p> -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the alarms of -war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible harvest around her, did -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true daughter of Mars, the God of War, -promise herself in marriage to John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap26"></a>CHAPTER XXVI<br/> -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY</h2> - -<p> -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that Zodanga had -been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely destroyed or captured, and no -further resistance was to be expected from within. Several battleships had -escaped, but there were thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard of -Thark warriors. -</p> - -<p> -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among themselves, so it -was decided that we collect what warriors we could, man as many vessels as -possible with Zodangan prisoners and make for Helium without further loss of -time. -</p> - -<p> -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with a fleet of -two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred thousand green -warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our thoats. -</p> - -<p> -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches of some -forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They were looting, -murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In a hundred places they had -applied the torch, and columns of dense smoke were rising above the city as -though to blot out from the eye of heaven the horrid sights beneath. -</p> - -<p> -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers of -Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships rose from -the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to meet us. -</p> - -<p> -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our mighty -craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that we were -enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them almost as -they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship they raked the on-coming -fleet with volley after volley. -</p> - -<p> -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out hundreds -of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle I had ever -witnessed. -</p> - -<p> -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the contending -fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were useless in the hands -of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill in naval gunnery. Their -small-arm fire, however, was most effective, and the final outcome of the -engagement was strongly influenced, if not wholly determined, by their -presence. -</p> - -<p> -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside after -broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in the hull of one -of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned -completely over, the little figures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting -toward the ground a thousand feet below; then with sickening velocity she tore -after them, almost completely burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient -sea bottom. -</p> - -<p> -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with redoubled -ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty maneuver two of the -vessels of Helium gained a position above their adversaries, from which they -poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect torrent of exploding -bombs. -</p> - -<p> -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above the -Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering battleships were -drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium. -Several others attempted to escape, but they were soon surrounded by thousands -of tiny individual fliers, and above each hung a monster battleship of Helium -ready to drop boarding parties upon their decks. -</p> - -<p> -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious Zodangan -squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers the battle was -over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed toward -the cities of Helium under prize crews. -</p> - -<p> -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty fliers, -the result of an age-old custom which demanded that surrender should be -signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the commander of the -vanquished vessel. One after another the brave fellows, holding their colors -high above their heads, leaped from the towering bows of their mighty craft to -an awful death. -</p> - -<p> -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, thus -indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the fighting cease, and -the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. -</p> - -<p> -We now signaled the flagship of Helium’s navy to approach, and when she -was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah Thoris -on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be -taken immediately to the city. -</p> - -<p> -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry arose from -the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of the Princess of -Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper works. When the other vessels -of the squadron caught the meaning of the signals flashed them they took up the -wild acclaim and unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight. -</p> - -<p> -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and touched our -side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their astonished gaze fell upon -the hundreds of green warriors, who now came forth from the fighting shelters, -they stopped aghast, but at sight of Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, -they came forward, crowding about him. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than her. She -received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were men high in the -esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew them well. -</p> - -<p> -“Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter,” she said to -them, turning toward me, “the man to whom Helium owes her princess as -well as her victory today.” -</p> - -<p> -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary things, but -what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the aid of the fierce -Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, and the relief of -Helium. -</p> - -<p> -“You owe your thanks more to another man than to me,” I said, -“and here he is; meet one of Barsoom’s greatest soldiers and -statesmen, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark.” -</p> - -<p> -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward me they -extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my surprise, was he much -behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly speech. Though not a garrulous -race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their ways lend themselves amazingly -to dignified and courtly manners. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I would not -follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but partly won; we still had -the land forces of the besieging Zodangans to account for, and I would not -leave Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. -</p> - -<p> -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to have the -armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with our land attack, and -so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in triumph back to the -court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. -</p> - -<p> -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the green -warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without landing stages it -was to be a difficult matter to unload these beasts upon the open plain, but -there was nothing else for it, and so we put out for a point about ten miles -from the city and began the task. -</p> - -<p> -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and this work -occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. Twice we were attacked by -parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with little loss, however, and after darkness -shut down they withdrew. -</p> - -<p> -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command to advance, -and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp from the north, the south -and the east. -</p> - -<p> -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, as had been -prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. With wild, ferocious cries -and amidst the nasty squealing of battle-enraged thoats we bore down upon the -Zodangans. -</p> - -<p> -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle line -confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward noon, I began to -fear for the result of the battle. -</p> - -<p> -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered from pole to -pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, while pitted against them -were less than a hundred thousand green warriors. The forces from Helium had -not arrived, nor could we receive any word from them. -</p> - -<p> -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the Zodangans and -the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed reinforcements had come. -</p> - -<p> -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats bore -their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At the same moment the -battle line of Helium surged over the opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and -in another moment they were being crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they -fought, but in vain. -</p> - -<p> -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last Zodangan -surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners were marched back to -Helium, and we entered the greater city’s gates, a huge triumphal -procession of conquering heroes. -</p> - -<p> -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which were the few -men whose duties necessitated that they remain within the city during the -battle. We were greeted with an endless round of applause and showered with -ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious jewels. The city had gone mad -with joy. -</p> - -<p> -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. Never before had -an armed body of green warriors entered the gates of Helium, and that they came -now as friends and allies filled the red men with rejoicing. -</p> - -<p> -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the Heliumites was -evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the loads of ornaments that -were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as we passed up the avenues to the -palace, for even in the face of the ferocious appearance of Woola the populace -pressed close about me. -</p> - -<p> -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of officers who -greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and his jeds with the jeddaks -and jeds of his wild allies, together with myself, dismount and accompany them -to receive from Tardos Mors an expression of his gratitude for our services. -</p> - -<p> -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the palace -stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one of their number -descended to meet us. -</p> - -<p> -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an arrow, -superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler of men. I did not -need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. -</p> - -<p> -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first words sealed -forever the new friendship between the races. -</p> - -<p> -“That Tardos Mors,” he said, earnestly, “may meet the -greatest living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may lay -his hand on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater boon.” -</p> - -<p> -“Jeddak of Helium,” returned Tars Tarkas, “it has remained -for a man of another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning -of friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can understand -you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the sentiments so graciously -expressed.” -</p> - -<p> -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to each spoke -words of friendship and appreciation. -</p> - -<p> -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. -</p> - -<p> -“Welcome, my son,” he said; “that you are granted, gladly, -and without one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all Helium, yes, -on all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem.” -</p> - -<p> -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and father of Dejah -Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors and seemed even more affected -by the meeting than had his father. -</p> - -<p> -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice choked -with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was to later learn, a -reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a fighter that was remarkable even -upon warlike Barsoom. In common with all Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor -could he think of what she had escaped without deep emotion. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap27"></a>CHAPTER XXVII<br/> -FROM JOY TO DEATH</h2> - -<p> -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted and -entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted by ten -thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on the return -journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a small party of -nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to cement more closely the new -bonds of peace and friendship. -</p> - -<p> -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his chieftains -had acknowledged her as his daughter. -</p> - -<p> -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars Tarkas and -Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched to Thark to fetch -them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris and John Carter one. -</p> - -<p> -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of Helium as a -prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed never to tire of heaping -honors upon me, and no day passed that did not bring some new proof of their -love for my princess, the incomparable Dejah Thoris. -</p> - -<p> -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white egg. For -nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak’s Guard had constantly stood -over it, and not a day passed when I was in the city that Dejah Thoris and I -did not stand hand in hand before our little shrine planning for the future, -when the delicate shell should break. -</p> - -<p> -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there talking in -low tones of the strange romance which had woven our lives together and of this -wonder which was coming to augment our happiness and fulfill our hopes. -</p> - -<p> -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching airship, but we -attached no special significance to so common a sight. Like a bolt of lightning -it raced toward Helium until its very speed bespoke the unusual. -</p> - -<p> -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the jeddak, it -circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which must convoy it to the -palace docks. -</p> - -<p> -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the council -chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body. -</p> - -<p> -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and forth -with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned toward us. -</p> - -<p> -“This morning,” he said, “word reached the several -governments of Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no -wireless report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. -</p> - -<p> -“The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in hand -and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand cruisers have -been searching for him until just now one of them returns bearing his dead -body, which was found in the pits beneath his house horribly mutilated by some -assassin. -</p> - -<p> -“I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take -months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already commenced, -and there would be little to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run -as it should and as they all have for hundreds of years; but the worst, we -fear, has happened. The instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure on -all parts of Barsoom—the engine has stopped.” -</p> - -<p> -“My gentlemen,” he concluded, “we have at best three days to -live.” -</p> - -<p> -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble arose, -and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed Tardos Mors. -</p> - -<p> -“The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to show -them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a thousand -useful years still lay before us.” -</p> - -<p> -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do than to -allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways with smiles upon -our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. -</p> - -<p> -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached Dejah -Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. -</p> - -<p> -“We have been very happy, John Carter,” she said, “and I -thank whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together.” -</p> - -<p> -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, but on the -morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the higher altitudes of -the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people. All -business had ceased. For the most part the people looked bravely into the face -of their unalterable doom. Here and there, however, men and women gave way to -quiet grief. -</p> - -<p> -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb and within -an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into the -unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. -</p> - -<p> -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had collected in -a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. We conversed in low -tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the grim shadow of death crept -over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the weight of the impending calamity, for he -pressed close to Dejah Thoris and to me, whining pitifully. -</p> - -<p> -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at request of -Dejah Thoris and she sat gazing longingly upon the unknown little life that now -she would never know. -</p> - -<p> -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, saying, -</p> - -<p> -“Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom are -over. Tomorrow’s sun will look down upon a dead world which through all -eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not even by memories. It -is the end.” -</p> - -<p> -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand upon -the shoulders of the men. -</p> - -<p> -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head was -drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. With a cry I -sprang to her and raised her in my arms. -</p> - -<p> -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. -</p> - -<p> -“Kiss me, John Carter,” she murmured. “I love you! I love -you! It is cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life -of love and happiness.” -</p> - -<p> -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable power and -authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang to life in my -veins. -</p> - -<p> -“It shall not be, my princess,” I cried. “There is, there -must be some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange -world for love of you, will find it.” -</p> - -<p> -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind a series -of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of lightning in the darkness their -full purport dawned upon me—the key to the three great doors of the -atmosphere plant! -</p> - -<p> -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love to my -breast I cried. -</p> - -<p> -“A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace top. I -can save Barsoom yet.” -</p> - -<p> -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing to the -nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at the rooftop they -managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout machine that the skill of -Barsoom had ever produced. -</p> - -<p> -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would have -followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old agility and -strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I was headed -toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. -</p> - -<p> -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a straight course -across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only a few feet above the ground. -</p> - -<p> -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time with -death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I turned for a last -look as I left the palace garden I had seen her stagger and sink upon the -ground beside the little incubator. That she had dropped into the last coma -which would end in death, if the air supply remained unreplenished, I well -knew, and so, throwing caution to the winds, I flung overboard everything but -the engine and compass, even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly along the -deck with one hand on the steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever -to its last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a -meteor. -</p> - -<p> -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed suddenly -before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the ground before the small -door which was withholding the spark of life from the inhabitants of an entire -planet. -</p> - -<p> -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the wall, but -they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and now most of them lay in -the last sleep from which not even air would awaken them. -</p> - -<p> -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with difficulty -that I breathed at all. There were a few men still conscious, and to one of -these I spoke. -</p> - -<p> -“If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the -engines?” I asked. -</p> - -<p> -“I can,” he replied, “if you open quickly. I can last but a -few moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else upon -Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days men crazed with -fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts to solve its -mystery.” -</p> - -<p> -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with difficulty that -I controlled my mind at all. -</p> - -<p> -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the nine -thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had crawled to my side -and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel before us we waited in the -silence of death. -</p> - -<p> -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and follow it but -I was too weak. -</p> - -<p> -“After it,” I cried to my companion, “and if you reach the -pump room turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to exist -tomorrow!” -</p> - -<p> -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and as I saw the -hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees through the last doorway I -sank unconscious upon the ground. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2><a name="chap28"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII<br/> -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE</h2> - -<p> -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments were upon my -body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me as I rose to a sitting -posture. -</p> - -<p> -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was clothed, -though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had been naked. Before -me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed through a ragged aperture. -</p> - -<p> -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets and in one of -these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled paper. One of these matches I -struck, and its dim flame lighted up what appeared to be a huge cave, toward -the back of which I discovered a strange, still figure huddled over a tiny -bench. As I approached it I saw that it was the dead and mummified remains of a -little old woman with long black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small -charcoal burner upon which rested a round copper vessel containing a small -quantity of greenish powder. -</p> - -<p> -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and stretching -entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. From the thong which -held them stretched another to the dead hand of the little old woman; as I -touched the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a noise as of the -rustling of dry leaves. -</p> - -<p> -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into the fresh -air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. -</p> - -<p> -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which ran before -the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. -</p> - -<p> -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains in the -distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the cacti-studded -valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarce believe my eyes, but the truth -slowly forced itself upon me—I was looking upon Arizona from the same -ledge from which ten years before I had gazed with longing upon Mars. -</p> - -<p> -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the trail from -the cave. -</p> - -<p> -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, forty-eight -million miles away. -</p> - -<p> -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach the people of -that distant planet in time to save them? Was my Dejah Thoris alive, or did her -beautiful body lie cold in death beside the tiny golden incubator in the sunken -garden of the inner courtyard of the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of -Helium? -</p> - -<p> -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. For ten -years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the world of my lost love. I -would rather lie dead beside her there than live on Earth all those millions of -terrible miles from her. -</p> - -<p> -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously wealthy; but what -care I for wealth! -</p> - -<p> -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, just twenty -years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon Mars. -</p> - -<p> -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my desk, and -tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not called before since that -long dead night, and I think I can see, across that awful abyss of space, a -beautiful black-haired woman standing in the garden of a palace, and at her -side is a little boy who puts his arm around her as she points into the sky -toward the planet Earth, while at their feet is a huge and hideous creature -with a heart of gold. -</p> - -<p> -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me that I -shall soon know. -</p> - -</div><!--end chapter--> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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KRAMER, Attorney -CompuServe: 72600,2026 - Internet: 72600.2026@compuserve.com - Tel: (212) 254-5093 - -WRITE TO US! We can be reached at: - -Internet: dircompg@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu -Bitnet: pgdircom@uiucvmd -CompuServe: >internet:dircompg@.vmd.cso.uiuc.edu -Attmail: internet!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!dircompg - -or -Project Gutenberg -Illinois Benedictine College -5700 College Road -Lisle, IL 60532 - -Drafted by CHARLES B. KRAMER, Attorney -CompuServe: 72600,2026 - Internet: 72600.2026@compuserve.com - Tel: (212) 254-5093 -*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.08.29.92*END* - - - - - - -The Project Gutenberg Etext of A PRINCESS OF MARS - -by Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - - - -CHAPTER I - - - - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am -a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have -never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. -So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man -of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and -more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever; -that some day I shall die the real death from which there is -no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, -I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the -same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is -because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so -convinced of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write -down the story of the interesting periods of my life and of -my death. I cannot explain the phenomena;I can only set -down here in the words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a -chronicle of the strange events that befell me during the ten -years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona -cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this -manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know -that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot -grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, -the pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal -liar when I am but telling the simple truths which some day -science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions which I -gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down -in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the -mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no -longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack -Carter of Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found -myself possessed of several hundred thousand dollars -(Confederate) and a captain's commission in the cavalry arm -of an army which no longer existed; the servant of a state -which had vanished with the hopes of the South. Masterless, -penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and -attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another -Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. -We were extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of -1865, after many hardships and privations, we located the -most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest -dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining engineer -by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided -that one of us must return to civilization, purchase the -necessary machinery and return with a sufficient force of -men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with -the mechanical requirements of mining we determined that -it would be best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that -I was to hold down our claim against the remote possibility -of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on -two of our burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted -his horse, and started down the mountainside toward the -valley, across which led the first stage of his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly -all Arizona mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see -him and his little pack animals picking their way down the -mountainside toward the valley, and all during the morning I -would catch occasional glimpses of them as they topped a hog -back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight of -Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the -shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across -the valley and was much surprised to note three little dots -in about the same place I had last seen my friend and his -two pack animals. I am not given to needless worrying, but -the more I tried to convince myself that all was well with -Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his trail were -antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a -hostile Indian, and we had, therefore, become careless in the -extreme, and were wont to ridicule the stories we had -heard of the great numbers of these vicious marauders that -were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in lives -and torture of every white party which fell into their -merciless clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an -experienced Indian fighter; but I too had lived and fought -for years among the Sioux in the North, and I knew that his -chances were small against a party of cunning trailing -Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no longer, -and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a -carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and -catching my saddle horse, started down the trail taken by -Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged -my mount into a canter and continued this, where the going -permitted, until, close upon dusk, I discovered the point -where other tracks joined those of Powell. They were the -tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies had -been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was -forced to await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity -to speculate on the question of the wisdom of my chase. -Possibly I had conjured up impossible dangers, like -some nervous old housewife, and when I should catch up -with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. -However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following -of a sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a -kind of fetich with me throughout my life; which may account -for the honors bestowed upon me by three republics and the -decorations and friendships of an old and powerful emperor -and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword has -been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for -me to proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following -the trail at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk -trot until, about midnight, I reached the water hole where -Powell had expected to camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, -finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of having been -recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing -horsemen, for such I was now convinced they must be, continued -after Powell with only a brief stop at the hole for water; -and always at the same rate of speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that -they wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure -of the torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most -dangerous pace, hoping against hope that I would catch up -with the red rascals before they attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint -report of two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell -would need me now if ever, and I instantly urged my -horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and difficult -mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without -hearing further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched -onto a small, open plateau near the summit of the pass. I -had passed through a narrow, overhanging gorge just before -entering suddenly upon this table land, and the sight which -met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian -tepees, and there were probably half a thousand red warriors -clustered around some object near the center of the camp. -Their attention was so wholly riveted to this point of interest -that they did not notice me, and I easily could have -turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and made -my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes -any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration -of this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which -constitutes heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances -that my voluntary acts have placed me face to face with -death, I cannot recall a single one where any alternative -step to that I took occurred to me until many hours later. -My mind is evidently so constituted that I am subconsciously -forced into the path of duty without recourse to tiresome -mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was -the center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first -I do not know, but within an instant from the moment the -scene broke upon my view I had whipped out my revolvers -and was charging down upon the entire army of warriors, -shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for -the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not less -than a regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled -in every direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me -with apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the -Arizona moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the -hostile arrows of the braves. That he was already dead I -could not but be convinced, and yet I would have saved his -body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches as -quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, -and grasping his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers -of my mount. A backward glance convinced me that to -return by the way I had come would be more hazardous -than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which -I could distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone -and I was pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. -The fact that it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations -accurately by moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden -and unexpected manner of my advent, and that I was a -rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach -the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly -pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew -that I had probably less knowledge of the exact location of -the trail to the pass than he, and thus it happened that he -entered a defile which led to the summit of the range and not -to the pass which I had hoped would carry me to the -valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and -adventures which befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came -when I heard the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly -grow fainter and fainter far off to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged -rock formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of -which my horse had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the -trail below and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing -savages disappearing around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were -on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed -in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what -seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of -a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward -and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff -arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left -was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom -of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards -when a sharp turn to the right brought me to the mouth of -a large cave. The opening was about four feet in height and -three to four feet wide, and at this opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn -which is a startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become -daylight almost without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most -painstaking examination failed to reveal the faintest spark -of life. I forced water from my canteen between his dead -lips, bathed his face and rubbed his hands, working over him -continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of -the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in -every respect; a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and -true friend; and it was with a feeling of the deepest grief that -I finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept -into the cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, -possibly a hundred feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet -in height; a smooth and well-worn floor, and many other -evidences that the cave had, at some remote period, been inhabited. -The back of the cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not -distinguish whether there were openings into other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel -a pleasant drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed -to the fatigue of my long and strenuous ride, and the reaction -from the excitement of the fight and the pursuit. I felt -comparatively safe in my present location as I knew that -one man could defend the trail to the cave against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the -strong desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for -a few moments' rest, but I knew that this would never do, as -it would mean certain death at the hands of my red friends, -who might be upon me at any moment. With an effort I -started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles -relaxed, and I was on the point of giving way to my desire -to sleep when the sound of approaching horses reached my -ears. I attempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to -discover that my muscles refused to respond to my will. I was -now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I -noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely -tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led to -daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent -odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by -some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental -faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see -the short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the -turn of the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the -approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were -creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to -my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make -short work of me as I did not particularly relish the thought -of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me -of their nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked -face was thrust cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and -savage eyes looked into mine. That he could see me in the -dim light of the cave I was sure for the early morning sun was -falling full upon me through the opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; -his eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another -savage face appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning -their necks over the shoulders of their fellows whom they -could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face was the -picture of awe and fear, but for what reason I did not know, -nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were still -other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from -the fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those -behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the -recesses of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of -the Indians, they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So -frantic were their efforts to escape from the unseen thing -behind me that one of the braves was hurled headlong from -the cliff to the rocks below. Their wild cries echoed in the -canyon for a short time, and then all was still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but -it had been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the -possible horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear -is a relative term and so I can only measure my feelings at -that time by what I had experienced in previous positions of -danger and by those that I have passed through since; but I can -say without shame that if the sensations I endured during the -next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible -and unknown danger from the very sound of which the -ferocious Apache warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of -sheep would madly flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me -the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man who had -ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of a -powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as -of somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these -ceased, and I was left to the contemplation of my position -without interruption. I could but vaguely conjecture the cause -of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in that it might pass off -as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing -with dragging rein before the cave, started slowly down the -trail, evidently in search of food and water, and I was left -alone with my mysterious unknown companion and the dead -body of my friend, which lay just within my range of vision -upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the -silence of the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the -morning broke upon my startled ears, and there came again -from the black shadows the sound of a moving thing, and a -faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to my already -overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. -It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not -muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little -finger, but none the less mighty for all that. And then -something gave, there was a momentary feeling of nausea, a sharp -click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and I stood with my -back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before -me lay my own body as it had been lying all these hours, -with the eyes staring toward the open ledge and the hands -resting limply upon the ground. I looked first at my lifeless -clay there upon the floor of the cave and then down at myself -in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet here I -stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that -it left me for a moment forgetful of aught else than my -strange metamorphosis. My first thought was, is this then -death! Have I indeed passed over forever into that other life! -But I could not well believe this, as I could feel my heart -pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my efforts to -release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out -from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of -pinching revealed the fact that I was anything other than a -wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings -by a repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the -cave. Naked and unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face -the unseen thing which menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for -some unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. -My carbine was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my -horse had wandered off I was left without means of defense. -My only alternative seemed to lie in flight and my decision -was crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling sound from -the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the cave and -to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible -place I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight -of a clear Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air -outside the cave acted as an immediate tonic and I felt new -life and new courage coursing through me. Pausing upon the -brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what now seemed -to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with -myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the -cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, -when permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, -convinced me that the noises I had heard must have resulted -from purely natural and harmless causes; probably the -conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my -lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. -As I did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista -of rocky gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the -moonlight into a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties -of an Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in -the distance, the strange lights and shadows upon hog back -and arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful -cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as -though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of some -dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the -landscape to the heavens where the myriad stars formed a -gorgeous and fitting canopy for the wonders of the earthly -scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star -close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell -of overpowering fascination--it was Mars, the god of war, -and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone -night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me -to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed -my eyes, stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation -and felt myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through -the trackless immensity of space. There was an instant of -extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I -knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my -sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching -here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was -upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon -Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, -mosslike vegetation which stretched around me in all directions -for interminable miles. I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular -basin, along the outer verge of which I could distinguish the -irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the -heat of it was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no -greater than would have been true under similar conditions on -an Arizona desert. Here and there were slight outcroppings -of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the sunlight; and -a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a low, -walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and -no other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I -was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, -for the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing -upright, carried me into the Martian air to the height of about -three yards. I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without -appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced a series of -evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. -I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the muscular -exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my -attempts to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me -clear of the ground a couple of feet at each step and landed -me sprawling upon my face or back at the end of each second -or third hop. My muscles, perfectly attuned and accustomed -to the force of gravity on Earth, played the mischief with me -in attempting for the first time to cope with the lesser gravitation -and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure -which was the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I -hit upon the unique plan of reverting to first principles in -locomotion, creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a few -moments had reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side -nearest me, but as the wall was but about four feet high I -cautiously gained my feet and peered over the top upon the -strangest sight it had ever been given me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or -five inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred -large eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were -nearly uniform in size being about two and one-half feet in -diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures -which sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause -me to doubt my sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little -scrawny bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as I afterward -learned, two legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of -limbs which could be used at will either as arms or legs. Their -eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a trifle above -the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of -each other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any -direction, or in two directions at once, without the necessity -of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, -were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on -these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in -the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very -light yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn -quite soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker -in the male than in the female. Further, the heads of the -adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies as in the -case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the -pupil is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. -These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise -fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks -curve upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes -of earthly human beings are located. The whiteness of the -teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming -of china. Against the dark background of their olive -skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making -these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little -time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had -seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I -stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their -shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown -Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, -which covers practically the entire surface of Mars with the -exception of the frozen areas at the poles and the scattered -cultivated districts, they might have captured me easily, but -their intentions were far more sinister. It was the rattling of -the accouterments of the foremost warrior which warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that -I escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the -party swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a -way as to strike against the butt of his great metal shod spear -I should have snuffed out without ever knowing that death was -near me. But the little sound caused me to turn, and there -upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of that -huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming -metal, and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the -little devils I had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this -huge and terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of -death. The man himself, for such I may call him, was fully -fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed some -four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, -grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while the -hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the -side of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally -to help preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither -bridle or reins of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It -towered ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either -side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and -which it held straight out behind while running; a gaping -mouth which split its head from its snout to its long, massive -neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a -dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly -was white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders -and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were -heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed -to the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common -with a multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the -fauna of Mars. The highest type of man and one other animal, -the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed -nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence -there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, -similar in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing -individual characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as -no two of us are identical although we are all cast in a similar -mold. This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which -I have described at length, made but one terrible and swift -impression on me as I turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested -itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, -and that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of -the charging spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at -the same time superhuman leap to reach the top of the -Martian incubator, for such I had determined it must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me -no less than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it -carried me fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a -hundred feet from my pursuers and on the opposite side of -the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, -and turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. -Some were surveying me with expressions which I afterward -discovered marked extreme astonishment, and the others were -evidently satisfying themselves that I had not molested their -young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and -gesticulating and pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had -not harmed the little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have -caused them to look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was -to learn later, the thing which weighed most in my favor was -my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large -and they are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation -which they must overcome. The result is that they are infinitely -less agile and less powerful, in proportion to their weight, -than an Earth man, and I doubt that were one of them suddenly -to be transported to Earth he could lift his own weight from -the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have -been upon Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they -suddenly looked upon me as a wonderful discovery to be -captured and exhibited among their fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted -me to formulate plans for the immediate future and to note -more closely the appearance of the warriors, for I could not -disassociate these people in my mind from those other -warriors who, only the day before, had been pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in -addition to the huge spear which I have described. The -weapon which caused me to decide against an attempt at -escape by flight was what was evidently a rifle of some -description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which -I learned later was a very light and intensely hard growth -much prized on Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens -of Earth. The metal of the barrel is an alloy composed -principally of aluminum and steel which they have learned -to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles -which they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are -deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable -on Earth. The theoretic effective radius of this rifle is -three hundred miles, but the best they can do in actual -service when equipped with their wireless finders and -sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for -the Martian firearm, and some telepathic force must have -warned me against an attempt to escape in broad daylight -from under the muzzles of twenty of these death-dealing -machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and -rode away in the direction from which they had come, leaving -one of their number alone by the enclosure. When they had -covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and turning -their mounts toward us sat watching the warrior by the -enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, -and was evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that -they seemed to have moved to their present position at his -direction. When his force had come to a halt he dismounted, -threw down his spear and small arms, and came around the -end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed and as -naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an -enormous metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the -open palm of his hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant -voice, but in a language, it is needless to say, I could not -understand. He then stopped as though waiting for my reply, -pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking -eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was -making overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons -and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward -me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on -Earth, so why not, then, on Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian -and explained to him that while I did not understand his -language, his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that -at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course -I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence -my speech carried to him, but he understood the action with -which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the -armlet from his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the -elbow; smiled at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth -spread into an answering smile, and locking one of his -intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back toward -his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked -by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be -really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me -that I would ride behind one of them, and then mounted his -own animal. The fellow designated reached down two or -three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy -back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments. - - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward -the range of hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -A PRISONER - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to -rise very rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the -edge of one of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which -my encounter with the Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and -after traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the -far extremity of which was a low table land upon which I -beheld an enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it -by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the -city, but only to the edge of the table land, where it ended -abruptly in a flight of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the -buildings were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had -the appearance of not having been tenanted for years, possibly -for ages. Toward the center of the city was a large plaza, and -upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it -were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same -breed as my captors, for such I now considered them despite -the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The -women varied in appearance but little from the men, except -that their tusks were much larger in proportion to their height, -in some instances curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their -bodies were smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers -and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely -lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in height -from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the -women, and all looked precisely alike to me, except that some -were taller than others; older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any -appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of -maturity, about forty, until, at about the age of one thousand -years, they go voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage -down the river Iss, which leads no living Martian knows -whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned, -or would be allowed to live did he return after once embarking -upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or -disease, and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. -The other nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths -in duels, in hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far -the greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood, -when vast numbers of the little Martians fall victims -to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of -maturity is about three hundred years, but would be nearer -the one-thousand mark were it not for the various means -leading to violent death. Owing to the waning resources -of the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract -the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come -to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their -dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between -the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a -diminution of population, but nothing contributes so greatly -to this end as the fact that no male or female Martian is ever -voluntarily without a weapon of destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we -were immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures -who seemed anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my -guard. A word from the leader of the party stilled their -clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the -entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested -upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It -was constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold -and brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the -sunlight. The main entrance was some hundred feet in width -and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy -above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a gentle -incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly -carved wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty -or fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the -platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded -with metal ornaments, gay-colored feathers and beautifully -wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones. -From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined -with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage -and the hall in which they were congregated was the fact -that the creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks, -chairs, and other furnishings; these being of a size adapted to -human beings such as I, whereas the great bulks of the -Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs, nor was -there room beneath the desks for their long legs. Evidently, -then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the -evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me -indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some -long-extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at -a sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. -Again locking his arm in mine, we had proceeded into the -audience chamber. There were few formalities observed in -approaching the Martian chieftain. My captor merely strode -up to the rostrum, the others making way for him as he -advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name -of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of -the ruler followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered -meant nothing to me, but later I came to know that this was -the customary greeting between green Martians. Had the men -been strangers, and therefore unable to exchange names, they -would have silently exchanged ornaments, had their missions -been peaceful--otherwise they would have exchanged shots, -or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the -vice-chieftain of the community, and a man of great ability as -a statesman and warrior. He evidently explained briefly the -incidents connected with his expedition, including my capture, -and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at -some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to -convince him that neither of us could understand the other; -but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on concluding, he did -likewise. This fact, and the similar occurrence during my first -talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me that we had at least -something in common; the ability to smile, therefore to laugh; -denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that the -Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian -laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are -widely at variance with our conceptions of incitants to -merriment. The death agonies of a fellow being are, to these -strange creatures provocative of the wildest hilarity, while -their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death -on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible -ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, -feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal -chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform, -and, motioning me to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for -the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal -failure, except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and -so now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks -and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper. After bruising -myself severely, much to the amusement of the Martians, I -again had recourse to creeping, but this did not suit them and -I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering fellow who had -laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent -close to mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do -under the circumstances of brutality, boorishness, and lack of -consideration for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely -to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to -the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest -desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his -fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the -unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, -at first struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild -peals of laughter and applause. I did not recognize the -applause as such, but later, when I had become acquainted -with their customs, I learned that I had won what they seldom -accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor -did any of his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced -toward me, holding out one of his arms, and we thus proceeded -to the plaza without further mishap. I did not, of course, -know the reason for which we had come to the open, but I -was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated -the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made -several jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, -turning to me, he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and -gathering myself together I "sakked" with such marvelous -success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I -this time, lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my -feet without falling. I then returned by easy jumps of twenty- -five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser -Martians, and they immediately broke into demands for a -repetition, which the chieftain then ordered me to make; but -I was both hungry and thirsty, and determined on the spot -that my only method of salvation was to demand the -consideration from these creatures which they evidently would -not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated -commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned -to my mouth and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the -former, calling to a young female among the throng, gave -her some instructions and motioned me to accompany her. I -grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza -toward a large building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just -arrived at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of -a light olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her -name, as I afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to -the retinue of Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious -chamber in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza, and -which, from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor, I took -to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows -and was beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, -but upon all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch -of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the -architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing -in common with the crude half-brutes which now occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near -the center of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing -sound, as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room. -In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new -Martian wonder. It waddled in on its ten short legs, and -squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy. The -thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head bore -a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws -were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a -word or two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. -I could not but wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity -might do when left alone in such close proximity to such a -relatively tender morsel of meat; but my fears were groundless, -as the beast, after surveying me intently for a moment, crossed -the room to the only exit which led to the street, and lay down -full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but -it was destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me -carefully during the time I remained a captive among these -green men; twice saving my life, and never voluntarily being -away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more -minutely the room in which I found myself captive. The -mural painting depicted scenes of rare and wonderful beauty; -mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, -winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens--scenes which might -have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a -master hand, so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; -yet nowhere was there a representation of a living animal, -either human or brute, by which I could guess at the likeness -of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture -on the possible explanation of the strange anomalies which -I had so far met with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both -food and drink. These she placed on the floor beside me, -and seating herself a short ways off regarded me intently. -The food consisted of about a pound of some solid substance of -the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, while the liquid -was apparently milk from some animal. It was not unpleasant -to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short time -to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from -an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one -very rare indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically -without water, but seems to distill its plentiful supply of -milk from the products of the soil, the moisture of the air, -and the rays of the sun. A single plant of this species will give -eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the -need of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon -asleep. I must have slept several hours, as it was dark when -I awoke, and I was very cold. I noticed that someone had -thrown a fur over me, but it had become partially dislodged -and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. Suddenly a -hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly afterwards -adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was -I wrong. This girl alone, among all the green Martians with -whom I came in contact, disclosed characteristics of sympathy, -kindliness, and affection; her ministrations to my bodily wants -were unfailing, and her solicitous care saved me from much -suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, -and as there is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes -in temperature are sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the -transitions from brilliant daylight to darkness. The nights are -either brilliantly illumined or very dark, for if neither of the -two moons of Mars happen to be in the sky almost total -darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, rather, the -very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in -the heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly -illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our -moon to Earth; the nearer moon being but about five thousand -miles distant, while the further is but little more than -fourteen thousand miles away, against the nearly one-quarter -million miles which separate us from our moon. The nearer -moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be -seen hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or -three times each night, revealing all her phases during each -transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over -thirty and one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite -makes a nocturnal Martian scene one of splendid and weird -grandeur. And it is well that nature has so graciously and -abundantly lighted the Martian night, for the green men of -Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual development, -have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil -lamp which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching -white light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only -be obtained by mining in one of several widely separated and -remote localities it is seldom used by these creatures whose -only thought is for today, and whose hatred for manual labor -has kept them in a semi-barbaric state for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor -did I awaken until daylight. The other occupants of the room, -five in number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, -piled high with a motley array of silks and furs. Across the -threshold lay stretched the sleepless guardian brute, just as I -had last seen him on the preceding day; apparently he had not -moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued upon me, and I -fell to wondering just what might befall me should I endeavor -to escape. -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate -and experiment where wiser men would have left well enough -alone. It therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of -learning the exact attitude of this beast toward me would be -to attempt to leave the room. I felt fairly secure in my belief -that I could escape him should he pursue me once I was -outside the building, for I had begun to take great pride in -my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from the -shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to -see that my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced -toward him, finding that by moving with a shuffling gait I -could retain my balance as well as make reasonably rapid -progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously away -from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one -side to let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed -about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the -deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, -but when we reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang -before me, uttering strange sounds and baring his ugly and -ferocious tusks. Thinking to have some amusement at his -expense, I rushed toward him, and when almost upon him -sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away from -the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short -legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been coursing with -greyhounds the latter would have appeared as though asleep -on a door mat. As I was to learn, this is the fleetest animal -on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, and ferocity is -used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the -fangs of the beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his -charge by doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he -was almost upon me. This maneuver gave me a considerable -advantage, and I was able to reach the city quite a bit ahead -of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for a window -about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture -without looking into the building, and gazed down at the -baffled animal beneath me. My exultation was short-lived, -however, for scarcely had I gained a secure seat upon the sill -than a huge hand grasped me by the neck from behind and -dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown upon -my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like -creature, white and hairless except for an enormous shock of -bristly hair upon its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men -than it did the Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the -ground with one huge foot, while it jabbered and gesticulated -at some answering creature behind me. This other, which was -evidently its mate, soon came toward us, bearing a mighty -stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing -erect, and had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set -of arms or legs, midway between their upper and lower limbs. -Their eyes were close together and non-protruding; their ears -were high set, but more laterally located than those of the -Martians, while their snouts and teeth were strikingly like -those of our African gorilla. Altogether they were not unlovely -when viewed in comparison with the green Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my -upturned face when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself -through the doorway full upon the breast of my executioner. -With a shriek of fear the ape which held me leaped through -the open window, but its mate closed in a terrific death -struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so -hideous a creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against -the wall I witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few -beings to see. The strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these -two creatures is approached by nothing known to earthly man. -My beast had an advantage in his first hold, having sunk his -mighty fangs far into the breast of his adversary; but the -great arms and paws of the ape, backed by muscles far -transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had locked -the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his -life, and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where -I momentarily expected the former to fall limp at the end of a -broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire -front of its breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the -powerful jaws. Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, -neither one emitting a sound of fear or pain. Presently I saw -the great eyes of my beast bulging completely from their -sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. That he was -weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct -which seems ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the -cudgel, which had fallen to the floor at the commencement of -the battle, and swinging it with all the power of my earthly -arms I crashed it full upon the head of the ape, crushing his -skull as though it had been an eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted -with a new danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first -shock of terror, had returned to the scene of the encounter -by way of the interior of the building. I glimpsed him just -before he reached the doorway and the sight of him, now -roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched upon the -floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his rage, -filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not -too overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived -neither glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength -against the iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged -denizen of an unknown world; in fact, the only outcome -of such an encounter, so far as I might be concerned, -seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in -the street I might gain the plaza and safety before the creature -could overtake me; at least there was a chance for safety in -flight, against almost certain death should I remain and fight -however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it -against his four great arms? Even should I break one of them -with my first blow, for I figured that he would attempt to ward -off the cudgel, he could reach out and annihilate me with the -others before I could recover for a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind -I had turned to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on -the form of my erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight -to the four winds. He lay gasping upon the floor of the -chamber, his great eyes fastened upon me in what seemed a -pitiful appeal for protection. I could not withstand that look, -nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my rescuer -without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf -as he had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge -of the infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for -the cudgel to prove of any effective assistance, so I merely -threw it as heavily as I could at his advancing bulk. It struck -him just below the knees, eliciting a howl of pain and rage, -and so throwing him off his balance that he lunged full upon -me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly -tactics, and swinging my right fist full upon the point of his -chin I followed it with a smashing left to the pit of his -stomach. The effect was marvelous, for, as I lightly -sidestepped, after delivering the second blow, he reeled -and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and gasping -for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, -and, turning, I beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four -warriors standing in the doorway of the chamber. As my eyes -met theirs I was, for the second time, the recipient of their -zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and -she had quickly informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out -immediately with a handful of warriors to search for me. -As they had approached the limits of the city they had witnessed -the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into the building, -frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it -barely possible that his actions might prove a clew to my -whereabouts and had witnessed my short but decisive battle -with him. This encounter, together with my set-to with the -Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of jumping -placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or -affection, these people fairly worship physical prowess and -bravery, and nothing is too good for the object of their -adoration as long as he maintains his position by repeated -examples of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own -volition, was the only one of the Martians whose face had not -been twisted in laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the -contrary, was sober with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I -had finished the monster, rushed to me and carefully examined -my body for possible wounds or injuries. Satisfying herself -that I had come off unscathed she smiled quietly, and, -taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were -standing over the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved -my life, and whose life I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed -to be deep in argument, and finally one of them addressed me, -but remembering my ignorance of his language turned back to -Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave some command -to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward -my beast, and I hesitated to leave until I had learned the -outcome. It was well I did so, for the warrior drew an -evil looking pistol from its holster and was on the point of -putting an end to the creature when I sprang forward and -struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing of -the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the -wood and masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and -raising it to its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks -of surprise which my actions elicited from the Martians were -ludicrous; they could not understand, except in a feeble and -childish way, such attributes as gratitude and compassion. -The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked enquiringly at -Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my own -devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the -arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who -watched over me with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute -which, as I later came to know, held in its poor ugly carcass -more love, more loyalty, more gratitude than could have been -found in the entire five million green Martians who rove the -deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of -the preceding day and an index of practically every meal -which followed while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola -escorted me to the plaza, where I found the entire community -engaged in watching or helping at the harnessing of huge -mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled chariots. There -were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, each -drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their -appearance, might easily have drawn the entire wagon train -when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and -gorgeously decorated. In each was seated a female Martian -loaded with ornaments of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, -and upon the back of each of the beasts which drew the chariots -was perched a young Martian driver. Like the animals upon which -the warriors were mounted, the heavier draft animals wore neither -bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and -accounts largely for the simplicity of their language and the -relatively few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. -It is the universal language of Mars, through the medium -of which the higher and lower animals of this world of -paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater or less extent, -depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species and the -development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, -Sola dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded -with the procession toward the point by which I had entered -the city the day before. At the head of the caravan rode some -two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like number -brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were -heavily armed, and at the tail of each chariot trotted a -Martian hound, my own beast following closely behind ours; in -fact, the faithful creature never left me voluntarily during the -entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our way led out across the -little valley before the city, through the hills, and down into -the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my journey -from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the -entire cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we -reached the level expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within -sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military -precision on the four sides of the enclosure, and half a score -of warriors, headed by the enormous chieftain, and including -Tars Tarkas and several other lesser chiefs, dismounted and -advanced toward it. I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something -to the principal chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, -as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, -Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, -calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. -I had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under -Martian conditions, and quickly responding to his command -I advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors -stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a -very few eggs had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive -with the hideous little devils. They ranged in height from -three to four feet, and were moving restlessly about the -enclosure as though searching for food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over -the incubator and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to -repeat my performance of yesterday for the edification of -Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess that my prowess gave -me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, leaping entirely -over the parked chariots on the far side of the incubator. As -I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative -to the incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I -was thus permitted to remain close and watch their operations, -which consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of the -incubator large enough to permit of the exit of the young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, -both male and female, formed two solid walls leading out -through the chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. -Between these walls the little Martians scampered, -wild as deer; being permitted to run the full length of the -aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the women -and older children; the last in the line capturing the first little -one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had -left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or -female. As the women caught the young they fell out of line -and returned to their respective chariots, while those who fell -into the hands of the young men were later turned over to -some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such -a name, was over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our -chariot with a hideous little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely -in teaching them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare -with which they are loaded down from the very first year of -their lives. Coming from eggs in which they have lain for -five years, the period of incubation, they step forth into the -world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely unknown -to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are -the common children of the community, and their education -devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as -they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the -incubator, as was the case with Sola, who had not commenced -to lay, until less than a year before she became the mother of -another woman's offspring. But this counts for little among -the green Martians, as parental and filial love is as unknown to -them as it is common among us. I believe this horrible system -which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause of the -loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father -or mother love, they know not the meaning of the word home; -they are taught that they are only suffered to live until they -can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that they are -fit to live. Should they prove deformed or defective in any way -they are promptly shot; nor do they see a tear shed for a -single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from -earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and -pitiless struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural -resources of which have dwindled to a point where the support -of each additional life means an added tax upon the community -into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens -of each species, and with almost supernatural foresight -they regulate the birth rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs -each year, and those which meet the size, weight, and specific -gravity tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean -vault where the temperature is too low for incubation. Every -year these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty -chieftains, and all but about one hundred of the most perfect -are destroyed out of each yearly supply. At the end of five -years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen -from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in -the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays -after a period of another five years. The hatching which we -had witnessed today was a fairly representative event of its -kind, all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching in two -days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing of -the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, as their -offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged -incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained -for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the -proper time for return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there -is little or no likelihood of their being discovered by other -tribes. The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children -in the community for another five years. I was later to witness -the results of the discovery of an alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom -my lot was cast formed a part was composed of some thirty -thousand souls. They roamed an enormous tract of arid and -semi-arid land between forty and eighty degrees south latitude, -and bounded on the east and west by two large fertile tracts. -Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this district, -near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own -territory in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, -we had before us a tremendous journey, concerning which I, -of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in -comparative idleness. On the day following our return all the -warriors had ridden forth early in the morning and had not -returned until just before darkness fell. As I later learned, -they had been to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs -were kept and had transported them to the incubator, which -they had then walled up for another five years, and which, in -all probability, would not be visited again during that period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the -incubator were located many miles south of the incubator, -and would be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. -Why they did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators -nearer home has always been a mystery to me, and, like many -other Martian mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable by earthly -reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to -care for the young Martian as well as for me, but neither one -of us required much attention, and as we were both about -equally advanced in Martian education, Sola took it upon -herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very -strong and physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we -had considerable amusement, at least I did, over the keen -rivalry we displayed. The Martian language, as I have said, -is extremely simple, and in a week I could make all my -wants known and understand nearly everything that was said -to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my -telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense practically -everything that went on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could -catch telepathic messages easily from others, and often when -they were not intended for me, no one could read a jot from -my mind under any circumstances. At first this vexed me, but -later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an undoubted -advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth -toward home, but scarcely had the head of the procession -debouched into the open ground before the city than orders -were given for an immediate and hasty return. As though -trained for years in this particular evolution, the green -Martians melted like mist into the spacious doorways of the -nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, the entire -cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was nowhere -to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, -in fact, the same one in which I had had my encounter -with the apes, and, wishing to see what had caused the sudden -retreat, I mounted to an upper floor and peered from the -window out over the valley and the hills beyond; and there -I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to cover. A huge -craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over the -crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and -another, and another, until twenty of them, swinging low -above the ground, sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern -above the upper works, and upon the prow of each was -painted some odd device that gleamed in the sunlight and -showed plainly even at the distance at which we were from -the vessels. I could see figures crowding the forward decks -and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had discovered -us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not say, -but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly -and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific -volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little -valley across which the great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost -vessel swung broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into -play returned our fire, at the same time moving parallel to -our front for a short distance and then turning back with the -evident intention of completing a great circle which would -bring her up to position once more opposite our firing line; -the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening upon -us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, -and I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It -had never been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, -and it seemed as though a little figure on one of the craft -dropped at the explosion of each bullet, while the banners and -upper works dissolved in spurts of flame as the irresistible -projectiles of our warriors mowed through them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I -afterward learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first -volley, which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and -the sighting apparatus of the guns unprotected from the -deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points -for his fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. -For example, a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, -direct their fire entirely upon the wireless finding and -sighting apparatus of the big guns of an attacking naval -force; another detail attends to the smaller guns in the same -way; others pick off the gunners; still others the officers; -while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon the -other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung -trailing off in the direction from which it had first appeared. -Several of the craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed -but barely under the control of their depleted crews. Their fire -had ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused -upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to the roofs of the -buildings which we occupied and followed the retreating armada -with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the -crests of the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft -was in sight. This had received the brunt of our fire and -seemed to be entirely unmanned, as not a moving figure was -visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung from her course, -circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful manner. -Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite apparent -that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in a -position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control -herself sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the -plain to meet her, but it was evident that she still was too high -for them to hope to reach her decks. From my vantage point in -the window I could see the bodies of her crew strewn about, -although I could not make out what manner of creatures they -might be. Not a sign of life was manifest upon her as she -drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed -by all but some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered -back to the roofs to cover the possibility of a return of the -fleet, or of reinforcements. It soon became evident that she -would strike the face of the buildings about a mile south of -our position, and as I watched the progress of the chase I -saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, -the Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, -and with their great spears eased the shock of the collision, -and in a few moments they had thrown out grappling hooks -and the big boat was being hauled to ground by their fellows -below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched -the vessel from stem to stern. I could see them examining the -dead sailors, evidently for signs of life, and presently a party -of them appeared from below dragging a little figure among -them. The creature was considerably less than half as tall as -the green Martian warriors, and from my balcony I could see -that it walked erect upon two legs and surmised that it was -some new and strange Martian monstrosity with which I had -not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced -a systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required -several hours, during which time a number of the chariots -were requisitioned to transport the loot, which consisted -in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, jewels, strangely carved -stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods and liquids, -including many casks of water, the first I had seen since my -advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made -lines fast to the craft and towed her far out into the valley in -a southwesterly direction. A few of them then boarded her and -were busily engaged in what appeared, from my distant position, -as the emptying of the contents of various carboys upon the -dead bodies of the sailors and over the decks and works -of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her -sides, sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last -warrior to leave the deck turned and threw something back -upon the vessel, waiting an instant to note the outcome of -his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose from the point where -the missile struck he swung over the side and was quickly -upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneous released, and the great warship, lightened -by the removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, -her decks and upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher -as the flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the -weight upon her. Ascending to the roof of the building I -watched her for hours, until finally she was lost in the dim -vistas of the distance. The sight was awe-inspiring in the -extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, -drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes of -the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, -typifying the life story of these strange and ferocious -creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly -descended to the street. The scene I had witnessed seemed -to mark the defeat and annihilation of the forces of a kindred -people, rather than the routing by our green warriors of -a horde of similar, though unfriendly, creatures. I could not -fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I free myself -from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my -soul I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, -and a mighty hope surged through me that the fleet would -return and demand a reckoning from the green warriors -who had so ruthlessly and wantonly attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed -Woola, the hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola -rushed up to me as though I had been the object of some -search on her part. The cavalcade was returning to the plaza, -the homeward march having been given up for that day; nor, -in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be -caught upon the open plains with a caravan of chariots and -children, and so we remained at the deserted city until the -danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which -filled my whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, -fear, exultation, and depression, and yet most dominant -was a subtle sense of relief and happiness; for just -as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a glimpse of -the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green -Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, -girlish figure, similar in every detail to the earthly women -of my past life. She did not see me at first, but just as she -was disappearing through the portal of the building which -was to be her prison she turned, and her eyes met mine. -Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her every -feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, -waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. -Her skin was of a light reddish copper color, against which -the crimson glow of her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully -molded lips shone with a strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who -accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments -she was entirely naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced -the beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in -astonishment, and she made a little sign with her free hand; -a sign which I did not, of course, understand. Just a moment -we gazed upon each other, and then the look of hope and -renewed courage which had glorified her face as she -discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled -with loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her -signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively -felt that she had made an appeal for succor and protection -which my unfortunate ignorance had prevented me from answering. -And then she was dragged out of my sight into the depths of the -deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had -witnessed this encounter and I was surprised to note a -strange expression upon her usually expressionless -countenance. What her thoughts were I did not know, -for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; -enough only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise -awaited me. A warrior approached bearing the arms, -ornaments, and full accouterments of his kind. These he -presented to me with a few unintelligible words, and a -bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, -remodeled the trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and -after they completed the work I went about garbed in all the -panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the -various weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several -hours each day practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet -proficient with all the weapons, but my great familiarity -with similar earthly weapons made me an unusually apt -pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was -conducted solely by the women, who not only attend to the -education of the young in the arts of individual defense -and offense, but are also the artisans who produce every -manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They make -the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything -of value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare -they form a part of the reserves, and when the necessity -arises fight with even greater intelligence and ferocity -than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; -in strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. -They make the laws as they are needed; a new law for -each emergency. They are unfettered by precedent in -the administration of justice. Customs have been handed -down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of -the culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom -misses fire, but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to -the ascendency of law. In one respect at least the Martians -are a happy people; they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent -to our first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting -glimpse of her as she was being conducted to the great -audience chamber where I had had my first meeting with -Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the unnecessary -harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola -manifested toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few -green Martians who took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her -that the prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this -convinced me that they spoke, or at least could make -themselves understood by a common language. With this added -incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by my importunities -to hasten on my education and within a few more days -I had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable -me to carry on a passable conversation and to fully understand -practically all that I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three -or four females and a couple of the recently hatched young, -beside Sola and her youthful ward, myself, and Woola the -hound. After they had retired for the night it was customary -for the adults to carry on a desultory conversation for a -short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I could -understand their language I was always a keen listener, -although I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience -chamber the conversation finally fell upon this subject, and -I was all ears on the instant. I had feared to question Sola -relative to the beautiful captive, as I could not but recall the -strange expression I had noted upon her face after my first -encounter with the prisoner. That it denoted jealousy I could -not say, and yet, judging all things by mundane standards -as I still did, I felt it safer to affect indifference in the matter -until I learned more surely Sola's attitude toward the object -of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, -had been present at the audience as one of the captive's -guards, and it was toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the -death throes of the red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, -intend holding her for ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, -and exhibit her last agonies at the great games before Tal -Hajus," replied Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired -Sola. "She is very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that -they would hold her for ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence -of weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years -ago," snapped Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land -were filled with water, and the peoples were as soft as the -stuff they sailed upon. In our day we have progressed to a -point where such sentiments mark weakness and atavism. It -will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt -that he would care to entrust such as you with the -grave responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in -this red woman," retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, -nor would she should we have fallen into her hands. it is -only the men of her kind who war upon us, and I have ever -thought that their attitude toward us is but the reflection -of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their fellows, -except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we -are at peace with none; forever warring among our own -kind as well as upon the red men, and even in our own -communities the individuals fight amongst themselves. -Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the -time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of -the river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us -to an unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible -existence! Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an -early death. Say what you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete -out no worse fate to me than a continuation of the horrible -existence we are forced to lead in this life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised -and shocked the other women, that, after a few words of -general reprimand, they all lapsed into silence and were -soon asleep. One thing the episode had accomplished was -to assure me of Sola's friendliness toward the poor girl, and -also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other -females. I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I -had discovered that she hated cruelty and barbarity I was -confident that I could depend upon her to aid me and the -girl captive to escape, provided of course that such a thing -was within the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions -to escape to, but I was more than willing to take my chances -among people fashioned after my own mold rather than -to remain longer among the hideous and bloodthirsty green -men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much of a -puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal -life has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola -into my confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with -this resolution strong upon me I turned among my silks and -furs and slept the dreamless and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X - - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was -allowed me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did -not attempt to leave the city I was free to go and come as -I pleased. She had warned me, however, against venturing forth -unarmed, as this city, like all other deserted metropolises of -an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled by the great -white apes of my second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of -the city Sola had explained that Woola would prevent this -anyway should I attempt it, and she warned me most urgently -not to arouse his fierce nature by ignoring his warnings -should I venture too close to the forbidden territory. His -nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back into -the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when -suddenly I found myself at the limits of the city. Before -me were low hills pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. -I longed to explore the country before me, and, like the -pioneer stock from which I sprang, to view what the -landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose -from the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent -opportunity to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced -that the brute loved me; I had seen more evidences of affection -in him than in any other Martian animal, man or beast, -and I was sure that gratitude for the acts that had twice -saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty to the -duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously -before me, and thrust his body against my legs. His expression -was pleading rather than ferocious, nor did he bare his -great tusks or utter his fearful guttural warnings. Denied -the friendship and companionship of my kind, I had developed -considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the normal -earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this -great brute, sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon -the ground and putting my arms around his heavy neck I -stroked and coaxed him, talking in my newly acquired -Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at home, as I -would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was -remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its -full width, baring the entire expanse of his upper rows of -tusks and wrinkling his snout until his great eyes were -almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have ever seen a -collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at -my feet; jumped up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon -the ground by his great weight; then wriggling and squirming -around me like a playful puppy presenting its back for -the petting it craves. I could not resist the ludicrousness -of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and forth -in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; -the first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp -when his horse, long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly -bucked him off headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he -crawled pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into -my lap; and then I remembered what laughter signified on -Mars--torture, suffering, death. Quieting myself, I rubbed -the poor old fellow's head and back, talked to him for a few -minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded him -to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; -Woola was my devoted slave from that moment hence, and -I his only and undisputed master. My walk to the hills -occupied but a few minutes, and I found nothing of particular -interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly colored and -strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until -lost in mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I -afterward found that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed -four thousand feet in height; the suggestion of magnitude -was merely relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to -me for it had resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, -upon whom Tars Tarkas relied for my safe keeping. I now -knew that while theoretically a prisoner I was virtually free, -and I hastened to regain the city limits before the defection -of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile masters. The -adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of my -prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth -for good and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment -of my liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we -to be discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the -captive girl. She was standing with her guards before the -entrance to the audience chamber, and as I approached she -gave me one haughty glance and turned her back full upon -me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, that -though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a -feeling of companionship; it was good to know that someone -else on Mars beside myself had human instincts of a civilized -order, even though the manifestation of them was so painful -and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt -she would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword -thrust or a movement of her trigger finger; but as their -sentiments are mostly atrophied it would have required a -serious injury to have aroused such passions in them. Sola, -let me add, was an exception; I never saw her perform a cruel -or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, -an atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type -of loved and loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I -halted to view the proceedings. I had not long to wait -for presently Lorquas Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains -approached the building and, signing the guards to follow with -the prisoner entered the audience chamber. Realizing that I -was a somewhat favored character, and also convinced that -the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their language, -as I had pleaded with Sola to keep this a secret on the -grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the -men until I had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I -chanced an attempt to enter the audience chamber and listen -to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while -below them stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw -that one of the women was Sarkoja, and thus understood -how she had been present at the hearing of the preceding -day, the results of which she had reported to the occupants -of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her -rudimentary nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her -arm in a most painful manner. When it was necessary to -move from one spot to another she either jerked her roughly, -or pushed her headlong before her. She seemed to be venting -upon this poor defenseless creature all the hatred, cruelty, -ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed by -unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely -indifferent; if the prisoner had been left to her alone, and -fortunately she was at night, she would have received no -harsh treatment, nor, by the same token would she have -received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner -they fell on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, -and gesture of impatience. Tars Tarkas made some reply -which I could not catch, but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to -smile; after which they paid no further attention to me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing -the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my -father's father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air -currents, and to take atmospheric density tests," replied -the fair prisoner, in a low, well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we -were on a peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of -our craft denoted. The work we were doing was as much in -your interests as in ours, for you know full well that were it -not for our labors and the fruits of our scientific operations -there would not be enough air or water on Mars to support -a single human life. For ages we have maintained the air and -water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of -the brutal and ignorant interference of your green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with -your fellows, must you ever go on down the ages to your -final extinction but little above the plane of the dumb brutes -that serve you! A people without written language, without -art, without homes, without love; the victim of eons of the -horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your -owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you hate -all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our -common ancestors, come back to the light of kindliness -and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find the -hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we -may do still more to regenerate our dying planet. The grand- -daughter of the greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has -asked you. Will you come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and -intently at the young woman for several moments after she -had ceased speaking. What was passing in their minds no -man may know, but that they were moved I truly believe, -and if one man high among them had been strong enough -to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a -new and mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such -an expression as I had never seen upon the countenance of a -green Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty -battle with self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and -as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of benignity, -of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and terrible -countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips -were never spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently -sensing the trend of thought among the older men, leaped -down from the steps of the rostrum, and striking the frail -captive a powerful blow across the face, which felled her to -the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and turning -toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him -dead, nor did the aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too -favorably for the brute, but the mood passed, their old selves -reasserted their ascendency, and they smiled. It was portentous -however that they did not laugh aloud, for the brute's act -constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what -occurred as that blow fell does not signify that I remained -inactive for any such length of time. I think I must have -sensed something of what was coming, for I realize now that -I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow aimed at -her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand -descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when -I was upon him. The brute was twelve feet in height and -armed to the teeth, but I believe that I could have accounted -for the whole roomful in the terrific intensity of my rage. -Springing upward, I struck him full in the face as he turned -at my warning cry and then as he drew his short-sword I -drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking one -leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge -tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow -upon his enormous chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I -was too close to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which -he attempted to do in direct opposition to Martian custom -which says that you may not fight a fellow warrior in -private combat with any other than the weapon with which you -are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild -and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk -he was little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter -of a moment or two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, -to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was -watching the battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had -regained my feet I raised her in my arms and bore her to -one of the benches at the side of the room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece -of silk from my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of -blood from her nostrils. I was soon successful as her -injuries amounted to little more than an ordinary nosebleed, -and when she could speak she placed her hand upon my -arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition -in the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and -kill one of your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. -What strange manner of man are you, that you consort with the -green men, though your form is that of my race, while your color -is little darker than that of the white ape? Tell me, are you -human, or are you more than human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell -you now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself -that I fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, -for the present, that I am your friend, and, so far as our -captors will permit, your protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms -and the regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? -Where your country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John -Carter, and I claim Virginia, one of the United States of -America, Earth, as my home; but why I am permitted to -wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that my regalia -was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one -of the warriors, bearing arms, accouterments and ornaments, -and in a flash one of her questions was answered and a -puzzle cleared up for me. I saw that the body of my dead -antagonist had been stripped, and I read in the menacing -yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced -by the other who had brought me my original equipment, and now -for the first time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of -my first battle in the audience chamber had resulted in the -death of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was -now apparent; I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the -crude justice, which always marks Martian dealings, and which, -among other things, has caused me to call her the planet of -paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a conqueror; -the trappings and the position of the man I killed. -In truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later -was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the -audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I -had noticed that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed -forward toward us, and the eyes of the former rested upon -me in a most quizzical manner. Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one -who was deaf and dumb to us a few short days ago. Where -did you learn it, John Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in -that you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable -ability; I have to thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in -other respects needs considerable polish. Do you know what -your unprecedented temerity would have cost you had you -failed to kill either of the two chieftains whose metal you -now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would -have killed me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense -would a Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them -for other purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that -were not pleasant to dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should -you, in recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, -and prowess, be considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his -service you may be taken into the community and become a -full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the headquarters of Tal -Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded -the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every -chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to -our mighty and most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I -am not of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can -only act in the future as I have in the past, in accordance -with the dictates of my conscience and guided by the standards -of mine own people. If you will leave me alone I will go -in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians with -whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger -among you, or take whatever consequences may befall. Of -one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your ultimate -intentions toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever -would offer her injury or insult in the future must figure on -making a full accounting to me. I understand that you belittle -all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, -and I can convince your most doughty warrior that these -characteristics are not incompatible with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before -had I descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote -which would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the -green Martians, nor was I wrong, for my harangue evidently -deeply impressed them, and their attitude toward me -thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his -only comment was more or less enigmatical-- "And I think I -know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting -her to her feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring -her hovering guardian harpies as well as the inquiring -glances of the chieftains. Was I not now a chieftain also! -Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities of one. -They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed -by the faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the -audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks -of Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had -been detailed to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and -made as though to assume custody of her once more. The -poor child shrank against me and I felt her two little hands -fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I informed -them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions -bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden -and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm -than good to Dejah Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do -not kill women upon Mars, nor women, men. So Sarkoja -merely gave us an ugly look and departed to hatch up -deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her -to guard Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished -her to find other quarters where they would not be molested -by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her that I myself would -take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in -my hand and slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, -"and I must do your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do -it under any circumstances. The man whose metal you carry -was young, but he was a great warrior, and had by his -promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of Tars -Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. -You are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this -community who rank you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win -that honor by the will of the entire council that Lorquas -Ptomel meet you in combat, or should he attack you, you -may kill him in self-defense, and thus win first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular -desire to kill Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among -the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new -quarters, which we found in a building nearer the audience -chamber and of far more pretentious architecture than our -former habitation. We also found in this building real -sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought -metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, -and, unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, -portrayed many human figures in the compositions. -These were of people like myself, and of a much lighter -color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad in graceful, -flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, and -their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish -bronze. The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. -The scenes depicted for the most part, a fair-skinned, -fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of -rapture as she gazed upon these magnificent works of art, -wrought by a people long extinct; while Sola, on the other -hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and -overlooking the plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and -another room adjoining and in the rear for the cooking and -supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the bedding and -such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should -you leave her, unless it was to follow you and crave your -protection, and ask your pardon for the cruel thoughts she -has harbored against you these past few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either -of us unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, -and I think I understand your position among these people, -but what I cannot fathom is your statement that you are -not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, -"where may you be from? You are like unto my people, -and yet so unlike. You speak my language, and yet I heard -you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned it recently. -All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages -differ. Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties -into the lost sea of Korus, is there supposed to -be a different language spoken, and, except in the legends of -our ancestors, there is no record of a Barsoomian returning -up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the valley of -Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They -would kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom -if that were true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice -was pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my -breast, were pressed against me as though to wring a denial -from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my -own Virginia a gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am -not of Dor; I have never seen the mysterious Iss; the lost -sea of Korus is still lost, so far as I am concerned. Do you -believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that -she should believe me. It was not that I feared the results -which would follow a general belief that I had returned -from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, or whatever it was. -Why was it, then! Why should I care what she thought? -I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and -as my eyes met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew -away from me with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful -face turned up to mine, she whispered: "I believe you, John -Carter; I do not know what a 'gentleman' is, nor have I ever -he does not wish to speak the truth he is silent. Where is -this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she asked, and it -seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that -far-gone day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet -Earth, which revolves about our common sun and next within -the orbit of your Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I -came here I cannot tell you, for I do not know; but here I -am, and since my presence has permitted me to serve Dejah -Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. -That it was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, -nor could I hope that she would do so however much I craved -her confidence and respect. I would much rather not have -told her anything of my antecedents, but no man could look -into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to -believe even though I cannot understand. I can readily -perceive that you are not of the Barsoom of today; you are -like us, yet different--but why should I trouble my poor head -with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I believe -because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it -satisfied her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a -matter of fact it was about the only kind of logic that could -be brought to bear upon my problem. We fell into a general -conversation then, asking and answering many questions on each -side. She was curious to learn of the customs of my people -and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on Earth. -When I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity -with earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, -and much concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the -history of your planet fully as well as of his own. Can we -not see everything which takes place upon Earth, as you call -it; is it not hanging there in the heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements -had confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained -in general the instruments her people had used and been -perfecting for ages, which permit them to throw upon -a screen a perfect image of what is transpiring upon any -planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures are so -perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, -objects no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly -recognized. I afterward, in Helium, saw many of these -pictures, as well as the instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, -"why is it that you do not recognize me as identical with the -inhabitants of that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a -questioning child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet -and star having atmospheric conditions at all approaching -those of Barsoom, shows forms of animal life almost -identical with you and me; and, further, Earth men, almost -without exception, cover their bodies with strange, unsightly -pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous contraptions -the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; while -you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of -your un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque -coverings might cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, -explaining that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to -her, strange garments of mundane dwellers. At this point -Sola returned with our meager belongings and her young -Martian protege, who, of course, would have to share the -quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, -and seemed much surprised when we answered in the negative. -It seemed that as she had mounted the approach to the -upper floors where our quarters were located, she had met -Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have been -eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance -that had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of -little consequence, merely promising ourselves to be warned -to the utmost caution in the future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably -flourished over a hundred thousand years before. -They were the early progenitors of her race, but had mixed -with the other great race of early Martians, who were very -dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had -been forced into a mighty alliance as the drying up of the -Martian seas had compelled them to seek the comparatively few -and always diminishing fertile areas, and to defend themselves, -under new conditions of life, against the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted -in the race of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair -and beautiful daughter. During the ages of hardships and -incessant warring between their own various races, as well -as with the green men, and before they had fitted themselves -to the changed conditions, much of the high civilization -and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point -where it feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in -a more practical civilization for all that lies irretrievably -buried with the ancient Barsoomians, beneath the countless -intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and -literary race, but during the vicissitudes of those trying -centuries of readjustment to new conditions, not only did their -advancement and production cease entirely, but practically -all their archives, records, and literature were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends -concerning this lost race of noble and kindly people. She -said that the city in which we were camping was supposed -to have been a center of commerce and culture known as -Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural harbor, -landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the -harbor, while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom -had been the channel through which the shipping passed up -to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such -cities, and lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be -found converging toward the center of the oceans, as the -people had found it necessary to follow the receding waters -until necessity had forced upon them their ultimate salvation, -the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building -and in our conversation that it was late in the afternoon -before we realized it. We were brought back to a realization -of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons -from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear before him -forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the -audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars -Tarkas seated upon the rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, -and, fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time -you have by your prowess won a high position among us. -Be that as it may, you are not one of us; you owe us no -allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are -a prisoner and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; -you are an alien and yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you -are a midget and yet you can kill a mighty warrior with one -blow of your fist. And now you are reported to have been -plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; a -prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are -returned from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, -if proved, would be sufficient grounds for your execution, -but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on our -return to Thark, if Tal Hajus so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you -run off with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to -Tal Hajus; it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and -either demonstrate my right to command, or the metal from -my dead carcass will go to a better man, for such is the -custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule -supreme the greatest of the lesser communities among the -green men; we do not wish to fight between ourselves; and so -if you were dead, John Carter, I should be glad. Under two -conditions only, however, may you be killed by us without -orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in self-defense, -should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in an -attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only -await one of these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so -great a responsibility. The safe delivery of the red girl to -Tal Hajus is of the greatest importance. Not in a thousand -years have the Tharks made such a capture; she is the -granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, who is also -our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us that -we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we -are a just and truthful race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the -beginning of Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other -could be responsible for this report which had reached the -ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, and now I recalled those -portions of our conversation which had touched upon escape -and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most -trusted female. As such she was a mighty power behind the -throne, for no warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel -to such an extent as did his ablest lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape -from my mind, my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served -to center my every faculty on this subject. Now, more than -before, the absolute necessity for escape, in so far as Dejah -Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, for I was -convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated -personification of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and -brutality from which he had descended. Cold, cunning, -calculating; he was, also, in marked contrast to most of his -fellows, a slave to that brute passion which the waning -demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost -stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into -the clutches of such an abysmal atavism started the cold -sweat upon me. Far better that we save friendly bullets for -ourselves at the last moment, as did those brave frontier -women of my lost land, who took their own lives rather than -fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings -Tars Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience -chamber. His demeanor toward me was unchanged, and he -greeted me as though we had not just parted a few -moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I -quartered either by myself or among the other warriors, and -I was awaiting an opportunity to ask your advice. As you -know," and I smiled, "I am not yet familiar with all the -customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off -across the plaza to a building which I was glad to see -adjoined that occupied by Sola and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he -said, "and the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, -but the third floor and the floors above are vacant; you may -take your choice of these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up -your woman to the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, -your ways are not our ways, but you can fight well enough -to do about as you please, and so, if you wish to give your -woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a chieftain -you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the -retinues of the chieftains whose metal you now wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get alone -very nicely without assistance except in the matter of -preparing food, and so he promised to send women to me for -this purpose and also for the care of my arms and the -manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of -the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of -combat, for the nights were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended -the winding corridor to the upper floors in search of -suitable quarters. The beauties of the other buildings were -repeated in this, and, as usual, I was soon lost in a tour of -investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because -this brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment -was on the second floor of the adjoining building, and it -flashed upon me that I could rig up some means of communication -whereby she might signal me in case she needed either my -services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing -rooms, and other sleeping and living apartments, in all some -ten rooms on this floor. The windows of the back rooms -overlooked an enormous court, which formed the center of -the square made by the buildings which faced the four -contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the -quartering of the various animals belonging to the warriors -occupying the adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, -moss-like vegetation which blankets practically the entire -surface of Mars, yet numerous fountains, statuary, benches, -and pergola-like contraptions bore witness to the beauty -which the court must have presented in bygone times, when -graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom stern and -unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant -Martian vegetation which once filled this scene with life -and color; the graceful figures of the beautiful women, the -straight and handsome men; the happy frolicking children-- -all sunlight, happiness and peace. It was difficult to realize -that they had gone; down through ages of darkness, cruelty, -and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of culture and -humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final -composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several -young females bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, -cooking utensils, and casks of food and drink, including -considerable loot from the air craft. All this, it seemed, had -been the property of the two chieftains I had slain, and now, -by the customs of the Tharks, it had become mine. At my -direction they placed the stuff in one of the back rooms, and -then departed, only to return with a second load, which -they advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the -second trip they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other -women and youths, who, it seemed, formed the retinues of -the two chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their -servants; the relationship was peculiar, and so unlike -anything known to us that it is most difficult to describe. -All property among the green Martians is owned in common by -the community, except the personal weapons, ornaments and -sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone can -one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more -of these than are required for his actual needs. The surplus -he holds merely as custodian, and it is passed on to the -younger members of the community as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened -to a military unit for which he is responsible in various -ways, as in matters of instruction, discipline, sustenance, and -the exigencies of their continual roamings and their unending -strife with other communities and with the red Martians. -His women are in no sense wives. The green Martians use no -word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. Their -mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is -directed without reference to natural selection. The council -of chieftains of each community control the matter as surely as -the owner of a Kentucky racing stud directs the scientific -breeding of his stock for the improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with -theories, but the results of ages of this unnatural practice, -coupled with the community interest in the offspring being -held paramount to that of the mother, is shown in the cold, -cruel creatures, and their gloomy, loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, -both men and women, with the exception of such degenerates -as Tal Hajus; but better far a finer balance of human -characteristics even at the expense of a slight and -occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, -whether I would or not, I made the best of it and directed -them to find quarters on the upper floors, leaving the -third floor to me. One of the girls I charged with the duties -of my simple cuisine, and directed the others to take up -the various activities which had formerly constituted their -vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community -remained within the city for several days, abandoning the -homeward march until they could feel reasonably assured -that the ships would not return; for to be caught on the -open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children was -far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed -me in many of the customs and arts of war familiar to the -Tharks, including lessons in riding and guiding the great -beasts which bore the warriors. These creatures, which are -known as thoats, are as dangerous and vicious as their masters, -but when once subdued are sufficiently tractable for the -purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors -whose metal I wore, and in a short time I could handle them -quite as well as the native warriors. The method was not at -all complicated. If the thoats did not respond with sufficient -celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they -were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with the butt of a -pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was continued -until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle -between the man and the beast. If the former were quick -enough with his pistol he might live to ride again, though -upon some other beast; if not, his torn and mangled body -was gathered up by his women and burned in accordance -with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the -experiment of kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I -taught them that they could not unseat me, and even rapped -them sharply between the ears to impress upon them my -authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won their -confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand -with animals, and by inclination, as well as because -it brought more lasting and satisfactory results, I was -always kind and humane in my dealings with the lower orders. -I could take a human life, if necessary, with far less compunction -than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder -of the entire community. They would follow me like dogs, -rubbing their great snouts against my body in awkward evidence -of affection, and respond to my every command with an alacrity -and docility which caused the Martian warriors to ascribe to me -the possession of some earthly power unknown on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one -afternoon, when he had seen me run my arm far between -the great jaws of one of my thoats which had wedged a -piece of stone between two of his teeth while feeding upon -the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer -sentiments have their value, even to a warrior. In the height -of battle as well as upon the march I know that my thoats -will obey my every command, and therefore my fighting -efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior for the -reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community -to adopt my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, -yourself, told me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty -of their tempers, often were the means of turning victory -into defeat, since, at a crucial moment, they might elect -to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' -only rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire -method of training I had adopted with my beasts, and later -he had me repeat it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled -warriors. That moment marked the beginning of a new existence -for the poor thoats, and before I left the community of -Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a regiment -of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to -see. The effect on the precision and celerity of the military -movements was so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented -me with a massive anklet of gold from his own leg, as a sign -of his appreciation of my service to the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft -we again took up the march toward Thark, all probability of -another attack being deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen -but little of Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by -Tars Tarkas with my lessons in the art of Martian warfare, -as well as in the training of my thoats. The few times I had -visited her quarters she had been absent, walking upon the -streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in the near -vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing -far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose -ferocity I was only too well acquainted with. However, since -Woola accompanied them on all their excursions, and as -Sola was well armed, there was comparatively little cause for -fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching -along one of the great avenues which lead into the -plaza from the east. I advanced to meet them, and telling -Sola that I would take the responsibility for Dejah Thoris' -safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on some -trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to -me all that I had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and -congenial companionship. There seemed bonds of mutual -interest between us as powerful as though we had been born -under the same roof rather than upon different planets, -hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, -for on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left -her sweet countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful -welcome, as she placed her little right hand upon my left -shoulder in true red Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she -said, "and that I would now see no more of you than of any -of the other warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, -"notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to -absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the -community you would not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior -may change his metal, but not his heart,' as the saying -is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she -continued, "for whenever you have been off duty one of the -older women of Tars Tarkas' retinue has always arranged to -trump up some excuse to get Sola and me out of sight. -They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their -terrible projectiles. You know that these have to be -manufactured by artificial light, as exposure to sunlight always -results in an explosion. You have noticed that their bullets -explode when they strike an object? Well, the opaque, outer -coating is broken by the impact, exposing a glass cylinder, -almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute particle -of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which -nothing can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle -you will note the absence of these explosions, while the -morning following the battle will be filled at sunrise with the -sharp detonations of exploding missiles fired the preceding -night. As a rule, however, non-exploding projectiles are used -at night."1 - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation -of this wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more -concerned by the immediate problem of their treatment of -her. That they were keeping her away from me was not a -matter for surprise, but that they should subject her to -dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, -Dejah Thoris?" I asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting -ancestors leap in my veins as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing -that can harm me outside my pride. They know that I am -the daughter of ten thousand jeddaks, that I trace my -ancestry straight back without a break to the builder of -the first great waterway, and they, who do not even know -their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who -stand for everything they have not, and for all they most -crave and never can attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, -for even though we die at their hands we can afford them -pity, since we are greater than they and they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," -as applied by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have -had the surprise of my life, but I did not know at that time, -nor for many months thereafter. Yes, I still had much to -learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to -our fate with as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I -hope, nevertheless, that I may be present the next time that -any Martian, green, red, pink, or violet, has the temerity to -even so much as frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and - - -I have used the word radium in describing this powder because in -the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a mixture of -which radium is the base. In Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned -always by the name used in the written language of Helium and is -spelled in hieroglyphics which it would be difficult and useless to -reproduce. - -gazed upon me with dilated eyes and quickening breath, and -then, with an odd little laugh, which brought roguish dimples -to the corners of her mouth, she shook her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little -child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but -I may not tell you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of -Tardos Mors, have listened without anger," she soliloquized -in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with -my soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy -you would take him home and nurse him back to health," -she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. -"At least among civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, -for, with all her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was -still a Martian, and to a Martian the only good enemy is a -dead enemy; for every dead foeman means so much more to -divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to -cause her so much perturbation a moment before and so I -continued to importune her to enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it -and that I have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, -and if I be dead, as likely I shall be ere the further -moon has circled Barsoom another twelve times, remember -that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to -explain the more positive became her denials of my request, -and, so, in very hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered -along the great avenue lighted by the two moons of -Barsoom, and with Earth looking down upon us out of her -luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in the -universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing -my silks I threw them across the shoulders of Dejah -Thoris. As my arm rested for an instant upon her I felt a -thrill pass through every fiber of my being such as contact -with no other mortal had even produced; and it seemed to -me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I -was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there -across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the -silk required she did not draw away, nor did she speak. -And so, in silence, we walked the surface of a dying world, -but in the breast of one of us at least had been born that -which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked -shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, -and I knew that I had loved her since the first moment -that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza -of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I -thought of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone -could lighten the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in -my poor way against the thousands of hereditary enemies -she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could not chance -causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than -now, and the thought that she might feel that I was taking -advantage of her helplessness, to influence her decision was -the final argument which sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly -you would rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know -why it is that I should always be happy and contented -when you, John Carter, a stranger, are with me; yet at such -times it seems that I am safe and that, with you, I shall soon -return to my father's court and feel his strong arms about me -and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she -had explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as -to its meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a -low, thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and -sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not -ask personal questions of women, except his mother, and the -woman he has fought for and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my -tongue had been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as -I caught myself and ceased, and drawing my silks from her -shoulder she held them out to me, and without a word, and -with head held high, she moved with the carriage of the -queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her -quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she -reached the building in safety, but, directing Woola to -accompany her, I turned disconsolately and entered my own house. -I sat for hours cross-legged, and cross-tempered, upon my silks -meditating upon the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor -devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had -roamed the five continents and their encircling seas; in spite -of beautiful women and urging opportunity; in spite of a half- -desire for love and a constant search for my ideal, it had -remained for me to fall furiously and hopelessly in love with a -creature from another world, of a species similar possibly, -yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched from -an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; -whose people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose -hopes, whose pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of -right and wrong might vary as greatly from mine as did those -of the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was -suffering the greatest misery I had ever known I would not -have had it otherwise for all the riches of Barsoom. Such is -love, and such are lovers wherever love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was -virtuous and beautiful and noble and good. I believed that -from the bottom of my heart, from the depth of my soul on -that night in Korad as I sat cross-legged upon my silks while -the nearer moon of Barsoom raced through the western sky -toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and marble, and -jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the -Hudson. Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I -lived and fought for Dejah Thoris and her people, and for -ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear -and hot, as do all Martian mornings except for the six weeks -when the snow melts at the poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, -but she turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood -mount to her cheek. With the foolish inconsistency -of love I held my peace when I might have plead ignorance -of the nature of my offense, or at least the gravity of it, -and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, -and so I glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks -and furs. In doing so I noted with horror that she was -heavily chained by one ankle to the side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening -her disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a -massive spring lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, -to whom I vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations -and cruelties, as they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were -being heaped upon Dejah Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris -escape the Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that -you will not go without her. You have shown yourself a -mighty fighter, and we do not wish to manacle you, so we -hold you both in the easiest way that will yet ensure security. -I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew -that it were futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked -that the key be taken from Sarkoja and that she be directed -to leave the prisoner alone in future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for -the friendship that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John -Carter; but have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease -to annoy the girl, and I myself will take the custody of the -key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, -smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor -Dejah Thoris would attempt to escape until after we have -safely reached the court of Tal Hajus you might have the -key and throw the chains into the river Iss." - -"It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were -making camp I saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an -undercurrent of something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed -ever battling to subdue. Could it be a vestige of some human -instinct come back from an ancient forbear to haunt him -with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, -and the black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest -balm I had felt for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! -It bristled from her so palpably that one might almost -have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with -a warrior named Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but -one who had never made a kill among his own chieftains, and -a second name only with the metal of some chieftain. It was -this custom which entitled me to the names of either of the -chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors -addressed me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames -of the two warrior chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in -other words, whom I had slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in -my direction, while she seemed to be urging him very strongly -to some action. I paid little attention to it at the time, but -the next day I had good reason to recall the circumstances, -and at the same time gain a slight insight into the depths of -Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was capable of -going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, -and though I spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded -by so much as the flutter of an eyelid that she realized -my existence. In my extremity I did what most other lovers -would have done; I sought word from her through an intimate. -In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted in another -part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. -"Why will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions -on the part of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed -they were, poor child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will -say, except that she is the daughter of a jed and the grand- -daughter of a jeddak and she has been humiliated by a -creature who could not polish the teeth of her grandmother's -sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, -"What might a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red -Martian women keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must -rank pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I -thought; but I could not help laughing at the strange figure -of speech, so homely and in this respect so earthly. It made -me homesick, for it sounded very much like "not fit to polish -her shoes." And then commenced a train of thought quite -new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were doing. -I had not seen them for years. There was a family of -Carters in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; -I was supposed to be a great uncle, or something of the -kind equally foolish. I could pass anywhere for twenty-five -to thirty years of age, and to be a great uncle always seemed -the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and feelings were -those of a boy. There was two little kiddies in the Carter -family whom I had loved and who had thought there was -no one on Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as -plainly, as I stood there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, -and I longed for them as I had never longed for any mortals -before. By nature a wanderer, I had never known the -true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of the -Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to -me, and now my heart turned toward it from the cold and -unfriendly peoples I had been thrown amongst. For did not -even Dejah Thoris despise me! I was a low creature, so low -in fact that I was not even fit to polish the teeth of her -grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor came -to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs -and slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired -and healthy fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched -with only a single halt until just before dark. Two incidents -broke the tediousness of the march. About noon we espied -far to our right what was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas -Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to investigate it. The latter -took a dozen warriors, including myself, and we raced across -the velvety carpeting of moss to the little enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small -in comparison with those I had seen hatching in ours at the -time of my arrival on Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, -finally announcing that it belonged to the green men -of Warhoon and that the cement was scarcely dry where it -had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, -the light of battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors -tore open the entrance and a couple of them, crawling -in, soon demolished all the eggs with their short-swords. -Then remounting we dashed back to join the cavalcade. -During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if these -Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people -than his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those -I saw hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, -like all green Martian eggs, they would grow during the -five-year period of incubation until they obtained the size of -those I had seen hatching on the day of my arrival on Barsoom. -This was indeed an interesting piece of information, -for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the green -Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging -from. As a matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger -than an ordinary goose egg, and as it does not commence to -grow until subjected to the light of the sun the chieftains -have little difficulty in transporting several hundreds of them -at one time from the storage vaults to the incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted -to rest the animals, and it was during this halt that the -second of the day's interesting episodes occurred. I was -engaged in changing my riding cloths from one of my thoats -to the other, for I divided the day's work between them, -when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know -what reply to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger -that I could scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and -shooting him down for the brute he was; but he stood waiting -with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was to draw my own -and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I -could have used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or -my fists had I wished, and been entirely within my rights, -but I could not use firearms or a spear while he held only -his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he -prided himself upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I -worsted him at all, to do it with his own weapon. The fight -that followed was a long one and delayed the resumption of -the march for an hour. The entire community surrounded -us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a -wolf, but I was much too quick for him, and each time I -side-stepped his rushes he would go lunging past me, only -to receive a nick from my sword upon his arm or back. He -was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor wounds, -but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and -with extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he -was unable to do by brute strength. I must admit that he was -a magnificent swordsman, and had it not been for my greater -endurance and the remarkable agility the lesser gravitation -of Mars lent me I might not have been able to put up the -creditable fight I did against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on -either side; the long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in -the sunlight, and ringing out upon the stillness as they -crashed together with each effective parry. Finally Zad, -realizing that he was tiring more than I, evidently decided to -close in and end the battle in a final blaze of glory for himself; -just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light struck full -in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the -mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. -I was only partially successful, as a sharp pain in my left -shoulder attested, but in the sweep of my glance as I sought -to again locate my adversary, a sight met my astonished -gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness -had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot -stood three figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing -the encounter above the heads of the intervening Tharks. -There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, and Sarkoja, and as my -fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was presented -which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the -fury of a young tigress and struck something from her -upraised hand; something which flashed in the sunlight as -it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had blinded me at -that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had found -a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me -then and there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an -instant entirely from my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris -struck the tiny mirror from her hand, Sarkoja, her face livid -with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out her dagger and -aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, our dear -and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was -the great knife descending upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it -extremely interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my -attention to the work in hand, but my mind was not upon the -battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, -feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust -I could neither parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him -with outstretched sword and with all the weight of my -body, determined that I would not die alone if I could -prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my -knees giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was -down but a moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching -for my sword, and there I found it, buried to the hilt in the -green breast of Zad, who lay stone dead upon the ochre -moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my full senses -I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only through -the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near -the center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. -As I had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely -passed beneath the muscles, inflicting a painful but not -dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my -own, and turning my back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, -sick, sore, and disgusted, toward the chariots which bore my -retinue and my belongings. A murmur of Martian applause -greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to -such happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful -healing and remedial agents which make only the most -instantaneous of death blows fatal. Give a Martian woman -a chance and death must take a back seat. They soon had -me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no -great distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, -undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the -chariot of Dejah Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with -her chest swathed in bandages, but apparently little the -worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose dagger it seemed -had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast ornaments -and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon -her silks and furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did -not notice my presence, nor did she hear me speaking with -Sola, who was standing a short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of sola, indicating Dejah Thoris -by an inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to -polish its teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not -understand either her ways or yours, but I am sure the -granddaughter of ten thousand jeddaks would never grieve -like this over any who held but the highest claim upon her -affections. They are a proud race, but they are just, as are -all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, -though she mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, -"and so it is difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen -but two people weep in all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; -one wept from sorrow, the other from baffled rage. The first -was my mother, years ago before they killed her; the other -was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not -have known your mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you -would like to hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story -come to the chariot tonight, John Carter, and I will tell you -that of which I have never spoken in all my life before. And -now the signal has been given to resume the march, you -must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell -Dejah Thoris I am alive and well. I shall not force myself -upon her, and be sure that you do not let her know I saw her tears. -If she would speak with me I but await her command. - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place -in line, and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped -to my station beside Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as -we strung out across the yellow landscape; the two hundred -and fifty ornate and brightly colored chariots, preceded by -an advance guard of some two hundred mounted warriors -and chieftains riding five abreast and one hundred yards -apart, and followed by a like number in the same formation, -with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty extra -mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, -and the five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors -running loose within the hollow square formed by the -surrounding warriors. The gleaming metal and jewels of -the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, duplicated in -the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and interspersed -with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would -have turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded -feet of the animals brought forth no sound from the moss- -covered sea bottom; and so we moved in utter silence, like -some huge phantasmagoria, except when the stillness was -broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, or the -squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse -but little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like -the faint rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to -the pressure of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again -behind us, leaving no sign that we had passed. We might -indeed have been the wraiths of the departed dead upon the -dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound or sign we -made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust -and left no spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in -the cultivated districts during the winter months, and even -then the absence of high winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been -approaching for two days and which marked the southern -boundary of this particular sea. Our animals had been two -days without drink, nor had they had water for nearly two -months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; but, as Tars -Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can live -almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and -which, he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture -to meet the limited demands of the animals. -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food -and vegetable milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working -by the light of a torch upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. -She looked up at my approach, her face lighting with pleasure -and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and -I am lonely. Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; -I am too unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live -my life amongst them, and I often wish that I were a true -green Martian woman, without love and without hope; but I -have known love and so I am lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of -my parents. From what I have learned of you and the ways -of your people I am sure that the tale will not seem strange -to you, but among green Martians it has no parallel within -the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do our legends -hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed -the responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed -principally for size. She was also less cold and cruel -than most green Martian women, and caring little for their -society, she often roamed the deserted avenues of Thark -alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that deck -the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes -which I believe I alone among Tharkian women today may -understand, for am I not the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose -duty it was to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see -that they roamed not beyond the hills. They spoke at first -only of such things as interest a community of Tharks, but -gradually, as they came to meet more often, and, as was -now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. -She trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she -felt for the cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless -lives they must ever lead, and then she waited for the storm -of denunciation to break from his cold, hard lips; but instead -he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my -mother, was of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her -lover was a simple warrior, wearing only his own metal. -Had their defection from the traditions of the Tharks been -discovered both would have paid the penalty in the great -arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great -glass vessel upon the highest and most inaccessible of the -partially ruined towers of ancient Thark. Once each year my -mother visited it for the five long years it lay there in the -process of incubation. She dared not come oftener, for in the -mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her every -move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, -and his own ambition in life was to reach a point where -he might wrest the metal from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, -as ruler of the Tharks, be free to claim her as his own, -as well as, by the might of his power, protect the child -which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the -truth become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal -Hajus in five short years, but his advance was rapid, and he -soon stood high in the councils of Thark. But one day the -chance was lost forever, in so far as it could come in time -to save his loved ones, for he was ordered away upon a long -expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is -the manner of the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for -what he can wrest in battle from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all -had been over for three; for about a year after his departure, -and shortly before the time for the return of an expedition -which had gone forth to fetch the fruits of a community -incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my mother -continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly -and lavishing upon me the love the community life would -have robbed us both of. She hoped, upon the return of the -expedition from the incubator, to mix me with the other young -assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, and thus escape the -fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin against -the ancient traditions of the green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, -and one night she told me the story I have told to you up to -this point, impressing upon me the necessity for absolute -secrecy and the great caution I must exercise after she had -placed me with the other young Tharks to permit no one to -guess that I was further advanced in education than they, -nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of others my -affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and -then drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the -name of my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the -tower chamber, and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, -baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy of loathing and contempt -upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and abuse she -poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that -she had suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly -absences from her quarters accounted for her presence there -on that fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the -whispered name of my father. This was apparent from her -repeated demands upon my mother to disclose the name of -her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or threats could -wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would -she even tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal -Hajus to report her discovery, and while she was gone my -mother, wrapping me in the silks and furs of her night coverings, -so that I was scarcely noticeable, descended to the streets -and ran wildly away toward the outskirts of the city, -in the direction which led to the far south, out toward the -man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose -face she wished to look once more before she died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came -to us from across the mossy flat, from the direction of the -only pass through the hills which led to the gates, the pass -by which caravans from either north or south or east or -west would enter the city. The sounds we heard were the -squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with the -occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of -a body of warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was -that it was my father returned from his expedition, but the -cunning of the Thark held her from headlong and precipitate -flight to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the -coming of the cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, -breaking its formation and thronging the thoroughfare -from wall to wall. As the head of the procession passed us -the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging roofs and lit -up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous light. -My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, -and from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not -that of my father, but the returning caravan bearing the -young Tharks. Instantly her plan was formed, and as a great -chariot swung close to our hiding place she slipped stealthily -in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching low in the shadow -of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a frenzy of -love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that -night would she hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we -would ever look upon each other's face again. In the -confusion of the plaza she mixed me with the other children, -whose guardians during the journey were now free to relinquish -their responsibility. We were herded together into a great room, -fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned -by Tal Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible -and shameful torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring -from her lips the name of my father; but she remained -steadfast and loyal, dying at last amidst the laughter of -Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful torture -she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had -killed me to save me from a like fate at their hands, and -that she had thrown my body to the white apes. Sarkoja -alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day that she suspects -my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the present, -at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the identity -of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story -of my mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; -but never by the quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest -emotion; only he did not laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully -described her death struggles. From that moment on he was -the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day when -he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of -Tal Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but -waits the opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that -his great love is as strong in his breast as when it first -transfigured him nearly forty years ago, as I am that we sit -here upon the edge of a world-old ocean while sensible people -sleep, John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I -am, nor does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. -I alone know my father's name, and only I and Tal Hajus -and Sarkoja know that it was she who carried the tale that -brought death and torture upon her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the -gloomy thoughts of her terrible past, and I in pity for the -poor creatures whom the heartless, senseless customs of their -race had doomed to loveless lives of cruelty and of hate. -Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead -bosom of Barsoom you are one. I know that I can trust you, -and because the knowledge may someday help you or him -or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to tell you the name -of my father, nor place any restrictions or conditions upon -your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if it -seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you are -not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving -truthfulness, that you could lie like one of your own Virginia -gentlemen if a lie would save others from sorrow or suffering. -My father's name is Tars Tarkas." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. -We were twenty days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms -and passing through or around a number of ruined cities, -mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we crossed the famous -Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our earthly -astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior -would be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if -no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we would -advance as close as possible without chance of being seen and -then camp until dark, when we would slowly approach the -cultivated tract, and, locating one of the numerous, broad -highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, creep -silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings -without a single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, -so that we were just leaving the confines of the high-walled -fields when the sun broke out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see -but little, except as the nearer moon, in her wild and -ceaseless hurtling through the Barsoomian heavens, lit up -little patches of the landscape from time to time, disclosing -walled fields and low, rambling buildings, presenting much -the appearance of earthly farms. There were many trees, -methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; -there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced -their presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they -scented our queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was -at the intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white -turnpike which cuts each cultivated district longitudinally -at its exact center. The fellow must have been sleeping -beside the road, for, as I came abreast of him, he raised upon -one elbow and after a single glance at the approaching caravan -leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down the road, -scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. -The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were -not out upon the warpath, and the only sign that I had -that they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of the -caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert which -marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she -sent no word to me that I would be welcome at her chariot, -and my foolish pride kept me from making any advances. -I verily believe that a man's way with women is in inverse -ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the saphead -have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, -sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered -the ancient city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten -people this horde of green men have stolen even their name. -The hordes of Thark number some thirty thousand souls, -and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each community -has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under -the rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities -make their headquarters at the city of Thark, and the -balance are scattered among other deserted cities of -ancient Mars throughout the district claimed by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in -the afternoon. There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings -for the returned expedition. Those who chanced to be in -sight spoke the names of warriors or women with whom -they came in direct contact, in the formal greeting of their -kind, but when it was discovered that they brought two -captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris -and I were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance -of the day was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed -conditions. My home now was upon an avenue leading into -the plaza from the south, the main artery down which we -had marched from the gates of the city. I was at the far -end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable -a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here, only, if -that were possible, on a larger and richer scale. My quarters -would have been suitable for housing the greatest of earthly -emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing about a building -appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its chambers; -the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the -largest in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; -the next largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the -jed of a lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. -The warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose -retinues they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter -among any of the thousands of untenanted buildings in their own -quarter of town; each community being assigned a certain -section of the city. The selection of building had to be made -in accordance with these divisions, except in so far as the -jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen -that I had been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened -out with the intention of locating Sola and her charges, as -I had determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris -and trying to impress on her the necessity of our at least -patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the -great red sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and -then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from a second- -story window on the opposite side of the very street where -I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the -winding runway which led to the second floor, and entering -a great chamber at the front of the building was greeted -by the frenzied Woola, who threw his great carcass upon -me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old fellow was -so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks -in his hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I -looked hurriedly through the approaching gloom for a sign -of Dejah Thoris, and then, not seeing her, I called her name. -There was an answering murmur from the far corner of the -apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was standing -beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks -upon an ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose -to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. -It was furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you, -whom I had hoped to protect and comfort. Have none of -me if it is your will, but that you must aid me in effecting -your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my request, -but my command. When you are safe once more at your -father's court you may do with me as you please, but from -now on until that day I am your master, and you must -obey and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that -she was softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but -you I do not understand. You are a queer mixture of child -and man, of brute and noble. I only wish that I might read -your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now -where it has lain since that other night at Korad, and where -it will ever lie beating alone for you until death stills it -forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands -outstretched in a strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. -"What are you saying to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would -not say to you, at least until you were no longer a captive -among the green men; what from your attitude toward me -for the past twenty days I had thought never to say to you; -I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only -one thing I ask of you in return, and that is that you make -no sign, either of condemnation or of approbation of my -words until you are safe among your own people, and that -whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they be not -influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to -serve you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, -since it gives me more pleasure to serve you than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I -understand the motives which prompt them, and I accept -your service no more willingly than I bow to your authority; -your word shall be my law. I have twice wronged you -in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented -by the entrance of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly -unlike her usual calm and possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she -cried, "and from what I heard upon the plaza there is -little hope for either of you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs - - in -the great arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for -the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe -the customs of your people as much as we do. Will you -not accompany us in one supreme effort to escape? I am -sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a home and protection -among her people, and your fate can be no worse among -them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will -be better off among the red men of Helium than you are -here, and I can promise you not only a home with us, but -the love and affection your nature craves and which must -always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your -fate would be terrible if they thought you had connived to -aid us. I know that even that fear would not tempt you to -interfere in our escape, but we want you with us, we want -you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, amongst -a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and -of gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty -miles to the south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a -swift thoat might make it in three hours; and then to -Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the way through -thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, -but the chances are small indeed for escape. They would -follow us to the very gates of Helium, and they would take -toll of life at every step; you do not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. -"Can you not draw me a rough map of the country we -must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from -her hair she drew upon the marble floor the first map of -Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. It was crisscrossed in -every direction with long straight lines, sometimes running -parallel and sometimes converging toward some great circle. -The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. -There were other cities closer, but she said she feared to -enter many of them, as they were not all friendly toward Helium. - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight -which now flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far -to the north of us which also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I -asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north -of us; it is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip -to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that -distant waterway," I answered, "and that is why I think -that it is the best route for our escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should -leave Thark this same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I -could find and saddle my thoats. Sola was to ride one and -Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of us carrying sufficient -food and drink to last us for two days, since the animals -could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one -of the less frequented avenues to the southern boundary of -the city, where I would overtake them with the thoats as -quickly as possible; then, leaving them to gather what food, -silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped quietly to the -rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, where -our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance -of the Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and -zitidars, the latter grunting their low gutturals and -the former occasionally emitting the sharp squeal which -denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which these -creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, -owing to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became -more restless and their hideous noise increased. It was risky -business, this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; -first, because their increasing noisiness might warn the nearby -warriors that something was amiss, and also because for the -slightest cause, or for no cause at all some great bull thoat -might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such -a night as this, where so much depended upon secrecy and -dispatch, I hugged the shadows of the buildings, ready at -an instant's warning to leap into the safety of a nearby -door or window. Thus I moved silently to the great gates -which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How -I thanked the kind providence which had given me the foresight -to win the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for -presently from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks -forcing their way toward me through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles -against my body and nosing for the bits of food it was -always my practice to reward them with. Opening the gates -I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, and then -slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead -walked quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an -unfrequented avenue which led toward the point I had arranged -to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With the noiselessness -of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of -the plain beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. -I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty -in reaching our rendezvous undetected, but with my great thoats -I was not so sure for myself, as it was quite unusual for warriors -to leave the city after dark; in fact there was no place for them -to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah -Thoris and Sola were not there I led my animals into the -entrance hall of one of the large buildings. Presuming that -one of the other women of the same household may have -come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their departure, -I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another -half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave -anxiety. Then there broke upon the stillness of the night -the sound of an approaching party, which, from the noise, I -knew could be no fugitives creeping stealthily toward liberty. -Soon the party was near me, and from the black shadows of my -entranceway I perceived a score of mounted warriors, who, -in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart clean -into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without -the city, and so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; -but it was enough. Our plan had been discovered, and -the chances for escape from now on to the fearful end -would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what -fate had overtaken her, but how to do it with these great -monstrous thoats upon my hands, now that the city probably -was aroused by the knowledge of my escape was a problem -of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge -of the construction of the buildings of these ancient -Martian cities with a hollow court within the center of each -square, I groped my way blindly through the dark chambers, -calling the great thoats after me. They had difficulty in -negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings fronting -the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without -sticking fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where -I found, as I had expected, the usual carpet of moss-like -vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I -could return them to their own enclosure. That they would -be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was confident, -nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter -these outlying buildings, which were frequented by the -only thing, I believe, which caused them the sensation of -fear--the great white apes of Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within -the rear doorway of the building through which we had -entered the court, and, turning the beasts loose, quickly -made my way across the court to the rear of the buildings -upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured -that no one was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite -side and through the first doorway to the court beyond; -thus, crossing through court after court with only the slight -chance of detection which the necessary crossing of the -avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the courtyard -in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who -quartered in the adjacent buildings, and the warriors -themselves I might expect to meet within if I entered; but, -fortunately for me, I had another and safer method of reaching -the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be found, and, -after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before -from the court side, I took advantage of my relatively great -strength and agility and sprang upward until I grasped the -sill of a second-story window which I thought to be in the -rear of her apartment. Drawing myself inside the room I -moved stealthily toward the front of the building, and not -until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was I -made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure -myself that it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to -venture within. It was well indeed that I took this precaution, -for the conversation I heard was in the low gutturals of men, -and the words which finally came to me proved a most timely warning. -The speaker was a chieftain and he was giving orders to four of -his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he -surely will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, -you four are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require -the combined strength of all of you to do it if the reports they -bring back from Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound -bear him to the vaults beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain -him securely where he may be found when Tal Hajus wishes him. -Allow him to speak with none, nor permit any other to enter -this apartment before he comes. There will be no danger of -the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the arms -of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, -for Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a -noble night's work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when -he comes, I commend your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by -the door where I was standing, but I needed to wait no -longer; I had heard enough to fill my soul with dread, and -stealing quietly away I returned to the courtyard by the -way I had come. My plan of action was formed upon the -instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue -upon the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard -of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told -me where first to seek, and advancing to the windows I -peered within. I soon discovered that my approach was not -to be the easy thing I had hoped, for the rear rooms bordering -the court were filled with warriors and women. I then -glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the third -was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance -to the building from that point. It was the work of -but a moment for me to reach the windows above, and -soon I had drawn myself within the sheltering shadows of -the unlighted third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and -creeping noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered -a light in the apartments ahead of me. Reaching what -appeared to be a doorway I discovered that it was but an -opening upon an immense inner chamber which towered from -the first floor, two stories below me, to the dome-like roof -of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors -and women, and at one end was a great raised platform -upon which squatted the most hideous beast I had ever put -my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, cruel, terrible -features of the green warriors, but accentuated and debased -by the animal passions to which he had given himself over -for many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride -upon his bestial countenance, while his enormous bulk spread -itself out upon the platform where he squatted like some -huge devil fish, his six limbs accentuating the similarity in -a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that -of Dejah Thoris and Sola standing there before him, and -the fiendish leer of him as he let his great protruding eyes -gloat upon the lines of her beautiful figure. She was -speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor could I make -out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect -before him, her head high held, and even at the distance I -was from them I could read the scorn and disgust upon -her face as she let her haughty glance rest without sign of -fear upon him. She was indeed the proud daughter of a -thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious little body; -so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around her, -but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she -was the mightiest figure among them and I verily believe -that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be -cleared, and that the prisoners be left alone before him. -Slowly the chieftains, the warriors and the women melted -away into the shadows of the surrounding chambers, and -Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of the -Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I -saw him standing in the shadows of a mighty column, his -fingers nervously toying with the hilt of his great-sword and -his cruel eyes bent in implacable hatred upon Tal Hajus. -It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his thoughts as they -were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon his -face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years -ago, had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken -a word into his ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus -would have been over; but finally he also strode from the -room, not knowing that he left his own daughter at the -mercy of the creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his -intentions, hurried to the winding runway which led to the -floors below. No one was near to intercept me, and I reached -the main floor of the chamber unobserved, taking my station -in the shadow of the same column that Tars Tarkas had but -just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from -your people would I but return you to them unharmed, but a -thousand times rather would I watch that beautiful face -writhe in the agony of torture; it shall be long drawn out, -that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were all too short to -show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of your -death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all -the ages to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the -night as their fathers tell them of the awful vengeance of -the green men; of the power and might and hate and cruelty -of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you shall be mine for -one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth to -Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he -may grovel upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. -Tomorrow the torture will commence; tonight thou art Tal -Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly -by the arm, but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped -between them. My short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in -my right hand; I could have plunged it into his putrid heart -before he realized that I was upon him; but as I raised my -arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, with all my rage, -with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, -weary years, and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full -upon the point of his jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the -floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the -hand, and motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly -from the chamber and to the floor above. Unseen we reached -a rear window and with the straps and leather of my trappings -I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris to the ground below. -Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly around the court -in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned over the -same course I had so recently followed from the distant boundary -of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where -I had left them, and placing the trappings upon them we -hastened through the building to the avenue beyond. -Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris behind me -upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest -and toward the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance -from us, we turned to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy -waste across which, for two hundred dangerous and weary miles, -lay another main artery leading to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, -but I could hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she -clung to me with her dear head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be -a mighty one; greater than she can ever pay you; and should -we not make it," she continued, "the debt is no less, though -Helium will never know, for you have saved the last of our -line from worse than death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and -pressed the little fingers of her I loved where they clung to -me for support, and then, in unbroken silence, we sped over -the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us occupied with his own -thoughts. For my part I could not be other than joyful had I -tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as -gaily as though we were already entering the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now -found ourselves without food or drink, and I alone was -armed. We therefore urged our beasts to a speed that must -tell on them sorely before we could hope to sight the ending -of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a -few short rests. On the second night both we and our animals -were completely fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss -and slept for some five or six hours, taking up the journey -once more before daylight. All the following day we rode, -and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted no distant -trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all Barsoom, -the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult -to say, nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by -day and the moons and stars by night. At any rate no waterway -was in sight, and the entire party was almost ready to -drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far ahead of us and -a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines of low -mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope -that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. -Night fell upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost -fainting from weariness and weakness, we lay down and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body -pressing close to mine, and opening my eyes with a start I -beheld my blessed old Woola snuggling close to me; the faithful -brute had followed us across that trackless waste to share -our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my arms about his -neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I -thought of his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris -and Sola awakened, and it was decided that we push on at -once in an effort to gain the hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my -thoat was commencing to stumble and stagger in a most -pitiful manner, although we had not attempted to force -them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding day. -Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him -and fell upon the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor -beast was in a pitiable condition, not even being able to rise, -although relieved of our weight. Sola told me that the coolness -of the night, when it fell, together with the rest would -doubtless revive him, and so I decided not to kill him, as -was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to leave him -alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of his -trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor -fellow to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best -we could. Sola and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much -against her will. In this way we had progressed to within -about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring to reach when -Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the thoat, -cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I -both looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly -discernible, were several hundred mounted warriors. They -seemed to be headed in a southwesterly direction, which -would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent -out to capture us, and we breathed a great sigh of relief that -they were traveling in the opposite direction. Quickly lifting -Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I commanded the animal to lie -down and we three did the same, presenting as small an object -as possible for fear of attracting the attention of the -warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for -an instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly -ridge; to us a most providential ridge; since, had they -been in view for any great length of time, they scarcely -could have failed to discover us. As what proved to be the -last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted and, to our -consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to his -eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently -he was a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the -green men a chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. -As his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, -and I could feel the cold sweat start from every pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension -on our nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if -any of us breathed for the few moments he held us covered -by his glass; and then he lowered it and we could see him -shout a command to the warriors who had passed from our -sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to join -him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing -madly in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take -quickly. Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I -sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger; -there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal, and -the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying -mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed -Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a -mighty effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were -upon us. I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might -find a temporary hiding place, and even though they died -there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than that -they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two -revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection, and, -as a last resort, as an escape for themselves from the horrid -death which recapture would surely mean, I lifted Dejah -Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the thoat behind -Sola, who had already mounted at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in -Helium yet. I have escaped from worse plights than this," -and I tried to smile as I lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these -fellows off for a while, and I can better escape them alone -than could the three of us together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear -arms about my neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: -"Fly, Sola! Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she -loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly -would I give up my life a thousand times could I only hear -them once again; but I could not then give even a second to -the rapture of her sweet embrace, and pressing my lips to -hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and tossed -her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter -in peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, -slapping the thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; -Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself from -Sola's grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge -and looking for their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, -and then me; but scarcely had they discovered me than I -commenced firing, lying flat upon my belly in the moss. I had -an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my rifle, and -another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who -had been first to return from behind the ridge either dead or -scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire -party, numbering some thousand men, came charging into -view, racing madly toward me. I fired until my rifle was -empty and they were almost upon me, and then a glance -showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had disappeared -among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by -Sola and her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was -granted those astonished warriors on that day long years ago, -but while it led them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract -their attention from endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a -projecting piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon -the moss. As I looked up they were upon me, and although -I drew my long-sword in an attempt to sell my life as -dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled beneath their -blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head swam; -all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness -and I well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me -as I realized that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the -corner of a small room in which were several green warriors, -and bending over me was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching -my couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no -Thark, for his ornaments and metal were not of that horde. -He was a huge fellow, terribly scarred about the face and -chest, and with one broken tusk and a missing ear. Strapped -on either breast were human skulls and depending from -these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so -much while among the Tharks convinced me that I had but -jumped from purgatory into gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which -she assured him that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed -ordered that we mount and ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a -thoat as I had ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on -either side to prevent the beast from bolting, we rode forth -at a furious pace in pursuit of the column. My wounds gave -me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly had the -applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered -the injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops -shortly after they had made camp for the night. I was -immediately taken before the leader, who proved to be the -jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully -scarred, and also decorated with the breastplate of human -skulls and dried dead hands which seemed to mark all the -greater warriors among the Warhoons, as well as to indicate -their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even that of -the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, -was the object of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old -lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed who had captured me, and I -could not but note the almost studied efforts which the -latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered -the presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before -the ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a -Thark whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild -thoat at the great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," -replied the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my -throat but he shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness -on your part shall save him. O, would that Warhoon were -ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a water-hearted -weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for -an instant, his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt -and hate, and then without drawing a weapon and without -uttering a word he hurled himself at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle -with nature's weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity -which ensued was as fearful a thing as the most disordered -imagination could picture. They tore at each others' eyes -and ears with their hands and with their gleaming tusks -repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly to -ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was -stronger, quicker and more intelligent. It soon seemed that -the encounter was done saving only the final death thrust -when Bar Comas slipped in breaking away from a clinch. It -was the one little opening that Dak Kova needed, and hurling -himself at the body of his adversary he buried his single -mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful -effort ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of -his body, the great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar -Comas' jaw. Victor and vanquished rolled limp and lifeless -upon the moss, a huge mass of torn and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on -the part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. -Three days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar -Comas which, by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, -and placing his foot upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he -assumed the title of Jeddak of Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added -to the ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women -cremated what remained, amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so -greatly that it was decided to give up the expedition, which -was a raid upon a small Thark community in retaliation for -the destruction of the incubator, until after the great games, -and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in number, -turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people -was but an index to the scenes I witnessed almost daily -while with them. They are a smaller horde than the Tharks -but much more ferocious. Not a day passed but that some -members of the various Warhoon communities met in deadly -combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a -single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days -march and I was immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily -chained to the floor and walls. Food was brought me at -intervals but owing to the utter darkness of the place I do not -know whether I lay there days, or weeks, or months. It was -the most horrible experience of all my life and that my -mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness -has been a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled -with creeping, crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed -over me when I lay down, and in the darkness I occasionally -caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed in horrible -intentness upon me. No sound reached me from the world -above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my -food was brought to me, although I at first bombarded him -with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these -awful creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was -centered by my tottering reason upon this single emissary -who represented to me the entire horde of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim -torch to where he could place the food within my reach and -as he stooped to place it upon the floor his head was about -on a level with my breast. So, with the cunning of a madman, -I backed into the far corner of my cell when next I heard -him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great -chain which held me in my hand I waited his coming, -crouching like some beast of prey. As he stooped to place -my food upon the ground I swung the chain above my head -and crashed the links with all my strength upon his skull. -Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming -I fell upon his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his -dead throat. Presently they came in contact with a small -chain at the end of which dangled a number of keys. The -touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my reason -with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape -within my very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's -neck I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming -eyes fixed, unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly -I shrank back from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner -I crouched holding my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily -on came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet. -Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating -sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess -of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again -to attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my -former jailer. But as I reached out into the darkness to locate -it I found to my horror that it was gone. Then the truth -flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged -my prize away from me to be devoured in their neighboring lair; -as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for months, -through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag -my dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new -messenger appeared and my incarceration went on as before, -but not again did I allow my reason to be submerged by the -horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in -and chained near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he -was a red Martian and I could scarcely await the departure -of his guards to address him. As their retreating footsteps -died away in the distance, I called out softly the Martian -word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, -omitting only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. -He was much excited by the news of Helium's princess and -seemed quite positive that she and Sola could easily have -reached a point of safety from where they left me. He said -that he knew the place well because the defile through which -the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was -the only one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and sola entered the hills not five miles -from a great waterway and are now probably quite safe," -he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) -in the navy of Helium. He had been a member of the ill- -fated expedition which had fallen into the hands of the -Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' capture, and he briefly -related the events which followed the defeat of the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped -slowly toward Helium, but while passing near the city of -Zodanga, the capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among -the red men of Barsoom, they had been attacked by a great -body of war vessels and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan -belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but -finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about -the time of our coming to Thark, his vessel had reached -Helium with about ten survivors of the original crew of seven -hundred officers and men. Immediately seven great fleets, -each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been dispatched -to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in -futile search for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the -face of Barsoom by the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah -Thoris had been found. They had been searching among the -northern hordes, and only within the past few days had -they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man -fliers and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the -Warhoons while exploring their city. The bravery and daring -of the man won my greatest respect and admiration. Alone he -had landed at the city's boundary and on foot had penetrated -to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days and -nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in -search of his beloved princess only to fall into the -hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave, after -assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I -became well acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. -A few days only elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth -from our dungeon for the great games. We were conducted early -one morning to an enormous amphitheater, which instead of having -been built upon the surface of the ground was excavated below -the surface. it had partially filled with debris so that how -large it had originally been was difficult to say. In its -present condition it held the entire twenty thousand Warhoons -of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. -Around it the Warhoons had piled building stone from -some of the ruined edifices of the ancient city to prevent -the animals and the captives from escaping into the -audience, and at each end had been constructed cages -to hold them until their turns came to meet some horrible -death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. -In the others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, -green warriors, and women of other hordes, and many -strange and ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had -never before seen. The din of their roaring, growling and -squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel -grave forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one -of these prisoners would gain freedom and the others would -lie dead about the arena. The winners in the various contests -of the day would be pitted against each other until only two -remained alive; the victor in the last encounter being set free, -whether animal or man. The following morning the cages would -be filled with a new consignment of victims, and so on -throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill -and within an hour every available part of the seating space -was occupied. Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at -the center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were -thrown open and a dozen green Martian females were -driven to the center of the arena. Each was given a -dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve calots, -or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost -defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the -horrid sight. The yells and laughter of the green horde -bore witness to the excellent quality of the sport and -when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me it -was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and growling -over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good account -of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, -and so it went throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then -beasts, but as I was armed with a long-sword and always -outclassed my adversary in agility and generally in strength -as well, it proved but child's play to me. Time and time again -I won the applause of the bloodthirsty multitude, and toward -the end there were cries that I be taken from the arena -and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior -of some far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror -for the liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and -like myself had always proven victorious, but occasionally -by the smallest of margins, especially when pitted against -the green warriors. I had little hope that he could best his -giant adversary who had mowed down all before him during -the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they -advanced to meet one another I saw for the first time a trick -of Martian swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's -every hope of victory and life on one cast of the dice, for, -as he came to within about twenty feet of the huge fellow -he threw his sword arm far behind him over his shoulder -and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost -at the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing -the poor devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but -as we approached to the encounter I whispered to him to -prolong the battle until nearly dark in the hope that we -might find some means of escape. The horde evidently -guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other and so -they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. -Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to -Kantos Kan to thrust his sword between my left arm and my -body. As he did so I staggered back clasping the sword -tightly with my arm and thus fell to the ground with his -weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos Kan -perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his -foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body -gave me the final death blow through the neck which is supposed -to sever the jugular vein, but in this instance the cold -blade slipped harmlessly into the sand of the arena. In the -darkness which had now fallen none could tell but that he -had really finished me. I whispered to him to go and claim -his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the -city, and so he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to -the top and as the great excavation lay far from the plaza -and in an untenanted portion of the great dead city I had -little trouble in reaching the hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did -not come I started off on foot in a northwesterly direction -toward a point where he had told me lay the nearest waterway. -My only food consisted of vegetable milk from the -plants which gave so bounteously of this priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through -the nights guided only by the stars and hiding during the -days behind some protruding rock or among the occasional -hills I traversed. Several times I was attacked by wild beasts; -strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped upon me in the -dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my hand -that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly -acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but -once I was down with vicious fangs at my jugular and a -hairy face pressed close to mine before I knew that I was -even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but -that it was large and heavy and many-legged I could feel. -My hands were at its throat before the fangs had a chance to -bury themselves in my neck, and slowly I forced the hairy face -from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort -to reach me with those awful fangs, and I straining to -maintain my grip and choke the life from it as I kept it from -my throat. Slowly my arms gave to the unequal struggle, -and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming tusks of my -antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face touched -mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness -full upon the creature that held me pinioned to the ground. -The two rolled growling upon the moss, tearing and rending -one another in a frightful manner, but it was soon over and -my preserver stood with lowered head above the throat of -the dead thing which would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon -and lighting up the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my -preserver was Woola, but from whence he had come, or how -found me, I was at a loss to know. That I was glad of his -companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at seeing -him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for -his absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my -commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was -but a shadow of his former self, and as he turned from my -caress and commenced greedily to devour the dead carcass -at my feet I realized that the poor fellow was more than half -starved. I, myself, was in but little better plight but I could -not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had no -means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal -I again took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering -in quest of the elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed -to see the high trees that denoted the object of my search. -About noon I dragged myself wearily to the portals of a -huge building which covered perhaps four square miles -and towered two hundred feet in the air. It showed no -aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at which -I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence -known to the inmates of the place, unless a small round -role in the wall near the door was for that purpose. It was -of about the bigness of a lead pencil and thinking that it -might be in the nature of a speaking tube I put my mouth to -it and was about to call into it when a voice issued from it -asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of -my errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and -was dying of starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed -by a calot, yet you are of the figure of a red man. In color -you are neither green nor red. In the name of the ninth day, -what manner of creature are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. -In the name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had -sunk into the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily -to the left, exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, -at the further end of which was another door, similar in -every respect to the one I had just passed. No one was in -sight, yet immediately we passed the first door it slid gently -into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original position -in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and -as it reached its place once more after closing behind us, -great cylinders of steel had dropped from the ceiling behind -it and fitted their lower ends into apertures countersunk in -the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one -side as the first, before I reached a large inner chamber -where I found food and drink set out upon a great stone table. -A voice directed me to satisfy my hunger and to feed -my calot, and while I was thus engaged my invisible host -put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on -concluding its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the -truth, and it is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. -I can tell that by the conformation of your brain and the -strange location of your internal organs and the shape and -size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian -I could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a -strange, dried up, little mummy of a man came toward me. -He wore but a single article of clothing or adornment, a -small collar of gold from which depended upon his chest a -great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid with huge -diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied -by a strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine -different and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly -prism and two beautiful rays which, to me, were new and -nameless. I cannot describe them any more than you could -describe red to a blind man. I only know that they were -beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the -strangest part of our intercourse was that I could read his -every thought while he could not fathom an iota from my -mind unless I spoke. - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental -operations, and thus I learned a great deal which proved of -immense value to me later and which I would never have -known had he suspected my strange power, for the Martians -have such perfect control of their mental machinery that they -are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery -which produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains -life on Mars. The secret of the entire process hinges on -the use of the ninth ray, one of the beautiful scintillations -which I had noted emanating from the great stone in my -host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by -means of finely adjusted instruments placed upon the roof -of the huge building, three-quarters of which is used for -reservoirs in which the ninth ray is stored. This product is -then treated electrically, or rather certain proportions of -refined electric vibrations are incorporated with it, and the -result is then pumped to the five principal air centers of the -planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether of -space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in -the great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for -a thousand years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, -was that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery -of twenty radium pumps any one of which was equal to the -task of furnishing all Mars with the atmosphere compound. -For eight hundred years, he told me, he had watched these -pumps which are used alternately a day each at a stretch, or -a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has one -assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian -year, about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each -of these men spend alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the -principles of the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two -at one time ever hold the secret of ingress to the great building, -which, built as it is with walls a hundred and fifty feet -thick, is absolutely unassailable, even the roof being guarded -from assault by air craft by a glass covering five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green -Martians or some demented red man, as all Barsoomians -realize that the very existence of every form of life of Mars -is dependent upon the uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts -was that the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic -means. The locks are so finely adjusted that the doors are -released by the action of a certain combination of thought -waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I thought to -surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the -massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the building. -As quick as a flash there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, -but as quickly faded as he answered that this was a secret -he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared -that he had been surprised into divulging his great secret, -and I read suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, -though his words were still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a -letter to a nearby agricultural officer who would help me on -my way to Zodanga, which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are -bound for Helium as they are at war with that country. -My assistant and I are of no country, we belong to all Barsoom -and this talisman which we wear protects us in all lands, -even among the green men--though we do not trust ourselves -to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you -have a long and restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the -wish that he had never admitted me, and then a picture of -him standing over me in the night, and the swift thrust of -a long dagger and the half formed words, "I am sorry, but it -is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his -thoughts were cut off from me as was the sight of him, which -seemed strange to me in my little knowledge of thought -transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these -mighty walls? Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, -but once he was dead I could no more escape, and with the -stopping of the machinery of the great plant I should die -with all the other inhabitants of the planet--all, even Dejah -Thoris were she not already dead. For the others I did not -give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah Thoris -drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed -by Woola, sought the inner of the great doors. A wild -scheme had come to me; I would attempt to force the great -locks by the nine thought waves I had read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and -down winding runways which turned hither and thither I -finally reached the great hall in which I had broken my long -fast that morning. Nowhere had I seen my host, nor did I -know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room -when a slight noise behind me warned me back into the -shadows of a recess in the corridor. Dragging Woola after -me I crouched low in the darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered -the dimly lighted chamber which I had been about to -pass through I saw that he held a long thin dagger in his -hand and that he was sharpening it upon a stone. In his mind -was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, which would -take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed chamber -and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down -the runway which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily -from my hiding place and crossed to the great door, the inner -of the three which stood between me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled -the nine thought waves against it. In breathless expectancy -I waited, when finally the great door moved softly toward -me and slid quietly to one side. One after the other the -remaining mighty portals opened at my command and Woola -and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full -stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile -I made for the first crossroad, intending to strike the central -turnpike as quickly as possible. This I reached about morning -and entering the first enclosure I came to I searched for -some evidences of a habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred -with heavy impassable doors, and no amount of hammering -and hallooing brought any response. Weary and exhausted -from sleeplessness I threw myself upon the ground commanding -Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings -and opened my eyes to see three red Martians standing a -short distance from us and covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I -have been a prisoner among the green men and am on my -way to Zodanga. All I ask is food and rest for myself and -my calot and the proper directions for reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward -me placing their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the -manner of their custom of salute, and asking me many questions -about myself and my wanderings. They then took me to the -house of one of them which was only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early -morning were occupied only by stock and farm produce, -the house proper standing among a grove of enormous trees, -and, like all red-Martian homes, had been raised at night -some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a large round -metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in -the entrance hall of the building. Instead of bothering with -bolts and bars for their dwellings, the red Martians simply -run them up out of harm's way during the night. They also -have private means for lowering or raising them from the -ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three -similar houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, -being government officers in charge. The labor was -performed by convicts, prisoners of war, delinquent debtors -and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to pay the high -celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality -and I spent several days with them, resting and recuperating -from my long and arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference -to Dejah Thoris and the old man of the atmosphere plant-- -they advised me to color my body to more nearly resemble -their own race and then attempt to find employment in Zodanga, -either in the army or the navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed -until after you have proven your trustworthiness and won -friends among the higher nobles of the court. This you can -most easily do through military service, as we are a warlike -people on Barsoom," explained one of them, "and save our -richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a -small domestic bull thoat, such as is used for saddle -purposes by all red Martians. The animal is about the size -of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and shape an exact -replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which -I anointed my entire body and one of them cut my hair, -which had grown quite long, in the prevailing fashion of the -time, square at the back and banged in front, so that I could -have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a full-fledged red -Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in the -style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of -Ptor, which was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. -The medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from -our own except that the coins are oval. Paper money is -issued by individuals as they require it and redeemed twice -yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, the -government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out -the amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned -by the government. This suits everybody except the debtor as -it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary -labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching -as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole, through wild -stretches peopled by wild animals and wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness -to me they assured me that I would have ample opportunity -if I lived long upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell -they watched me until I was out of sight upon the broad -white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several -farm houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and -instructive things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected -in immense underground reservoirs at either pole from the -melting ice caps, and pumped through long conduits to the -various populated centers. Along either side of these conduits, -and extending their entire length, lie the cultivated districts. -These are divided into tracts of about the same size, each tract -being under the supervision of one or more government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting -immense quantities of water by evaporation, the precious -liquid is carried underground through a vast network of -small pipes directly to the roots of the vegetation. The crops -upon Mars are always uniform, for there are no droughts, no -rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since -leaving Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed -domestic animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits -and vegetables, but not a single article of food which was -exactly similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and flower -and vegetable and animal has been so refined by ages of careful, -scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of them on -Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness -by comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of -the noble class and while in conversation we chanced to -speak of Helium. One of the older men had been there on -a diplomatic mission several years before and spoke with -regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to keep -these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful -women of Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrous -daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah Thoris, is the most exquisite -flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground -she walks upon and since her loss on that ill-starred -expedition all Helium has been draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet -as it was returning to Helium was but another of his awful -blunders which I fear will sooner or later compel Zodanga -to elevate a wiser man to his place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding -Helium, the people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, -for the war is not a popular one, since it is not based on -right or justice. Our forces took advantage of the absence -of the principal fleet of Helium on their search for the -princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the city -to a sorry plight. it is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the -princess, Dejah Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned -from a green warrior recently captured by our forces in -the south. She escaped from the hordes of Thark with a -strange creature of another world, only to fall into the hands -of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering upon -the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were -discovered nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither -was it at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, -and so I determined to make every effort possible to reach -Helium as quickly as I could and carry to Tardos Mors -such news of his granddaughter's possible whereabouts as -lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived -at Zodanga. From the moment that I had come in contact -with the red inhabitants of Mars I had noticed that Woola -drew a great amount of unwelcome attention to me, since -the huge brute belonged to a species which is never -domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down -Broadway with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would -be somewhat similar to that which I should have produced -had I entered Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused -me so great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until -just before we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, -it became imperative that we separate. Had nothing further -than my own safety or pleasure been at stake no argument -could have prevailed upon me to turn away the one creature -upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration -of affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered -my life in the service of her in search of whom I was about -to challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious -city, I could not permit even Woola's life to threaten the -success of my venture, much less his momentary happiness, -for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so I bade -the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, -however, that if I came through my adventure in safety that -in some way I should find the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed -back in the direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, -nor could I bear to watch him go; but resolutely set my -face toward Zodanga and with a touch of heartsickness -approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance -to the vast, walled city. It was still very early in -the morning and the streets were practically deserted. -The residences, raised high upon their metal columns, resembled -huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves presented the -appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule were -not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or -barred, since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. -Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, -and for this reason alone their homes are raised high above -the ground at night, or in times of danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for -reaching the point of the city where I could find living -accommodations and be near the offices of the government -agents to whom they had given me letters. My way led to -the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of all -Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded -by the palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members -of the royalty and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by the -principal public buildings, cafes, and shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and -admiration of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous -scarlet vegetation which carpeted the broad lawns I -discovered a red Martian walking briskly toward me from one -of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention to me, -but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I -placed my hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much -as lower my hand the point of his long-sword was at my -breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap -carried me fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point -to the ground and exclaimed, laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon -all Barsoom who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By -the mother of the further moon, John Carter, how came -you here, and have you become a Darseen that you can -change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, -after I had briefly outlined my adventures since parting -with him in the arena at Warhoon. "Were my name -and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly be sitting -on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos -Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of -Dejah Thoris, our princess. Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, -has her hidden in the city and has fallen madly in love -with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace -between our countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to -the demands and has sent word that he and his people -would rather look upon the dead face of their princess than -see her wed to any than her own choice, and that personally -he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that -of Than Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could -have put upon Than Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people -love him the more for it and his strength in Helium is -greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, -"but I have not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. -Today I join the Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hope -in this way to win the confidence of Sab Than, the prince, -who is commander of this division of the navy, and thus -learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you -are here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess -and two of us working together should be able to -accomplish much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going -and coming upon the daily activities of their duties. The -shops were opening and the cafes filling with early morning -patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of these gorgeous eating -places where we were served entirely by mechanical apparatus. -No hand touched the food from the time it entered the -building in its raw state until it emerged hot and delicious -upon the tables before the guests, in response to the touching -of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the -headquarters of the air-scout squadron and introducing me -to his superior asked that I be enrolled as a member of the -corps. In accordance with custom an examination was necessary, -but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear on this score as he -would attend to that part of the matter. He accomplished -this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully -explained, "when they check up my weights, measurements, -and other personal identification data, but it will be -several months before this is done and our mission should -be accomplished or have failed long before that time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching -me the intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty -little contrivances which the Martians use for this purpose. -The body of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet -long, two feet wide and three inches thick, tapering to a -point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane upon -a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine -which propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained -within the thin metal walls of the body and consists of -the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as it may -be termed in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but -the Martians have discovered that it is an inherent property -of all light no matter from what source it emanates. They -have learned that it is the solar eighth ray which propels -the light of the sun to the various planets, and that it is -the individual eighth ray of each planet which "reflects," or -propels the light thus obtained out into space once more. -The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of -Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to -propel light from Mars into space, is constantly streaming -out from the planet constituting a force of repulsion of -gravity which when confined is able to life enormous weights -from the surface of the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation -that battle ships far outweighing anything known upon -Earth sail as gracefully and lightly through the thin air of -Barsoom as a toy balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many -strange accidents occurred before the Martians learned to -measure and control the wonderful power they had found. -In one instance, some nine hundred years before, the first -great battle ship to be built with eighth ray reservoirs was -stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, -never to return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that -it had carried her far into space, where she can be seen -today, by the aid of powerful telescopes, hurtling through -the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; a tiny satellite -that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my -first flight, and as a result of it I won a promotion which -included quarters in the palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had -seen Kantos Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top -speed I raced at terrific velocity toward the south, following -one of the great waterways which enter Zodanga from that -direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less -than an hour when I descried far below me a party of -three green warriors racing madly toward a small figure on -foot which seemed to be trying to reach the confines of one -of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling -to the rear of the warriors, I soon saw that the object of -their pursuit was a red Martian wearing the metal of the -scout squadron to which I was attached. A short distance -away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the tools with which -he had evidently been occupied in repairing some damage -when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts -charging down on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed, -while the warriors leaned low to the right, with their great -metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving to be the first to -impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his fate -would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind -the warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishing -my speed I rammed the prow of my little flier between the -shoulders of the nearest. The impact sufficient to have torn -through inches of solid steel, hurled the fellow's headless body -into the air over the head of his thoat, where it fell sprawling -upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground -at the feet of the astonished Zodangan. He was warm in -his thanks for my timely aid and promised that my day's -work would bring the reward it merited, for it was none -other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I -had saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors -would surely return as soon as they had gained control of -their mounts. Hastening to his damaged machine we were -bending every effort to finish the needed repairs and had -almost completed them when we saw the two green monsters -returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When -they had approached within a hundred yards their thoats -again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance -further toward the air craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals -advanced toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do -the best he could with the other. Finishing my man with -almost no effort, as had now from much practice become -habitual with me, I hastened to return to my new acquaintance -whom I found indeed in desperate straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his -antagonist upon his throat and the great long-sword raised -to deal the final thrust. With a bound I cleared the fifty -feet intervening between us, and with outstretched point -drove my sword completely through the body of the green -warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal -injuries and after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to -attempt the return voyage. He would have to pilot his -own craft, however, as these frail vessels are not intended -to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the -still, cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without -further mishap returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse -of civilians and troops assembled upon the plain before the -city. The sky was black with naval vessels and private and -public pleasure craft, flying long streamers of gay-colored -silks, and banners and flags of odd and picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running -his machine close beside mine suggested that we approach -and watch the ceremony, which, he said, was for the purpose -of conferring honors on individual officers and men for -bravery and other distinguished service. He then unfurled -a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member -of the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our -way through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung -directly over the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. All were -mounted upon the small domestic bull thoats of the red -Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore such -a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but -be struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore -to a band of the red Indians of my own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the -presence of my companion above them and the ruler motioned -for him to descend. As they waited for the troops -to move into position facing the jeddak the two talked -earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and -presently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of -troops had wheeled into position before their emperor. A -member of the staff advanced toward the troops, and calling -the name of a soldier commanded him to advance. The -officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which had -won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced -and placed a metal ornament upon the left arm of the -lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit -of military discipline is strong within me, and I dropped -my little machine lightly to the ground and advanced on -foot as I had seen the others do. As I halted before the -officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the entire -assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable -courage and skill in defending the person of the cousin -of the jeddak Than Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing -three green warriors, it is the pleasure of our jeddak to -confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an -ornament upon me, said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful -achievement, which seems little short of miraculous, and if -you can so well defend a cousin of the jeddak how much -better could you defend the person of the jeddak himself. -You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members -of his staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine to -its quarters on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout -squadron, and with an orderly from the palace to guide me -I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - - -I FIND DEJAH - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions -to station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time -of war, is always in great danger of assassination, as the -rule that all is fair in war seems to constitute the entire -ethics of Martian conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment -in which Than Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in -conversation with his son, Sab Than, and several courtiers -of his household, and did not perceive my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with -splendid tapestries which hid any windows or doors which -may have pierced them. The room was lighted by imprisoned -rays of sunshine held between the ceiling proper and what -appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a few inches -below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a -passage which encircled the room, between the hangings and -the walls of the chamber. Within this passage I was to -remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was in the apartment. -When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to guard -the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I -would be relieved after a period of four hours. The major- -domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the -appearance of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding -place I could perceive all that took place within the room as -readily as though there had been no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the -opposite end of the chamber separated and four soldiers of -The Guard entered, surrounding a female figure. As they -approached Than Kosis the soldiers fell to either side and -there standing before the jeddak and not ten feet from me, -her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and -hand in hand they approached close to the jeddak. Than -Kosis looked up in surprise, and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess -of Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration -for my pride, assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, -the green Thark, to my son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples -playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been -the prerogative of woman to change her mind as she listed -and to dissemble in matters concerning her heart. That you -will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your son. Two days ago I -was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and I have -come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept -the assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time -comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. -"It is far from my desire to push war further against the -people of Helium, and, your promise shall be recorded and -a proclamation to my people issued forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, -"that the proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would -look strange indeed to my people and to yours were the -Princess of Helium to give herself to her country's enemy -in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. -"It requires but the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. -Say it, my father, say the word that will hasten my -happiness, and end this unpopular strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of -Helium take to peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the -apartment, still followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness -dashed, broken, to the ground of reality. The woman for -whom I had offered my life, and from whose lips I had so -recently heard a declaration of love for me, had lightly -forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not -believe it. I must search out her apartments and force her -to repeat the cruel truth to me alone before I would be -convinced, and so I deserted my post and hastened through -the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by which -she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this -opening I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching -and turning in every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them -I soon became hopelessly lost and was standing panting -against a side wall when I heard voices near me. Apparently -they were coming from the opposite side of the partition -against which I leaned and presently I made out the tones -of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew -that I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway -at the end of which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I -pushed into the room only to find myself in a small ante- -chamber in which were the four guards who had accompanied -her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, asking -the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak -privately with Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a -member of The Guard, and without waiting for a reply -from him I strode toward the opposite door of the ante- -chamber, behind which I could hear Dejah Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. -The guardsman stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an -order or the password. You must give me one or the other -before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I -will, hangs at my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; -"will you let me pass in peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the -others to join him, and thus the four stood, with drawn -weapons, barring my further progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried -the one who had first addressed me, "and not only shall -you not enter the apartments of the Princess of Helium but -you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard to explain -this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you -cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim -smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three -antagonists and I can assure you that they were worthy of -my metal. They had me backed against the wall in no time, -fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my way to a corner -of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; -the clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam -in the little room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her -apartment, and there she stood throughout the conflict with -Sola at her back peering over her shoulder. Her face was -set and emotionless and I knew that she did not recognize -me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman -and then, with only two opposing me, I changed my tactics -and rushed them down after the fashion of my fighting -that had won me many a victory. The third fell within ten -seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men -and noble fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced -to kill them, but I would have willingly depopulated all -Barsoom could I have reached the side of my Dejah Thoris -in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian -Princess, who still stood mutely gazing at me without -sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy -to harass me in my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, -"and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it -cannot be--no, for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," -I said. "Do you not recognize, even through paint and -strange metal, the heart of your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched -hands, but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back -with a shudder and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, -and whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little -hour before--but now it is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you -would not have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince -had you known that I lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you -yesterday and today to another? I thought that it lay buried -with your ashes in the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have -promised my body to another to save my people from the -curse of a victorious Zodangan army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim -you, and all Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on -Barsoom that is final. The ceremonies which follow later are -but meaningless formalities. They make the fact of marriage -no more certain than does the funeral cortege of a jeddak -again place the seal of death upon him. I am as good as -married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, -Dejah Thoris, but I do know that I love you, and if you -meant the last words you spoke to me that day as the hordes -of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no other man shall -ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot -repeat them now for I have given myself to another. Ah, -if you had only known our ways, my friend," she continued, -half to herself, "the promise would have been yours long -months ago, and you could have claimed me before all others. -It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have -given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when -you offended me? You called me your princess without having -asked my hand of me, and then you boasted that you had -fought for me. You did not know, and I should not have -been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to tell -you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two -kinds of women in the cities of the red men. The one they -fight for that they may ask them in marriage; the other kind -they fight for also, but never ask their hands. When a man -has won a woman he may address her as his princess, or in -any of the several terms which signify possession. You had -fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so -when you called me your princess, you see," she faltered, -"I was hurt, but even then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, -as I should have done, until you made it doubly worse by -taunting me with having won me through combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," -I cried. "You must know that my fault was of ignorance of -your Barsoomian customs. What I failed to do, through -implicit belief that my petition would be presumptuous and -unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, -and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my -veins you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, -"I may never be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not -wed the man who slays my husband, even in self-defense. -It is custom. We are ruled by custom upon Barsoom. It is -useless, my friend. You must bear the sorrow with me. That -at least we may share in common. That, and the memory of -the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever -see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, -but I was not entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that -Dejah Thoris was lost to me until the ceremony had actually -been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely -lost in the mazes of winding passageways as I had been -before I discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of -Zodanga, for the matter of the four dead guardsmen would -have to be explained, and as I could never reach my original -post without a guide, suspicion would surely rest on me so -soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly through the -palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower -floor, and this I followed downward for several stories until -I reached the doorway of a large apartment in which were a -number of guardsmen. The walls of this room were hung with -transparent tapestries behind which I secreted myself without -being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and -awakened no interest in me until an officer entered the room -and ordered four of the men to relieve the detail who were -guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles -would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely -left the guardroom before one of their number burst in -again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four -comrades butchered in the antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. -Guardsmen, officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran -helter-skelter through the corridors and apartments carrying -messages and orders, and searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, -for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place -I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the -palace until, in passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed -light of day coming in through a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, -sought for an avenue of escape. The windows opened -upon a great balcony which overlooked one of the broad -avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about thirty feet below, -and at a like distance from the building was a wall fully -twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot -in thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have -appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength -and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear -was in being detected before darkness fell, for I could not -make the leap in broad daylight while the court below and -the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found -one by accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which -swung from the ceiling of the hall, and about ten feet from -the floor. Into the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with -ease, and scarcely had I settled down within it than I heard -a number of people enter the apartment. The group stopped -beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear their -every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I -could believe that even with the diligent care of your -guardsmen a single enemy might reach the inner chambers, -but how a force of six or eight fighting men could have -done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, however, -for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his -formal greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead -minds of your faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a -number of fighting men, but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement -impress his hearers, and that his statement was scarcely -credited was evidenced by the impatient exclamation of -incredulity which escaped the lips of Than Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. -"In fact the impressions were strongly marked on the brain -of each of the four guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very -tall man, wearing the metal of one of your own guardsmen, -and his fighting ability was little short of marvelous for he -fought fair against the entire four and vanquished them by -his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a -man was never seen before in this or any other country upon -Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined -and questioned was a blank to me, she has perfect -control, and I could not read one iota of it. She said that -she witnessed a portion of the encounter, and that when she -looked there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen; -a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the -party, and I recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, -whom I had rescued from the green warriors. "By the metal -of my first ancestor," he went on, "but the description fits -him to perfection, especially as to his fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought -to me at once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed -strange to me now that I think upon it that there should -have been such a fighting man in Zodanga, of whose name, -even, we were ignorant before today. And his name too, -John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, -either in the palace or at my former quarters in the -barracks of the air-scout squadron. Kantos Kan, they had -found and questioned, but he knew nothing of my whereabouts, -and as to my past, he had told them he knew as little, since he -had but recently met me during our captivity among the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. -"He also is a stranger and likely as not they both hail -from Helium, and where one is we shall sooner or later -find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, and let every man -who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to the -closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still -within the palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the -palace grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded -the fellow, "and not one approaches the likeness of this new -padwar of the guards, other than that which was recorded of -him at the time he entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis -contentedly, "and in the meanwhile we will repair to the -apartments of the Princess of Helium and question her in -regard to the affair. She may know more than she cared to -divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I -slipped lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the -balcony. Few were in sight, and choosing a moment when -none seemed near I sprang quickly to the top of the glass -wall and from there to the avenue beyond the palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - - -LOST IN THE SKY - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of -our quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As -I neared the building I became more careful, as I judged, -and rightly, that the place would be guarded. Several men in -civilian metal loitered near the front entrance and in the -rear were others. My only means of reaching, unseen, the -upper story where our apartments were situated was through -an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I -managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window -in the building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in -another moment I stood in the room before him. He was -alone and showed no surprise at my coming, saying he had -expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty must have -ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at -the palace, and when I had enlightened him he was all -excitement. The news that Dejah Thoris had promised her -hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no -man in all Helium but would prefer death to the selling of -our loved princess to the ruling house of Zodanga. She must -have lost her mind to have assented to such an atrocious -bargain. You, who do not know how we of Helium love -the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are -a resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save -Helium from this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, -"I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, -but for personal reasons I would prefer that another struck -the blow that frees Dejah Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because -she is promised to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me -by the shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have -chosen a more fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. -Here is my hand upon your shoulder, John Carter, and my -word that Sab Than shall go out at the point of my sword -for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah Thoris, and for -you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters in the -palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple -force patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it -with an air of confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said -at last. "I know a secret entrance to the palace through -the pinnacle of the highest tower. I fell upon it by chance -one day as I was passing above the palace on patrol duty. -In this work it is required that we investigate any unusual -occurrence we may witness, and a face peering from the pinnacle -of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most unusual. -I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of -the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly -put out at being detected and commanded me to keep the -matter to myself, explaining that the passage from the tower -led directly to his apartments, and was known only to him. -If I can reach the roof of the barracks and get my machine -I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five minutes; but how am -I to escape from this building, guarded as you say it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon -the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait -me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to -the street and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter -the building, filled as it was with members of the air-scout -squadron, who, in common with all Zodanga, were on the -lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head -fully a thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in -Zodanga were higher than these barracks, though several topped -it by a few hundred feet; the docks of the great battleships -of the line standing some fifteen hundred feet from the -ground, while the freight and passenger stations of the -merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one -fraught with much danger, but there was no other way, and -so I essayed the task. The fact that Barsoomian architecture -is extremely ornate made the feat much simpler than I had -anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges and projections -which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way to the -eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I -clung, and though I encircled the great building I could find -no opening through them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged -in the pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach -the roof through the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided -I must take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived -who would not risk a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened -one of the long leather straps of my trappings at the end -of which dangled a great hook by which air sailors are hung -to the sides and bottoms of their craft for various purposes -of repair, and by means of which landing parties are lowered -to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times -before it finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to -strengthen its hold, but whether it would bear the weight of -my body I did not know. It might be barely caught upon the -very outer verge of the roof, so that as my body swung out -at the end of the strap it would slip off and launch me to -the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon -the supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end -of the strap. Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, -the hard pavements, and death. There was a little jerk at -the top of the supporting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating -sound which turned me cold with apprehension; then the -hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves -and drew myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained -my feet I was confronted by the sentry on duty, into the -muzzle of whose revolver I found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, -for just by the merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue -below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has -landed or come up from the building for the past hour. -Quick, explain yourself, or I call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and -how close a shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, -turning toward the edge of the roof, where, twenty feet -below, at the end of my strap, hung all my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my -side and to his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the -eaves I grasped him by his throat and his pistol arm and -threw him heavily to the roof. The weapon dropped from -his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted cry for -assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him -over the edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few -moments before. I knew it would be morning before he would -be discovered, and I needed all the time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the -sheds, and soon had out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. -Making his fast behind mine I started my engine, and skimming -over the edge of the roof I dove down into the streets of -the city far below the plane usually occupied by the air -patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon -the roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately -into a discussion of our plans for the immediate future. -It was decided that I was to try to make Helium while Kantos -Kan was to enter the palace and dispatch Sab Than. If successful -he was then to follow me. He set my compass for me, a clever -little device which will remain steadfastly fixed upon any given -point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each other farewell -we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace which -lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from -above, throwing its piercing searchlight full upon my craft, -and a voice roared out a command to halt, following with a -shot as I paid no attention to his hail. Kantos Kan dropped -quickly into the darkness, while I rose steadily and at terrific -speed raced through the Martian sky followed by a dozen of -the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and later -by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, -now rising and now falling, I managed to elude their search- -lights most of the time, but I was also losing ground by these -tactics, and so I decided to hazard everything on a straight- -away course and leave the result to fate and the speed of my -machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known -only to the navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed -of our machines, so that I felt sure I could distance -my pursuers if I could dodge their projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets -around me convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, -but the die was cast, and throwing on full speed I raced -a straight course toward Helium. Gradually I left my -pursuers further and further behind, and I was just -congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. -The concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening -plunge she hurtled downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do -not know, but I must have been very close to the ground -when I started to rise again, as I plainly heard the squealing -of animals below me. Rising again I scanned the heavens for -my pursuers, and finally making out their lights far behind me, -saw that they were landing, evidently in search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I -venture to flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then -I found to my consternation that a fragment of the -projectile had utterly destroyed my only guide, as well as my -speedometer. It was true I could follow the stars in the -general direction of Helium, but without knowing the exact -location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling -my chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and -with my compass intact I should have made the trip, barring -accidents, in between four and five hours. As it turned -out, however, morning found me speeding over a vast expanse -of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of continuous -flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed -below me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all -Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular -walled cities about seventy-five miles apart and would -have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, -I turned back in a southeasterly direction, passing during -the forenoon several other large cities, but none resembling -the description which Kantos Kan had given me of Helium. -In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, another -distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of -vivid scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the -center of one of the cities, while the other, of bright yellow -and of the same height, marks her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient -Mars, and as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I -came full upon several thousand green warriors engaged in -a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them than a volley of -shots was directed at me, and with the almost unfailing -accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, -among warriors who had not seen my approach so busily -were they engaged in life and death struggles. The men -were fighting on foot with long-swords, while an occasional -shot from a sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict -would bring down a warrior who might for an instant separate -himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight -or die, with good chances of dying in any event, and so I -struck the ground with drawn long-sword ready to defend -myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three -antagonists, and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with -the light of battle, I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He -did not see me, as I was a trifle behind him, and just then -the three warriors opposing him, and whom I recognized -as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow -made quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for -another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and -was down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick -as lightning they were upon him, and Tars Tarkas would -have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. -I had accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark -regained his feet and quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim -lip as, touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there -is no other mortal upon Barsoom who would have done -what you have for me. I think I have learned that there is -such a thing as friendship, my friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the -Warhoons were closing in about us, and together we fought, -shoulder to shoulder, during all that long, hot afternoon, -until the tide of battle turned and the remnant of the fierce -Warhoon horde fell back upon their thoats, and fled into -the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, -and upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead. -Neither side asked or gave quarter, nor did they attempt -to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone -directly to Tars Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone -while the chieftain attended the customary council which -immediately follows an engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard -something move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced -up there rushed suddenly upon me a huge and hideous -creature which bore me backward upon the pile of silks and -furs upon which I had been reclining. It was Woola--faithful, -loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark and, -as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my -former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and -seemingly hopeless watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said -Tars Tarkas, on his return from the jeddak's quarters; -"Sarkoja saw and recognized you as we were returning. Tal -Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him tonight. I -have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice -from among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest -waterway that leads to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel -green warrior, but he can be a friend as well. Come, we -must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless -I should chance to have the opportunity I have so long -waited of battling with Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. -You shall not sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight -you can have the chance you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew -into wild fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I -had dealt him, and that if ever he laid his hands upon me -I would be subjected to the most horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story -which Sola had told me that night upon the sea bottom -during the march to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face -worked in passion and in agony at recollection of the -horrors which had been heaped upon the only thing he had -ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before -Tal Hajus, only saying that he would like to speak to -Sarkoja first. At his request I accompanied him to her -quarters, and the look of venomous hatred she cast upon -me was almost adequate recompense for any future misfortunes -this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were -instrumental in bringing about the torture and death of a -woman named Gozava. I have just discovered that the warrior -who loved that woman has learned of your part in the transaction. -He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not our custom, but there is -nothing to prevent him tying one end of a strap about your neck -and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test your fitness -to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard that he -would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn you, -for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, -Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could -scarcely wait to see me and was standing erect upon his -platform glowering at the entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who -it is dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with -my own hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he -may not pollute my person with his vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled -council and ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among -you, and today I have fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder -with her greatest warrior. You owe me, at least, a hearing. -I have won that much today. You claim to be just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind -him as I command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are -you to set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal -Hajus fumed and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where -was your mighty jeddak during the fighting today? I did -not see him in the thick of battle; he was not there. He -rends defenseless women and little children in his lair, but -how recently has one of you seen him fight with men? Why, -even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single blow -of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior -and a noble man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, -Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus -must prove his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would -invite Tars Tarkas to combat, for he does not love him, -but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. -With my bare hands I could kill him, and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were -riveted upon Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the -blotchy green of his countenance turned livid, and the froth -froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, -"never in my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks -so humiliated. There could be but one answer to this arraignment. -We wait it." And still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, -Tal Hajus, prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and -twenty swords flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so -Tal Hajus drew his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of -the dead monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with -the rank I had won by my combats the first few weeks -of my captivity among them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward -Tars Tarkas, as well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity -to enlist them in my cause against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas -the story of my adventures, and in a few words had explained -to him the thought I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing -the council, "which meets with my sanction. I shall put it -to you briefly. Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who -was our prisoner, is now held by the jeddak of Zodanga, -whose son she must wed to save her country from devastation -at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her -to Helium. The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and -I have often thought that had we an alliance with the people -of Helium we could obtain sufficient assurance of sustenance -to permit us to increase the size and frequency of our hatchings, -and thus become unquestionably supreme among the green men of -all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they -rose to the bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half -hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across -dead sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, -one hundred thousand strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able -to enlist the services of three smaller hordes on the promise -of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark -while at the heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that -we camped during the day at deserted cities where, even -to the beasts, we were all kept indoors during the daylight -hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, through his remarkable -ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty thousand more warriors -from various hordes, so that, ten days after we set out we halted -at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, one hundred -and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of -ferocious green monsters was equivalent to ten times -their number of red men. Never in the history of Barsoom, -Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green warriors marched -to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep even a -semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to -me that he got them to the city without a mighty battle -among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were -submerged by their greater hatred for the red men, and -especially for the Zodangans, who had for years waged a -ruthless campaign of extermination against the green men, -directing special attention toward despoiling their incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining -entry to the city devolved upon me, and directing Tars -Tarkas to hold his forces in two divisions out of earshot -of the city, with each division opposite a large gateway, I -took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. -These gates have no regular guard, but are covered by -sentries, who patrol the avenue that encircles the city just -within the walls as our metropolitan police patrol their -beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and -fifty feet thick. They are built of enormous blocks of -carborundum, and the task of entering the city seemed, -to my escort of green warriors, an impossibility. -The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, -I commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I -ordered to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head -of the topmost warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three -steps from the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. -Then starting from a short distance behind them I ran -swiftly up from one tier to the next, and with a final bound -from the broad shoulders of the highest I clutched the top -of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad expanse. -After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal number -of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened together, -and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the other end -cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the avenue below. -No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of my leather strap, -I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening -these gates, and in another moment my twenty great fighting -men stood within the doomed city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower -boundary of the enormous palace grounds. The building -itself showed in the distance a blaze of glorious light, and -on the instant I determined to lead a detachment of warriors -directly within the palace itself, while the balance of -the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail -of fifty Tharks, with word of my intentions, I ordered ten -warriors to capture and open one of the great gates while -with the nine remaining I took the other. We were to do -our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no general -advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries -we met were dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of -the lost sea of Korus, and the guards at both gates followed -them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, -headed by Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty -thoats. I led them to the palace walls, which I negotiated -easily without assistance. Once inside, however, the gate -gave me considerable trouble, but I finally was rewarded -by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my fierce -escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the -great windows of the first floor into the brilliantly -illuminated audience chamber of Than Kosis. The immense hall -was crowded with nobles and their women, as though some -important function was in progress. There was not a guard -in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact -that the city and palace walls were considered impregnable, -and so I came close and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones -encrusted with diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, -surrounded by officers and dignitaries of state. Before them -stretched a broad aisle lined on either side with soldiery, -and as I looked there entered this aisle at the far end of -the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard -bearing a huge salver on which reposed, upon a cushion -of scarlet silk, a great golden chain with a collar and -padlock at each end. Directly behind these officers came -four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the -reigning house of Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated -and halted, facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. -Then came more dignitaries, and the officers of the palace -and of the army, and finally two figures entirely muffled in -scarlet silk, so that not a feature of either was discernible. -These two stopped at the foot of the throne, facing Than -Kosis. When the balance of the procession had entered and -assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but -presently two officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe -from one of the figures, and I saw that Kantos Kan had -failed in his mission, for it was Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, -who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one -of the salvers and placed one of the collars of gold about -his son's neck, springing the padlock fast. After a few more -words addressed to Sab Than he turned to the other figure, -from which the officers now removed the enshrouding silks, -disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah Thoris, -Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another -moment Dejah Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince -of Zodanga. It was an impressive and beautiful ceremony, -I presume, but to me it seemed the most fiendish sight I -had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were adjusted upon -her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my -head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the -great window and sprang into the midst of the astonished -assemblage. With a bound I was on the steps of the platform -beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with surprise -I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain -that would have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords -menaced me from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon -me with a jeweled dagger he had drawn from his nuptial -ornaments. I could have killed him as easily as I might a -fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my hand, -and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart -I held him as though in a vise and with my long-sword -pointed to the far end of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and -there, forging through the portals of the entranceway rode -Tars Tarkas and his fifty warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, -but no word of fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles -of Zodanga were hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew -Dejah Thoris to my side. Behind the throne was a narrow -doorway and in this Than Kosis now stood facing me, with -drawn long-sword. In an instant we were engaged, and I -found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than -rushing up the steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his -hand to strike, Dejah Thoris sprang before him and then -my sword found the spot that made Sab Than jeddak of -Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the new -jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again -we faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of -officers, and, with my back against a golden throne, I fought -once again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend -myself and yet not strike down Sab Than and, with him, -my last chance to win the woman I loved. My blade was -swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry -the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, -and one was down, when several more rushed to the aid of -their new ruler, and to avenge the death of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! -The woman! Strike her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill -her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my -way toward the little doorway back of the throne, but the -officers realized my intentions, and three of them sprang in -behind me and blocked my chances for gaining a position -where I could have defended Dejah Thoris against any army -of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of -the room, and I began to realize that nothing short of a -miracle could save Dejah Thoris and myself, when I saw -Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of pygmies that -swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway -before him until in another moment he stood upon the platform -beside me, dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one -attempted to escape, and when the fighting ceased it was -because only Tharks remained alive in the great hall, other -than Dejah Thoris and myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of -the flower of Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the -floor of the bloody shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos -Kan, and leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took -a dozen warriors and hastened to the dungeons beneath the -palace. The jailers had all left to join the fighters in the -throne room, so we searched the labyrinthine prison without -opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor -and compartment, and finally I was rewarded by hearing a -faint response. Guided by the sound, we soon found him -helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning -of the fight, faint echoes of which had reached his prison -cell. He told me that the air patrol had captured him before -he reached the high tower of the palace, so that he had not -even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut -away the bars and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his -suggestion I returned to search the bodies on the floor above -for keys to open the padlocks of his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, -and soon we had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and -cries, came to us from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas -hastened away to direct the fighting without. Kantos Kan -accompanied him to act as guide, the green warriors commencing -a thorough search of the palace for other Zodangans and for loot, -and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I -turned to her she greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that -Barsoom has never before seen your like. Can it be that all -Earth men are as you? Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, -persecuted, you have done in a few short months what in -all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever done: joined -together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought them -to fight as allies of a red Martian people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It -was not I who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a -power that would work greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," -I returned. "I have done many strange things in my life, many -things that wiser men would not have dared, but never in my -wildest fancies have I dreamed of winning a Dejah Thoris -for myself--for never had I dreamed that in all the universe -dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you -are a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is -enough to make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, -to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the -answer to his plea before the plea were made," she replied, -rising and placing her dear hands upon my shoulders, and so -I took her in my arms and kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled -with the alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping -their terrible harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess -of Helium, true daughter of Mars, the God of War, promise -herself in marriage to John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to -report that Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces -were entirely destroyed or captured, and no further resistance -was to be expected from within. Several battleships had escaped, -but there were thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard -of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling -among themselves, so it was decided that we collect what -warriors we could, man as many vessels as possible with -Zodangan prisoners and make for Helium without further -loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock -buildings with a fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, -carrying nearly one hundred thousand green warriors, followed -by a fleet of transports with our thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal -clutches of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser -hordes. They were looting, murdering, and fighting amongst -themselves. In a hundred places they had applied the torch, -and columns of dense smoke were rising above the city as -though to blot out from the eye of heaven the horrid sights -beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and -yellow towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet -of Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers -without the city, and advanced to meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to -stern of each of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did -not need this sign to realize that we were enemies, for our -green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them almost -as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, -sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the -first real air battle I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling -above the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since -their batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks who, -having no navy, have no skill in naval gunnery. Their small- -arm fire, however, was most effective, and the final outcome -of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not wholly -determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring -broadside after broadside into each other. Presently a great -hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft -from the Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely -over, the little figures of her crew plunging, turning -and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; then -with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, -and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan -fleet. By a pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium -gained a position above their adversaries, from which they -poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect -torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in -rising above the Zodangans, and in a short time a number -of the beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks -toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium. Several -others attempted to escape, but they were soon surrounded -by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each hung -a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties -upon their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the -victorious Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from -the camp of the besiegers the battle was over, and the -remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed -toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender -of these mighty fliers, the result of an age-old custom which -demanded that surrender should be signalized by the voluntary -plunging to earth of the commander of the vanquished vessel. -One after another the brave fellows, holding their colors -high above their heads, leaped from the towering bows of -their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful -plunge, thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, -did the fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men -come to an end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, -and when she was within hailing distance I called out that -we had the Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we -wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be -taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon -them a great cry arose from the decks of the flagship, and -a moment later the colors of the Princess of Helium broke -from a hundred points upon her upper works. When the -other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of the -signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and -unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully -to and touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon -our decks. As their astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds -of green warriors, who now came forth from the fighting -shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of Kantos Kan, -who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes -for other than her. She received them gracefully, calling -each by name, for they were men high in the esteem and -service of her grandfather, and she knew them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she -said to them, turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium -owes her princess as well as her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and -complimentary things, but what seemed to impress them -most was that I had won the aid of the fierce Tharks in my -campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, and the relief -of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," -I said, "and here he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest -soldiers and statesmen, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their -manner toward me they extended their greetings to the great -Thark, nor, to my surprise, was he much behind them in -ease of bearing or in courtly speech. Though not a garrulous -race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their ways lend -themselves amazingly well to dignified and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put -out that I would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the -battle was but partly won; we still had the land forces of -the besieging Zodangans to account for, and I would not leave -Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised -to arrange to have the armies of Helium attack from the -city in conjunction with our land attack, and so the vessels -separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in triumph back to -the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats -of the green warriors, where they had remained during the -battle. Without landing stages it was to be a difficult matter -to unload these beasts upon the open plain, but there was -nothing else for it, and so we put out for a point about ten -miles from the city and began the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in -slings and this work occupied the remainder of the day and -half the night. Twice we were attacked by parties of Zodangan -cavalry, but with little loss, however, and after darkness shut -down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave -the command to advance, and in three parties we crept upon -the Zodangan camp from the north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their -outposts and, as had been prearranged, accepted this as the -signal to charge. With wild, ferocious cries and amidst the -nasty squealing of battle-enraged thoats we bore down upon -the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched -battle line confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, -toward noon, I began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, -gathered from pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon- -like waterways, while pitted against them were less than a -hundred thousand green warriors. The forces from Helium -had not arrived, nor could we receive any word from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between -the Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that -our much-needed reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the -mighty thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts -of the enemy. At the same moment the battle line of Helium -surged over the opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and in -another moment they were being crushed as between two -millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere -the last Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, -the prisoners were marched back to Helium, and we entered -the greater city's gates, a huge triumphal procession of -conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, -among which were the few men whose duties necessitated -that they remain within the city during the battle. We were -greeted with an endless round of applause and showered with -ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious jewels. -The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. -Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the -gates of Helium, and that they came now as friends and allies -filled the red men with rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known -to the Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my -name, and by the loads of ornaments that were fastened upon -me and my huge thoat as we passed up the avenues to the -palace, for even in the face of the ferocious appearance of -Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a -party of officers who greeted us warmly and requested that -Tars Tarkas and his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his -wild allies, together with myself, dismount and accompany -them to receive from Tardos Mors an expression of his -gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main -portals of the palace stood the royal party, and as we reached -the lower steps one of their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight -as an arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and -bearing of a ruler of men. I did not need to be told that he -was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas -and his first words sealed forever the new friendship -between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the -greatest living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but -that he may lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and -ally is a far greater boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained -for a man of another world to teach the green warriors of -Barsoom the meaning of friendship; to him we owe the fact that -the hordes of Thark can understand you; that they can appreciate -and reciprocate the sentiments so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, -and to each spoke words of friendship and appreciation - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, -and without one word of opposition, the most precious -jewel in all Helium, yes, on all Barsoom, is sufficient -earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, -and father of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind -Tardos Mors and seemed even more affected by the meeting -than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but -his voice choked with emotion and he could not speak, and -yet he had, as I was to later learn, a reputation for ferocity -and fearlessness as a fighter that was remarkable even upon -warlike Barsoom. In common with all Helium he worshiped -his daughter, nor could he think of what she had escaped -without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were -feasted and entertained, and, then, loaded with costly -presents and escorted by ten thousand soldiers of Helium -commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on the return journey -to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a small -party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to -cement more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before -all his chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied -by Tars Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that -had been dispatched to Thark to fetch them in time for -the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the -armies of Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. -The people seemed never to tire of heaping honors upon me, -and no day passed that did not bring some new proof of -their love for my princess, the incomparable Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a -snow-white egg. For nearly five years ten soldiers of the -jeddak's Guard had constantly stood over it, and not a day -passed when I was in the city that Dejah Thoris and I did -not stand hand in hand before our little shrine planning for -the future, when the delicate shell should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we -sat there talking in low tones of the strange romance which -had woven our lives together and of this wonder which was -coming to augment our happiness and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an -approaching airship, but we attached no special -significance to so common a sight. Like a bolt of -lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer -for the jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy -patrol boat which must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message -called me to the council chamber, which I found filling with -the members of that body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, -pacing back and forth with tense-drawn face. When all were -in their seats he turned toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several -governments of Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere -plant had made no wireless report for two days, nor had -almost ceaseless calls upon him from a score of capitals -elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take -the matter in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the -plant. All day a thousand cruisers have been searching for -him until just now one of them returns bearing his dead -body, which was found in the pits beneath his house horribly -mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It -would take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact -the work has already commenced, and there would be little -to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it -should and as they all have for hundreds of years now; but the -worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show a rapidly -decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom--the engine has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then -a young noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high -above his head addressed Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have -ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, -now is our opportunity to show them how they should die. -Let us go about our duties as though a thousand useful years -still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing -better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our -example we went our ways with smiles upon our faces and -sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already -had reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank -whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the -supply of air, but on the morning of the third day breathing -became difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops. -The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people. -All business had ceased. For the most part the people looked -bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. Here and -there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced -to succumb and within an hour the people of Barsoom -were sinking by thousands into the unconsciousness -which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal -family had collected in a sunken garden within an inner -courtyard of the palace. We conversed in low tones, when -we conversed at all, as the awe of the grim shadow of death -crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the weight of the -impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of -our palace at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing -longingly upon the unknown little life that now she would -never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos -Mors arose, saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness -of Barsoom are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a -dead world which through all eternity must go swinging through -the heavens peopled not even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid -his strong hand upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah -Thoris. Her head was drooping upon her breast, to all -appearances she was lifeless. With a cry I sprang to her -and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! -I love you! It is cruel that we must be torn apart who -were just starting upon a life of love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of -unconquerable power and authority rose in me. The fighting -blood of Virginia sprang to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there -must be some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way -through a strange world for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my -conscious mind a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a -flash of lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned -upon me--the key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my -dying love to my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the -palace top. I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing -to the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone -at the rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, -air-scout machine that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, -who would have followed me, to remain and guard her, -I bounded with my old agility and strength to the high -ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I was headed -toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took -a straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise -only a few feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race -against time with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung -always before me. As I turned for a last look as I left -the palace garden I had seen her stagger and sink upon the -ground beside the little incubator. That she had dropped -into the last coma which would end in death, if the air -supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing -caution to the winds, I flung overboard everything but the -engine and compass, even to my ornaments, and lying on my -belly along the deck with one hand on the steering wheel -and the other pushing the speed lever to its last notch I -split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere -plant loomed suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud -I plunged to the ground before the small door which was -withholding the spark of life from the inhabitants of an -entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring -to pierce the wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint- -like surface, and now most of them lay in the last sleep from -which not even air would awaken them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and -it was with difficulty that I breathed at all. There were -a few men still conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start -the engines?" I asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a -few moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead -and no one else upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful -locks. For three days men crazed with fear have surged -about this portal in vain attempts to solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it -was with difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I -hurled the nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. -The Martian had crawled to my side and with staring eyes -fixed on the single panel before us we waited in the silence -of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to -rise and follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the -pump room turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance -Barsoom has to exist tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the -third, and as I saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on -hands and knees through the last doorway I sank unconscious -upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff -garments were upon my body; garments that cracked and -powdered away from me as I rose to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to -foot I was clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the -little doorway I had been naked. Before me was a small -patch of moonlit sky which showed through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact -with pockets and in one of these a small parcel of matches -wrapped in oiled paper. One of these matches I struck, and -its dim flame lighted up what appeared to be a huge cave, -toward the back of which I discovered a strange, still figure -huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that it -was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman -with long black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small -charcoal burner upon which rested a round copper vessel -containing a small quantity of greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, -and stretching entirely across the cave, was a row of human -skeletons. From the thong which held them stretched another -to the dead hand of the little old woman; as I touched -the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a noise as -of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened -out into the fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small -ledge which ran before the entrance of the cave filled me -with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered -mountains in the distance, the almost stationary moon -hanging in the sky, the cacti-studded valley below me -were not of Mars. I could scarcely believe my eyes, but the -truth slowly forced itself upon me--I was looking upon Arizona -from the same ledge from which ten years before I had gazed -with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, -down the trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful -secret, forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing -air reach the people of that distant planet in time to save -them? Was my Dejah Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body -lie cold in death beside the tiny golden incubator in the -sunken garden of the inner courtyard of the palace of Tardos -Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to -my questions. For ten years I have waited and prayed to be -taken back to the world of my lost love. I would rather lie -dead beside her there than live on Earth all those millions of -terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me -fabulously wealthy; but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the -Hudson, just twenty years have elapsed since I first opened -my eyes upon Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window -by my desk, and tonight she seems calling to me again as -she has not called before since that long dead night, and I -think I can see, across that awful abyss of space, a beautiful -black-haired woman standing in the garden of a palace, -and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around her -as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at -their feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something -tells me that I shall soon know. - - -End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of A PRINCESS OF MARS - diff --git a/old/pmars10.zip b/old/pmars10.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b96055d..0000000 --- a/old/pmars10.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars11.txt b/old/pmars11.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 29c1036..0000000 --- a/old/pmars11.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8072 +0,0 @@ - -**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** - -The Project Gutenberg Etext of Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars" -*****This file should be named pmars10.txt or pmars10.zip**** - -Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, pmars11.txt -VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, pmars10a.txt - -Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) - -We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. 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KRAMER, Attorney -CompuServe: 72600,2026 - Internet: 72600.2026@compuserve.com - Tel: (212) 254-5093 - -WRITE TO US! We can be reached at: - -Internet: dircompg@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu -Bitnet: pgdircom@uiucvmd -CompuServe: >internet:dircompg@.vmd.cso.uiuc.edu -Attmail: internet!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!dircompg - -or -Project Gutenberg -Illinois Benedictine College -5700 College Road -Lisle, IL 60532 - -Drafted by CHARLES B. KRAMER, Attorney -CompuServe: 72600,2026 - Internet: 72600.2026@compuserve.com - Tel: (212) 254-5093 -*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.08.29.92*END* - - - - - - -The Project Gutenberg Etext of A PRINCESS OF MARS - -by Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - - - -CHAPTER I - - - - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am -a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have -never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. -So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man -of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and -more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever; -that some day I shall die the real death from which there is -no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, -I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the -same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is -because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so -convinced of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write -down the story of the interesting periods of my life and of -my death. I cannot explain the phenomena;I can only set -down here in the words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a -chronicle of the strange events that befell me during the ten -years that my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona -cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this -manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know -that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot -grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, -the pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal -liar when I am but telling the simple truths which some day -science will substantiate. Possibly the suggestions which I -gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I can set down -in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding of the -mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no -longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack -Carter of Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found -myself possessed of several hundred thousand dollars -(Confederate) and a captain's commission in the cavalry arm -of an army which no longer existed; the servant of a state -which had vanished with the hopes of the South. Masterless, -penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, fighting, -gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and -attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another -Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. -We were extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of -1865, after many hardships and privations, we located the -most remarkable gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest -dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was a mining engineer -by education, stated that we had uncovered over a million -dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided -that one of us must return to civilization, purchase the -necessary machinery and return with a sufficient force of -men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with -the mechanical requirements of mining we determined that -it would be best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that -I was to hold down our claim against the remote possibility -of its being jumped by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on -two of our burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted -his horse, and started down the mountainside toward the -valley, across which led the first stage of his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly -all Arizona mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see -him and his little pack animals picking their way down the -mountainside toward the valley, and all during the morning I -would catch occasional glimpses of them as they topped a hog -back or came out upon a level plateau. My last sight of -Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the -shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across -the valley and was much surprised to note three little dots -in about the same place I had last seen my friend and his -two pack animals. I am not given to needless worrying, but -the more I tried to convince myself that all was well with -Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his trail were -antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a -hostile Indian, and we had, therefore, become careless in the -extreme, and were wont to ridicule the stories we had -heard of the great numbers of these vicious marauders that -were supposed to haunt the trails, taking their toll in lives -and torture of every white party which fell into their -merciless clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an -experienced Indian fighter; but I too had lived and fought -for years among the Sioux in the North, and I knew that his -chances were small against a party of cunning trailing -Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no longer, -and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a -carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and -catching my saddle horse, started down the trail taken by -Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged -my mount into a canter and continued this, where the going -permitted, until, close upon dusk, I discovered the point -where other tracks joined those of Powell. They were the -tracks of unshod ponies, three of them, and the ponies had -been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was -forced to await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity -to speculate on the question of the wisdom of my chase. -Possibly I had conjured up impossible dangers, like -some nervous old housewife, and when I should catch up -with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. -However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following -of a sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a -kind of fetich with me throughout my life; which may account -for the honors bestowed upon me by three republics and the -decorations and friendships of an old and powerful emperor -and several lesser kings, in whose service my sword has -been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for -me to proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following -the trail at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk -trot until, about midnight, I reached the water hole where -Powell had expected to camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, -finding it entirely deserted, with no signs of having been -recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing -horsemen, for such I was now convinced they must be, continued -after Powell with only a brief stop at the hole for water; -and always at the same rate of speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that -they wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure -of the torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most -dangerous pace, hoping against hope that I would catch up -with the red rascals before they attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint -report of two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell -would need me now if ever, and I instantly urged my -horse to his topmost speed up the narrow and difficult -mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without -hearing further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched -onto a small, open plateau near the summit of the pass. I -had passed through a narrow, overhanging gorge just before -entering suddenly upon this table land, and the sight which -met my eyes filled me with consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian -tepees, and there were probably half a thousand red warriors -clustered around some object near the center of the camp. -Their attention was so wholly riveted to this point of interest -that they did not notice me, and I easily could have -turned back into the dark recesses of the gorge and made -my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, that this -thought did not occur to me until the following day removes -any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration -of this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which -constitutes heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances -that my voluntary acts have placed me face to face with -death, I cannot recall a single one where any alternative -step to that I took occurred to me until many hours later. -My mind is evidently so constituted that I am subconsciously -forced into the path of duty without recourse to tiresome -mental processes. However that may be, I have never regretted -that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was -the center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first -I do not know, but within an instant from the moment the -scene broke upon my view I had whipped out my revolvers -and was charging down upon the entire army of warriors, -shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top of my lungs. -Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, for -the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not less -than a regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled -in every direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me -with apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the -Arizona moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the -hostile arrows of the braves. That he was already dead I -could not but be convinced, and yet I would have saved his -body from mutilation at the hands of the Apaches as -quickly as I would have saved the man himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, -and grasping his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers -of my mount. A backward glance convinced me that to -return by the way I had come would be more hazardous -than to continue across the plateau, so, putting spurs to my -poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the pass which -I could distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone -and I was pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. -The fact that it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations -accurately by moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden -and unexpected manner of my advent, and that I was a -rather rapidly moving target saved me from the various -deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to reach -the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly -pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew -that I had probably less knowledge of the exact location of -the trail to the pass than he, and thus it happened that he -entered a defile which led to the summit of the range and not -to the pass which I had hoped would carry me to the -valley and to safety. It is probable, however, that to this -fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences and -adventures which befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came -when I heard the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly -grow fainter and fainter far off to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged -rock formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of -which my horse had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the -trail below and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing -savages disappearing around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were -on the wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed -in the right direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what -seemed to be an excellent trail opened up around the face of -a high cliff. The trail was level and quite broad and led upward -and in the general direction I wished to go. The cliff -arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left -was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom -of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards -when a sharp turn to the right brought me to the mouth of -a large cave. The opening was about four feet in height and -three to four feet wide, and at this opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn -which is a startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become -daylight almost without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most -painstaking examination failed to reveal the faintest spark -of life. I forced water from my canteen between his dead -lips, bathed his face and rubbed his hands, working over him -continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of -the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in -every respect; a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and -true friend; and it was with a feeling of the deepest grief that -I finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept -into the cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, -possibly a hundred feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet -in height; a smooth and well-worn floor, and many other -evidences that the cave had, at some remote period, been inhabited. -The back of the cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not -distinguish whether there were openings into other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel -a pleasant drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed -to the fatigue of my long and strenuous ride, and the reaction -from the excitement of the fight and the pursuit. I felt -comparatively safe in my present location as I knew that -one man could defend the trail to the cave against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the -strong desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for -a few moments' rest, but I knew that this would never do, as -it would mean certain death at the hands of my red friends, -who might be upon me at any moment. With an effort I -started toward the opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly -against a side wall, and from there slip prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II - - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles -relaxed, and I was on the point of giving way to my desire -to sleep when the sound of approaching horses reached my -ears. I attempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to -discover that my muscles refused to respond to my will. I was -now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as -though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I -noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely -tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led to -daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent -odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by -some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental -faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see -the short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the -turn of the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the -approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were -creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to -my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make -short work of me as I did not particularly relish the thought -of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit -prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me -of their nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked -face was thrust cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and -savage eyes looked into mine. That he could see me in the -dim light of the cave I was sure for the early morning sun was -falling full upon me through the opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; -his eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another -savage face appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning -their necks over the shoulders of their fellows whom they -could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face was the -picture of awe and fear, but for what reason I did not know, -nor did I learn until ten years later. That there were still -other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from -the fact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those -behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the -recesses of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of -the Indians, they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So -frantic were their efforts to escape from the unseen thing -behind me that one of the braves was hurled headlong from -the cliff to the rocks below. Their wild cries echoed in the -canyon for a short time, and then all was still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but -it had been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the -possible horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear -is a relative term and so I can only measure my feelings at -that time by what I had experienced in previous positions of -danger and by those that I have passed through since; but I can -say without shame that if the sensations I endured during the -next few minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, -for cowardice is of a surety its own punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible -and unknown danger from the very sound of which the -ferocious Apache warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of -sheep would madly flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me -the last word in fearsome predicaments for a man who had -ever been used to fighting for his life with all the energy of a -powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as -of somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these -ceased, and I was left to the contemplation of my position -without interruption. I could but vaguely conjecture the cause -of my paralysis, and my only hope lay in that it might pass off -as suddenly as it had fallen upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing -with dragging rein before the cave, started slowly down the -trail, evidently in search of food and water, and I was left -alone with my mysterious unknown companion and the dead -body of my friend, which lay just within my range of vision -upon the ledge where I had placed it in the early morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the -silence of the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the -morning broke upon my startled ears, and there came again -from the black shadows the sound of a moving thing, and a -faint rustling as of dead leaves. The shock to my already -overstrained nervous system was terrible in the extreme, and -with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful bonds. -It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not -muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little -finger, but none the less mighty for all that. And then -something gave, there was a momentary feeling of nausea, a sharp -click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and I stood with my -back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before -me lay my own body as it had been lying all these hours, -with the eyes staring toward the open ledge and the hands -resting limply upon the ground. I looked first at my lifeless -clay there upon the floor of the cave and then down at myself -in utter bewilderment; for there I lay clothed, and yet here I -stood but naked as at the minute of my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that -it left me for a moment forgetful of aught else than my -strange metamorphosis. My first thought was, is this then -death! Have I indeed passed over forever into that other life! -But I could not well believe this, as I could feel my heart -pounding against my ribs from the exertion of my efforts to -release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. My -breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out -from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of -pinching revealed the fact that I was anything other than a -wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings -by a repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the -cave. Naked and unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face -the unseen thing which menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for -some unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. -My carbine was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my -horse had wandered off I was left without means of defense. -My only alternative seemed to lie in flight and my decision -was crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling sound from -the thing which now seemed, in the darkness of the cave and -to my distorted imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible -place I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight -of a clear Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air -outside the cave acted as an immediate tonic and I felt new -life and new courage coursing through me. Pausing upon the -brink of the ledge I upbraided myself for what now seemed -to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I reasoned with -myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within the -cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, -when permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, -convinced me that the noises I had heard must have resulted -from purely natural and harmless causes; probably the -conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my -lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. -As I did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista -of rocky gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the -moonlight into a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties -of an Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in -the distance, the strange lights and shadows upon hog back -and arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful -cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as -though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of some -dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of -any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the -landscape to the heavens where the myriad stars formed a -gorgeous and fitting canopy for the wonders of the earthly -scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star -close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell -of overpowering fascination--it was Mars, the god of war, -and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone -night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me -to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed -my eyes, stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation -and felt myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through -the trackless immensity of space. There was an instant of -extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III - - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I -knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my -sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching -here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was -upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon -Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, -mosslike vegetation which stretched around me in all directions -for interminable miles. I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular -basin, along the outer verge of which I could distinguish the -irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the -heat of it was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no -greater than would have been true under similar conditions on -an Arizona desert. Here and there were slight outcroppings -of quartz-bearing rock which glistened in the sunlight; and -a little to my left, perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a low, -walled enclosure about four feet in height. No water, and -no other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, and as I -was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, -for the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing -upright, carried me into the Martian air to the height of about -three yards. I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without -appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced a series of -evolutions which even then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. -I found that I must learn to walk all over again, as the muscular -exertion which carried me easily and safely upon Earth played -strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my -attempts to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me -clear of the ground a couple of feet at each step and landed -me sprawling upon my face or back at the end of each second -or third hop. My muscles, perfectly attuned and accustomed -to the force of gravity on Earth, played the mischief with me -in attempting for the first time to cope with the lesser gravitation -and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure -which was the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I -hit upon the unique plan of reverting to first principles in -locomotion, creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a few -moments had reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side -nearest me, but as the wall was but about four feet high I -cautiously gained my feet and peered over the top upon the -strangest sight it had ever been given me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or -five inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred -large eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were -nearly uniform in size being about two and one-half feet in -diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures -which sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause -me to doubt my sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little -scrawny bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as I afterward -learned, two legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of -limbs which could be used at will either as arms or legs. Their -eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a trifle above -the center and protruded in such a manner that they could -be directed either forward or back and also independently of -each other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any -direction, or in two directions at once, without the necessity -of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, -were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on -these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in -the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very -light yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn -quite soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker -in the male than in the female. Further, the heads of the -adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies as in the -case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the -pupil is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. -These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise -fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks -curve upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes -of earthly human beings are located. The whiteness of the -teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming -of china. Against the dark background of their olive -skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making -these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little -time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had -seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I -stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their -shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown -Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, -which covers practically the entire surface of Mars with the -exception of the frozen areas at the poles and the scattered -cultivated districts, they might have captured me easily, but -their intentions were far more sinister. It was the rattling of -the accouterments of the foremost warrior which warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that -I escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the -party swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a -way as to strike against the butt of his great metal shod spear -I should have snuffed out without ever knowing that death was -near me. But the little sound caused me to turn, and there -upon me, not ten feet from my breast, was the point of that -huge spear, a spear forty feet long, tipped with gleaming -metal, and held low at the side of a mounted replica of the -little devils I had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this -huge and terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of -death. The man himself, for such I may call him, was fully -fifteen feet in height and, on Earth, would have weighed some -four hundred pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, -grasping the animal's barrel with his lower limbs, while the -hands of his two right arms held his immense spear low at the -side of his mount; his two left arms were outstretched laterally -to help preserve his balance, the thing he rode having neither -bridle or reins of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It -towered ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either -side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and -which it held straight out behind while running; a gaping -mouth which split its head from its snout to its long, massive -neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a -dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly -was white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders -and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were -heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed -to the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common -with a multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the -fauna of Mars. The highest type of man and one other animal, -the only mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed -nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence -there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, -similar in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing -individual characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as -no two of us are identical although we are all cast in a similar -mold. This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which -I have described at length, made but one terrible and swift -impression on me as I turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested -itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, -and that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of -the charging spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at -the same time superhuman leap to reach the top of the -Martian incubator, for such I had determined it must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me -no less than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it -carried me fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a -hundred feet from my pursuers and on the opposite side of -the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, -and turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. -Some were surveying me with expressions which I afterward -discovered marked extreme astonishment, and the others were -evidently satisfying themselves that I had not molested their -young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and -gesticulating and pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had -not harmed the little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have -caused them to look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was -to learn later, the thing which weighed most in my favor was -my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large -and they are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation -which they must overcome. The result is that they are infinitely -less agile and less powerful, in proportion to their weight, -than an Earth man, and I doubt that were one of them suddenly -to be transported to Earth he could lift his own weight from -the ground; in fact, I am convinced that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have -been upon Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they -suddenly looked upon me as a wonderful discovery to be -captured and exhibited among their fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted -me to formulate plans for the immediate future and to note -more closely the appearance of the warriors, for I could not -disassociate these people in my mind from those other -warriors who, only the day before, had been pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in -addition to the huge spear which I have described. The -weapon which caused me to decide against an attempt at -escape by flight was what was evidently a rifle of some -description, and which I felt, for some reason, they were -peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which -I learned later was a very light and intensely hard growth -much prized on Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens -of Earth. The metal of the barrel is an alloy composed -principally of aluminum and steel which they have learned -to temper to a hardness far exceeding that of the steel with -which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles is comparatively -little, and with the small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles -which they use, and the great length of the barrel, they are -deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would be unthinkable -on Earth. The theoretic effective radius of this rifle is -three hundred miles, but the best they can do in actual -service when equipped with their wireless finders and -sighters is but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for -the Martian firearm, and some telepathic force must have -warned me against an attempt to escape in broad daylight -from under the muzzles of twenty of these death-dealing -machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and -rode away in the direction from which they had come, leaving -one of their number alone by the enclosure. When they had -covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and turning -their mounts toward us sat watching the warrior by the -enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, -and was evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that -they seemed to have moved to their present position at his -direction. When his force had come to a halt he dismounted, -threw down his spear and small arms, and came around the -end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed and as -naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, -limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an -enormous metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the -open palm of his hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant -voice, but in a language, it is needless to say, I could not -understand. He then stopped as though waiting for my reply, -pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking -eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was -making overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons -and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward -me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on -Earth, so why not, then, on Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian -and explained to him that while I did not understand his -language, his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that -at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course -I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence -my speech carried to him, but he understood the action with -which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the -armlet from his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the -elbow; smiled at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth -spread into an answering smile, and locking one of his -intermediary arms in mine we turned and walked back toward -his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to -advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked -by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be -really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me -that I would ride behind one of them, and then mounted his -own animal. The fellow designated reached down two or -three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy -back of his mount, where I hung on as best I could by the -belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments. - - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward -the range of hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - -A PRISONER - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to -rise very rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the -edge of one of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which -my encounter with the Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and -after traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the -far extremity of which was a low table land upon which I -beheld an enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it -by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the -city, but only to the edge of the table land, where it ended -abruptly in a flight of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the -buildings were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had -the appearance of not having been tenanted for years, possibly -for ages. Toward the center of the city was a large plaza, and -upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it -were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same -breed as my captors, for such I now considered them despite -the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The -women varied in appearance but little from the men, except -that their tusks were much larger in proportion to their height, -in some instances curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their -bodies were smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers -and toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely -lacking among the males. The adult females ranged in height -from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the -women, and all looked precisely alike to me, except that some -were taller than others; older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any -appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of -maturity, about forty, until, at about the age of one thousand -years, they go voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage -down the river Iss, which leads no living Martian knows -whither and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned, -or would be allowed to live did he return after once embarking -upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or -disease, and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. -The other nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths -in duels, in hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far -the greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood, -when vast numbers of the little Martians fall victims -to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of -maturity is about three hundred years, but would be nearer -the one-thousand mark were it not for the various means -leading to violent death. Owing to the waning resources -of the planet it evidently became necessary to counteract -the increasing longevity which their remarkable skill in -therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human life has come -to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced by their -dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between -the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a -diminution of population, but nothing contributes so greatly -to this end as the fact that no male or female Martian is ever -voluntarily without a weapon of destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we -were immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures -who seemed anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my -guard. A word from the leader of the party stilled their -clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across the plaza to the -entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal eye has rested -upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It -was constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold -and brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the -sunlight. The main entrance was some hundred feet in width -and projected from the building proper to form a huge canopy -above the entrance hall. There was no stairway, but a gentle -incline to the first floor of the building opened into an -enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly -carved wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty -or fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the -platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded -with metal ornaments, gay-colored feathers and beautifully -wrought leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones. -From his shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined -with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage -and the hall in which they were congregated was the fact -that the creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks, -chairs, and other furnishings; these being of a size adapted to -human beings such as I, whereas the great bulks of the -Martians could scarcely have squeezed into the chairs, nor was -there room beneath the desks for their long legs. Evidently, -then, there were other denizens on Mars than the wild and -grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, but the -evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me -indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some -long-extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at -a sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. -Again locking his arm in mine, we had proceeded into the -audience chamber. There were few formalities observed in -approaching the Martian chieftain. My captor merely strode -up to the rostrum, the others making way for him as he -advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name -of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of -the ruler followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered -meant nothing to me, but later I came to know that this was -the customary greeting between green Martians. Had the men -been strangers, and therefore unable to exchange names, they -would have silently exchanged ornaments, had their missions -been peaceful--otherwise they would have exchanged shots, -or have fought out their introduction with some other of their -various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the -vice-chieftain of the community, and a man of great ability as -a statesman and warrior. He evidently explained briefly the -incidents connected with his expedition, including my capture, -and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at -some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to -convince him that neither of us could understand the other; -but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on concluding, he did -likewise. This fact, and the similar occurrence during my first -talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced me that we had at least -something in common; the ability to smile, therefore to laugh; -denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn that the -Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian -laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are -widely at variance with our conceptions of incitants to -merriment. The death agonies of a fellow being are, to these -strange creatures provocative of the wildest hilarity, while -their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death -on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible -ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, -feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal -chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform, -and, motioning me to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for -the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal -failure, except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and -so now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks -and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper. After bruising -myself severely, much to the amusement of the Martians, I -again had recourse to creeping, but this did not suit them and -I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering fellow who had -laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent -close to mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do -under the circumstances of brutality, boorishness, and lack of -consideration for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely -to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to -the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest -desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his -fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as the -unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, -at first struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild -peals of laughter and applause. I did not recognize the -applause as such, but later, when I had become acquainted -with their customs, I learned that I had won what they seldom -accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor -did any of his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced -toward me, holding out one of his arms, and we thus proceeded -to the plaza without further mishap. I did not, of course, -know the reason for which we had come to the open, but I -was not long in being enlightened. They first repeated -the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made -several jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, -turning to me, he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and -gathering myself together I "sakked" with such marvelous -success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I -this time, lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my -feet without falling. I then returned by easy jumps of twenty- -five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser -Martians, and they immediately broke into demands for a -repetition, which the chieftain then ordered me to make; but -I was both hungry and thirsty, and determined on the spot -that my only method of salvation was to demand the -consideration from these creatures which they evidently would -not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the repeated -commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned -to my mouth and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the -former, calling to a young female among the throng, gave -her some instructions and motioned me to accompany her. I -grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza -toward a large building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just -arrived at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of -a light olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her -name, as I afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to -the retinue of Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious -chamber in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza, and -which, from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor, I took -to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows -and was beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, -but upon all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch -of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the -architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing -in common with the crude half-brutes which now occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near -the center of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing -sound, as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room. -In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new -Martian wonder. It waddled in on its ten short legs, and -squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy. The -thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head bore -a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws -were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a -word or two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. -I could not but wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity -might do when left alone in such close proximity to such a -relatively tender morsel of meat; but my fears were groundless, -as the beast, after surveying me intently for a moment, crossed -the room to the only exit which led to the street, and lay down -full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but -it was destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me -carefully during the time I remained a captive among these -green men; twice saving my life, and never voluntarily being -away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more -minutely the room in which I found myself captive. The -mural painting depicted scenes of rare and wonderful beauty; -mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, -winding roadways, sun-kissed gardens--scenes which might -have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of -the vegetation. The work had evidently been wrought by a -master hand, so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; -yet nowhere was there a representation of a living animal, -either human or brute, by which I could guess at the likeness -of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture -on the possible explanation of the strange anomalies which -I had so far met with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both -food and drink. These she placed on the floor beside me, -and seating herself a short ways off regarded me intently. -The food consisted of about a pound of some solid substance of -the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, while the liquid -was apparently milk from some animal. It was not unpleasant -to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a short time -to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from -an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one -very rare indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically -without water, but seems to distill its plentiful supply of -milk from the products of the soil, the moisture of the air, -and the rays of the sun. A single plant of this species will give -eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the -need of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon -asleep. I must have slept several hours, as it was dark when -I awoke, and I was very cold. I noticed that someone had -thrown a fur over me, but it had become partially dislodged -and in the darkness I could not see to replace it. Suddenly a -hand reached out and pulled the fur over me, shortly afterwards -adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was -I wrong. This girl alone, among all the green Martians with -whom I came in contact, disclosed characteristics of sympathy, -kindliness, and affection; her ministrations to my bodily wants -were unfailing, and her solicitous care saved me from much -suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, -and as there is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes -in temperature are sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the -transitions from brilliant daylight to darkness. The nights are -either brilliantly illumined or very dark, for if neither of the -two moons of Mars happen to be in the sky almost total -darkness results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, rather, the -very thin atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any -great extent; on the other hand, if both of the moons are in -the heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly -illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our -moon to Earth; the nearer moon being but about five thousand -miles distant, while the further is but little more than -fourteen thousand miles away, against the nearly one-quarter -million miles which separate us from our moon. The nearer -moon of Mars makes a complete revolution around the planet -in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be -seen hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two or -three times each night, revealing all her phases during each -transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over -thirty and one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite -makes a nocturnal Martian scene one of splendid and weird -grandeur. And it is well that nature has so graciously and -abundantly lighted the Martian night, for the green men of -Mars, being a nomadic race without high intellectual development, -have but crude means for artificial lighting; depending -principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and a peculiar oil -lamp which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching -white light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only -be obtained by mining in one of several widely separated and -remote localities it is seldom used by these creatures whose -only thought is for today, and whose hatred for manual labor -has kept them in a semi-barbaric state for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor -did I awaken until daylight. The other occupants of the room, -five in number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, -piled high with a motley array of silks and furs. Across the -threshold lay stretched the sleepless guardian brute, just as I -had last seen him on the preceding day; apparently he had not -moved a muscle; his eyes were fairly glued upon me, and I -fell to wondering just what might befall me should I endeavor -to escape. -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate -and experiment where wiser men would have left well enough -alone. It therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of -learning the exact attitude of this beast toward me would be -to attempt to leave the room. I felt fairly secure in my belief -that I could escape him should he pursue me once I was -outside the building, for I had begun to take great pride in -my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from the -shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to -see that my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced -toward him, finding that by moving with a shuffling gait I -could retain my balance as well as make reasonably rapid -progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously away -from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one -side to let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed -about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the -deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, -but when we reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang -before me, uttering strange sounds and baring his ugly and -ferocious tusks. Thinking to have some amusement at his -expense, I rushed toward him, and when almost upon him -sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away from -the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most -appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short -legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been coursing with -greyhounds the latter would have appeared as though asleep -on a door mat. As I was to learn, this is the fleetest animal -on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, and ferocity is -used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the -fangs of the beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his -charge by doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he -was almost upon me. This maneuver gave me a considerable -advantage, and I was able to reach the city quite a bit ahead -of him, and as he came tearing after me I jumped for a window -about thirty feet from the ground in the face of one of the -buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture -without looking into the building, and gazed down at the -baffled animal beneath me. My exultation was short-lived, -however, for scarcely had I gained a secure seat upon the sill -than a huge hand grasped me by the neck from behind and -dragged me violently into the room. Here I was thrown upon -my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal ape-like -creature, white and hairless except for an enormous shock of -bristly hair upon its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men -than it did the Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the -ground with one huge foot, while it jabbered and gesticulated -at some answering creature behind me. This other, which was -evidently its mate, soon came toward us, bearing a mighty -stone cudgel with which it evidently intended to brain me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing -erect, and had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set -of arms or legs, midway between their upper and lower limbs. -Their eyes were close together and non-protruding; their ears -were high set, but more laterally located than those of the -Martians, while their snouts and teeth were strikingly like -those of our African gorilla. Altogether they were not unlovely -when viewed in comparison with the green Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my -upturned face when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself -through the doorway full upon the breast of my executioner. -With a shriek of fear the ape which held me leaped through -the open window, but its mate closed in a terrific death -struggle with my preserver, which was nothing less than -my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself to call so -hideous a creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against -the wall I witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few -beings to see. The strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these -two creatures is approached by nothing known to earthly man. -My beast had an advantage in his first hold, having sunk his -mighty fangs far into the breast of his adversary; but the -great arms and paws of the ape, backed by muscles far -transcending those of the Martian men I had seen, had locked -the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking out his -life, and bending back his head and neck upon his body, where -I momentarily expected the former to fall limp at the end of a -broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire -front of its breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the -powerful jaws. Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, -neither one emitting a sound of fear or pain. Presently I saw -the great eyes of my beast bulging completely from their -sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils. That he was -weakening perceptibly was evident, but so also was the ape, -whose struggles were growing momentarily less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct -which seems ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the -cudgel, which had fallen to the floor at the commencement of -the battle, and swinging it with all the power of my earthly -arms I crashed it full upon the head of the ape, crushing his -skull as though it had been an eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted -with a new danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first -shock of terror, had returned to the scene of the encounter -by way of the interior of the building. I glimpsed him just -before he reached the doorway and the sight of him, now -roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched upon the -floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his rage, -filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not -too overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived -neither glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength -against the iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged -denizen of an unknown world; in fact, the only outcome -of such an encounter, so far as I might be concerned, -seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in -the street I might gain the plaza and safety before the creature -could overtake me; at least there was a chance for safety in -flight, against almost certain death should I remain and fight -however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it -against his four great arms? Even should I break one of them -with my first blow, for I figured that he would attempt to ward -off the cudgel, he could reach out and annihilate me with the -others before I could recover for a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind -I had turned to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on -the form of my erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight -to the four winds. He lay gasping upon the floor of the -chamber, his great eyes fastened upon me in what seemed a -pitiful appeal for protection. I could not withstand that look, -nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my rescuer -without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf -as he had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge -of the infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for -the cudgel to prove of any effective assistance, so I merely -threw it as heavily as I could at his advancing bulk. It struck -him just below the knees, eliciting a howl of pain and rage, -and so throwing him off his balance that he lunged full upon -me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly -tactics, and swinging my right fist full upon the point of his -chin I followed it with a smashing left to the pit of his -stomach. The effect was marvelous, for, as I lightly -sidestepped, after delivering the second blow, he reeled -and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and gasping -for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the cudgel -and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, -and, turning, I beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four -warriors standing in the doorway of the chamber. As my eyes -met theirs I was, for the second time, the recipient of their -zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and -she had quickly informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out -immediately with a handful of warriors to search for me. -As they had approached the limits of the city they had witnessed -the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into the building, -frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it -barely possible that his actions might prove a clew to my -whereabouts and had witnessed my short but decisive battle -with him. This encounter, together with my set-to with the -Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of jumping -placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard. Evidently -devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, love, or -affection, these people fairly worship physical prowess and -bravery, and nothing is too good for the object of their -adoration as long as he maintains his position by repeated -examples of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own -volition, was the only one of the Martians whose face had not -been twisted in laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the -contrary, was sober with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I -had finished the monster, rushed to me and carefully examined -my body for possible wounds or injuries. Satisfying herself -that I had come off unscathed she smiled quietly, and, -taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were -standing over the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved -my life, and whose life I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed -to be deep in argument, and finally one of them addressed me, -but remembering my ignorance of his language turned back to -Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave some command -to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward -my beast, and I hesitated to leave until I had learned the -outcome. It was well I did so, for the warrior drew an -evil looking pistol from its holster and was on the point of -putting an end to the creature when I sprang forward and -struck up his arm. The bullet striking the wooden casing of -the window exploded, blowing a hole completely through the -wood and masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and -raising it to its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks -of surprise which my actions elicited from the Martians were -ludicrous; they could not understand, except in a feeble and -childish way, such attributes as gratitude and compassion. -The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked enquiringly at -Tars Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my own -devices, and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast -following close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the -arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who -watched over me with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute -which, as I later came to know, held in its poor ugly carcass -more love, more loyalty, more gratitude than could have been -found in the entire five million green Martians who rove the -deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of -the preceding day and an index of practically every meal -which followed while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola -escorted me to the plaza, where I found the entire community -engaged in watching or helping at the harnessing of huge -mastodonian animals to great three-wheeled chariots. There -were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles, each -drawn by a single animal, any one of which, from their -appearance, might easily have drawn the entire wagon train -when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and -gorgeously decorated. In each was seated a female Martian -loaded with ornaments of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, -and upon the back of each of the beasts which drew the chariots -was perched a young Martian driver. Like the animals upon which -the warriors were mounted, the heavier draft animals wore neither -bit nor bridle, but were guided entirely by telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and -accounts largely for the simplicity of their language and the -relatively few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. -It is the universal language of Mars, through the medium -of which the higher and lower animals of this world of -paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater or less extent, -depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species and the -development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, -Sola dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded -with the procession toward the point by which I had entered -the city the day before. At the head of the caravan rode some -two hundred warriors, five abreast, and a like number -brought up the rear, while twenty-five or thirty outriders -flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were -heavily armed, and at the tail of each chariot trotted a -Martian hound, my own beast following closely behind ours; in -fact, the faithful creature never left me voluntarily during the -entire ten years I spent on Mars. Our way led out across the -little valley before the city, through the hills, and down into -the dead sea bottom which I had traversed on my journey -from the incubator to the plaza. The incubator, as it proved, -was the terminal point of our journey this day, and, as the -entire cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon as we -reached the level expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within -sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military -precision on the four sides of the enclosure, and half a score -of warriors, headed by the enormous chieftain, and including -Tars Tarkas and several other lesser chiefs, dismounted and -advanced toward it. I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something -to the principal chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, -as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, -Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, -calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. -I had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under -Martian conditions, and quickly responding to his command -I advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors -stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a -very few eggs had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive -with the hideous little devils. They ranged in height from -three to four feet, and were moving restlessly about the -enclosure as though searching for food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over -the incubator and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to -repeat my performance of yesterday for the edification of -Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess that my prowess gave -me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, leaping entirely -over the parked chariots on the far side of the incubator. As -I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and -turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative -to the incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I -was thus permitted to remain close and watch their operations, -which consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of the -incubator large enough to permit of the exit of the young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, -both male and female, formed two solid walls leading out -through the chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. -Between these walls the little Martians scampered, -wild as deer; being permitted to run the full length of the -aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the women -and older children; the last in the line capturing the first little -one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line -capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had -left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or -female. As the women caught the young they fell out of line -and returned to their respective chariots, while those who fell -into the hands of the young men were later turned over to -some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such -a name, was over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our -chariot with a hideous little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely -in teaching them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare -with which they are loaded down from the very first year of -their lives. Coming from eggs in which they have lain for -five years, the period of incubation, they step forth into the -world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely unknown -to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in -pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are -the common children of the community, and their education -devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as -they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the -incubator, as was the case with Sola, who had not commenced -to lay, until less than a year before she became the mother of -another woman's offspring. But this counts for little among -the green Martians, as parental and filial love is as unknown to -them as it is common among us. I believe this horrible system -which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause of the -loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts -among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father -or mother love, they know not the meaning of the word home; -they are taught that they are only suffered to live until they -can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that they are -fit to live. Should they prove deformed or defective in any way -they are promptly shot; nor do they see a tear shed for a -single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from -earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and -pitiless struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural -resources of which have dwindled to a point where the support -of each additional life means an added tax upon the community -into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens -of each species, and with almost supernatural foresight -they regulate the birth rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs -each year, and those which meet the size, weight, and specific -gravity tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean -vault where the temperature is too low for incubation. Every -year these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty -chieftains, and all but about one hundred of the most perfect -are destroyed out of each yearly supply. At the end of five -years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen -from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in -the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays -after a period of another five years. The hatching which we -had witnessed today was a fairly representative event of its -kind, all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching in two -days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing of -the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, as their -offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged -incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained -for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the -proper time for return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there -is little or no likelihood of their being discovered by other -tribes. The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children -in the community for another five years. I was later to witness -the results of the discovery of an alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom -my lot was cast formed a part was composed of some thirty -thousand souls. They roamed an enormous tract of arid and -semi-arid land between forty and eighty degrees south latitude, -and bounded on the east and west by two large fertile tracts. -Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this district, -near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own -territory in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, -we had before us a tremendous journey, concerning which I, -of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in -comparative idleness. On the day following our return all the -warriors had ridden forth early in the morning and had not -returned until just before darkness fell. As I later learned, -they had been to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs -were kept and had transported them to the incubator, which -they had then walled up for another five years, and which, in -all probability, would not be visited again during that period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the -incubator were located many miles south of the incubator, -and would be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. -Why they did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators -nearer home has always been a mystery to me, and, like many -other Martian mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable by earthly -reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to -care for the young Martian as well as for me, but neither one -of us required much attention, and as we were both about -equally advanced in Martian education, Sola took it upon -herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very -strong and physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we -had considerable amusement, at least I did, over the keen -rivalry we displayed. The Martian language, as I have said, -is extremely simple, and in a week I could make all my -wants known and understand nearly everything that was said -to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my -telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense practically -everything that went on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could -catch telepathic messages easily from others, and often when -they were not intended for me, no one could read a jot from -my mind under any circumstances. At first this vexed me, but -later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an undoubted -advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth -toward home, but scarcely had the head of the procession -debouched into the open ground before the city than orders -were given for an immediate and hasty return. As though -trained for years in this particular evolution, the green -Martians melted like mist into the spacious doorways of the -nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, the entire -cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors was nowhere -to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, -in fact, the same one in which I had had my encounter -with the apes, and, wishing to see what had caused the sudden -retreat, I mounted to an upper floor and peered from the -window out over the valley and the hills beyond; and there -I saw the cause of their sudden scurrying to cover. A huge -craft, long, low, and gray-painted, swung slowly over the -crest of the nearest hill. Following it came another, and -another, and another, until twenty of them, swinging low -above the ground, sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern -above the upper works, and upon the prow of each was -painted some odd device that gleamed in the sunlight and -showed plainly even at the distance at which we were from -the vessels. I could see figures crowding the forward decks -and upper works of the air craft. Whether they had discovered -us or simply were looking at the deserted city I could not say, -but in any event they received a rude reception, for suddenly -and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a terrific -volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little -valley across which the great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost -vessel swung broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into -play returned our fire, at the same time moving parallel to -our front for a short distance and then turning back with the -evident intention of completing a great circle which would -bring her up to position once more opposite our firing line; -the other vessels followed in her wake, each one opening upon -us as she swung into position. Our own fire never diminished, -and I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It -had never been given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, -and it seemed as though a little figure on one of the craft -dropped at the explosion of each bullet, while the banners and -upper works dissolved in spurts of flame as the irresistible -projectiles of our warriors mowed through them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I -afterward learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first -volley, which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and -the sighting apparatus of the guns unprotected from the -deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points -for his fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. -For example, a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, -direct their fire entirely upon the wireless finding and -sighting apparatus of the big guns of an attacking naval -force; another detail attends to the smaller guns in the same -way; others pick off the gunners; still others the officers; -while certain other quotas concentrate their attention upon the -other members of the crew, upon the upper works, and upon the -steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung -trailing off in the direction from which it had first appeared. -Several of the craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed -but barely under the control of their depleted crews. Their fire -had ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused -upon escape. Our warriors then rushed up to the roofs of the -buildings which we occupied and followed the retreating armada -with a continuous fusillade of deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the -crests of the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft -was in sight. This had received the brunt of our fire and -seemed to be entirely unmanned, as not a moving figure was -visible upon her decks. Slowly she swung from her course, -circling back toward us in an erratic and pitiful manner. -Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was quite apparent -that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from being in a -position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even control -herself sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the -plain to meet her, but it was evident that she still was too high -for them to hope to reach her decks. From my vantage point in -the window I could see the bodies of her crew strewn about, -although I could not make out what manner of creatures they -might be. Not a sign of life was manifest upon her as she -drifted slowly with the light breeze in a southeasterly -direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed -by all but some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered -back to the roofs to cover the possibility of a return of the -fleet, or of reinforcements. It soon became evident that she -would strike the face of the buildings about a mile south of -our position, and as I watched the progress of the chase I -saw a number of warriors gallop ahead, dismount and enter -the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, -the Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, -and with their great spears eased the shock of the collision, -and in a few moments they had thrown out grappling hooks -and the big boat was being hauled to ground by their fellows -below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched -the vessel from stem to stern. I could see them examining the -dead sailors, evidently for signs of life, and presently a party -of them appeared from below dragging a little figure among -them. The creature was considerably less than half as tall as -the green Martian warriors, and from my balcony I could see -that it walked erect upon two legs and surmised that it was -some new and strange Martian monstrosity with which I had -not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced -a systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required -several hours, during which time a number of the chariots -were requisitioned to transport the loot, which consisted -in arms, ammunition, silks, furs, jewels, strangely carved -stone vessels, and a quantity of solid foods and liquids, -including many casks of water, the first I had seen since my -advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made -lines fast to the craft and towed her far out into the valley in -a southwesterly direction. A few of them then boarded her and -were busily engaged in what appeared, from my distant position, -as the emptying of the contents of various carboys upon the -dead bodies of the sailors and over the decks and works -of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her -sides, sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last -warrior to leave the deck turned and threw something back -upon the vessel, waiting an instant to note the outcome of -his act. As a faint spurt of flame rose from the point where -the missile struck he swung over the side and was quickly -upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than the guy ropes -were simultaneous released, and the great warship, lightened -by the removal of the loot, soared majestically into the air, -her decks and upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher -as the flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the -weight upon her. Ascending to the roof of the building I -watched her for hours, until finally she was lost in the dim -vistas of the distance. The sight was awe-inspiring in the -extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, -drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes of -the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, -typifying the life story of these strange and ferocious -creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly -descended to the street. The scene I had witnessed seemed -to mark the defeat and annihilation of the forces of a kindred -people, rather than the routing by our green warriors of -a horde of similar, though unfriendly, creatures. I could not -fathom the seeming hallucination, nor could I free myself -from it; but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my -soul I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen, -and a mighty hope surged through me that the fleet would -return and demand a reckoning from the green warriors -who had so ruthlessly and wantonly attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed -Woola, the hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola -rushed up to me as though I had been the object of some -search on her part. The cavalcade was returning to the plaza, -the homeward march having been given up for that day; nor, -in fact, was it recommenced for more than a week, owing -to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be -caught upon the open plains with a caravan of chariots and -children, and so we remained at the deserted city until the -danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which -filled my whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, -fear, exultation, and depression, and yet most dominant -was a subtle sense of relief and happiness; for just -as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a glimpse of -the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green -Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, -girlish figure, similar in every detail to the earthly women -of my past life. She did not see me at first, but just as she -was disappearing through the portal of the building which -was to be her prison she turned, and her eyes met mine. -Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her every -feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and -lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, -waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. -Her skin was of a light reddish copper color, against which -the crimson glow of her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully -molded lips shone with a strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who -accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments -she was entirely naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced -the beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in -astonishment, and she made a little sign with her free hand; -a sign which I did not, of course, understand. Just a moment -we gazed upon each other, and then the look of hope and -renewed courage which had glorified her face as she -discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, mingled -with loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered her -signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively -felt that she had made an appeal for succor and protection -which my unfortunate ignorance had prevented me from answering. -And then she was dragged out of my sight into the depths of the -deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had -witnessed this encounter and I was surprised to note a -strange expression upon her usually expressionless -countenance. What her thoughts were I did not know, -for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; -enough only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise -awaited me. A warrior approached bearing the arms, -ornaments, and full accouterments of his kind. These he -presented to me with a few unintelligible words, and a -bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, -remodeled the trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and -after they completed the work I went about garbed in all the -panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the -various weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several -hours each day practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet -proficient with all the weapons, but my great familiarity -with similar earthly weapons made me an unusually apt -pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was -conducted solely by the women, who not only attend to the -education of the young in the arts of individual defense -and offense, but are also the artisans who produce every -manufactured article wrought by the green Martians. They make -the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; in fact everything -of value is produced by the females. In time of actual warfare -they form a part of the reserves, and when the necessity -arises fight with even greater intelligence and ferocity -than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; -in strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. -They make the laws as they are needed; a new law for -each emergency. They are unfettered by precedent in -the administration of justice. Customs have been handed -down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring -a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of -the culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom -misses fire, but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to -the ascendency of law. In one respect at least the Martians -are a happy people; they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent -to our first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting -glimpse of her as she was being conducted to the great -audience chamber where I had had my first meeting with -Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the unnecessary -harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her; -so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola -manifested toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few -green Martians who took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her -that the prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this -convinced me that they spoke, or at least could make -themselves understood by a common language. With this added -incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by my importunities -to hasten on my education and within a few more days -I had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable -me to carry on a passable conversation and to fully understand -practically all that I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three -or four females and a couple of the recently hatched young, -beside Sola and her youthful ward, myself, and Woola the -hound. After they had retired for the night it was customary -for the adults to carry on a desultory conversation for a -short time before lapsing into sleep, and now that I could -understand their language I was always a keen listener, -although I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience -chamber the conversation finally fell upon this subject, and -I was all ears on the instant. I had feared to question Sola -relative to the beautiful captive, as I could not but recall the -strange expression I had noted upon her face after my first -encounter with the prisoner. That it denoted jealousy I could -not say, and yet, judging all things by mundane standards -as I still did, I felt it safer to affect indifference in the matter -until I learned more surely Sola's attitude toward the object -of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, -had been present at the audience as one of the captive's -guards, and it was toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the -death throes of the red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, -intend holding her for ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, -and exhibit her last agonies at the great games before Tal -Hajus," replied Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired -Sola. "She is very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that -they would hold her for ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence -of weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years -ago," snapped Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land -were filled with water, and the peoples were as soft as the -stuff they sailed upon. In our day we have progressed to a -point where such sentiments mark weakness and atavism. It -will not be well for you to permit Tars Tarkas to learn -that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I doubt -that he would care to entrust such as you with the -grave responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in -this red woman," retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, -nor would she should we have fallen into her hands. It is -only the men of her kind who war upon us, and I have ever -thought that their attitude toward us is but the reflection -of ours toward them. They live at peace with all their fellows, -except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we -are at peace with none; forever warring among our own -kind as well as upon the red men, and even in our own -communities the individuals fight amongst themselves. -Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the -time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of -the river of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us -to an unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible -existence! Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an -early death. Say what you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete -out no worse fate to me than a continuation of the horrible -existence we are forced to lead in this life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised -and shocked the other women, that, after a few words of -general reprimand, they all lapsed into silence and were -soon asleep. One thing the episode had accomplished was -to assure me of Sola's friendliness toward the poor girl, and -also to convince me that I had been extremely fortunate in -falling into her hands rather than those of some of the other -females. I knew that she was fond of me, and now that I -had discovered that she hated cruelty and barbarity I was -confident that I could depend upon her to aid me and the -girl captive to escape, provided of course that such a thing -was within the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions -to escape to, but I was more than willing to take my chances -among people fashioned after my own mold rather than -to remain longer among the hideous and bloodthirsty green -men of Mars. But where to go, and how, was as much of a -puzzle to me as the age-old search for the spring of eternal -life has been to earthly men since the beginning of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola -into my confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with -this resolution strong upon me I turned among my silks and -furs and slept the dreamless and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X - - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was -allowed me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did -not attempt to leave the city I was free to go and come as -I pleased. She had warned me, however, against venturing forth -unarmed, as this city, like all other deserted metropolises of -an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled by the great -white apes of my second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of -the city Sola had explained that Woola would prevent this -anyway should I attempt it, and she warned me most urgently -not to arouse his fierce nature by ignoring his warnings -should I venture too close to the forbidden territory. His -nature was such, she said, that he would bring me back into -the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when -suddenly I found myself at the limits of the city. Before -me were low hills pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. -I longed to explore the country before me, and, like the -pioneer stock from which I sprang, to view what the -landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose -from the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent -opportunity to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced -that the brute loved me; I had seen more evidences of affection -in him than in any other Martian animal, man or beast, -and I was sure that gratitude for the acts that had twice -saved his life would more than outweigh his loyalty to the -duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously -before me, and thrust his body against my legs. His expression -was pleading rather than ferocious, nor did he bare his -great tusks or utter his fearful guttural warnings. Denied -the friendship and companionship of my kind, I had developed -considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the normal -earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections, -and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this -great brute, sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon -the ground and putting my arms around his heavy neck I -stroked and coaxed him, talking in my newly acquired -Martian tongue as I would have to my hound at home, as I -would have talked to any other friend among the lower -animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was -remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its -full width, baring the entire expanse of his upper rows of -tusks and wrinkling his snout until his great eyes were -almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have ever seen a -collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at -my feet; jumped up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon -the ground by his great weight; then wriggling and squirming -around me like a playful puppy presenting its back for -the petting it craves. I could not resist the ludicrousness -of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and forth -in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; -the first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp -when his horse, long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly -bucked him off headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he -crawled pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into -my lap; and then I remembered what laughter signified on -Mars--torture, suffering, death. Quieting myself, I rubbed -the poor old fellow's head and back, talked to him for a few -minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commanded him -to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; -Woola was my devoted slave from that moment hence, and -I his only and undisputed master. My walk to the hills -occupied but a few minutes, and I found nothing of particular -interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly colored and -strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from -the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off -toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until -lost in mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I -afterward found that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed -four thousand feet in height; the suggestion of magnitude -was merely relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to -me for it had resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, -upon whom Tars Tarkas relied for my safe keeping. I now -knew that while theoretically a prisoner I was virtually free, -and I hastened to regain the city limits before the defection -of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile masters. The -adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of my -prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth -for good and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment -of my liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we -to be discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the -captive girl. She was standing with her guards before the -entrance to the audience chamber, and as I approached she -gave me one haughty glance and turned her back full upon -me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, that -though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a -feeling of companionship; it was good to know that someone -else on Mars beside myself had human instincts of a civilized -order, even though the manifestation of them was so painful -and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt -she would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword -thrust or a movement of her trigger finger; but as their -sentiments are mostly atrophied it would have required a -serious injury to have aroused such passions in them. Sola, -let me add, was an exception; I never saw her perform a cruel -or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and good -nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, -an atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type -of loved and loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I -halted to view the proceedings. I had not long to wait -for presently Lorquas Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains -approached the building and, signing the guards to follow with -the prisoner entered the audience chamber. Realizing that I -was a somewhat favored character, and also convinced that -the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their language, -as I had pleaded with Sola to keep this a secret on the -grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the -men until I had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I -chanced an attempt to enter the audience chamber and listen -to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while -below them stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw -that one of the women was Sarkoja, and thus understood -how she had been present at the hearing of the preceding -day, the results of which she had reported to the occupants -of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive -was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her -rudimentary nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her -arm in a most painful manner. When it was necessary to -move from one spot to another she either jerked her roughly, -or pushed her headlong before her. She seemed to be venting -upon this poor defenseless creature all the hatred, cruelty, -ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed by -unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely -indifferent; if the prisoner had been left to her alone, and -fortunately she was at night, she would have received no -harsh treatment, nor, by the same token would she have -received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner -they fell on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, -and gesture of impatience. Tars Tarkas made some reply -which I could not catch, but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to -smile; after which they paid no further attention to me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing -the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my -father's father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air -currents, and to take atmospheric density tests," replied -the fair prisoner, in a low, well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we -were on a peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of -our craft denoted. The work we were doing was as much in -your interests as in ours, for you know full well that were it -not for our labors and the fruits of our scientific operations -there would not be enough air or water on Mars to support -a single human life. For ages we have maintained the air and -water supply at practically the same point without an -appreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of -the brutal and ignorant interference of your green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with -your fellows, must you ever go on down the ages to your -final extinction but little above the plane of the dumb brutes -that serve you! A people without written language, without -art, without homes, without love; the victim of eons of the -horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, -even to your women and children, has resulted in your -owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you hate -all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our -common ancestors, come back to the light of kindliness -and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find the -hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we -may do still more to regenerate our dying planet. The grand- -daughter of the greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has -asked you. Will you come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and -intently at the young woman for several moments after she -had ceased speaking. What was passing in their minds no -man may know, but that they were moved I truly believe, -and if one man high among them had been strong enough -to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a -new and mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such -an expression as I had never seen upon the countenance of a -green Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty -battle with self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and -as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost of benignity, -of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and terrible -countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips -were never spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently -sensing the trend of thought among the older men, leaped -down from the steps of the rostrum, and striking the frail -captive a powerful blow across the face, which felled her to -the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form and turning -toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid, -mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him -dead, nor did the aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too -favorably for the brute, but the mood passed, their old selves -reasserted their ascendency, and they smiled. It was portentous -however that they did not laugh aloud, for the brute's act -constituted a side-splitting witticism according to the -ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what -occurred as that blow fell does not signify that I remained -inactive for any such length of time. I think I must have -sensed something of what was coming, for I realize now that -I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow aimed at -her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand -descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when -I was upon him. The brute was twelve feet in height and -armed to the teeth, but I believe that I could have accounted -for the whole roomful in the terrific intensity of my rage. -Springing upward, I struck him full in the face as he turned -at my warning cry and then as he drew his short-sword I -drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hooking one -leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge -tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow -upon his enormous chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I -was too close to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which -he attempted to do in direct opposition to Martian custom -which says that you may not fight a fellow warrior in -private combat with any other than the weapon with which you -are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild -and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk -he was little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter -of a moment or two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, -to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was -watching the battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had -regained my feet I raised her in my arms and bore her to -one of the benches at the side of the room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece -of silk from my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of -blood from her nostrils. I was soon successful as her -injuries amounted to little more than an ordinary nosebleed, -and when she could speak she placed her hand upon my -arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition -in the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and -kill one of your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. -What strange manner of man are you, that you consort with the -green men, though your form is that of my race, while your color -is little darker than that of the white ape? Tell me, are you -human, or are you more than human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell -you now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself -that I fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, -for the present, that I am your friend, and, so far as our -captors will permit, your protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms -and the regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? -Where your country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John -Carter, and I claim Virginia, one of the United States of -America, Earth, as my home; but why I am permitted to -wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware that my regalia -was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one -of the warriors, bearing arms, accouterments and ornaments, -and in a flash one of her questions was answered and a -puzzle cleared up for me. I saw that the body of my dead -antagonist had been stripped, and I read in the menacing -yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me -these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced -by the other who had brought me my original equipment, and now -for the first time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of -my first battle in the audience chamber had resulted in the -death of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was -now apparent; I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the -crude justice, which always marks Martian dealings, and which, -among other things, has caused me to call her the planet of -paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a conqueror; -the trappings and the position of the man I killed. -In truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later -was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the -audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I -had noticed that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed -forward toward us, and the eyes of the former rested upon -me in a most quizzical manner. Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one -who was deaf and dumb to us a few short days ago. Where -did you learn it, John Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in -that you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable -ability; I have to thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in -other respects needs considerable polish. Do you know what -your unprecedented temerity would have cost you had you -failed to kill either of the two chieftains whose metal you -now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would -have killed me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense -would a Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them -for other purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that -were not pleasant to dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should -you, in recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, -and prowess, be considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his -service you may be taken into the community and become a -full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the headquarters of Tal -Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded -the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated by -us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every -chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to -our mighty and most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I -am not of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can -only act in the future as I have in the past, in accordance -with the dictates of my conscience and guided by the standards -of mine own people. If you will leave me alone I will go -in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians with -whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger -among you, or take whatever consequences may befall. Of -one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your ultimate -intentions toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever -would offer her injury or insult in the future must figure on -making a full accounting to me. I understand that you belittle -all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, -and I can convince your most doughty warrior that these -characteristics are not incompatible with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before -had I descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote -which would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the -green Martians, nor was I wrong, for my harangue evidently -deeply impressed them, and their attitude toward me -thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his -only comment was more or less enigmatical-- "And I think I -know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting -her to her feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring -her hovering guardian harpies as well as the inquiring -glances of the chieftains. Was I not now a chieftain also! -Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities of one. -They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of -Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed -by the faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the -audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks -of Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had -been detailed to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and -made as though to assume custody of her once more. The -poor child shrank against me and I felt her two little hands -fold tightly over my arm. Waving the women away, I informed -them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter, and I -further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions -bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden -and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm -than good to Dejah Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do -not kill women upon Mars, nor women, men. So Sarkoja -merely gave us an ugly look and departed to hatch up -deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her -to guard Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished -her to find other quarters where they would not be molested -by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her that I myself would -take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in -my hand and slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, -"and I must do your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do -it under any circumstances. The man whose metal you carry -was young, but he was a great warrior, and had by his -promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of Tars -Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only. -You are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains in this -community who rank you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win -that honor by the will of the entire council that Lorquas -Ptomel meet you in combat, or should he attack you, you -may kill him in self-defense, and thus win first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular -desire to kill Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among -the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new -quarters, which we found in a building nearer the audience -chamber and of far more pretentious architecture than our -former habitation. We also found in this building real -sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought -metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the -marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, -and, unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, -portrayed many human figures in the compositions. -These were of people like myself, and of a much lighter -color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad in graceful, -flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, and -their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish -bronze. The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. -The scenes depicted for the most part, a fair-skinned, -fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of -rapture as she gazed upon these magnificent works of art, -wrought by a people long extinct; while Sola, on the other -hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and -overlooking the plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and -another room adjoining and in the rear for the cooking and -supplies. I then dispatched Sola to bring the bedding and -such food and utensils as she might need, telling her that -I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should -you leave her, unless it was to follow you and crave your -protection, and ask your pardon for the cruel thoughts she -has harbored against you these past few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either -of us unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, -and I think I understand your position among these people, -but what I cannot fathom is your statement that you are -not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, -"where may you be from? You are like unto my people, -and yet so unlike. You speak my language, and yet I heard -you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned it recently. -All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice-clad -south to the ice-clad north, though their written languages -differ. Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties -into the lost sea of Korus, is there supposed to -be a different language spoken, and, except in the legends of -our ancestors, there is no record of a Barsoomian returning -up the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the valley of -Dor. Do not tell me that you have thus returned! They -would kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom -if that were true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice -was pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my -breast, were pressed against me as though to wring a denial -from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my -own Virginia a gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am -not of Dor; I have never seen the mysterious Iss; the lost -sea of Korus is still lost, so far as I am concerned. Do you -believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that -she should believe me. It was not that I feared the results -which would follow a general belief that I had returned -from the Barsoomian heaven or hell, or whatever it was. -Why was it, then! Why should I care what she thought? -I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned, and her -wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her soul; and -as my eyes met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew -away from me with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful -face turned up to mine, she whispered: "I believe you, John -Carter; I do not know what a 'gentleman' is, nor have I ever -he does not wish to speak the truth he is silent. Where is -this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she asked, and it -seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never sounded -more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on that -far-gone day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet -Earth, which revolves about our common sun and next within -the orbit of your Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I -came here I cannot tell you, for I do not know; but here I -am, and since my presence has permitted me to serve Dejah -Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. -That it was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, -nor could I hope that she would do so however much I craved -her confidence and respect. I would much rather not have -told her anything of my antecedents, but no man could look -into the depth of those eyes and refuse her slightest behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to -believe even though I cannot understand. I can readily -perceive that you are not of the Barsoom of today; you are -like us, yet different--but why should I trouble my poor head -with such a problem, when my heart tells me that I believe -because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it -satisfied her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a -matter of fact it was about the only kind of logic that could -be brought to bear upon my problem. We fell into a general -conversation then, asking and answering many questions on each -side. She was curious to learn of the customs of my people -and displayed a remarkable knowledge of events on Earth. -When I questioned her closely on this seeming familiarity -with earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, -and much concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the -history of your planet fully as well as of his own. Can we -not see everything which takes place upon Earth, as you call -it; is it not hanging there in the heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements -had confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained -in general the instruments her people had used and been -perfecting for ages, which permit them to throw upon -a screen a perfect image of what is transpiring upon any -planet and upon many of the stars. These pictures are so -perfect in detail that, when photographed and enlarged, -objects no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly -recognized. I afterward, in Helium, saw many of these -pictures, as well as the instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, -"why is it that you do not recognize me as identical with the -inhabitants of that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a -questioning child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet -and star having atmospheric conditions at all approaching -those of Barsoom, shows forms of animal life almost -identical with you and me; and, further, Earth men, almost -without exception, cover their bodies with strange, unsightly -pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous contraptions -the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; while -you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of -your un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque -coverings might cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, -explaining that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to -her, strange garments of mundane dwellers. At this point -Sola returned with our meager belongings and her young -Martian protege, who, of course, would have to share the -quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, -and seemed much surprised when we answered in the negative. -It seemed that as she had mounted the approach to the -upper floors where our quarters were located, she had met -Sarkoja descending. We decided that she must have been -eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of importance -that had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of -little consequence, merely promising ourselves to be warned -to the utmost caution in the future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably -flourished over a hundred thousand years before. -They were the early progenitors of her race, but had mixed -with the other great race of early Martians, who were very -dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow race -which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had -been forced into a mighty alliance as the drying up of the -Martian seas had compelled them to seek the comparatively few -and always diminishing fertile areas, and to defend themselves, -under new conditions of life, against the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted -in the race of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair -and beautiful daughter. During the ages of hardships and -incessant warring between their own various races, as well -as with the green men, and before they had fitted themselves -to the changed conditions, much of the high civilization -and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians had -become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point -where it feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in -a more practical civilization for all that lies irretrievably -buried with the ancient Barsoomians, beneath the countless -intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and -literary race, but during the vicissitudes of those trying -centuries of readjustment to new conditions, not only did their -advancement and production cease entirely, but practically -all their archives, records, and literature were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends -concerning this lost race of noble and kindly people. She -said that the city in which we were camping was supposed -to have been a center of commerce and culture known as -Korad. It had been built upon a beautiful, natural harbor, -landlocked by magnificent hills. The little valley on the west -front of the city, she explained, was all that remained of the -harbor, while the pass through the hills to the old sea bottom -had been the channel through which the shipping passed up -to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such -cities, and lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be -found converging toward the center of the oceans, as the -people had found it necessary to follow the receding waters -until necessity had forced upon them their ultimate salvation, -the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building -and in our conversation that it was late in the afternoon -before we realized it. We were brought back to a realization -of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons -from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear before him -forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and -commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the -audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars -Tarkas seated upon the rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, -and, fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time -you have by your prowess won a high position among us. -Be that as it may, you are not one of us; you owe us no -allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are -a prisoner and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; -you are an alien and yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you -are a midget and yet you can kill a mighty warrior with one -blow of your fist. And now you are reported to have been -plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race; a -prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes you are -returned from the valley of Dor. Either one of these accusations, -if proved, would be sufficient grounds for your execution, -but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on our -return to Thark, if Tal Hajus so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you -run off with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to -Tal Hajus; it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and -either demonstrate my right to command, or the metal from -my dead carcass will go to a better man, for such is the -custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule -supreme the greatest of the lesser communities among the -green men; we do not wish to fight between ourselves; and so -if you were dead, John Carter, I should be glad. Under two -conditions only, however, may you be killed by us without -orders from Tal Hajus; in personal combat in self-defense, -should you attack one of us, or were you apprehended in an -attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only -await one of these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so -great a responsibility. The safe delivery of the red girl to -Tal Hajus is of the greatest importance. Not in a thousand -years have the Tharks made such a capture; she is the -granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, who is also -our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red girl told us that -we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we -are a just and truthful race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the -beginning of Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other -could be responsible for this report which had reached the -ears of Lorquas Ptomel so quickly, and now I recalled those -portions of our conversation which had touched upon escape -and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most -trusted female. As such she was a mighty power behind the -throne, for no warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel -to such an extent as did his ablest lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape -from my mind, my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served -to center my every faculty on this subject. Now, more than -before, the absolute necessity for escape, in so far as Dejah -Thoris was concerned, was impressed upon me, for I was -convinced that some horrible fate awaited her at the -headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated -personification of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and -brutality from which he had descended. Cold, cunning, -calculating; he was, also, in marked contrast to most of his -fellows, a slave to that brute passion which the waning -demands for procreation upon their dying planet has almost -stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into -the clutches of such an abysmal atavism started the cold -sweat upon me. Far better that we save friendly bullets for -ourselves at the last moment, as did those brave frontier -women of my lost land, who took their own lives rather than -fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings -Tars Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience -chamber. His demeanor toward me was unchanged, and he -greeted me as though we had not just parted a few -moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I -quartered either by myself or among the other warriors, and -I was awaiting an opportunity to ask your advice. As you -know," and I smiled, "I am not yet familiar with all the -customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off -across the plaza to a building which I was glad to see -adjoined that occupied by Sola and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he -said, "and the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, -but the third floor and the floors above are vacant; you may -take your choice of these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up -your woman to the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, -your ways are not our ways, but you can fight well enough -to do about as you please, and so, if you wish to give your -woman to a captive, it is your own affair; but as a chieftain -you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with -our customs you may select any or all the females from the -retinues of the chieftains whose metal you now wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along -very nicely without assistance except in the matter of -preparing food, and so he promised to send women to me for -this purpose and also for the care of my arms and the -manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would be -necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of -the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of -combat, for the nights were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended -the winding corridor to the upper floors in search of -suitable quarters. The beauties of the other buildings were -repeated in this, and, as usual, I was soon lost in a tour of -investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because -this brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment -was on the second floor of the adjoining building, and it -flashed upon me that I could rig up some means of communication -whereby she might signal me in case she needed either my -services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing -rooms, and other sleeping and living apartments, in all some -ten rooms on this floor. The windows of the back rooms -overlooked an enormous court, which formed the center of -the square made by the buildings which faced the four -contiguous streets, and which was now given over to the -quartering of the various animals belonging to the warriors -occupying the adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, -moss-like vegetation which blankets practically the entire -surface of Mars, yet numerous fountains, statuary, benches, -and pergola-like contraptions bore witness to the beauty -which the court must have presented in bygone times, when -graced by the fair-haired, laughing people whom stern and -unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes, -but from all except the vague legends of their descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant -Martian vegetation which once filled this scene with life -and color; the graceful figures of the beautiful women, the -straight and handsome men; the happy frolicking children-- -all sunlight, happiness and peace. It was difficult to realize -that they had gone; down through ages of darkness, cruelty, -and ignorance, until their hereditary instincts of culture and -humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final -composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several -young females bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, -cooking utensils, and casks of food and drink, including -considerable loot from the air craft. All this, it seemed, had -been the property of the two chieftains I had slain, and now, -by the customs of the Tharks, it had become mine. At my -direction they placed the stuff in one of the back rooms, and -then departed, only to return with a second load, which -they advised me constituted the balance of my goods. On the -second trip they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other -women and youths, who, it seemed, formed the retinues of -the two chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their -servants; the relationship was peculiar, and so unlike -anything known to us that it is most difficult to describe. -All property among the green Martians is owned in common by -the community, except the personal weapons, ornaments and -sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone can -one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more -of these than are required for his actual needs. The surplus -he holds merely as custodian, and it is passed on to the -younger members of the community as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened -to a military unit for which he is responsible in various -ways, as in matters of instruction, discipline, sustenance, and -the exigencies of their continual roamings and their unending -strife with other communities and with the red Martians. -His women are in no sense wives. The green Martians use no -word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word. Their -mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is -directed without reference to natural selection. The council -of chieftains of each community control the matter as surely as -the owner of a Kentucky racing stud directs the scientific -breeding of his stock for the improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with -theories, but the results of ages of this unnatural practice, -coupled with the community interest in the offspring being -held paramount to that of the mother, is shown in the cold, -cruel creatures, and their gloomy, loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, -both men and women, with the exception of such degenerates -as Tal Hajus; but better far a finer balance of human -characteristics even at the expense of a slight and -occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, -whether I would or not, I made the best of it and directed -them to find quarters on the upper floors, leaving the -third floor to me. One of the girls I charged with the duties -of my simple cuisine, and directed the others to take up -the various activities which had formerly constituted their -vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community -remained within the city for several days, abandoning the -homeward march until they could feel reasonably assured -that the ships would not return; for to be caught on the -open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children was -far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green -Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed -me in many of the customs and arts of war familiar to the -Tharks, including lessons in riding and guiding the great -beasts which bore the warriors. These creatures, which are -known as thoats, are as dangerous and vicious as their masters, -but when once subdued are sufficiently tractable for the -purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors -whose metal I wore, and in a short time I could handle them -quite as well as the native warriors. The method was not at -all complicated. If the thoats did not respond with sufficient -celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they -were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with the butt of a -pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was continued -until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their -riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle -between the man and the beast. If the former were quick -enough with his pistol he might live to ride again, though -upon some other beast; if not, his torn and mangled body -was gathered up by his women and burned in accordance -with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the -experiment of kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I -taught them that they could not unseat me, and even rapped -them sharply between the ears to impress upon them my -authority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won their -confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless -times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a good hand -with animals, and by inclination, as well as because -it brought more lasting and satisfactory results, I was -always kind and humane in my dealings with the lower orders. -I could take a human life, if necessary, with far less compunction -than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder -of the entire community. They would follow me like dogs, -rubbing their great snouts against my body in awkward evidence -of affection, and respond to my every command with an alacrity -and docility which caused the Martian warriors to ascribe to me -the possession of some earthly power unknown on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one -afternoon, when he had seen me run my arm far between -the great jaws of one of my thoats which had wedged a -piece of stone between two of his teeth while feeding upon -the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer -sentiments have their value, even to a warrior. In the height -of battle as well as upon the march I know that my thoats -will obey my every command, and therefore my fighting -efficiency is enhanced, and I am a better warrior for the -reason that I am a kind master. Your other warriors would find -it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community -to adopt my methods in this respect. Only a few days since you, -yourself, told me that these great brutes, by the uncertainty -of their tempers, often were the means of turning victory -into defeat, since, at a crucial moment, they might elect -to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' -only rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire -method of training I had adopted with my beasts, and later -he had me repeat it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled -warriors. That moment marked the beginning of a new existence -for the poor thoats, and before I left the community of -Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a regiment -of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to -see. The effect on the precision and celerity of the military -movements was so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented -me with a massive anklet of gold from his own leg, as a sign -of his appreciation of my service to the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft -we again took up the march toward Thark, all probability of -another attack being deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen -but little of Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by -Tars Tarkas with my lessons in the art of Martian warfare, -as well as in the training of my thoats. The few times I had -visited her quarters she had been absent, walking upon the -streets with Sola, or investigating the buildings in the near -vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them against venturing -far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes, whose -ferocity I was only too well acquainted with. However, since -Woola accompanied them on all their excursions, and as -Sola was well armed, there was comparatively little cause for -fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching -along one of the great avenues which lead into the -plaza from the east. I advanced to meet them, and telling -Sola that I would take the responsibility for Dejah Thoris' -safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on some -trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason I -desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to -me all that I had left behind upon Earth in agreeable and -congenial companionship. There seemed bonds of mutual -interest between us as powerful as though we had been born -under the same roof rather than upon different planets, -hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, -for on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left -her sweet countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful -welcome, as she placed her little right hand upon my left -shoulder in true red Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she -said, "and that I would now see no more of you than of any -of the other warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, -"notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to -absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the -community you would not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior -may change his metal, but not his heart,' as the saying -is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she -continued, "for whenever you have been off duty one of the -older women of Tars Tarkas' retinue has always arranged to -trump up some excuse to get Sola and me out of sight. -They have had me down in the pits below the buildings -helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make their -terrible projectiles. You know that these have to be -manufactured by artificial light, as exposure to sunlight always -results in an explosion. You have noticed that their bullets -explode when they strike an object? Well, the opaque, outer -coating is broken by the impact, exposing a glass cylinder, -almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute particle -of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which -nothing can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle -you will note the absence of these explosions, while the -morning following the battle will be filled at sunrise with the -sharp detonations of exploding missiles fired the preceding -night. As a rule, however, non-exploding projectiles are used -at night."1 - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation -of this wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more -concerned by the immediate problem of their treatment of -her. That they were keeping her away from me was not a -matter for surprise, but that they should subject her to -dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, -Dejah Thoris?" I asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting -ancestors leap in my veins as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing -that can harm me outside my pride. They know that I am -the daughter of ten thousand jeddaks, that I trace my -ancestry straight back without a break to the builder of -the first great waterway, and they, who do not even know -their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they hate -their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who -stand for everything they have not, and for all they most -crave and never can attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, -for even though we die at their hands we can afford them -pity, since we are greater than they and they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," -as applied by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have -had the surprise of my life, but I did not know at that time, -nor for many months thereafter. Yes, I still had much to -learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to -our fate with as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I -hope, nevertheless, that I may be present the next time that -any Martian, green, red, pink, or violet, has the temerity to -even so much as frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and - - -I have used the word radium in describing this powder because in -the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a mixture of -which radium is the base. In Captain Carter's manuscript it is mentioned -always by the name used in the written language of Helium and is -spelled in hieroglyphics which it would be difficult and useless to -reproduce. - -gazed upon me with dilated eyes and quickening breath, and -then, with an odd little laugh, which brought roguish dimples -to the corners of her mouth, she shook her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little -child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but -I may not tell you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of -Tardos Mors, have listened without anger," she soliloquized -in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with -my soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy -you would take him home and nurse him back to health," -she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. -"At least among civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, -for, with all her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was -still a Martian, and to a Martian the only good enemy is a -dead enemy; for every dead foeman means so much more to -divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to -cause her so much perturbation a moment before and so I -continued to importune her to enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it -and that I have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, -and if I be dead, as likely I shall be ere the further -moon has circled Barsoom another twelve times, remember -that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to -explain the more positive became her denials of my request, -and, so, in very hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered -along the great avenue lighted by the two moons of -Barsoom, and with Earth looking down upon us out of her -luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in the -universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing -my silks I threw them across the shoulders of Dejah -Thoris. As my arm rested for an instant upon her I felt a -thrill pass through every fiber of my being such as contact -with no other mortal had even produced; and it seemed to -me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I -was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there -across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the -silk required she did not draw away, nor did she speak. -And so, in silence, we walked the surface of a dying world, -but in the breast of one of us at least had been born that -which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked -shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, -and I knew that I had loved her since the first moment -that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza -of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I -thought of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone -could lighten the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in -my poor way against the thousands of hereditary enemies -she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could not chance -causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love -which, in all probability she did not return. Should I be so -indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than -now, and the thought that she might feel that I was taking -advantage of her helplessness, to influence her decision was -the final argument which sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly -you would rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know -why it is that I should always be happy and contented -when you, John Carter, a stranger, are with me; yet at such -times it seems that I am safe and that, with you, I shall soon -return to my father's court and feel his strong arms about me -and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she -had explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as -to its meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a -low, thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and -sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not -ask personal questions of women, except his mother, and the -woman he has fought for and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my -tongue had been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as -I caught myself and ceased, and drawing my silks from her -shoulder she held them out to me, and without a word, and -with head held high, she moved with the carriage of the -queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her -quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she -reached the building in safety, but, directing Woola to -accompany her, I turned disconsolately and entered my own house. -I sat for hours cross-legged, and cross-tempered, upon my silks -meditating upon the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor -devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had -roamed the five continents and their encircling seas; in spite -of beautiful women and urging opportunity; in spite of a half- -desire for love and a constant search for my ideal, it had -remained for me to fall furiously and hopelessly in love with a -creature from another world, of a species similar possibly, -yet not identical with mine. A woman who was hatched from -an egg, and whose span of life might cover a thousand years; -whose people had strange customs and ideas; a woman whose -hopes, whose pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of -right and wrong might vary as greatly from mine as did those -of the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was -suffering the greatest misery I had ever known I would not -have had it otherwise for all the riches of Barsoom. Such is -love, and such are lovers wherever love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was -virtuous and beautiful and noble and good. I believed that -from the bottom of my heart, from the depth of my soul on -that night in Korad as I sat cross-legged upon my silks while -the nearer moon of Barsoom raced through the western sky -toward the horizon, and lighted up the gold and marble, and -jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I believe it -today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking the -Hudson. Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I -lived and fought for Dejah Thoris and her people, and for -ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear -and hot, as do all Martian mornings except for the six weeks -when the snow melts at the poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, -but she turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood -mount to her cheek. With the foolish inconsistency -of love I held my peace when I might have plead ignorance -of the nature of my offense, or at least the gravity of it, -and so have effected, at worst, a half conciliation. - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, -and so I glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks -and furs. In doing so I noted with horror that she was -heavily chained by one ankle to the side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening -her disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a -massive spring lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, -to whom I vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations -and cruelties, as they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were -being heaped upon Dejah Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris -escape the Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that -you will not go without her. You have shown yourself a -mighty fighter, and we do not wish to manacle you, so we -hold you both in the easiest way that will yet ensure security. -I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew -that it were futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked -that the key be taken from Sarkoja and that she be directed -to leave the prisoner alone in future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for -the friendship that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John -Carter; but have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease -to annoy the girl, and I myself will take the custody of the -key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, -smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor -Dejah Thoris would attempt to escape until after we have -safely reached the court of Tal Hajus you might have the -key and throw the chains into the river Iss." - -"It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were -making camp I saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an -undercurrent of something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed -ever battling to subdue. Could it be a vestige of some human -instinct come back from an ancient forbear to haunt him -with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, -and the black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest -balm I had felt for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! -It bristled from her so palpably that one might almost -have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with -a warrior named Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but -one who had never made a kill among his own chieftains, and -a second name only with the metal of some chieftain. It was -this custom which entitled me to the names of either of the -chieftains I had killed; in fact, some of the warriors -addressed me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the surnames -of the two warrior chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in -other words, whom I had slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in -my direction, while she seemed to be urging him very strongly -to some action. I paid little attention to it at the time, but -the next day I had good reason to recall the circumstances, -and at the same time gain a slight insight into the depths of -Sarkoja's hatred and the lengths to which she was capable of -going to wreak her horrid vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, -and though I spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded -by so much as the flutter of an eyelid that she realized -my existence. In my extremity I did what most other lovers -would have done; I sought word from her through an intimate. -In this instance it was Sola whom I intercepted in another -part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. -"Why will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions -on the part of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed -they were, poor child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will -say, except that she is the daughter of a jed and the grand- -daughter of a jeddak and she has been humiliated by a -creature who could not polish the teeth of her grandmother's -sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, -"What might a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red -Martian women keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must -rank pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I -thought; but I could not help laughing at the strange figure -of speech, so homely and in this respect so earthly. It made -me homesick, for it sounded very much like "not fit to polish -her shoes." And then commenced a train of thought quite -new to me. I began to wonder what my people at home were doing. -I had not seen them for years. There was a family of -Carters in Virginia who claimed close relationship with me; -I was supposed to be a great uncle, or something of the -kind equally foolish. I could pass anywhere for twenty-five -to thirty years of age, and to be a great uncle always seemed -the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and feelings were -those of a boy. There was two little kiddies in the Carter -family whom I had loved and who had thought there was -no one on Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as -plainly, as I stood there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, -and I longed for them as I had never longed for any mortals -before. By nature a wanderer, I had never known the -true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of the -Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to -me, and now my heart turned toward it from the cold and -unfriendly peoples I had been thrown amongst. For did not -even Dejah Thoris despise me! I was a low creature, so low -in fact that I was not even fit to polish the teeth of her -grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor came -to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs -and slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired -and healthy fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched -with only a single halt until just before dark. Two incidents -broke the tediousness of the march. About noon we espied -far to our right what was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas -Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to investigate it. The latter -took a dozen warriors, including myself, and we raced across -the velvety carpeting of moss to the little enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small -in comparison with those I had seen hatching in ours at the -time of my arrival on Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, -finally announcing that it belonged to the green men -of Warhoon and that the cement was scarcely dry where it -had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, -the light of battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors -tore open the entrance and a couple of them, crawling -in, soon demolished all the eggs with their short-swords. -Then remounting we dashed back to join the cavalcade. -During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if these -Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people -than his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those -I saw hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, -like all green Martian eggs, they would grow during the -five-year period of incubation until they obtained the size of -those I had seen hatching on the day of my arrival on Barsoom. -This was indeed an interesting piece of information, -for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the green -Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging -from. As a matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger -than an ordinary goose egg, and as it does not commence to -grow until subjected to the light of the sun the chieftains -have little difficulty in transporting several hundreds of them -at one time from the storage vaults to the incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted -to rest the animals, and it was during this halt that the -second of the day's interesting episodes occurred. I was -engaged in changing my riding cloths from one of my thoats -to the other, for I divided the day's work between them, -when Zad approached me, and without a word struck my -animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know -what reply to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger -that I could scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and -shooting him down for the brute he was; but he stood waiting -with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was to draw my own -and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or -a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I -could have used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or -my fists had I wished, and been entirely within my rights, -but I could not use firearms or a spear while he held only -his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he -prided himself upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I -worsted him at all, to do it with his own weapon. The fight -that followed was a long one and delayed the resumption of -the march for an hour. The entire community surrounded -us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter -for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a -wolf, but I was much too quick for him, and each time I -side-stepped his rushes he would go lunging past me, only -to receive a nick from my sword upon his arm or back. He -was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor wounds, -but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective -thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily and -with extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he -was unable to do by brute strength. I must admit that he was -a magnificent swordsman, and had it not been for my greater -endurance and the remarkable agility the lesser gravitation -of Mars lent me I might not have been able to put up the -creditable fight I did against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on -either side; the long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in -the sunlight, and ringing out upon the stillness as they -crashed together with each effective parry. Finally Zad, -realizing that he was tiring more than I, evidently decided to -close in and end the battle in a final blaze of glory for himself; -just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light struck full -in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach and could -only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the -mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. -I was only partially successful, as a sharp pain in my left -shoulder attested, but in the sweep of my glance as I sought -to again locate my adversary, a sight met my astonished -gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness -had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot -stood three figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing -the encounter above the heads of the intervening Tharks. -There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, and Sarkoja, and as my -fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was presented -which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the -fury of a young tigress and struck something from her -upraised hand; something which flashed in the sunlight as -it spun to the ground. Then I knew what had blinded me at -that crucial moment of the fight, and how Sarkoja had found -a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust. -Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life for me -then and there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an -instant entirely from my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris -struck the tiny mirror from her hand, Sarkoja, her face livid -with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out her dagger and -aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, our dear -and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw was -the great knife descending upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it -extremely interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my -attention to the work in hand, but my mind was not upon the -battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, -feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust -I could neither parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him -with outstretched sword and with all the weight of my -body, determined that I would not die alone if I could -prevent it. I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went -black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my -knees giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was -down but a moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching -for my sword, and there I found it, buried to the hilt in the -green breast of Zad, who lay stone dead upon the ochre -moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I regained my full senses -I found his weapon piercing my left breast, but only through -the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering near -the center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. -As I had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely -passed beneath the muscles, inflicting a painful but not -dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my -own, and turning my back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, -sick, sore, and disgusted, toward the chariots which bore my -retinue and my belongings. A murmur of Martian applause -greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to -such happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful -healing and remedial agents which make only the most -instantaneous of death blows fatal. Give a Martian woman -a chance and death must take a back seat. They soon had -me patched up so that, except for weakness from loss of -blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered no -great distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, -undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the -chariot of Dejah Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with -her chest swathed in bandages, but apparently little the -worse for her encounter with Sarkoja, whose dagger it seemed -had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast ornaments -and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon -her silks and furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did -not notice my presence, nor did she hear me speaking with -Sola, who was standing a short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris -by an inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to -polish its teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not -understand either her ways or yours, but I am sure the -granddaughter of ten thousand jeddaks would never grieve -like this over any who held but the highest claim upon her -affections. They are a proud race, but they are just, as are -all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt or wronged her -grievously that she will not admit your existence living, -though she mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, -"and so it is difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen -but two people weep in all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; -one wept from sorrow, the other from baffled rage. The first -was my mother, years ago before they killed her; the other -was Sarkoja, when they dragged her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not -have known your mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you -would like to hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story -come to the chariot tonight, John Carter, and I will tell you -that of which I have never spoken in all my life before. And -now the signal has been given to resume the march, you -must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell -Dejah Thoris I am alive and well. I shall not force myself -upon her, and be sure that you do not let her know I saw her tears. -If she would speak with me I but await her command. - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place -in line, and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped -to my station beside Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as -we strung out across the yellow landscape; the two hundred -and fifty ornate and brightly colored chariots, preceded by -an advance guard of some two hundred mounted warriors -and chieftains riding five abreast and one hundred yards -apart, and followed by a like number in the same formation, -with a score or more of flankers on either side; the fifty extra -mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, -and the five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors -running loose within the hollow square formed by the -surrounding warriors. The gleaming metal and jewels of -the gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, duplicated in -the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and interspersed -with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and -feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would -have turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded -feet of the animals brought forth no sound from the moss- -covered sea bottom; and so we moved in utter silence, like -some huge phantasmagoria, except when the stillness was -broken by the guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, or the -squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians converse -but little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and like -the faint rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to -the pressure of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again -behind us, leaving no sign that we had passed. We might -indeed have been the wraiths of the departed dead upon the -dead sea of that dying planet for all the sound or sign we -made in passing. It was the first march of a large body of -men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised no dust -and left no spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except in -the cultivated districts during the winter months, and even -then the absence of high winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been -approaching for two days and which marked the southern -boundary of this particular sea. Our animals had been two -days without drink, nor had they had water for nearly two -months, not since shortly after leaving Thark; but, as Tars -Tarkas explained to me, they require but little and can live -almost indefinitely upon the moss which covers Barsoom, and -which, he told me, holds in its tiny stems sufficient moisture -to meet the limited demands of the animals. -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food -and vegetable milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working -by the light of a torch upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. -She looked up at my approach, her face lighting with pleasure -and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and -I am lonely. Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; -I am too unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live -my life amongst them, and I often wish that I were a true -green Martian woman, without love and without hope; but I -have known love and so I am lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of -my parents. From what I have learned of you and the ways -of your people I am sure that the tale will not seem strange -to you, but among green Martians it has no parallel within -the memory of the oldest living Thark, nor do our legends -hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed -the responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed -principally for size. She was also less cold and cruel -than most green Martian women, and caring little for their -society, she often roamed the deserted avenues of Thark -alone, or went and sat among the wild flowers that deck -the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing wishes -which I believe I alone among Tharkian women today may -understand, for am I not the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose -duty it was to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see -that they roamed not beyond the hills. They spoke at first -only of such things as interest a community of Tharks, but -gradually, as they came to meet more often, and, as was -now quite evident to both, no longer by chance, they talked -about themselves, their likes, their ambitions and their hopes. -She trusted him and told him of the awful repugnance she -felt for the cruelties of their kind, for the hideous, loveless -lives they must ever lead, and then she waited for the storm -of denunciation to break from his cold, hard lips; but instead -he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my -mother, was of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her -lover was a simple warrior, wearing only his own metal. -Had their defection from the traditions of the Tharks been -discovered both would have paid the penalty in the great -arena before Tal Hajus and the assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great -glass vessel upon the highest and most inaccessible of the -partially ruined towers of ancient Thark. Once each year my -mother visited it for the five long years it lay there in the -process of incubation. She dared not come oftener, for in the -mighty guilt of her conscience she feared that her every -move was watched. During this period my father gained great -distinction as a warrior and had taken the metal from several -chieftains. His love for my mother had never diminished, -and his own ambition in life was to reach a point where -he might wrest the metal from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, -as ruler of the Tharks, be free to claim her as his own, -as well as, by the might of his power, protect the child -which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the -truth become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal -Hajus in five short years, but his advance was rapid, and he -soon stood high in the councils of Thark. But one day the -chance was lost forever, in so far as it could come in time -to save his loved ones, for he was ordered away upon a long -expedition to the ice-clad south, to make war upon the -natives there and despoil them of their furs, for such is -the manner of the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for -what he can wrest in battle from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all -had been over for three; for about a year after his departure, -and shortly before the time for the return of an expedition -which had gone forth to fetch the fruits of a community -incubator, the egg had hatched. Thereafter my mother -continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting me nightly -and lavishing upon me the love the community life would -have robbed us both of. She hoped, upon the return of the -expedition from the incubator, to mix me with the other young -assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, and thus escape the -fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin against -the ancient traditions of the green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, -and one night she told me the story I have told to you up to -this point, impressing upon me the necessity for absolute -secrecy and the great caution I must exercise after she had -placed me with the other young Tharks to permit no one to -guess that I was further advanced in education than they, -nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of others my -affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and -then drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the -name of my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the -tower chamber, and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, -baleful eyes fixed in a frenzy of loathing and contempt -upon my mother. The torrent of hatred and abuse she -poured out upon her turned my young heart cold in terror. -That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and that -she had suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly -absences from her quarters accounted for her presence there -on that fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the -whispered name of my father. This was apparent from her -repeated demands upon my mother to disclose the name of -her partner in sin, but no amount of abuse or threats could -wring this from her, and to save me from needless torture -she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew nor would -she even tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal -Hajus to report her discovery, and while she was gone my -mother, wrapping me in the silks and furs of her night coverings, -so that I was scarcely noticeable, descended to the streets -and ran wildly away toward the outskirts of the city, -in the direction which led to the far south, out toward the -man whose protection she might not claim, but on whose -face she wished to look once more before she died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came -to us from across the mossy flat, from the direction of the -only pass through the hills which led to the gates, the pass -by which caravans from either north or south or east or -west would enter the city. The sounds we heard were the -squealing of thoats and the grumbling of zitidars, with the -occasional clank of arms which announced the approach of -a body of warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind was -that it was my father returned from his expedition, but the -cunning of the Thark held her from headlong and precipitate -flight to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the -coming of the cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, -breaking its formation and thronging the thoroughfare -from wall to wall. As the head of the procession passed us -the lesser moon swung clear of the overhanging roofs and lit -up the scene with all the brilliancy of her wondrous light. -My mother shrank further back into the friendly shadows, -and from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not -that of my father, but the returning caravan bearing the -young Tharks. Instantly her plan was formed, and as a great -chariot swung close to our hiding place she slipped stealthily -in upon the trailing tailboard, crouching low in the shadow -of the high side, straining me to her bosom in a frenzy of -love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that -night would she hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we -would ever look upon each other's face again. In the -confusion of the plaza she mixed me with the other children, -whose guardians during the journey were now free to relinquish -their responsibility. We were herded together into a great room, -fed by women who had not accompanied the expedition, and the next -day we were parceled out among the retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned -by Tal Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible -and shameful torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring -from her lips the name of my father; but she remained -steadfast and loyal, dying at last amidst the laughter of -Tal Hajus and his chieftains during some awful torture -she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had -killed me to save me from a like fate at their hands, and -that she had thrown my body to the white apes. Sarkoja -alone disbelieved her, and I feel to this day that she suspects -my true origin, but does not dare expose me, at the present, -at all events, because she also guesses, I am sure, the identity -of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story -of my mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; -but never by the quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest -emotion; only he did not laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully -described her death struggles. From that moment on he was -the cruelest of the cruel, and I am awaiting the day when -he shall win the goal of his ambition, and feel the carcass of -Tal Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure that he but -waits the opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, and that -his great love is as strong in his breast as when it first -transfigured him nearly forty years ago, as I am that we sit -here upon the edge of a world-old ocean while sensible people -sleep, John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I -am, nor does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. -I alone know my father's name, and only I and Tal Hajus -and Sarkoja know that it was she who carried the tale that -brought death and torture upon her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the -gloomy thoughts of her terrible past, and I in pity for the -poor creatures whom the heartless, senseless customs of their -race had doomed to loveless lives of cruelty and of hate. -Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead -bosom of Barsoom you are one. I know that I can trust you, -and because the knowledge may someday help you or him -or Dejah Thoris or myself, I am going to tell you the name -of my father, nor place any restrictions or conditions upon -your tongue. When the time comes, speak the truth if it -seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you are -not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving -truthfulness, that you could lie like one of your own Virginia -gentlemen if a lie would save others from sorrow or suffering. -My father's name is Tars Tarkas." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. -We were twenty days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms -and passing through or around a number of ruined cities, -mostly smaller than Korad. Twice we crossed the famous -Martian waterways, or canals, so-called by our earthly -astronomers. When we approached these points a warrior -would be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass, and if -no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we would -advance as close as possible without chance of being seen and -then camp until dark, when we would slowly approach the -cultivated tract, and, locating one of the numerous, broad -highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, creep -silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings -without a single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, -so that we were just leaving the confines of the high-walled -fields when the sun broke out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see -but little, except as the nearer moon, in her wild and -ceaseless hurtling through the Barsoomian heavens, lit up -little patches of the landscape from time to time, disclosing -walled fields and low, rambling buildings, presenting much -the appearance of earthly farms. There were many trees, -methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous height; -there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they announced -their presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they -scented our queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was -at the intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white -turnpike which cuts each cultivated district longitudinally -at its exact center. The fellow must have been sleeping -beside the road, for, as I came abreast of him, he raised upon -one elbow and after a single glance at the approaching caravan -leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down the road, -scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat. -The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they were -not out upon the warpath, and the only sign that I had -that they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of the -caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert which -marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she -sent no word to me that I would be welcome at her chariot, -and my foolish pride kept me from making any advances. -I verily believe that a man's way with women is in inverse -ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling and the saphead -have often great ability to charm the fair sex, while the -fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid, -sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered -the ancient city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten -people this horde of green men have stolen even their name. -The hordes of Thark number some thirty thousand souls, -and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each community -has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under -the rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities -make their headquarters at the city of Thark, and the -balance are scattered among other deserted cities of -ancient Mars throughout the district claimed by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in -the afternoon. There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings -for the returned expedition. Those who chanced to be in -sight spoke the names of warriors or women with whom -they came in direct contact, in the formal greeting of their -kind, but when it was discovered that they brought two -captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris -and I were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance -of the day was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed -conditions. My home now was upon an avenue leading into -the plaza from the south, the main artery down which we -had marched from the gates of the city. I was at the far -end of the square and had an entire building to myself. The -same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable -a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here, only, if -that were possible, on a larger and richer scale. My quarters -would have been suitable for housing the greatest of earthly -emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing about a building -appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its chambers; -the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus -occupied what must have been an enormous public building, the -largest in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; -the next largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the -jed of a lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. -The warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose -retinues they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter -among any of the thousands of untenanted buildings in their own -quarter of town; each community being assigned a certain -section of the city. The selection of building had to be made -in accordance with these divisions, except in so far as the -jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices which -fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen -that it had been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened -out with the intention of locating Sola and her charges, as -I had determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris -and trying to impress on her the necessity of our at least -patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding -her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the -great red sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and -then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from a second- -story window on the opposite side of the very street where -I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the -winding runway which led to the second floor, and entering -a great chamber at the front of the building was greeted -by the frenzied Woola, who threw his great carcass upon -me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old fellow was -so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his -head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks -in his hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I -looked hurriedly through the approaching gloom for a sign -of Dejah Thoris, and then, not seeing her, I called her name. -There was an answering murmur from the far corner of the -apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was standing -beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks -upon an ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose -to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. -It was furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you, -whom I had hoped to protect and comfort. Have none of -me if it is your will, but that you must aid me in effecting -your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my request, -but my command. When you are safe once more at your -father's court you may do with me as you please, but from -now on until that day I am your master, and you must -obey and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that -she was softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but -you I do not understand. You are a queer mixture of child -and man, of brute and noble. I only wish that I might read -your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now -where it has lain since that other night at Korad, and where -it will ever lie beating alone for you until death stills it -forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands -outstretched in a strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. -"What are you saying to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would -not say to you, at least until you were no longer a captive -among the green men; what from your attitude toward me -for the past twenty days I had thought never to say to you; -I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, -to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only -one thing I ask of you in return, and that is that you make -no sign, either of condemnation or of approbation of my -words until you are safe among your own people, and that -whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they be not -influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to -serve you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, -since it gives me more pleasure to serve you than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I -understand the motives which prompt them, and I accept -your service no more willingly than I bow to your authority; -your word shall be my law. I have twice wronged you -in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented -by the entrance of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly -unlike her usual calm and possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she -cried, "and from what I heard upon the plaza there is -little hope for either of you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in -the great arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for -the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe -the customs of your people as much as we do. Will you -not accompany us in one supreme effort to escape? I am -sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a home and protection -among her people, and your fate can be no worse among -them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will -be better off among the red men of Helium than you are -here, and I can promise you not only a home with us, but -the love and affection your nature craves and which must -always be denied you by the customs of your own race. -Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your -fate would be terrible if they thought you had connived to -aid us. I know that even that fear would not tempt you to -interfere in our escape, but we want you with us, we want -you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, amongst -a people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and -of gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty -miles to the south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a -swift thoat might make it in three hours; and then to -Helium it is five hundred miles, most of the way through -thinly settled districts. They would know and they would -follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, -but the chances are small indeed for escape. They would -follow us to the very gates of Helium, and they would take -toll of life at every step; you do not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. -"Can you not draw me a rough map of the country we -must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from -her hair she drew upon the marble floor the first map of -Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. It was crisscrossed in -every direction with long straight lines, sometimes running -parallel and sometimes converging toward some great circle. -The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and -one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. -There were other cities closer, but she said she feared to -enter many of them, as they were not all friendly toward Helium. - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight -which now flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far -to the north of us which also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I -asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north -of us; it is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip -to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that -distant waterway," I answered, "and that is why I think -that it is the best route for our escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should -leave Thark this same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I -could find and saddle my thoats. Sola was to ride one and -Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of us carrying sufficient -food and drink to last us for two days, since the animals -could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one -of the less frequented avenues to the southern boundary of -the city, where I would overtake them with the thoats as -quickly as possible; then, leaving them to gather what food, -silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped quietly to the -rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard, where -our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit, -before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance -of the Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and -zitidars, the latter grunting their low gutturals and -the former occasionally emitting the sharp squeal which -denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which these -creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, -owing to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became -more restless and their hideous noise increased. It was risky -business, this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; -first, because their increasing noisiness might warn the nearby -warriors that something was amiss, and also because for the -slightest cause, or for no cause at all some great bull thoat -might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such -a night as this, where so much depended upon secrecy and -dispatch, I hugged the shadows of the buildings, ready at -an instant's warning to leap into the safety of a nearby -door or window. Thus I moved silently to the great gates -which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and -as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How -I thanked the kind providence which had given me the foresight -to win the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for -presently from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks -forcing their way toward me through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles -against my body and nosing for the bits of food it was -always my practice to reward them with. Opening the gates -I ordered the two great beasts to pass out, and then -slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead -walked quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an -unfrequented avenue which led toward the point I had arranged -to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With the noiselessness -of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the -deserted streets, but not until we were within sight of -the plain beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. -I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty -in reaching our rendezvous undetected, but with my great thoats -I was not so sure for myself, as it was quite unusual for warriors -to leave the city after dark; in fact there was no place for them -to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah -Thoris and Sola were not there I led my animals into the -entrance hall of one of the large buildings. Presuming that -one of the other women of the same household may have -come in to speak to Sola, and so delayed their departure, -I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour -had passed without a sign of them, and by the time another -half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave -anxiety. Then there broke upon the stillness of the night -the sound of an approaching party, which, from the noise, I -knew could be no fugitives creeping stealthily toward liberty. -Soon the party was near me, and from the black shadows of my -entranceway I perceived a score of mounted warriors, who, -in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart clean -into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without -the city, and so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; -but it was enough. Our plan had been discovered, and -the chances for escape from now on to the fearful end -would be small indeed. My one hope now was to return -undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what -fate had overtaken her, but how to do it with these great -monstrous thoats upon my hands, now that the city probably -was aroused by the knowledge of my escape was a problem -of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge -of the construction of the buildings of these ancient -Martian cities with a hollow court within the center of each -square, I groped my way blindly through the dark chambers, -calling the great thoats after me. They had difficulty in -negotiating some of the doorways, but as the buildings fronting -the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a -magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through without -sticking fast; and thus we finally made the inner court where -I found, as I had expected, the usual carpet of moss-like -vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I -could return them to their own enclosure. That they would -be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was confident, -nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would -be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter -these outlying buildings, which were frequented by the -only thing, I believe, which caused them the sensation of -fear--the great white apes of Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within -the rear doorway of the building through which we had -entered the court, and, turning the beasts loose, quickly -made my way across the court to the rear of the buildings -upon the further side, and thence to the avenue beyond. -Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured -that no one was approaching, I hurried across to the opposite -side and through the first doorway to the court beyond; -thus, crossing through court after court with only the slight -chance of detection which the necessary crossing of the -avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the courtyard -in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who -quartered in the adjacent buildings, and the warriors -themselves I might expect to meet within if I entered; but, -fortunately for me, I had another and safer method of reaching -the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be found, and, -after first determining as nearly as possible which of the -buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them before -from the court side, I took advantage of my relatively great -strength and agility and sprang upward until I grasped the -sill of a second-story window which I thought to be in the -rear of her apartment. Drawing myself inside the room I -moved stealthily toward the front of the building, and not -until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was I -made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure -myself that it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to -venture within. It was well indeed that I took this precaution, -for the conversation I heard was in the low gutturals of men, -and the words which finally came to me proved a most timely warning. -The speaker was a chieftain and he was giving orders to four of -his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he -surely will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, -you four are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require -the combined strength of all of you to do it if the reports they -bring back from Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound -bear him to the vaults beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain -him securely where he may be found when Tal Hajus wishes him. -Allow him to speak with none, nor permit any other to enter -this apartment before he comes. There will be no danger of -the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the arms -of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, -for Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a -noble night's work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when -he comes, I commend your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by -the door where I was standing, but I needed to wait no -longer; I had heard enough to fill my soul with dread, and -stealing quietly away I returned to the courtyard by the -way I had come. My plan of action was formed upon the -instant, and crossing the square and the bordering avenue -upon the opposite side I soon stood within the courtyard -of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told -me where first to seek, and advancing to the windows I -peered within. I soon discovered that my approach was not -to be the easy thing I had hoped, for the rear rooms bordering -the court were filled with warriors and women. I then -glanced up at the stories above, discovering that the third -was apparently unlighted, and so decided to make my entrance -to the building from that point. It was the work of -but a moment for me to reach the windows above, and -soon I had drawn myself within the sheltering shadows of -the unlighted third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and -creeping noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered -a light in the apartments ahead of me. Reaching what -appeared to be a doorway I discovered that it was but an -opening upon an immense inner chamber which towered from -the first floor, two stories below me, to the dome-like roof -of the building, high above my head. The floor of this -great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors -and women, and at one end was a great raised platform -upon which squatted the most hideous beast I had ever put -my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, cruel, terrible -features of the green warriors, but accentuated and debased -by the animal passions to which he had given himself over -for many years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride -upon his bestial countenance, while his enormous bulk spread -itself out upon the platform where he squatted like some -huge devil fish, his six limbs accentuating the similarity in -a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that -of Dejah Thoris and Sola standing there before him, and -the fiendish leer of him as he let his great protruding eyes -gloat upon the lines of her beautiful figure. She was -speaking, but I could not hear what she said, nor could I make -out the low grumbling of his reply. She stood there erect -before him, her head high held, and even at the distance I -was from them I could read the scorn and disgust upon -her face as she let her haughty glance rest without sign of -fear upon him. She was indeed the proud daughter of a -thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious little body; -so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around her, -but in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she -was the mightiest figure among them and I verily believe -that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be -cleared, and that the prisoners be left alone before him. -Slowly the chieftains, the warriors and the women melted -away into the shadows of the surrounding chambers, and -Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before the jeddak of the -Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I -saw him standing in the shadows of a mighty column, his -fingers nervously toying with the hilt of his great-sword and -his cruel eyes bent in implacable hatred upon Tal Hajus. -It was Tars Tarkas, and I could read his thoughts as they -were an open book for the undisguised loathing upon his -face. He was thinking of that other woman who, forty years -ago, had stood before this beast, and could I have spoken -a word into his ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus -would have been over; but finally he also strode from the -room, not knowing that he left his own daughter at the -mercy of the creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his -intentions, hurried to the winding runway which led to the -floors below. No one was near to intercept me, and I reached -the main floor of the chamber unobserved, taking my station -in the shadow of the same column that Tars Tarkas had but -just deserted. As I reached the floor Tal Hajus was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from -your people would I but return you to them unharmed, but a -thousand times rather would I watch that beautiful face -writhe in the agony of torture; it shall be long drawn out, -that I promise you; ten days of pleasure were all too short to -show the love I harbor for your race. The terrors of your -death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through all -the ages to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the -night as their fathers tell them of the awful vengeance of -the green men; of the power and might and hate and cruelty -of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you shall be mine for -one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth to -Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he -may grovel upon the ground in the agony of his sorrow. -Tomorrow the torture will commence; tonight thou art Tal -Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly -by the arm, but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped -between them. My short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in -my right hand; I could have plunged it into his putrid heart -before he realized that I was upon him; but as I raised my -arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, with all my rage, -with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that sweet -moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, -weary years, and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full -upon the point of his jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the -floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the -hand, and motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly -from the chamber and to the floor above. Unseen we reached -a rear window and with the straps and leather of my trappings -I lowered, first Sola and then Dejah Thoris to the ground below. -Dropping lightly after them I drew them rapidly around the court -in the shadows of the buildings, and thus we returned over the -same course I had so recently followed from the distant boundary -of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where -I had left them, and placing the trappings upon them we -hastened through the building to the avenue beyond. -Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and Dejah Thoris behind me -upon the other, we rode from the city of Thark through the -hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest -and toward the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance -from us, we turned to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy -waste across which, for two hundred dangerous and weary miles, -lay another main artery leading to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, -but I could hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she -clung to me with her dear head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be -a mighty one; greater than she can ever pay you; and should -we not make it," she continued, "the debt is no less, though -Helium will never know, for you have saved the last of our -line from worse than death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and -pressed the little fingers of her I loved where they clung to -me for support, and then, in unbroken silence, we sped over -the yellow, moonlit moss; each of us occupied with his own -thoughts. For my part I could not be other than joyful had I -tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, -and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as -gaily as though we were already entering the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now -found ourselves without food or drink, and I alone was -armed. We therefore urged our beasts to a speed that must -tell on them sorely before we could hope to sight the ending -of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a -few short rests. On the second night both we and our animals -were completely fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss -and slept for some five or six hours, taking up the journey -once more before daylight. All the following day we rode, -and when, late in the afternoon we had sighted no distant -trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all Barsoom, -the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult -to say, nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by -day and the moons and stars by night. At any rate no waterway -was in sight, and the entire party was almost ready to -drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far ahead of us and -a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines of low -mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope -that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. -Night fell upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost -fainting from weariness and weakness, we lay down and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body -pressing close to mine, and opening my eyes with a start I -beheld my blessed old Woola snuggling close to me; the faithful -brute had followed us across that trackless waste to share -our fate, whatever it might be. Putting my arms about his -neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed -that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I -thought of his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris -and Sola awakened, and it was decided that we push on at -once in an effort to gain the hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my -thoat was commencing to stumble and stagger in a most -pitiful manner, although we had not attempted to force -them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding day. -Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to -the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him -and fell upon the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor -beast was in a pitiable condition, not even being able to rise, -although relieved of our weight. Sola told me that the coolness -of the night, when it fell, together with the rest would -doubtless revive him, and so I decided not to kill him, as -was my first intention, as I had thought it cruel to leave him -alone there to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of his -trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor -fellow to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best -we could. Sola and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much -against her will. In this way we had progressed to within -about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring to reach when -Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the thoat, -cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I -both looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly -discernible, were several hundred mounted warriors. They -seemed to be headed in a southwesterly direction, which -would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent -out to capture us, and we breathed a great sigh of relief that -they were traveling in the opposite direction. Quickly lifting -Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I commanded the animal to lie -down and we three did the same, presenting as small an object -as possible for fear of attracting the attention of the -warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for -an instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly -ridge; to us a most providential ridge; since, had they -been in view for any great length of time, they scarcely -could have failed to discover us. As what proved to be the -last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted and, to our -consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to his -eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently -he was a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the -green men a chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. -As his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, -and I could feel the cold sweat start from every pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension -on our nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if -any of us breathed for the few moments he held us covered -by his glass; and then he lowered it and we could see him -shout a command to the warriors who had passed from our -sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to join -him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing -madly in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take -quickly. Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I -sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger; -there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal, and -the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying -mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed -Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a -mighty effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were -upon us. I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might -find a temporary hiding place, and even though they died -there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than that -they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two -revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection, and, -as a last resort, as an escape for themselves from the horrid -death which recapture would surely mean, I lifted Dejah -Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the thoat behind -Sola, who had already mounted at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in -Helium yet. I have escaped from worse plights than this," -and I tried to smile as I lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these -fellows off for a while, and I can better escape them alone -than could the three of us together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear -arms about my neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: -"Fly, Sola! Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she -loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly -would I give up my life a thousand times could I only hear -them once again; but I could not then give even a second to -the rapture of her sweet embrace, and pressing my lips to -hers for the first time, I picked her up bodily and tossed -her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding the latter -in peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and then, -slapping the thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; -Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself from -Sola's grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge -and looking for their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, -and then me; but scarcely had they discovered me than I -commenced firing, lying flat upon my belly in the moss. I had -an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my rifle, and -another hundred in the belt at my back, and I kept up a -continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who -had been first to return from behind the ridge either dead or -scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire -party, numbering some thousand men, came charging into -view, racing madly toward me. I fired until my rifle was -empty and they were almost upon me, and then a glance -showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had disappeared -among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless gun, -and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by -Sola and her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was -granted those astonished warriors on that day long years ago, -but while it led them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract -their attention from endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a -projecting piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon -the moss. As I looked up they were upon me, and although -I drew my long-sword in an attempt to sell my life as -dearly as possible, it was soon over. I reeled beneath their -blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents; my head swam; -all was black, and I went down beneath them to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness -and I well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me -as I realized that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the -corner of a small room in which were several green warriors, -and bending over me was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching -my couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no -Thark, for his ornaments and metal were not of that horde. -He was a huge fellow, terribly scarred about the face and -chest, and with one broken tusk and a missing ear. Strapped -on either breast were human skulls and depending from -these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so -much while among the Tharks convinced me that I had but -jumped from purgatory into gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which -she assured him that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed -ordered that we mount and ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a -thoat as I had ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on -either side to prevent the beast from bolting, we rode forth -at a furious pace in pursuit of the column. My wounds gave -me but little pain, so wonderfully and rapidly had the -applications and injections of the female exercised their -therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered -the injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops -shortly after they had made camp for the night. I was -immediately taken before the leader, who proved to be the -jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully -scarred, and also decorated with the breastplate of human -skulls and dried dead hands which seemed to mark all the -greater warriors among the Warhoons, as well as to indicate -their awful ferocity, which greatly transcends even that of -the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, -was the object of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old -lieutenant, Dak Kova, the jed who had captured me, and I -could not but note the almost studied efforts which the -latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered -the presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before -the ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a -Thark whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild -thoat at the great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," -replied the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my -throat but he shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness -on your part shall save him. O, would that Warhoon were -ruled by a real jeddak rather than by a water-hearted -weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could tear the metal -with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for -an instant, his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt -and hate, and then without drawing a weapon and without -uttering a word he hurled himself at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle -with nature's weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity -which ensued was as fearful a thing as the most disordered -imagination could picture. They tore at each others' eyes -and ears with their hands and with their gleaming tusks -repeatedly slashed and gored until both were cut fairly to -ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was -stronger, quicker and more intelligent. It soon seemed that -the encounter was done saving only the final death thrust -when Bar Comas slipped in breaking away from a clinch. It -was the one little opening that Dak Kova needed, and hurling -himself at the body of his adversary he buried his single -mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last powerful -effort ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of -his body, the great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar -Comas' jaw. Victor and vanquished rolled limp and lifeless -upon the moss, a huge mass of torn and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on -the part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. -Three days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar -Comas which, by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, -and placing his foot upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he -assumed the title of Jeddak of Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added -to the ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women -cremated what remained, amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so -greatly that it was decided to give up the expedition, which -was a raid upon a small Thark community in retaliation for -the destruction of the incubator, until after the great games, -and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in number, -turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people -was but an index to the scenes I witnessed almost daily -while with them. They are a smaller horde than the Tharks -but much more ferocious. Not a day passed but that some -members of the various Warhoon communities met in deadly -combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels within a -single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days -march and I was immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily -chained to the floor and walls. Food was brought me at -intervals but owing to the utter darkness of the place I do not -know whether I lay there days, or weeks, or months. It was -the most horrible experience of all my life and that my -mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky blackness -has been a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled -with creeping, crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed -over me when I lay down, and in the darkness I occasionally -caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed in horrible -intentness upon me. No sound reached me from the world -above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my -food was brought to me, although I at first bombarded him -with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these -awful creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was -centered by my tottering reason upon this single emissary -who represented to me the entire horde of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim -torch to where he could place the food within my reach and -as he stooped to place it upon the floor his head was about -on a level with my breast. So, with the cunning of a madman, -I backed into the far corner of my cell when next I heard -him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great -chain which held me in my hand I waited his coming, -crouching like some beast of prey. As he stooped to place -my food upon the ground I swung the chain above my head -and crashed the links with all my strength upon his skull. -Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming -I fell upon his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his -dead throat. Presently they came in contact with a small -chain at the end of which dangled a number of keys. The -touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my reason -with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering -idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape -within my very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's -neck I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming -eyes fixed, unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly -I shrank back from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner -I crouched holding my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily -on came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet. -Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating -sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess -of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again -to attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my -former jailer. But as I reached out into the darkness to locate -it I found to my horror that it was gone. Then the truth -flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged -my prize away from me to be devoured in their neighboring lair; -as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for months, -through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag -my dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new -messenger appeared and my incarceration went on as before, -but not again did I allow my reason to be submerged by the -horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in -and chained near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he -was a red Martian and I could scarcely await the departure -of his guards to address him. As their retreating footsteps -died away in the distance, I called out softly the Martian -word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, -omitting only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. -He was much excited by the news of Helium's princess and -seemed quite positive that she and Sola could easily have -reached a point of safety from where they left me. He said -that he knew the place well because the defile through which -the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was -the only one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles -from a great waterway and are now probably quite safe," -he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) -in the navy of Helium. He had been a member of the ill- -fated expedition which had fallen into the hands of the -Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' capture, and he briefly -related the events which followed the defeat of the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped -slowly toward Helium, but while passing near the city of -Zodanga, the capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among -the red men of Barsoom, they had been attacked by a great -body of war vessels and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan -belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was -chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but -finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about -the time of our coming to Thark, his vessel had reached -Helium with about ten survivors of the original crew of seven -hundred officers and men. Immediately seven great fleets, -each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been dispatched -to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two -thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in -futile search for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the -face of Barsoom by the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah -Thoris had been found. They had been searching among the -northern hordes, and only within the past few days had -they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man -fliers and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the -Warhoons while exploring their city. The bravery and daring -of the man won my greatest respect and admiration. Alone he -had landed at the city's boundary and on foot had penetrated -to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days and -nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in -search of his beloved princess only to fall into the -hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave, after -assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I -became well acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. -A few days only elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth -from our dungeon for the great games. We were conducted early -one morning to an enormous amphitheater, which instead of having -been built upon the surface of the ground was excavated below -the surface. it had partially filled with debris so that how -large it had originally been was difficult to say. In its -present condition it held the entire twenty thousand Warhoons -of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. -Around it the Warhoons had piled building stone from -some of the ruined edifices of the ancient city to prevent -the animals and the captives from escaping into the -audience, and at each end had been constructed cages -to hold them until their turns came to meet some horrible -death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. -In the others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, -green warriors, and women of other hordes, and many -strange and ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had -never before seen. The din of their roaring, growling and -squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of -any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel -grave forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one -of these prisoners would gain freedom and the others would -lie dead about the arena. The winners in the various contests -of the day would be pitted against each other until only two -remained alive; the victor in the last encounter being set free, -whether animal or man. The following morning the cages would -be filled with a new consignment of victims, and so on -throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill -and within an hour every available part of the seating space -was occupied. Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at -the center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were -thrown open and a dozen green Martian females were -driven to the center of the arena. Each was given a -dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve calots, -or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost -defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the -horrid sight. The yells and laughter of the green horde -bore witness to the excellent quality of the sport and -when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me it -was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and growling -over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good account -of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, -and so it went throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then -beasts, but as I was armed with a long-sword and always -outclassed my adversary in agility and generally in strength -as well, it proved but child's play to me. Time and time again -I won the applause of the bloodthirsty multitude, and toward -the end there were cries that I be taken from the arena -and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior -of some far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror -for the liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and -like myself had always proven victorious, but occasionally -by the smallest of margins, especially when pitted against -the green warriors. I had little hope that he could best his -giant adversary who had mowed down all before him during -the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, -while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they -advanced to meet one another I saw for the first time a trick -of Martian swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's -every hope of victory and life on one cast of the dice, for, -as he came to within about twenty feet of the huge fellow -he threw his sword arm far behind him over his shoulder -and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost -at the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing -the poor devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but -as we approached to the encounter I whispered to him to -prolong the battle until nearly dark in the hope that we -might find some means of escape. The horde evidently -guessed that we had no hearts to fight each other and so -they howled in rage as neither of us placed a fatal thrust. -Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered to -Kantos Kan to thrust his sword between my left arm and my -body. As he did so I staggered back clasping the sword -tightly with my arm and thus fell to the ground with his -weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos Kan -perceived my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his -foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body -gave me the final death blow through the neck which is supposed -to sever the jugular vein, but in this instance the cold -blade slipped harmlessly into the sand of the arena. In the -darkness which had now fallen none could tell but that he -had really finished me. I whispered to him to go and claim -his freedom and then look for me in the hills east of the -city, and so he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to -the top and as the great excavation lay far from the plaza -and in an untenanted portion of the great dead city I had -little trouble in reaching the hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did -not come I started off on foot in a northwesterly direction -toward a point where he had told me lay the nearest waterway. -My only food consisted of vegetable milk from the -plants which gave so bounteously of this priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through -the nights guided only by the stars and hiding during the -days behind some protruding rock or among the occasional -hills I traversed. Several times I was attacked by wild beasts; -strange, uncouth monstrosities that leaped upon me in the -dark, so that I had ever to grasp my long-sword in my hand -that I might be ready for them. Usually my strange, newly -acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, but -once I was down with vicious fangs at my jugular and a -hairy face pressed close to mine before I knew that I was -even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but -that it was large and heavy and many-legged I could feel. -My hands were at its throat before the fangs had a chance to -bury themselves in my neck, and slowly I forced the hairy face -from me and closed my fingers, vise-like, upon its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort -to reach me with those awful fangs, and I straining to -maintain my grip and choke the life from it as I kept it from -my throat. Slowly my arms gave to the unequal struggle, -and inch by inch the burning eyes and gleaming tusks of my -antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy face touched -mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a living -mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness -full upon the creature that held me pinioned to the ground. -The two rolled growling upon the moss, tearing and rending -one another in a frightful manner, but it was soon over and -my preserver stood with lowered head above the throat of -the dead thing which would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon -and lighting up the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my -preserver was Woola, but from whence he had come, or how -found me, I was at a loss to know. That I was glad of his -companionship it is needless to say, but my pleasure at seeing -him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of his leaving -Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account for -his absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my -commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was -but a shadow of his former self, and as he turned from my -caress and commenced greedily to devour the dead carcass -at my feet I realized that the poor fellow was more than half -starved. I, myself, was in but little better plight but I could -not bring myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had no -means of making a fire. When Woola had finished his meal -I again took up my weary and seemingly endless wandering -in quest of the elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed -to see the high trees that denoted the object of my search. -About noon I dragged myself wearily to the portals of a -huge building which covered perhaps four square miles -and towered two hundred feet in the air. It showed no -aperture in the mighty walls other than the tiny door at which -I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence -known to the inmates of the place, unless a small round -role in the wall near the door was for that purpose. It was -of about the bigness of a lead pencil and thinking that it -might be in the nature of a speaking tube I put my mouth to -it and was about to call into it when a voice issued from it -asking me whom I might be, where from, and the nature of -my errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and -was dying of starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed -by a calot, yet you are of the figure of a red man. In color -you are neither green nor red. In the name of the ninth day, -what manner of creature are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. -In the name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had -sunk into the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily -to the left, exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, -at the further end of which was another door, similar in -every respect to the one I had just passed. No one was in -sight, yet immediately we passed the first door it slid gently -into place behind us and receded rapidly to its original position -in the front wall of the building. As the door had slipped -aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and -as it reached its place once more after closing behind us, -great cylinders of steel had dropped from the ceiling behind -it and fitted their lower ends into apertures countersunk in -the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one -side as the first, before I reached a large inner chamber -where I found food and drink set out upon a great stone table. -A voice directed me to satisfy my hunger and to feed -my calot, and while I was thus engaged my invisible host -put me through a severe and searching cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on -concluding its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the -truth, and it is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. -I can tell that by the conformation of your brain and the -strange location of your internal organs and the shape and -size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian -I could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a -strange, dried up, little mummy of a man came toward me. -He wore but a single article of clothing or adornment, a -small collar of gold from which depended upon his chest a -great ornament as large as a dinner plate set solid with huge -diamonds, except for the exact center which was occupied -by a strange stone, an inch in diameter, that scintillated nine -different and distinct rays; the seven colors of our earthly -prism and two beautiful rays which, to me, were new and -nameless. I cannot describe them any more than you could -describe red to a blind man. I only know that they were -beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the -strangest part of our intercourse was that I could read his -every thought while he could not fathom an iota from my -mind unless I spoke. - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental -operations, and thus I learned a great deal which proved of -immense value to me later and which I would never have -known had he suspected my strange power, for the Martians -have such perfect control of their mental machinery that they -are able to direct their thoughts with absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery -which produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains -life on Mars. The secret of the entire process hinges on -the use of the ninth ray, one of the beautiful scintillations -which I had noted emanating from the great stone in my -host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by -means of finely adjusted instruments placed upon the roof -of the huge building, three-quarters of which is used for -reservoirs in which the ninth ray is stored. This product is -then treated electrically, or rather certain proportions of -refined electric vibrations are incorporated with it, and the -result is then pumped to the five principal air centers of the -planet where, as it is released, contact with the ether of -space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in -the great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for -a thousand years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, -was that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery -of twenty radium pumps any one of which was equal to the -task of furnishing all Mars with the atmosphere compound. -For eight hundred years, he told me, he had watched these -pumps which are used alternately a day each at a stretch, or -a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth hours. He has one -assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a Martian -year, about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each -of these men spend alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the -principles of the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two -at one time ever hold the secret of ingress to the great building, -which, built as it is with walls a hundred and fifty feet -thick, is absolutely unassailable, even the roof being guarded -from assault by air craft by a glass covering five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green -Martians or some demented red man, as all Barsoomians -realize that the very existence of every form of life of Mars -is dependent upon the uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts -was that the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic -means. The locks are so finely adjusted that the doors are -released by the action of a certain combination of thought -waves. To experiment with my new-found toy I thought to -surprise him into revealing this combination and so I asked -him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the -massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the building. -As quick as a flash there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, -but as quickly faded as he answered that this was a secret -he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared -that he had been surprised into divulging his great secret, -and I read suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, -though his words were still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a -letter to a nearby agricultural officer who would help me on -my way to Zodanga, which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are -bound for Helium as they are at war with that country. -My assistant and I are of no country, we belong to all Barsoom -and this talisman which we wear protects us in all lands, -even among the green men--though we do not trust ourselves -to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you -have a long and restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the -wish that he had never admitted me, and then a picture of -him standing over me in the night, and the swift thrust of -a long dagger and the half formed words, "I am sorry, but it -is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his -thoughts were cut off from me as was the sight of him, which -seemed strange to me in my little knowledge of thought -transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these -mighty walls? Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, -but once he was dead I could no more escape, and with the -stopping of the machinery of the great plant I should die -with all the other inhabitants of the planet--all, even Dejah -Thoris were she not already dead. For the others I did not -give the snap of my finger, but the thought of Dejah Thoris -drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed -by Woola, sought the inner of the great doors. A wild -scheme had come to me; I would attempt to force the great -locks by the nine thought waves I had read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and -down winding runways which turned hither and thither I -finally reached the great hall in which I had broken my long -fast that morning. Nowhere had I seen my host, nor did I -know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room -when a slight noise behind me warned me back into the -shadows of a recess in the corridor. Dragging Woola after -me I crouched low in the darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered -the dimly lighted chamber which I had been about to -pass through I saw that he held a long thin dagger in his -hand and that he was sharpening it upon a stone. In his mind -was the decision to inspect the radium pumps, which would -take about thirty minutes, and then return to my bed chamber -and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down -the runway which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily -from my hiding place and crossed to the great door, the inner -of the three which stood between me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled -the nine thought waves against it. In breathless expectancy -I waited, when finally the great door moved softly toward -me and slid quietly to one side. One after the other the -remaining mighty portals opened at my command and Woola -and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, but little better -off than we had been before, other than that we had full -stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile -I made for the first crossroad, intending to strike the central -turnpike as quickly as possible. This I reached about morning -and entering the first enclosure I came to I searched for -some evidences of a habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred -with heavy impassable doors, and no amount of hammering -and hallooing brought any response. Weary and exhausted -from sleeplessness I threw myself upon the ground commanding -Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings -and opened my eyes to see three red Martians standing a -short distance from us and covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I -have been a prisoner among the green men and am on my -way to Zodanga. All I ask is food and rest for myself and -my calot and the proper directions for reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward -me placing their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the -manner of their custom of salute, and asking me many questions -about myself and my wanderings. They then took me to the -house of one of them which was only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early -morning were occupied only by stock and farm produce, -the house proper standing among a grove of enormous trees, -and, like all red-Martian homes, had been raised at night -some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a large round -metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in -the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in -the entrance hall of the building. Instead of bothering with -bolts and bars for their dwellings, the red Martians simply -run them up out of harm's way during the night. They also -have private means for lowering or raising them from the -ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three -similar houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, -being government officers in charge. The labor was -performed by convicts, prisoners of war, delinquent debtors -and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to pay the high -celibate tax which all red-Martian governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality -and I spent several days with them, resting and recuperating -from my long and arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference -to Dejah Thoris and the old man of the atmosphere plant-- -they advised me to color my body to more nearly resemble -their own race and then attempt to find employment in Zodanga, -either in the army or the navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed -until after you have proven your trustworthiness and won -friends among the higher nobles of the court. This you can -most easily do through military service, as we are a warlike -people on Barsoom," explained one of them, "and save our -richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a -small domestic bull thoat, such as is used for saddle -purposes by all red Martians. The animal is about the size -of a horse and quite gentle, but in color and shape an exact -replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which -I anointed my entire body and one of them cut my hair, -which had grown quite long, in the prevailing fashion of the -time, square at the back and banged in front, so that I could -have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a full-fledged red -Martian. My metal and ornaments were also renewed in the -style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house of -Ptor, which was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. -The medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from -our own except that the coins are oval. Paper money is -issued by individuals as they require it and redeemed twice -yearly. If a man issues more than he can redeem, the -government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out -the amount upon the farms or in mines, which are all owned -by the government. This suits everybody except the debtor as -it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary -labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching -as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole, through wild -stretches peopled by wild animals and wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness -to me they assured me that I would have ample opportunity -if I lived long upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell -they watched me until I was out of sight upon the broad -white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several -farm houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and -instructive things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected -in immense underground reservoirs at either pole from the -melting ice caps, and pumped through long conduits to the -various populated centers. Along either side of these conduits, -and extending their entire length, lie the cultivated districts. -These are divided into tracts of about the same size, each tract -being under the supervision of one or more government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting -immense quantities of water by evaporation, the precious -liquid is carried underground through a vast network of -small pipes directly to the roots of the vegetation. The crops -upon Mars are always uniform, for there are no droughts, no -rains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since -leaving Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed -domestic animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits -and vegetables, but not a single article of food which was -exactly similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and flower -and vegetable and animal has been so refined by ages of careful, -scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of them on -Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness -by comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of -the noble class and while in conversation we chanced to -speak of Helium. One of the older men had been there on -a diplomatic mission several years before and spoke with -regret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to keep -these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful -women of Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrous -daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah Thoris, is the most exquisite -flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground -she walks upon and since her loss on that ill-starred -expedition all Helium has been draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet -as it was returning to Helium was but another of his awful -blunders which I fear will sooner or later compel Zodanga -to elevate a wiser man to his place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding -Helium, the people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, -for the war is not a popular one, since it is not based on -right or justice. Our forces took advantage of the absence -of the principal fleet of Helium on their search for the -princess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the city -to a sorry plight. it is said she will fall within the next few -passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the -princess, Dejah Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned -from a green warrior recently captured by our forces in -the south. She escaped from the hordes of Thark with a -strange creature of another world, only to fall into the hands -of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering upon -the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict were -discovered nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither -was it at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, -and so I determined to make every effort possible to reach -Helium as quickly as I could and carry to Tardos Mors -such news of his granddaughter's possible whereabouts as -lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived -at Zodanga. From the moment that I had come in contact -with the red inhabitants of Mars I had noticed that Woola -drew a great amount of unwelcome attention to me, since -the huge brute belonged to a species which is never -domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down -Broadway with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would -be somewhat similar to that which I should have produced -had I entered Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused -me so great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until -just before we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, -it became imperative that we separate. Had nothing further -than my own safety or pleasure been at stake no argument -could have prevailed upon me to turn away the one creature -upon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstration -of affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offered -my life in the service of her in search of whom I was about -to challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious -city, I could not permit even Woola's life to threaten the -success of my venture, much less his momentary happiness, -for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so I bade -the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, -however, that if I came through my adventure in safety that -in some way I should find the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed -back in the direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, -nor could I bear to watch him go; but resolutely set my -face toward Zodanga and with a touch of heartsickness -approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance -to the vast, walled city. It was still very early in -the morning and the streets were practically deserted. -The residences, raised high upon their metal columns, resembled -huge rookeries, while the uprights themselves presented the -appearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule were -not raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted or -barred, since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom. -Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, -and for this reason alone their homes are raised high above -the ground at night, or in times of danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for -reaching the point of the city where I could find living -accommodations and be near the offices of the government -agents to whom they had given me letters. My way led to -the central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of all -Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded -by the palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members -of the royalty and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by the -principal public buildings, cafes, and shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and -admiration of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous -scarlet vegetation which carpeted the broad lawns I -discovered a red Martian walking briskly toward me from one -of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention to me, -but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I -placed my hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much -as lower my hand the point of his long-sword was at my -breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap -carried me fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point -to the ground and exclaimed, laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon -all Barsoom who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By -the mother of the further moon, John Carter, how came -you here, and have you become a Darseen that you can -change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, -after I had briefly outlined my adventures since parting -with him in the arena at Warhoon. "Were my name -and city known to the Zodangans I would shortly be sitting -on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered and -departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos -Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of -Dejah Thoris, our princess. Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, -has her hidden in the city and has fallen madly in love -with her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has -made her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peace -between our countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede to -the demands and has sent word that he and his people -would rather look upon the dead face of their princess than -see her wed to any than her own choice, and that personally -he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and -burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that -of Than Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could -have put upon Than Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people -love him the more for it and his strength in Helium is -greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, -"but I have not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. -Today I join the Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hope -in this way to win the confidence of Sab Than, the prince, -who is commander of this division of the navy, and thus -learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that you -are here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princess -and two of us working together should be able to -accomplish much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going -and coming upon the daily activities of their duties. The -shops were opening and the cafes filling with early morning -patrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of these gorgeous eating -places where we were served entirely by mechanical apparatus. -No hand touched the food from the time it entered the -building in its raw state until it emerged hot and delicious -upon the tables before the guests, in response to the touching -of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the -headquarters of the air-scout squadron and introducing me -to his superior asked that I be enrolled as a member of the -corps. In accordance with custom an examination was necessary, -but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear on this score as he -would attend to that part of the matter. He accomplished -this by taking my order for examination to the examining -officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully -explained, "when they check up my weights, measurements, -and other personal identification data, but it will be -several months before this is done and our mission should -be accomplished or have failed long before that time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching -me the intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty -little contrivances which the Martians use for this purpose. -The body of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet -long, two feet wide and three inches thick, tapering to a -point at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane upon -a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium engine -which propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained -within the thin metal walls of the body and consists of -the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as it may -be termed in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but -the Martians have discovered that it is an inherent property -of all light no matter from what source it emanates. They -have learned that it is the solar eighth ray which propels -the light of the sun to the various planets, and that it is -the individual eighth ray of each planet which "reflects," or -propels the light thus obtained out into space once more. -The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface of -Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to -propel light from Mars into space, is constantly streaming -out from the planet constituting a force of repulsion of -gravity which when confined is able to life enormous weights -from the surface of the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation -that battle ships far outweighing anything known upon -Earth sail as gracefully and lightly through the thin air of -Barsoom as a toy balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many -strange accidents occurred before the Martians learned to -measure and control the wonderful power they had found. -In one instance, some nine hundred years before, the first -great battle ship to be built with eighth ray reservoirs was -stored with too great a quantity of the rays and she had -sailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men, -never to return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that -it had carried her far into space, where she can be seen -today, by the aid of powerful telescopes, hurtling through -the heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; a tiny satellite -that will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my -first flight, and as a result of it I won a promotion which -included quarters in the palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had -seen Kantos Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top -speed I raced at terrific velocity toward the south, following -one of the great waterways which enter Zodanga from that -direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less -than an hour when I descried far below me a party of -three green warriors racing madly toward a small figure on -foot which seemed to be trying to reach the confines of one -of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling -to the rear of the warriors, I soon saw that the object of -their pursuit was a red Martian wearing the metal of the -scout squadron to which I was attached. A short distance -away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the tools with which -he had evidently been occupied in repairing some damage -when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts -charging down on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed, -while the warriors leaned low to the right, with their great -metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving to be the first to -impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his fate -would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind -the warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishing -my speed I rammed the prow of my little flier between the -shoulders of the nearest. The impact sufficient to have torn -through inches of solid steel, hurled the fellow's headless body -into the air over the head of his thoat, where it fell sprawling -upon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriors -turned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground -at the feet of the astonished Zodangan. He was warm in -his thanks for my timely aid and promised that my day's -work would bring the reward it merited, for it was none -other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I -had saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors -would surely return as soon as they had gained control of -their mounts. Hastening to his damaged machine we were -bending every effort to finish the needed repairs and had -almost completed them when we saw the two green monsters -returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When -they had approached within a hundred yards their thoats -again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance -further toward the air craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals -advanced toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do -the best he could with the other. Finishing my man with -almost no effort, as had now from much practice become -habitual with me, I hastened to return to my new acquaintance -whom I found indeed in desperate straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his -antagonist upon his throat and the great long-sword raised -to deal the final thrust. With a bound I cleared the fifty -feet intervening between us, and with outstretched point -drove my sword completely through the body of the green -warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank -limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal -injuries and after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to -attempt the return voyage. He would have to pilot his -own craft, however, as these frail vessels are not intended -to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the -still, cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without -further mishap returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse -of civilians and troops assembled upon the plain before the -city. The sky was black with naval vessels and private and -public pleasure craft, flying long streamers of gay-colored -silks, and banners and flags of odd and picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running -his machine close beside mine suggested that we approach -and watch the ceremony, which, he said, was for the purpose -of conferring honors on individual officers and men for -bravery and other distinguished service. He then unfurled -a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member -of the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our -way through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung -directly over the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. All were -mounted upon the small domestic bull thoats of the red -Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore such -a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but -be struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore -to a band of the red Indians of my own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the -presence of my companion above them and the ruler motioned -for him to descend. As they waited for the troops -to move into position facing the jeddak the two talked -earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionally -glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation and -presently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of -troops had wheeled into position before their emperor. A -member of the staff advanced toward the troops, and calling -the name of a soldier commanded him to advance. The -officer then recited the nature of the heroic act which had -won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced -and placed a metal ornament upon the left arm of the -lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit -of military discipline is strong within me, and I dropped -my little machine lightly to the ground and advanced on -foot as I had seen the others do. As I halted before the -officer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the entire -assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable -courage and skill in defending the person of the cousin -of the jeddak Than Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing -three green warriors, it is the pleasure of our jeddak to -confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an -ornament upon me, said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful -achievement, which seems little short of miraculous, and if -you can so well defend a cousin of the jeddak how much -better could you defend the person of the jeddak himself. -You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and -will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members -of his staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine to -its quarters on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout -squadron, and with an orderly from the palace to guide me -I reported to the officer in charge of the palace. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - - -I FIND DEJAH - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions -to station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time -of war, is always in great danger of assassination, as the -rule that all is fair in war seems to constitute the entire -ethics of Martian conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment -in which Than Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in -conversation with his son, Sab Than, and several courtiers -of his household, and did not perceive my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with -splendid tapestries which hid any windows or doors which -may have pierced them. The room was lighted by imprisoned -rays of sunshine held between the ceiling proper and what -appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a few inches -below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a -passage which encircled the room, between the hangings and -the walls of the chamber. Within this passage I was to -remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was in the apartment. -When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to guard -the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I -would be relieved after a period of four hours. The major- -domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the -appearance of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding -place I could perceive all that took place within the room as -readily as though there had been no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the -opposite end of the chamber separated and four soldiers of -The Guard entered, surrounding a female figure. As they -approached Than Kosis the soldiers fell to either side and -there standing before the jeddak and not ten feet from me, -her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and -hand in hand they approached close to the jeddak. Than -Kosis looked up in surprise, and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess -of Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration -for my pride, assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, -the green Thark, to my son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples -playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been -the prerogative of woman to change her mind as she listed -and to dissemble in matters concerning her heart. That you -will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your son. Two days ago I -was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and I have -come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept -the assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time -comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. -"It is far from my desire to push war further against the -people of Helium, and, your promise shall be recorded and -a proclamation to my people issued forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, -"that the proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would -look strange indeed to my people and to yours were the -Princess of Helium to give herself to her country's enemy -in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. -"It requires but the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. -Say it, my father, say the word that will hasten my -happiness, and end this unpopular strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of -Helium take to peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the -apartment, still followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness -dashed, broken, to the ground of reality. The woman for -whom I had offered my life, and from whose lips I had so -recently heard a declaration of love for me, had lightly -forgotten my very existence and smilingly given herself to -the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not -believe it. I must search out her apartments and force her -to repeat the cruel truth to me alone before I would be -convinced, and so I deserted my post and hastened through -the passage behind the tapestries toward the door by which -she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through this -opening I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching -and turning in every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them -I soon became hopelessly lost and was standing panting -against a side wall when I heard voices near me. Apparently -they were coming from the opposite side of the partition -against which I leaned and presently I made out the tones -of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I knew -that I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway -at the end of which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I -pushed into the room only to find myself in a small ante- -chamber in which were the four guards who had accompanied -her. One of them instantly arose and accosted me, asking -the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak -privately with Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a -member of The Guard, and without waiting for a reply -from him I strode toward the opposite door of the ante- -chamber, behind which I could hear Dejah Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. -The guardsman stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an -order or the password. You must give me one or the other -before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I -will, hangs at my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; -"will you let me pass in peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the -others to join him, and thus the four stood, with drawn -weapons, barring my further progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried -the one who had first addressed me, "and not only shall -you not enter the apartments of the Princess of Helium but -you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard to explain -this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you -cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim -smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three -antagonists and I can assure you that they were worthy of -my metal. They had me backed against the wall in no time, -fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my way to a corner -of the room where I could force them to come at me only -one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; -the clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam -in the little room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her -apartment, and there she stood throughout the conflict with -Sola at her back peering over her shoulder. Her face was -set and emotionless and I knew that she did not recognize -me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman -and then, with only two opposing me, I changed my tactics -and rushed them down after the fashion of my fighting -that had won me many a victory. The third fell within ten -seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the -bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men -and noble fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced -to kill them, but I would have willingly depopulated all -Barsoom could I have reached the side of my Dejah Thoris -in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian -Princess, who still stood mutely gazing at me without -sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy -to harass me in my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, -"and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it -cannot be--no, for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," -I said. "Do you not recognize, even through paint and -strange metal, the heart of your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched -hands, but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back -with a shudder and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, -and whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little -hour before--but now it is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you -would not have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince -had you known that I lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you -yesterday and today to another? I thought that it lay buried -with your ashes in the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have -promised my body to another to save my people from the -curse of a victorious Zodangan army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim -you, and all Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on -Barsoom that is final. The ceremonies which follow later are -but meaningless formalities. They make the fact of marriage -no more certain than does the funeral cortege of a jeddak -again place the seal of death upon him. I am as good as -married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your -princess. No longer are you my chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, -Dejah Thoris, but I do know that I love you, and if you -meant the last words you spoke to me that day as the hordes -of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no other man shall -ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my -princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot -repeat them now for I have given myself to another. Ah, -if you had only known our ways, my friend," she continued, -half to herself, "the promise would have been yours long -months ago, and you could have claimed me before all others. -It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have -given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when -you offended me? You called me your princess without having -asked my hand of me, and then you boasted that you had -fought for me. You did not know, and I should not have -been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to tell -you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two -kinds of women in the cities of the red men. The one they -fight for that they may ask them in marriage; the other kind -they fight for also, but never ask their hands. When a man -has won a woman he may address her as his princess, or in -any of the several terms which signify possession. You had -fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so -when you called me your princess, you see," she faltered, -"I was hurt, but even then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, -as I should have done, until you made it doubly worse by -taunting me with having won me through combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," -I cried. "You must know that my fault was of ignorance of -your Barsoomian customs. What I failed to do, through -implicit belief that my petition would be presumptuous and -unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, -and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my -veins you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, -"I may never be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not -wed the man who slays my husband, even in self-defense. -It is custom. We are ruled by custom upon Barsoom. It is -useless, my friend. You must bear the sorrow with me. That -at least we may share in common. That, and the memory of -the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever -see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, -but I was not entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that -Dejah Thoris was lost to me until the ceremony had actually -been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely -lost in the mazes of winding passageways as I had been -before I discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of -Zodanga, for the matter of the four dead guardsmen would -have to be explained, and as I could never reach my original -post without a guide, suspicion would surely rest on me so -soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly through the -palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower -floor, and this I followed downward for several stories until -I reached the doorway of a large apartment in which were a -number of guardsmen. The walls of this room were hung with -transparent tapestries behind which I secreted myself without -being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and -awakened no interest in me until an officer entered the room -and ordered four of the men to relieve the detail who were -guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles -would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon -me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely -left the guardroom before one of their number burst in -again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four -comrades butchered in the antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. -Guardsmen, officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran -helter-skelter through the corridors and apartments carrying -messages and orders, and searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, -for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place -I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the -palace until, in passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed -light of day coming in through a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, -sought for an avenue of escape. The windows opened -upon a great balcony which overlooked one of the broad -avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about thirty feet below, -and at a like distance from the building was a wall fully -twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot -in thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have -appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength -and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear -was in being detected before darkness fell, for I could not -make the leap in broad daylight while the court below and -the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found -one by accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which -swung from the ceiling of the hall, and about ten feet from -the floor. Into the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with -ease, and scarcely had I settled down within it than I heard -a number of people enter the apartment. The group stopped -beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear their -every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I -could believe that even with the diligent care of your -guardsmen a single enemy might reach the inner chambers, -but how a force of six or eight fighting men could have -done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, however, -for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his -formal greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead -minds of your faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a -number of fighting men, but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement -impress his hearers, and that his statement was scarcely -credited was evidenced by the impatient exclamation of -incredulity which escaped the lips of Than Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. -"In fact the impressions were strongly marked on the brain -of each of the four guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very -tall man, wearing the metal of one of your own guardsmen, -and his fighting ability was little short of marvelous for he -fought fair against the entire four and vanquished them by -his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. -Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a -man was never seen before in this or any other country upon -Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined -and questioned was a blank to me, she has perfect -control, and I could not read one iota of it. She said that -she witnessed a portion of the encounter, and that when she -looked there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen; -a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the -party, and I recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, -whom I had rescued from the green warriors. "By the metal -of my first ancestor," he went on, "but the description fits -him to perfection, especially as to his fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought -to me at once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed -strange to me now that I think upon it that there should -have been such a fighting man in Zodanga, of whose name, -even, we were ignorant before today. And his name too, -John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, -either in the palace or at my former quarters in the -barracks of the air-scout squadron. Kantos Kan, they had -found and questioned, but he knew nothing of my whereabouts, -and as to my past, he had told them he knew as little, since he -had but recently met me during our captivity among the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. -"He also is a stranger and likely as not they both hail -from Helium, and where one is we shall sooner or later -find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, and let every man -who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to the -closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still -within the palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the -palace grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded -the fellow, "and not one approaches the likeness of this new -padwar of the guards, other than that which was recorded of -him at the time he entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis -contentedly, "and in the meanwhile we will repair to the -apartments of the Princess of Helium and question her in -regard to the affair. She may know more than she cared to -divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I -slipped lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the -balcony. Few were in sight, and choosing a moment when -none seemed near I sprang quickly to the top of the glass -wall and from there to the avenue beyond the palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - - -LOST IN THE SKY - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of -our quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As -I neared the building I became more careful, as I judged, -and rightly, that the place would be guarded. Several men in -civilian metal loitered near the front entrance and in the -rear were others. My only means of reaching, unseen, the -upper story where our apartments were situated was through -an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I -managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window -in the building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in -another moment I stood in the room before him. He was -alone and showed no surprise at my coming, saying he had -expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty must have -ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at -the palace, and when I had enlightened him he was all -excitement. The news that Dejah Thoris had promised her -hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no -man in all Helium but would prefer death to the selling of -our loved princess to the ruling house of Zodanga. She must -have lost her mind to have assented to such an atrocious -bargain. You, who do not know how we of Helium love -the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the -horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are -a resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save -Helium from this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, -"I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, -but for personal reasons I would prefer that another struck -the blow that frees Dejah Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because -she is promised to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me -by the shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have -chosen a more fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. -Here is my hand upon your shoulder, John Carter, and my -word that Sab Than shall go out at the point of my sword -for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah Thoris, and for -you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters in the -palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple -force patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it -with an air of confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said -at last. "I know a secret entrance to the palace through -the pinnacle of the highest tower. I fell upon it by chance -one day as I was passing above the palace on patrol duty. -In this work it is required that we investigate any unusual -occurrence we may witness, and a face peering from the pinnacle -of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most unusual. -I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of -the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly -put out at being detected and commanded me to keep the -matter to myself, explaining that the passage from the tower -led directly to his apartments, and was known only to him. -If I can reach the roof of the barracks and get my machine -I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five minutes; but how am -I to escape from this building, guarded as you say it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon -the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait -me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to -the street and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter -the building, filled as it was with members of the air-scout -squadron, who, in common with all Zodanga, were on the -lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head -fully a thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in -Zodanga were higher than these barracks, though several topped -it by a few hundred feet; the docks of the great battleships -of the line standing some fifteen hundred feet from the -ground, while the freight and passenger stations of the -merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one -fraught with much danger, but there was no other way, and -so I essayed the task. The fact that Barsoomian architecture -is extremely ornate made the feat much simpler than I had -anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges and projections -which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way to the -eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I -clung, and though I encircled the great building I could find -no opening through them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged -in the pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach -the roof through the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided -I must take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived -who would not risk a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened -one of the long leather straps of my trappings at the end -of which dangled a great hook by which air sailors are hung -to the sides and bottoms of their craft for various purposes -of repair, and by means of which landing parties are lowered -to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times -before it finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to -strengthen its hold, but whether it would bear the weight of -my body I did not know. It might be barely caught upon the -very outer verge of the roof, so that as my body swung out -at the end of the strap it would slip off and launch me to -the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon -the supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end -of the strap. Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, -the hard pavements, and death. There was a little jerk at -the top of the supporting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating -sound which turned me cold with apprehension; then the -hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves -and drew myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained -my feet I was confronted by the sentry on duty, into the -muzzle of whose revolver I found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, -for just by the merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue -below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has -landed or come up from the building for the past hour. -Quick, explain yourself, or I call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and -how close a shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, -turning toward the edge of the roof, where, twenty feet -below, at the end of my strap, hung all my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my -side and to his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the -eaves I grasped him by his throat and his pistol arm and -threw him heavily to the roof. The weapon dropped from -his grasp, and my fingers choked off his attempted cry for -assistance. I gagged and bound him and then hung him -over the edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few -moments before. I knew it would be morning before he would -be discovered, and I needed all the time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the -sheds, and soon had out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. -Making his fast behind mine I started my engine, and skimming -over the edge of the roof I dove down into the streets of -the city far below the plane usually occupied by the air -patrol. In less than a minute I was settling safely upon -the roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately -into a discussion of our plans for the immediate future. -It was decided that I was to try to make Helium while Kantos -Kan was to enter the palace and dispatch Sab Than. If successful -he was then to follow me. He set my compass for me, a clever -little device which will remain steadfastly fixed upon any given -point on the surface of Barsoom, and bidding each other farewell -we rose together and sped in the direction of the palace which -lay in the route which I must take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from -above, throwing its piercing searchlight full upon my craft, -and a voice roared out a command to halt, following with a -shot as I paid no attention to his hail. Kantos Kan dropped -quickly into the darkness, while I rose steadily and at terrific -speed raced through the Martian sky followed by a dozen of -the air-scout craft which had joined the pursuit, and later -by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and a battery of -rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little machine, -now rising and now falling, I managed to elude their search- -lights most of the time, but I was also losing ground by these -tactics, and so I decided to hazard everything on a straight- -away course and leave the result to fate and the speed of my -machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known -only to the navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed -of our machines, so that I felt sure I could distance -my pursuers if I could dodge their projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets -around me convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, -but the die was cast, and throwing on full speed I raced -a straight course toward Helium. Gradually I left my -pursuers further and further behind, and I was just -congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a well-directed -shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little craft. -The concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening -plunge she hurtled downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do -not know, but I must have been very close to the ground -when I started to rise again, as I plainly heard the squealing -of animals below me. Rising again I scanned the heavens for -my pursuers, and finally making out their lights far behind me, -saw that they were landing, evidently in search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I -venture to flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then -I found to my consternation that a fragment of the -projectile had utterly destroyed my only guide, as well as my -speedometer. It was true I could follow the stars in the -general direction of Helium, but without knowing the exact -location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling -my chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and -with my compass intact I should have made the trip, barring -accidents, in between four and five hours. As it turned -out, however, morning found me speeding over a vast expanse -of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of continuous -flight at high speed. Presently a great city showed -below me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of all -Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular -walled cities about seventy-five miles apart and would -have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at -which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, -I turned back in a southeasterly direction, passing during -the forenoon several other large cities, but none resembling -the description which Kantos Kan had given me of Helium. -In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, another -distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of -vivid scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the -center of one of the cities, while the other, of bright yellow -and of the same height, marks her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient -Mars, and as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I -came full upon several thousand green warriors engaged in -a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them than a volley of -shots was directed at me, and with the almost unfailing -accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined -wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, -among warriors who had not seen my approach so busily -were they engaged in life and death struggles. The men -were fighting on foot with long-swords, while an occasional -shot from a sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict -would bring down a warrior who might for an instant separate -himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight -or die, with good chances of dying in any event, and so I -struck the ground with drawn long-sword ready to defend -myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three -antagonists, and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with -the light of battle, I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He -did not see me, as I was a trifle behind him, and just then -the three warriors opposing him, and whom I recognized -as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow -made quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for -another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and -was down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick -as lightning they were upon him, and Tars Tarkas would -have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. -I had accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark -regained his feet and quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim -lip as, touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there -is no other mortal upon Barsoom who would have done -what you have for me. I think I have learned that there is -such a thing as friendship, my friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the -Warhoons were closing in about us, and together we fought, -shoulder to shoulder, during all that long, hot afternoon, -until the tide of battle turned and the remnant of the fierce -Warhoon horde fell back upon their thoats, and fled into -the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, -and upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead. -Neither side asked or gave quarter, nor did they attempt -to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone -directly to Tars Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone -while the chieftain attended the customary council which -immediately follows an engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard -something move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced -up there rushed suddenly upon me a huge and hideous -creature which bore me backward upon the pile of silks and -furs upon which I had been reclining. It was Woola--faithful, -loving Woola. He had found his way back to Thark and, -as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my -former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and -seemingly hopeless watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said -Tars Tarkas, on his return from the jeddak's quarters; -"Sarkoja saw and recognized you as we were returning. Tal -Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him tonight. I -have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take your choice -from among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest -waterway that leads to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel -green warrior, but he can be a friend as well. Come, we -must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless -I should chance to have the opportunity I have so long -waited of battling with Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. -You shall not sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight -you can have the chance you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew -into wild fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I -had dealt him, and that if ever he laid his hands upon me -I would be subjected to the most horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story -which Sola had told me that night upon the sea bottom -during the march to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face -worked in passion and in agony at recollection of the -horrors which had been heaped upon the only thing he had -ever loved in all his cold, cruel, terrible existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before -Tal Hajus, only saying that he would like to speak to -Sarkoja first. At his request I accompanied him to her -quarters, and the look of venomous hatred she cast upon -me was almost adequate recompense for any future misfortunes -this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were -instrumental in bringing about the torture and death of a -woman named Gozava. I have just discovered that the warrior -who loved that woman has learned of your part in the transaction. -He may not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not our custom, but there is -nothing to prevent him tying one end of a strap about your neck -and the other end to a wild thoat, merely to test your fitness -to survive and help perpetuate our race. Having heard that he -would do this on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn you, -for I am a just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, -Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could -scarcely wait to see me and was standing erect upon his -platform glowering at the entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who -it is dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with -my own hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he -may not pollute my person with his vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled -council and ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among -you, and today I have fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder -with her greatest warrior. You owe me, at least, a hearing. -I have won that much today. You claim to be just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind -him as I command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are -you to set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal -Hajus fumed and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where -was your mighty jeddak during the fighting today? I did -not see him in the thick of battle; he was not there. He -rends defenseless women and little children in his lair, but -how recently has one of you seen him fight with men? Why, -even I, a midget beside him, felled him with a single blow -of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks? -There stands beside me now a great Thark, a mighty warrior -and a noble man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars Tarkas, -Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus -must prove his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would -invite Tars Tarkas to combat, for he does not love him, -but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. -With my bare hands I could kill him, and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were -riveted upon Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the -blotchy green of his countenance turned livid, and the froth -froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, -"never in my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks -so humiliated. There could be but one answer to this arraignment. -We wait it." And still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, -Tal Hajus, prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and -twenty swords flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so -Tal Hajus drew his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of -the dead monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with -the rank I had won by my combats the first few weeks -of my captivity among them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward -Tars Tarkas, as well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity -to enlist them in my cause against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas -the story of my adventures, and in a few words had explained -to him the thought I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing -the council, "which meets with my sanction. I shall put it -to you briefly. Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who -was our prisoner, is now held by the jeddak of Zodanga, -whose son she must wed to save her country from devastation -at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her -to Helium. The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and -I have often thought that had we an alliance with the people -of Helium we could obtain sufficient assurance of sustenance -to permit us to increase the size and frequency of our hatchings, -and thus become unquestionably supreme among the green men of -all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they -rose to the bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half -hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across -dead sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, -one hundred thousand strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able -to enlist the services of three smaller hordes on the promise -of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark -while at the heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that -we camped during the day at deserted cities where, even -to the beasts, we were all kept indoors during the daylight -hours. On the march Tars Tarkas, through his remarkable -ability and statesmanship, enlisted fifty thousand more warriors -from various hordes, so that, ten days after we set out we halted -at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga, one hundred -and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of -ferocious green monsters was equivalent to ten times -their number of red men. Never in the history of Barsoom, -Tars Tarkas told me, had such a force of green warriors marched -to battle together. It was a monstrous task to keep even a -semblance of harmony among them, and it was a marvel to -me that he got them to the city without a mighty battle -among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were -submerged by their greater hatred for the red men, and -especially for the Zodangans, who had for years waged a -ruthless campaign of extermination against the green men, -directing special attention toward despoiling their incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining -entry to the city devolved upon me, and directing Tars -Tarkas to hold his forces in two divisions out of earshot -of the city, with each division opposite a large gateway, I -took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of -the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals. -These gates have no regular guard, but are covered by -sentries, who patrol the avenue that encircles the city just -within the walls as our metropolitan police patrol their -beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and -fifty feet thick. They are built of enormous blocks of -carborundum, and the task of entering the city seemed, -to my escort of green warriors, an impossibility. -The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were -of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, -I commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I -ordered to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head -of the topmost warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three -steps from the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. -Then starting from a short distance behind them I ran -swiftly up from one tier to the next, and with a final bound -from the broad shoulders of the highest I clutched the top -of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad expanse. -After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal number -of my warriors. These lengths we had previously fastened together, -and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the other end -cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the avenue below. -No one was in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of my leather strap, -I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening -these gates, and in another moment my twenty great fighting -men stood within the doomed city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower -boundary of the enormous palace grounds. The building -itself showed in the distance a blaze of glorious light, and -on the instant I determined to lead a detachment of warriors -directly within the palace itself, while the balance of -the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail -of fifty Tharks, with word of my intentions, I ordered ten -warriors to capture and open one of the great gates while -with the nine remaining I took the other. We were to do -our work quietly, no shots were to be fired and no general -advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty -Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two sentries -we met were dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of -the lost sea of Korus, and the guards at both gates followed -them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, -headed by Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty -thoats. I led them to the palace walls, which I negotiated -easily without assistance. Once inside, however, the gate -gave me considerable trouble, but I finally was rewarded -by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and soon my fierce -escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the -great windows of the first floor into the brilliantly -illuminated audience chamber of Than Kosis. The immense hall -was crowded with nobles and their women, as though some -important function was in progress. There was not a guard -in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact -that the city and palace walls were considered impregnable, -and so I came close and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones -encrusted with diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, -surrounded by officers and dignitaries of state. Before them -stretched a broad aisle lined on either side with soldiery, -and as I looked there entered this aisle at the far end of -the hall, the head of a procession which advanced to the -foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard -bearing a huge salver on which reposed, upon a cushion -of scarlet silk, a great golden chain with a collar and -padlock at each end. Directly behind these officers came -four others carrying a similar salver which supported the -magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the -reigning house of Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated -and halted, facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. -Then came more dignitaries, and the officers of the palace -and of the army, and finally two figures entirely muffled in -scarlet silk, so that not a feature of either was discernible. -These two stopped at the foot of the throne, facing Than -Kosis. When the balance of the procession had entered and -assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but -presently two officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe -from one of the figures, and I saw that Kantos Kan had -failed in his mission, for it was Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, -who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one -of the salvers and placed one of the collars of gold about -his son's neck, springing the padlock fast. After a few more -words addressed to Sab Than he turned to the other figure, -from which the officers now removed the enshrouding silks, -disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah Thoris, -Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another -moment Dejah Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince -of Zodanga. It was an impressive and beautiful ceremony, -I presume, but to me it seemed the most fiendish sight I -had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were adjusted upon -her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in -the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my -head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the -great window and sprang into the midst of the astonished -assemblage. With a bound I was on the steps of the platform -beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with surprise -I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain -that would have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords -menaced me from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon -me with a jeweled dagger he had drawn from his nuptial -ornaments. I could have killed him as easily as I might a -fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my hand, -and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart -I held him as though in a vise and with my long-sword -pointed to the far end of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and -there, forging through the portals of the entranceway rode -Tars Tarkas and his fifty warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, -but no word of fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles -of Zodanga were hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew -Dejah Thoris to my side. Behind the throne was a narrow -doorway and in this Than Kosis now stood facing me, with -drawn long-sword. In an instant we were engaged, and I -found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than -rushing up the steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his -hand to strike, Dejah Thoris sprang before him and then -my sword found the spot that made Sab Than jeddak of -Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the new -jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again -we faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of -officers, and, with my back against a golden throne, I fought -once again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend -myself and yet not strike down Sab Than and, with him, -my last chance to win the woman I loved. My blade was -swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry -the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, -and one was down, when several more rushed to the aid of -their new ruler, and to avenge the death of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! -The woman! Strike her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill -her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my -way toward the little doorway back of the throne, but the -officers realized my intentions, and three of them sprang in -behind me and blocked my chances for gaining a position -where I could have defended Dejah Thoris against any army -of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of -the room, and I began to realize that nothing short of a -miracle could save Dejah Thoris and myself, when I saw -Tars Tarkas surging through the crowd of pygmies that -swarmed about him. With one swing of his mighty longsword -he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he hewed a pathway -before him until in another moment he stood upon the platform -beside me, dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one -attempted to escape, and when the fighting ceased it was -because only Tharks remained alive in the great hall, other -than Dejah Thoris and myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of -the flower of Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the -floor of the bloody shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos -Kan, and leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took -a dozen warriors and hastened to the dungeons beneath the -palace. The jailers had all left to join the fighters in the -throne room, so we searched the labyrinthine prison without -opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor -and compartment, and finally I was rewarded by hearing a -faint response. Guided by the sound, we soon found him -helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning -of the fight, faint echoes of which had reached his prison -cell. He told me that the air patrol had captured him before -he reached the high tower of the palace, so that he had not -even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut -away the bars and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his -suggestion I returned to search the bodies on the floor above -for keys to open the padlocks of his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, -and soon we had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and -cries, came to us from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas -hastened away to direct the fighting without. Kantos Kan -accompanied him to act as guide, the green warriors commencing -a thorough search of the palace for other Zodangans and for loot, -and Dejah Thoris and I were left alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I -turned to her she greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that -Barsoom has never before seen your like. Can it be that all -Earth men are as you? Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, -persecuted, you have done in a few short months what in -all the past ages of Barsoom no man has ever done: joined -together the wild hordes of the sea bottoms and brought them -to fight as allies of a red Martian people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It -was not I who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a -power that would work greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," -I returned. "I have done many strange things in my life, many -things that wiser men would not have dared, but never in my -wildest fancies have I dreamed of winning a Dejah Thoris -for myself--for never had I dreamed that in all the universe -dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you -are a princess does not abash me, but that you are you is -enough to make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, -to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the -answer to his plea before the plea were made," she replied, -rising and placing her dear hands upon my shoulders, and so -I took her in my arms and kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled -with the alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping -their terrible harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess -of Helium, true daughter of Mars, the God of War, promise -herself in marriage to John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to -report that Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces -were entirely destroyed or captured, and no further resistance -was to be expected from within. Several battleships had escaped, -but there were thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard -of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling -among themselves, so it was decided that we collect what -warriors we could, man as many vessels as possible with -Zodangan prisoners and make for Helium without further -loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock -buildings with a fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, -carrying nearly one hundred thousand green warriors, followed -by a fleet of transports with our thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal -clutches of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser -hordes. They were looting, murdering, and fighting amongst -themselves. In a hundred places they had applied the torch, -and columns of dense smoke were rising above the city as -though to blot out from the eye of heaven the horrid sights -beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and -yellow towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet -of Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers -without the city, and advanced to meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to -stern of each of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did -not need this sign to realize that we were enemies, for our -green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them almost -as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship -they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, -sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the -first real air battle I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling -above the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since -their batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks who, -having no navy, have no skill in naval gunnery. Their small- -arm fire, however, was most effective, and the final outcome -of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not wholly -determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring -broadside after broadside into each other. Presently a great -hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft -from the Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely -over, the little figures of her crew plunging, turning -and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; then -with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely -burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, -and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan -fleet. By a pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium -gained a position above their adversaries, from which they -poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect -torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in -rising above the Zodangans, and in a short time a number -of the beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks -toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium. Several -others attempted to escape, but they were soon surrounded -by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each hung -a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties -upon their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the -victorious Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from -the camp of the besiegers the battle was over, and the -remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed -toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender -of these mighty fliers, the result of an age-old custom which -demanded that surrender should be signalized by the voluntary -plunging to earth of the commander of the vanquished vessel. -One after another the brave fellows, holding their colors -high above their heads, leaped from the towering bows of -their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful -plunge, thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, -did the fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men -come to an end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, -and when she was within hailing distance I called out that -we had the Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we -wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be -taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon -them a great cry arose from the decks of the flagship, and -a moment later the colors of the Princess of Helium broke -from a hundred points upon her upper works. When the -other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of the -signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and -unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully -to and touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon -our decks. As their astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds -of green warriors, who now came forth from the fighting -shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of Kantos Kan, -who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding -about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes -for other than her. She received them gracefully, calling -each by name, for they were men high in the esteem and -service of her grandfather, and she knew them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she -said to them, turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium -owes her princess as well as her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and -complimentary things, but what seemed to impress them -most was that I had won the aid of the fierce Tharks in my -campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, and the relief -of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," -I said, "and here he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest -soldiers and statesmen, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their -manner toward me they extended their greetings to the great -Thark, nor, to my surprise, was he much behind them in -ease of bearing or in courtly speech. Though not a garrulous -race, the Tharks are extremely formal, and their ways lend -themselves amazingly well to dignified and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put -out that I would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the -battle was but partly won; we still had the land forces of -the besieging Zodangans to account for, and I would not leave -Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised -to arrange to have the armies of Helium attack from the -city in conjunction with our land attack, and so the vessels -separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in triumph back to -the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats -of the green warriors, where they had remained during the -battle. Without landing stages it was to be a difficult matter -to unload these beasts upon the open plain, but there was -nothing else for it, and so we put out for a point about ten -miles from the city and began the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in -slings and this work occupied the remainder of the day and -half the night. Twice we were attacked by parties of Zodangan -cavalry, but with little loss, however, and after darkness shut -down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave -the command to advance, and in three parties we crept upon -the Zodangan camp from the north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their -outposts and, as had been prearranged, accepted this as the -signal to charge. With wild, ferocious cries and amidst the -nasty squealing of battle-enraged thoats we bore down upon -the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched -battle line confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, -toward noon, I began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, -gathered from pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon- -like waterways, while pitted against them were less than a -hundred thousand green warriors. The forces from Helium -had not arrived, nor could we receive any word from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between -the Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that -our much-needed reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the -mighty thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts -of the enemy. At the same moment the battle line of Helium -surged over the opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and in -another moment they were being crushed as between two -millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere -the last Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, -the prisoners were marched back to Helium, and we entered -the greater city's gates, a huge triumphal procession of -conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, -among which were the few men whose duties necessitated -that they remain within the city during the battle. We were -greeted with an endless round of applause and showered with -ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious jewels. -The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. -Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the -gates of Helium, and that they came now as friends and allies -filled the red men with rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known -to the Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my -name, and by the loads of ornaments that were fastened upon -me and my huge thoat as we passed up the avenues to the -palace, for even in the face of the ferocious appearance of -Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a -party of officers who greeted us warmly and requested that -Tars Tarkas and his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his -wild allies, together with myself, dismount and accompany -them to receive from Tardos Mors an expression of his -gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main -portals of the palace stood the royal party, and as we reached -the lower steps one of their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight -as an arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and -bearing of a ruler of men. I did not need to be told that he -was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas -and his first words sealed forever the new friendship -between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the -greatest living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but -that he may lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and -ally is a far greater boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained -for a man of another world to teach the green warriors of -Barsoom the meaning of friendship; to him we owe the fact that -the hordes of Thark can understand you; that they can appreciate -and reciprocate the sentiments so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, -and to each spoke words of friendship and appreciation - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, -and without one word of opposition, the most precious -jewel in all Helium, yes, on all Barsoom, is sufficient -earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, -and father of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind -Tardos Mors and seemed even more affected by the meeting -than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but -his voice choked with emotion and he could not speak, and -yet he had, as I was to later learn, a reputation for ferocity -and fearlessness as a fighter that was remarkable even upon -warlike Barsoom. In common with all Helium he worshiped -his daughter, nor could he think of what she had escaped -without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were -feasted and entertained, and, then, loaded with costly -presents and escorted by ten thousand soldiers of Helium -commanded by Mors Kajak, they started on the return journey -to their own lands. The jed of lesser Helium with a small -party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to -cement more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before -all his chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied -by Tars Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that -had been dispatched to Thark to fetch them in time for -the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the -armies of Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. -The people seemed never to tire of heaping honors upon me, -and no day passed that did not bring some new proof of -their love for my princess, the incomparable Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a -snow-white egg. For nearly five years ten soldiers of the -jeddak's Guard had constantly stood over it, and not a day -passed when I was in the city that Dejah Thoris and I did -not stand hand in hand before our little shrine planning for -the future, when the delicate shell should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we -sat there talking in low tones of the strange romance which -had woven our lives together and of this wonder which was -coming to augment our happiness and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an -approaching airship, but we attached no special -significance to so common a sight. Like a bolt of -lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed -bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer -for the jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy -patrol boat which must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message -called me to the council chamber, which I found filling with -the members of that body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, -pacing back and forth with tense-drawn face. When all were -in their seats he turned toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several -governments of Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere -plant had made no wireless report for two days, nor had -almost ceaseless calls upon him from a score of capitals -elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take -the matter in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the -plant. All day a thousand cruisers have been searching for -him until just now one of them returns bearing his dead -body, which was found in the pits beneath his house horribly -mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It -would take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact -the work has already commenced, and there would be little -to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it -should and as they all have for hundreds of years now; but the -worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show a rapidly -decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom--the engine has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then -a young noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high -above his head addressed Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have -ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, -now is our opportunity to show them how they should die. -Let us go about our duties as though a thousand useful years -still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing -better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our -example we went our ways with smiles upon our faces and -sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already -had reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank -whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the -supply of air, but on the morning of the third day breathing -became difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops. -The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people. -All business had ceased. For the most part the people looked -bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. Here and -there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced -to succumb and within an hour the people of Barsoom -were sinking by thousands into the unconsciousness -which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal -family had collected in a sunken garden within an inner -courtyard of the palace. We conversed in low tones, when -we conversed at all, as the awe of the grim shadow of death -crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the weight of the -impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris -and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of -our palace at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing -longingly upon the unknown little life that now she would -never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos -Mors arose, saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness -of Barsoom are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a -dead world which through all eternity must go swinging through -the heavens peopled not even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid -his strong hand upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah -Thoris. Her head was drooping upon her breast, to all -appearances she was lifeless. With a cry I sprang to her -and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! -I love you! It is cruel that we must be torn apart who -were just starting upon a life of love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of -unconquerable power and authority rose in me. The fighting -blood of Virginia sprang to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there -must be some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way -through a strange world for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my -conscious mind a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a -flash of lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned -upon me--the key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my -dying love to my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the -palace top. I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing -to the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone -at the rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, -air-scout machine that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, -who would have followed me, to remain and guard her, -I bounded with my old agility and strength to the high -ramparts of the palace, and in another moment I was headed -toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took -a straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise -only a few feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race -against time with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung -always before me. As I turned for a last look as I left -the palace garden I had seen her stagger and sink upon the -ground beside the little incubator. That she had dropped -into the last coma which would end in death, if the air -supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing -caution to the winds, I flung overboard everything but the -engine and compass, even to my ornaments, and lying on my -belly along the deck with one hand on the steering wheel -and the other pushing the speed lever to its last notch I -split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere -plant loomed suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud -I plunged to the ground before the small door which was -withholding the spark of life from the inhabitants of an -entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring -to pierce the wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint- -like surface, and now most of them lay in the last sleep from -which not even air would awaken them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and -it was with difficulty that I breathed at all. There were -a few men still conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start -the engines?" I asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a -few moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead -and no one else upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful -locks. For three days men crazed with fear have surged -about this portal in vain attempts to solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it -was with difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I -hurled the nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. -The Martian had crawled to my side and with staring eyes -fixed on the single panel before us we waited in the silence -of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to -rise and follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the -pump room turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance -Barsoom has to exist tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the -third, and as I saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on -hands and knees through the last doorway I sank unconscious -upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff -garments were upon my body; garments that cracked and -powdered away from me as I rose to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to -foot I was clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the -little doorway I had been naked. Before me was a small -patch of moonlit sky which showed through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact -with pockets and in one of these a small parcel of matches -wrapped in oiled paper. One of these matches I struck, and -its dim flame lighted up what appeared to be a huge cave, -toward the back of which I discovered a strange, still figure -huddled over a tiny bench. As I approached it I saw that it -was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman -with long black hair, and the thing it leaned over was a small -charcoal burner upon which rested a round copper vessel -containing a small quantity of greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, -and stretching entirely across the cave, was a row of human -skeletons. From the thong which held them stretched another -to the dead hand of the little old woman; as I touched -the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a noise as -of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened -out into the fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small -ledge which ran before the entrance of the cave filled me -with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered -mountains in the distance, the almost stationary moon -hanging in the sky, the cacti-studded valley below me -were not of Mars. I could scarcely believe my eyes, but the -truth slowly forced itself upon me--I was looking upon Arizona -from the same ledge from which ten years before I had gazed -with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, -down the trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful -secret, forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing -air reach the people of that distant planet in time to save -them? Was my Dejah Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body -lie cold in death beside the tiny golden incubator in the -sunken garden of the inner courtyard of the palace of Tardos -Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to -my questions. For ten years I have waited and prayed to be -taken back to the world of my lost love. I would rather lie -dead beside her there than live on Earth all those millions of -terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me -fabulously wealthy; but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the -Hudson, just twenty years have elapsed since I first opened -my eyes upon Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window -by my desk, and tonight she seems calling to me again as -she has not called before since that long dead night, and I -think I can see, across that awful abyss of space, a beautiful -black-haired woman standing in the garden of a palace, -and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around her -as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth, while at -their feet is a huge and hideous creature with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something -tells me that I shall soon know. - - -End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of A PRINCESS OF MARS - diff --git a/old/pmars11.zip b/old/pmars11.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a4569e8..0000000 --- a/old/pmars11.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars12.txt b/old/pmars12.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1d46c8a..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7647 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg Etext of Princess of Mars -by Edgar Rice Burroughs -(#1 in The Martian Tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs) - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check -the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! - -Please take a look at the important information in this header. -We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an -electronic path open for the next readers. - -Please do not remove this. - -This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. -Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Hart -and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] -[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales -of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or -software or any other related product without express permission.] - -*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* - - - - - - - - - - - -A Princess Of Mars - -By Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, -possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other -men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I -have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as -I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go -on living forever; that some day I shall die the real death from -which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear -death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have -the same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is because -of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so convinced of my -mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down -the story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. -I cannot explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the -words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange -events that befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay -undiscovered in an Arizona cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this -manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know -that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, -and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, -and the press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling -the simple truths which some day science will substantiate. Possibly -the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which -I can set down in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding -of the mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no -longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed -of several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; -the servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the -South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, -fighting, gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and -attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another Confederate -officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were extremely -fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many hardships -and privations, we located the most remarkable gold-bearing quartz -vein that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. Powell, who was -a mining engineer by education, stated that we had uncovered over -a million dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the -mechanical requirements of mining we determined that it would be -best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold -down our claim against the remote possibility of its being jumped -by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started -down the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first -stage of his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, -and all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of -them as they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. -My last sight of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he -entered the shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am -not given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince -myself that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen -on his trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to -assure myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were -wont to ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of -these vicious marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, -taking their toll in lives and torture of every white party which -fell into their merciless clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux -in the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party -of cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense -no longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a -carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching -my saddle horse, started down the trail taken by Powell in the -morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount -into a canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, -close upon dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined -those of Powell. They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of -them, and the ponies had been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to -await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate -on the question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured -up impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when -I should catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. -However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following -of a sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a kind -of fetich with me throughout my life; which may account for the -honors bestowed upon me by three republics and the decorations -and friendships of an old and powerful emperor and several lesser -kings, in whose service my sword has been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to -proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail -at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about -midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell had expected to camp. -I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely deserted, -with no signs of having been recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, -for such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell -with only a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the -same rate of speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they -wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the -torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping -against hope that I would catch up with the red rascals before they -attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of -two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now -if ever, and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up -the narrow and difficult mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing -further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, -open plateau near the summit of the pass. I had passed through -a narrow, overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon -this table land, and the sight which met my eyes filled me with -consternation and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around -some object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so -wholly riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice -me, and I easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of the -gorge and made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, however, -that this thought did not occur to me until the following day removes -any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the narration of -this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes heroes, -because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my voluntary acts -have placed me face to face with death, I cannot recall a single -one where any alternative step to that I took occurred to me -until many hours later. My mind is evidently so constituted that -I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty without recourse -to tiresome mental processes. However that may be, I have never -regretted that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the -center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not -know, but within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon -my view I had whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon -the entire army of warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the -top of my lungs. Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better -tactics, for the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not -less than a regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled in -every direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona -moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows of -the braves. That he was already dead I could not but be convinced, -and yet I would have saved his body from mutilation at the hands of -the Apaches as quickly as I would have saved the man himself from -death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping -his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A -backward glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come -would be more hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, -putting spurs to my poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to -the pass which I could distinguish on the far side of the table -land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that -it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by -moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner -of my advent, and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved -me from the various deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted -me to reach the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly -pursuit could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the -pass than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which -led to the summit of the range and not to the pass which I had -hoped would carry me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, -however, that to this fact I owe my life and the remarkable experiences -and adventures which befell me during the following ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard -the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter -far off to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my -horse had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The -trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general -direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet -on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular -drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp -turn to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The -opening was about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, -and at this opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is -a startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced -water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and -rubbed his hands, working over him continuously for the better part -of an hour in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; -a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it -was with a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my -crude endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the -cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred -feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and -well-worn floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at -some remote period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so -lost in dense shadow that I could not distinguish whether there -were openings into other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of -my long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement -of the fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my -present location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to -the cave against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong -desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' -rest, but I knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain -death at the hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any -moment. With an effort I started toward the opening of the cave -only to reel drunkenly against a side wall, and from there slip -prone upon the floor. - - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, -and I was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when -the sound of approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to -spring to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles -refused to respond to my will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as -unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, -for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. -It was extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the opening -which led to daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly -pungent odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by -some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental faculties -and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the -short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of -the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching -horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily -upon me along the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I -remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I did -not particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they -might do to me if the spirit prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I -was sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through -the opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his -eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face -appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks -over the shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon -the narrow ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but -for what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years -later. That there were still other braves behind those who regarded -me was apparent from the fact that the leaders passed back whispered -word to those behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses -of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, -they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were -their efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of -the braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. -Their wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then -all was still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had -been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible -horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative -term and so I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I -had experienced in previous positions of danger and by those that -I have passed through since; but I can say without shame that if -the sensations I endured during the next few minutes were fear, -then may God help the coward, for cowardice is of a surety its own -punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and -unknown danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache -warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly -flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome -predicaments for a man who had ever been used to fighting for his -life with all the energy of a powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of -somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and -I was left to the contemplation of my position without interruption. -I could but vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my -only hope lay in that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen -upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with dragging -rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, evidently in -search of food and water, and I was left alone with my mysterious -unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, which lay just -within my range of vision upon the ledge where I had placed it in -the early morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of -the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon -my startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the -sound of a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. -The shock to my already overstrained nervous system was terrible -in the extreme, and with a superhuman effort I strove to break my -awful bonds. It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the -nerves; not muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little -finger, but none the less mighty for all that. And then something -gave, there was a momentary feeling of nausea, a sharp click as -of the snapping of a steel wire, and I stood with my back against -the wall of the cave facing my unknown foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay -my own body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes -staring toward the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the -ground. I looked first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of -the cave and then down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there -I lay clothed, and yet here I stood but naked as at the minute of -my birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me -for a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. -My first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed -over forever into that other life! But I could not well believe -this, as I could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the -exertion of my efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which -had held me. My breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat -stood out from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of -pinching revealed the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked -and unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing -which menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine -was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered -off I was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed -to lie in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence -of the rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the -darkness of the cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping -stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible -place I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a -clear Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave -acted as an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage -coursing through me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided -myself for what now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. -I reasoned with myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within -the cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when -permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced -me that the noises I had heard must have resulted from purely -natural and harmless causes; probably the conformation of the cave -was such that a slight breeze had caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my -lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As -I did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky -gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into -a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an -Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, -the strange lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the -grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture -at once enchanting and inspiring; as though one were catching -for the first time a glimpse of some dead and forgotten world, so -different is it from the aspect of any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to -the heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting -canopy for the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was -quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon. -As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering fascination--it -was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it had -always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at -it on that far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable -void, to lure me to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a -particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt -myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless -immensity of space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter -darkness. - - - - - -CHAPTER III - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I -was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. -I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness -told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind -tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; -neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation -which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles. -I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular basin, along the outer -verge of which I could distinguish the irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it -was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would -have been true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here -and there were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which -glistened in the sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a hundred -yards, appeared a low, walled enclosure about four feet in height. -No water, and no other vegetation than the moss was in evidence, -and as I was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for -the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, -carried me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. -I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable -shock or jar. Now commenced a series of evolutions which even -then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. I found that I must learn -to walk all over again, as the muscular exertion which carried me -easily and safely upon Earth played strange antics with me upon -Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts -to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the -ground a couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon -my face or back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, -perfectly attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, -played the mischief with me in attempting for the first time to -cope with the lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was -the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the unique -plan of reverting to first principles in locomotion, creeping. I -did fairly well at this and in a few moments had reached the low, -encircling wall of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, -but as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my -feet and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever -been given me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five -inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large -eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform -in size being about two and one-half feet in diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which -sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my -sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long -necks and six legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two -arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at -will either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme -sides of their heads a trifle above the center and protruded in -such a manner that they could be directed either forward or back -and also independently of each other, thus permitting this queer -animal to look in any direction, or in two directions at once, -without the necessity of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, -were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch -on these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits -in the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite -soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the -male than in the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not -so out of proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil -is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These -latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome -and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp -points which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are -located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of -the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background -of their olive skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, -making these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little -time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen -that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I stood -watching the hideous little monsters break from their shells I -failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown Martians from -behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the -frozen areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, -they might have captured me easily, but their intentions were far -more sinister. It was the rattling of the accouterments of the -foremost warrior which warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I -escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party -swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to -strike against the butt of his great metal shod spear I should have -snuffed out without ever knowing that death was near me. But the -little sound caused me to turn, and there upon me, not ten feet -from my breast, was the point of that huge spear, a spear forty -feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, and held low at the side of -a mounted replica of the little devils I had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and -terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man -himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height -and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He -sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with -his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right arms held his -immense spear low at the side of his mount; his two left arms were -outstretched laterally to help preserve his balance, the thing he -rode having neither bridle or reins of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten -feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat -tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight -out behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from -its snout to its long, massive neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, -and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a -vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded -and nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness -of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is -a characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of -man and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone -have well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals -in existence there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar -in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us -are identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This -picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I have described -at length, made but one terrible and swift impression on me as I -turned to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested -itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and -that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging -spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time -superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for such -I had determined it must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less -than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me -fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from -my pursuers and on the opposite side of the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and -turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were -surveying me with expressions which I afterward discovered marked -extreme astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying -themselves that I had not molested their young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the -little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to -look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the -thing which weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they -are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must -overcome. The result is that they are infinitely less agile and -less powerful, in proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, -and I doubt that were one of them suddenly to be transported to -Earth he could lift his own weight from the ground; in fact, I am -convinced that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked -upon me as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among -their fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely -the appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these -people in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day -before, had been pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition -to the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused -me to decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was -evidently a rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some -reason, they were peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I learned -later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized on -Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of -the barrel is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel -which they have learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that -of the steel with which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles -is comparatively little, and with the small caliber, explosive, -radium projectiles which they use, and the great length of the -barrel, they are deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would -be unthinkable on Earth. The theoretic effective radius of this -rifle is three hundred miles, but the best they can do in actual -service when equipped with their wireless finders and sighters is -but a trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the Martian -firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me against an -attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the muzzles of twenty -of these death-dealing machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode -away in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their -number alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two -hundred yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat -watching the warrior by the enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed -to have moved to their present position at his direction. When -his force had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear -and small arms, and came around the end of the incubator toward -me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the ornaments -strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his -hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, -it is needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped -as though waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears -and cocking his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, -on Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained -to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions -spoke for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were -most dear to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling -brook for all the intelligence my speech carried to him, but he -understood the action with which I immediately followed my words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from -his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled -at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering -smile, and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned -and walked back toward his mount. At the same time he motioned -his followers to advance. They started toward us on a wild run, -but were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that -were I to be really frightened again I might jump entirely out of -the landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would -ride behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The -fellow designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up -behind him on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best -I could by the belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons -and ornaments. - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range -of hills in the distance. - - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A PRISONER - - - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one -of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with -the Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far -extremity of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an -enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared -to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, but only to the -edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of -broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings -were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance -of not having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward -the center of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the -buildings immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten -hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now -considered them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women -varied in appearance but little from the men, except that their tusks -were much larger in proportion to their height, in some instances -curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were smaller -and lighter in color, and their fingers and toes bore the rudiments -of nails, which were entirely lacking among the males. The adult -females ranged in height from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and -all looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than -others; older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any appreciable -difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, about forty, -until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go voluntarily -upon their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, which leads -no living Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no Martian -has ever returned, or would be allowed to live did he return after -once embarking upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, -and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The -other nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, -in hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest -death loss comes during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of -the little Martians fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity -is about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand -mark were it not for the various means leading to violent death. -Owing to the waning resources of the planet it evidently became -necessary to counteract the increasing longevity which their -remarkable skill in therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human -life has come to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced -by their dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between -the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the -fact that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a -weapon of destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed anxious -to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the leader -of the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a trot across -the plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice as mortal -eye has rested upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was -constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant -stones which sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main -entrance was some hundred feet in width and projected from the -building proper to form a huge canopy above the entrance hall. -There was no stairway, but a gentle incline to the first floor of -the building opened into an enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper -squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, -gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings -ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended -a short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the -hall in which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures -were entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other -furnishings; these being of a size adapted to human beings such -as I, whereas the great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have -squeezed into the chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for -their long legs. Evidently, then, there were other denizens on -Mars than the wild and grotesque creatures into whose hands I had -fallen, but the evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all -around me indicated that these buildings might have belonged to -some long-extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking -his arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There -were few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. -My captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way -for him as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered -the name of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name -of the ruler followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing -to me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged -ornaments, had their missions been peaceful--otherwise they would -have exchanged shots, or have fought out their introduction with -some other of their various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the vice-chieftain -of the community, and a man of great ability as a statesman and -warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents connected -with his expedition, including my capture, and when he had concluded -the chieftain addressed me at some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him -that neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that -when I smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, -and the similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, -convinced me that we had at least something in common; the ability -to smile, therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was -to learn that the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the -Martian laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at variance -with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The death agonies -of a fellow being are, to these strange creatures provocative of -the wildest hilarity, while their chief form of commonest amusement -is to inflict death on their prisoners of war in various ingenious -and horrible ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling -my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me -to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to -the amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, -but this did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by -a towering fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine -and I did the only thing a gentleman might do under the circumstances -of brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration for a stranger's -rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and he went down like a -felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled around with my back -toward the nearest desk, expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance -of his fellows, but determined to give them as good a battle as -the unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of -laughter and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, -but later, when I had become acquainted with their customs, I learned -that I had won what they seldom accord, a manifestation of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any -of his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding -out one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without -further mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which -we had come to the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. -They first repeated the word "sak" a number of times, and then -Tars Tarkas made several jumps, repeating the same word before each -leap; then, turning to me, he said, "sak!" I saw what they were -after, and gathering myself together I "sakked" with such marvelous -success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I -this time, lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my feet -without falling. I then returned by easy jumps of twenty-five or -thirty feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which -the chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and -thirsty, and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation -was to demand the consideration from these creatures which they -evidently would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the -repeated commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned -to my mouth and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some instructions -and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her proffered arm and -together we crossed the plaza toward a large building on the far -side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just -arrived at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of -a light olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, -as I afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue -of Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of -the buildings fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of -silks and furs upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters -of several of the natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon -all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger -of antiquity which convinced me that the architects and builders -of these wondrous creations had nothing in common with the crude -half-brutes which now occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center -of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call -I obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in -on its ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an -obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, -but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except -that the jaws were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - - -CHAPTER V - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word -or two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could -not but wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do -when left alone in such close proximity to such a relatively tender -morsel of meat; but my fears were groundless, as the beast, after -surveying me intently for a moment, crossed the room to the only -exit which led to the street, and lay down full length across the -threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully -during the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice -saving my life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the -room in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted -scenes of rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, -ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed -gardens--scenes which might have portrayed earthly views but for -the different colorings of the vegetation. The work had evidently -been wrought by a master hand, so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect -the technique; yet nowhere was there a representation of a living -animal, either human or brute, by which I could guess at the likeness -of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on -the possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so -far met with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. -These she placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a -short ways off regarded me intently. The food consisted of about -a pound of some solid substance of the consistency of cheese and -almost tasteless, while the liquid was apparently milk from some -animal. It was not unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, -and I learned in a short time to prize it very highly. It came, -as I later discovered, not from an animal, as there is only one -mammal on Mars and that one very rare indeed, but from a large -plant which grows practically without water, but seems to distill -its plentiful supply of milk from the products of the soil, the -moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single plant of -this species will give eight or ten quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need -of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I -must have slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I -was very cold. I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, -but it had become partially dislodged and in the darkness I could -not see to replace it. Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the -fur over me, shortly afterwards adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. -This girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in -contact, disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and -affection; her ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and -her solicitous care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as -there is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature -are sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from -brilliant daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly -illumined or very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars -happen to be in the sky almost total darkness results, since the -lack of atmosphere, or, rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to -diffuse the starlight to any great extent; on the other hand, if -both of the moons are in the heavens at night the surface of the -ground is brightly illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while -the further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, -against the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us -from our moon. The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution -around the planet in a little over seven and one-half hours, so -that she may be seen hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor -two or three times each night, revealing all her phases during each -transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well -that nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian -night, for the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without -high intellectual development, have but crude means for artificial -lighting; depending principally upon torches, a kind of candle, -and a peculiar oil lamp which generates a gas and burns without a -wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching -white light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be -obtained by mining in one of several widely separated and remote -localities it is seldom used by these creatures whose only thought -is for today, and whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in -a semi-barbaric state for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I -awaken until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in -number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high -with a motley array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay -stretched the sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen -him on the preceding day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his -eyes were fairly glued upon me, and I fell to wondering just what -might befall me should I endeavor to escape. I have ever been prone -to seek adventure and to investigate and experiment where wiser -men would have left well enough alone. It therefore now occurred -to me that the surest way of learning the exact attitude of this -beast toward me would be to attempt to leave the room. I felt -fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him should he pursue -me once I was outside the building, for I had begun to take great -pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could see from -the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and -probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that -my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding -that by moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as -well as make reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he -backed cautiously away from me, and when I had reached the open he -moved to one side to let me pass. He then fell in behind me and -followed about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the -deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when -we reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, -uttering strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. -Thinking to have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward -him, and when almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far -beyond him and away from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged -me with the most appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought -his short legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been coursing with -greyhounds the latter would have appeared as though asleep on a -door mat. As I was to learn, this is the fleetest animal on Mars, -and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, and ferocity is used in -hunting, in war, and as the protector of the Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs -of the beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by -doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon -me. This maneuver gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able -to reach the city quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing -after me I jumped for a window about thirty feet from the ground -in the face of one of the buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal -beneath me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely -had I gained a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped -me by the neck from behind and dragged me violently into the room. -Here I was thrown upon my back, and beheld standing over me a colossal -ape-like creature, white and hairless except for an enormous shock -of bristly hair upon its head. - - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did -the Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one -huge foot, while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering -creature behind me. This other, which was evidently its mate, -soon came toward us, bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it -evidently intended to brain me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, -and had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or -legs, midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were -close together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but -more laterally located than those of the Martians, while their -snouts and teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. -Altogether they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with -the green Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned -face when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the -doorway full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of -fear the ape which held me leaped through the open window, but its -mate closed in a terrific death struggle with my preserver, which -was nothing less than my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself -to call so hideous a creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall -I witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. -The strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures -is approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an -advantage in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into -the breast of his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the -ape, backed by muscles far transcending those of the Martian men -I had seen, had locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were -choking out his life, and bending back his head and neck upon his -body, where I momentarily expected the former to fall limp at the -end of a broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of -its breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful -jaws. Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one -emitting a sound of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes -of my beast bulging completely from their sockets and blood flowing -from its nostrils. That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, -but so also was the ape, whose struggles were growing momentarily -less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which -seems ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had -fallen to the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging -it with all the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon -the head of the ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an -eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, -had returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior -of the building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway -and the sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless -fellow stretched upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in -the extremity of his rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire -forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against -the iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an -unknown world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so -far as I might be concerned, seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street -I might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake -me; at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against -his four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first -blow, for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, -he could reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could -recover for a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had -turned to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form -of my erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four -winds. He lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes -fastened upon me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. -I could not withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, -have deserted my rescuer without giving as good an account of myself -in his behalf as he had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel -to prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as -heavily as I could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below -the knees, eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him -off his balance that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched -to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, and -swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I followed -it with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. The effect -was marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the -second blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain -and gasping for wind. Leaping over his prostrate body, I seized the -cudgel and finished the monster before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, turning, -I beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors standing in -the doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I was, for the -second time, the recipient of their zealously guarded applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had -quickly informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a -handful of warriors to search for me. As they had approached the -limits of the city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape -as he bolted into the building, frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely -possible that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts and -had witnessed my short but decisive battle with him. This encounter, -together with my set-to with the Martian warrior on the previous -day and my feats of jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle in their -regard. Evidently devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship, -love, or affection, these people fairly worship physical prowess and -bravery, and nothing is too good for the object of their adoration -as long as he maintains his position by repeated examples of his -skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, -was the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted -in laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was -sober with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the -monster, rushed to me and carefully examined my body for possible -wounds or injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed -she smiled quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door -of the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing -over the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and -whose life I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in -argument, and finally one of them addressed me, but remembering -my ignorance of his language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with -a word and gesture, gave some command to the fellow and turned to -follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, -and I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was -well I did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from -its holster and was on the point of putting an end to the creature -when I sprang forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking -the wooden casing of the window exploded, blowing a hole completely -through the wood and masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising -it to its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise -which my actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they -could not understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such -attributes as gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun -I had struck up looked enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter -signed that I be left to my own devices, and so we returned to the -plaza with my great beast following close at heel, and Sola grasping -me tightly by the arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over -me with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later -came to know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, -more gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million -green Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms -of Mars. - - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal -of the preceding day and an index of practically every meal which -followed while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me -to the plaza, where I found the entire community engaged in watching -or helping at the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great -three-wheeled chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of -these vehicles, each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, -from their appearance, might easily have drawn the entire wagon -train when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with ornaments -of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the back of each -of the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a young Martian -driver. Like the animals upon which the warriors were mounted, the -heavier draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but were guided -entirely by telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively -few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the -universal language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher -and lower animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate -to a greater or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere -of the species and the development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola -dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the procession -toward the point by which I had entered the city the day before. -At the head of the caravan rode some two hundred warriors, five -abreast, and a like number brought up the rear, while twenty-five -or thirty outriders flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were heavily armed, -and at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own -beast following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature -never left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on -Mars. Our way led out across the little valley before the city, -through the hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I -had traversed on my journey from the incubator to the plaza. The -incubator, as it proved, was the terminal point of our journey this -day, and, as the entire cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon -as we reached the level expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within -sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision -on the four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, -headed by the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and -several other lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. -I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something to the principal -chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, as nearly as I can translate -it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, -calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I -had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian -conditions, and quickly responding to his command I advanced to -the side of the incubator where the warriors stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few -eggs had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous -little devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and -were moving restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for -food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the -incubator and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my -performance of yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, -as I must confess that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, -I responded quickly, leaping entirely over the parked chariots -on the far side of the incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel -grunted something at me, and turning to his warriors gave a few -words of command relative to the incubator. They paid no further -attention to me and I was thus permitted to remain close and watch -their operations, which consisted in breaking an opening in the -wall of the incubator large enough to permit of the exit of the -young Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, -both male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through -the chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these -walls the little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted -to run the full length of the aisle, where they were captured one -at a time by the women and older children; the last in the line -capturing the first little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, -her opposite in the line capturing the second, and so on until all -the little fellows had left the enclosure and been appropriated -by some youth or female. As the women caught the young they fell -out of line and returned to their respective chariots, while those -who fell into the hands of the young men were later turned over to -some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, -was over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a -hideous little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching -them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they -are loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming -from eggs in which they have lain for five years, the period -of incubation, they step forth into the world perfectly developed -except in size. Entirely unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, -would have difficulty in pointing out the fathers with any degree -of accuracy, they are the common children of the community, and -their education devolves upon the females who chance to capture -them as they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, -as was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until -less than a year before she became the mother of another woman's -offspring. But this counts for little among the green Martians, -as parental and filial love is as unknown to them as it is common -among us. I believe this horrible system which has been carried on -for ages is the direct cause of the loss of all the finer feelings -and higher humanitarian instincts among these poor creatures. From -birth they know no father or mother love, they know not the meaning -of the word home; they are taught that they are only suffered to -live until they can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that -they are fit to live. Should they prove deformed or defective in -any way they are promptly shot; nor do they see a tear shed for -a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from -earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or intentionally -cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless struggle for -existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of which have -dwindled to a point where the support of each additional life means -an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the -birth rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each -year, and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity -tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where -the temperature is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs -are carefully examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all -but about one hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each -yearly supply. At the end of five years about five hundred almost -perfect eggs have been chosen from the thousands brought forth. -These are then placed in the almost air-tight incubators to be -hatched by the sun's rays after a period of another five years. The -hatching which we had witnessed today was a fairly representative -event of its kind, all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching -in two days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing -of the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, as their -offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged -incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained for ages -and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time for -return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little -or no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The -result of such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community -for another five years. I was later to witness the results of the -discovery of an alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They -roamed an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty -and eighty degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and -west by two large fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the -southwest corner of this district, near the crossing of two of the -so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory -in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before -us a tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative -idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had -ridden forth early in the morning and had not returned until just -before darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the -subterranean vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported -them to the incubator, which they had then walled up for another -five years, and which, in all probability, would not be visited -again during that period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the -incubator were located many miles south of the incubator, and would -be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they -did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators nearer home -has always been a mystery to me, and, like many other Martian -mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for -the young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required -much attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in -Martian education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and -physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable -amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The -Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week -I could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything -that was said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed -my telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense practically -everything that went on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic -messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended -for me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. -At first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave -me an undoubted advantage over the Martians. - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward -home, but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into -the open ground before the city than orders were given for an -immediate and hasty return. As though trained for years in this -particular evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into -the spacious doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than -three minutes, the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and -mounted warriors was nowhere to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in -fact, the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, -and, wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted -to an upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley -and the hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden -scurrying to cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, -swung slowly over the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came -another, and another, and another, until twenty of them, swinging -low above the ground, sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the -upper works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device -that gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance -at which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding -the forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they -had discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city -I could not say, but in any event they received a rude reception, -for suddenly and without warning the green Martian warriors fired -a terrific volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little -valley across which the great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our -fire, at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short distance -and then turning back with the evident intention of completing a -great circle which would bring her up to position once more opposite -our firing line; the other vessels followed in her wake, each one -opening upon us as she swung into position. Our own fire never -diminished, and I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our shots went -wild. It had never been given me to see such deadly accuracy of -aim, and it seemed as though a little figure on one of the craft -dropped at the explosion of each bullet, while the banners and upper -works dissolved in spurts of flame as the irresistible projectiles -of our warriors mowed through them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward -learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which -caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus -of the guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for -his fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For -example, a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct their -fire entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus of -the big guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends -to the smaller guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; -still others the officers; while certain other quotas concentrate -their attention upon the other members of the crew, upon the upper -works, and upon the steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several -of the craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under -the control of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely -and all their energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors -then rushed up to the roofs of the buildings which we occupied -and followed the retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of -deadly fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of -the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. -This had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely -unmanned, as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly -she swung from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic -and pitiful manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it -was quite apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far -from being in a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not -even control herself sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to -meet her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them -to hope to reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window -I could see the bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could -not make out what manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign -of life was manifest upon her as she drifted slowly with the light -breeze in a southeasterly direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all -but some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the -roofs to cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of -reinforcements. It soon became evident that she would strike the -face of the buildings about a mile south of our position, and as I -watched the progress of the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop -ahead, dismount and enter the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being -hauled to ground by their fellows below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the vessel -from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead sailors, -evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of them appeared -from below dragging a little figure among them. The creature was -considerably less than half as tall as the green Martian warriors, -and from my balcony I could see that it walked erect upon two legs -and surmised that it was some new and strange Martian monstrosity -with which I had not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned -to transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, -furs, jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of -solid foods and liquids, including many casks of water, the first -I had seen since my advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast -to the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged -in what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors -and over the decks and works of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave -the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting -an instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of -flame rose from the point where the missile struck he swung over -the side and was quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted -than the guy ropes were simultaneous released, and the great warship, -lightened by the removal of the loot, soared majestically into the -air, her decks and upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher -as the flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight -upon her. Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for -hours, until finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. -The sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated -this mighty floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned -through the lonely wastes of the Martian heavens; a derelict of -death and destruction, typifying the life story of these strange -and ferocious creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried -it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended -to the street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat -and annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than -the routing by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though -unfriendly, creatures. I could not fathom the seeming hallucination, -nor could I free myself from it; but somewhere in the innermost -recesses of my soul I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown -foemen, and a mighty hope surged through me that the fleet would -return and demand a reckoning from the green warriors who had so -ruthlessly and wantonly attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, -the hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me -as though I had been the object of some search on her part. The -cavalcade was returning to the plaza, the homeward march having -been given up for that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for -more than a week, owing to the fear of a return attack by the air -craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon -the open plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we -remained at the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, -and depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief and -happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a -glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly -dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish -figure, similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past -life. She did not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing -through the portal of the building which was to be her prison she -turned, and her eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in -the extreme, her every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, -her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of -coal black, waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming -coiffure. Her skin was of a light reddish copper color, against -which the crimson glow of her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully -molded lips shone with a strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who accompanied -her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely -naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty of her perfect -and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and -she made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, -of course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, -and then the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified -her face as she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, -mingled with loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered -her signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively -felt that she had made an appeal for succor and protection which -my unfortunate ignorance had prevented me from answering. And then -she was dragged out of my sight into the depths of the deserted -edifice. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon -her usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I -did not know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian -tongue; enough only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited -me. A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled -the trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed -the work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made -me an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory -manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely -by the women, who not only attend to the education of the young -in the arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the -artisans who produce every manufactured article wrought by the -green Martians. They make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; -in fact everything of value is produced by the females. In time -of actual warfare they form a part of the reserves, and when the -necessity arises fight with even greater intelligence and ferocity -than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make -the laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs -have been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for -ignoring a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury -of the culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses -fire, but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency -of law. In one respect at least the Martians are a happy people; -they have no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to -our first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of -her as she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where -I had had my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but -note the unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards -treated her; so different from the almost maternal kindliness which -Sola manifested toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few -green Martians who took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me -that they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by -a common language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola -distracted by my importunities to hasten on my education and within a -few more days I had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well -to enable me to carry on a passable conversation and to fully -understand practically all that I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola -and her youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had -retired for the night it was customary for the adults to carry on -a desultory conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, -and now that I could understand their language I was always a keen -listener, although I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience chamber -the conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all -ears on the instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the -beautiful captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression -I had noted upon her face after my first encounter with the prisoner. -That it denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, judging all -things by mundane standards as I still did, I felt it safer to -affect indifference in the matter until I learned more surely Sola's -attitude toward the object of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and it was -toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes of -the red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for -ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit -her last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," replied -Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She -is very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold -her for ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," -snapped Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled -with water, and the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed -upon. In our day we have progressed to a point where such sentiments -mark weakness and atavism. It will not be well for you to permit -Tars Tarkas to learn that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as -I doubt that he would care to entrust such as you with the grave -responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red -woman," retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would she -should we have fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her -kind who war upon us, and I have ever thought that their attitude -toward us is but the reflection of ours toward them. They live at -peace with all their fellows, except when duty calls upon them to -make war, while we are at peace with none; forever warring among -our own kind as well as upon the red men, and even in our own -communities the individuals fight amongst themselves. Oh, it is -one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the time we break the -shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the river of mystery, -the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an unknown, but at -least no more frightful and terrible existence! Fortunate indeed -is he who meets his end in an early death. Say what you please to -Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a continuation -of the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and -shocked the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, -they all lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One thing the -episode had accomplished was to assure me of Sola's friendliness -toward the poor girl, and also to convince me that I had been -extremely fortunate in falling into her hands rather than those -of some of the other females. I knew that she was fond of me, and -now that I had discovered that she hated cruelty and barbarity I -was confident that I could depend upon her to aid me and the girl -captive to escape, provided of course that such a thing was within -the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape -to, but I was more than willing to take my chances among people -fashioned after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the -hideous and bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and -how, was as much of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the -spring of eternal life has been to earthly men since the beginning -of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the -dreamless and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowed -me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to -leave the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned -me, however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like -all other deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, -was peopled by the great white apes of my second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city -Sola had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I -attempt it, and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce -nature by ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the -forbidden territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would -bring me back into the city dead or alive should I persist in -opposing him; "preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly -I found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the -country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, -to view what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose -from the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunity -to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute -loved me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any -other Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude -for the acts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh -his loyalty to the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless -masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, -and thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading -rather than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his -fearful guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship -of my kind, I had developed considerable affection for Woola and -Sola, for the normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural -affections, and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in -this great brute, sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground -and putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, -talking in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my -hound at home, as I would have talked to any other friend among -the lower animals. His response to my manifestation of affection -was remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its -full width, baring the entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks -and wrinkling his snout until his great eyes were almost hidden by -the folds of flesh. If you have ever seen a collie smile you may -have some idea of Woola's facial distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; -jumped up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his -great weight; then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful -puppy presenting its back for the petting it craves. I could not -resist the ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides -I rocked back and forth in the first laughter which had passed my -lips in many days; the first, in fact, since the morning Powell -had left camp when his horse, long unused, had precipitately and -unexpectedly bucked him off headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then -I remembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, suffering, -death. Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and -back, talked to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative -tone commanded him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I found -nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly -colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and -from the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching -off toward the north, and rising, one range above another, until -lost in mountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward -found that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet -in height; the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkas -relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically -a prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city -limits before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his -erstwhile masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave -the limits of my prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to -venture forth for good and all, as it would certainly result in a -curtailment of my liberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, -were we to be discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. -She was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and -turned her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly -womanly, that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with -a feeling of companionship; it was good to know that someone else -on Mars beside myself had human instincts of a civilized order, -even though the manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused -such passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I -never saw her perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform -kindliness and good nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian -had said of her, an atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a -former type of loved and loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted -to view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and -also convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in -their language, as I had pleaded with Sola to keep this a secret -on the grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the -men until I had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced -an attempt to enter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below -them stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the -women was Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present -at the hearing of the preceding day, the results of which she had -reported to the occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude -toward the captive was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, -she sunk her rudimentary nails into the poor girl's flesh, or -twisted her arm in a most painful manner. When it was necessary -to move from one spot to another she either jerked her roughly, -or pushed her headlong before her. She seemed to be venting upon -this poor defenseless creature all the hatred, cruelty, ferocity, -and spite of her nine hundred years, backed by unguessable ages of -fierce and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; -if the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she -was at night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by -the same token would she have received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they -fell on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of -impatience. Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, -but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no -further attention to me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to -take atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a -low, well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were -on a peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft -denoted. The work we were doing was as much in your interests as -in ours, for you know full well that were it not for our labors and -the fruits of our scientific operations there would not be enough -air or water on Mars to support a single human life. For ages we -have maintained the air and water supply at practically the same -point without an appreciable loss, and we have done this in the -face of the brutal and ignorant interference of your green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows, -must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but -little above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people -without written language, without art, without homes, without -love; the victim of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning -everything in common, even to your women and children, has resulted -in your owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you hate -all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our common -ancestors, come back to the light of kindliness and fellowship. The -way is open to you, you will find the hands of the red men stretched -out to aid you. Together we may do still more to regenerate our -dying planet. The grand-daughter of the greatest and mightiest of -the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently -at the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. -What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they -were moved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been -strong enough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked -a new and mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such -an expression as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green -Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, -with heredity, with age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth -to speak, a look almost of benignity, of kindliness, momentarily -lighted up his fierce and terrible countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend -of thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the -rostrum, and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across -the face, which felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her -prostrate form and turning toward the assembled council broke into -peals of horrid, mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did -the aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, -but the mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, -and they smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh -aloud, for the brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism -according to the ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as -that blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any -such length of time. I think I must have sensed something of what -was coming, for I realize now that I was crouched as for a spring -as I saw the blow aimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, -and ere the hand descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon -him. The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, -but I believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful -in the terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck -him full in the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as -he drew his short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his -breast, hooking one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping -one of his huge tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow -after blow upon his enormous chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too -close to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to -do in direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may -not fight a fellow warrior in private combat with any other than -the weapon with which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing -but make a wild and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his -immense bulk he was little if any stronger than I, and it was but -the matter of a moment or two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, -to the floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching -the battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet -I raised her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the -side of the room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk -from my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her -nostrils. I was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little -more than an ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed -her hand upon my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition -in the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill -one of your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What -strange manner of man are you, that you consort with the green men, -though your form is that of my race, while your color is little -darker than that of the white ape? Tell me, are you human, or are -you more than human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that -I fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the -present, that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will -permit, your protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, -and I claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, -as my home; but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor -was I aware that my regalia was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accouterments and ornaments, and in a flash -one of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. -I saw that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and -I read in the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who -had brought me these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that -evinced by the other who had brought me my original equipment, and -now for the first time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of -my first battle in the audience chamber had resulted in the death -of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now -apparent; I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, -which always marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, -has caused me to call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded -the honors due a conqueror; the trappings and the position of the -man I killed. In truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I -learned later was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration -in the audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticed -that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward -us, and the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical -manner. Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf -and dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John -Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that -you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have -to thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other respects -needs considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented -temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the -two chieftains whose metal you now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have -killed me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense -would a Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for -other purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not -pleasant to dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken -into the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we -reach the headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel -that you be accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You -will be treated by us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not -forget that every chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe -delivery to our mighty and most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not -of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the -future as I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of -my conscience and guided by the standards of mine own people. If -you will leave me alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the -individual Barsoomians with whom I must deal either respect my -rights as a stranger among you, or take whatever consequences may -befall. Of one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your ultimate -intentions toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever would offer -her injury or insult in the future must figure on making a full -accounting to me. I understand that you belittle all sentiments -of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and I can convince your -most doughty warrior that these characteristics are not incompatible -with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, -nor was I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, -and their attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only -comment was more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal -Hajus, Jeddak of Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to -her feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering -guardian harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. -Was I not now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the -responsibilities of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah -Thoris, Princess of Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, -followed by the faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from -the audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of -Barsoom. - - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed -to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume -custody of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and -I felt her two little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the -women away, I informed them that Sola would attend the captive -hereafter, and I further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel -attentions bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's -sudden and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to -Dejah Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon -Mars, nor women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and -departed to hatch up deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard -Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find -other quarters where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I -finally informed her that I myself would take up my quarters among -the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand -and slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I -must do your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any -circumstances. The man whose metal you carry was young, but he -was a great warrior, and had by his promotions and kills won his -way close to the rank of Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second -to Lorquas Ptomel only. You are eleventh, there are but ten -chieftains in this community who rank you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor -by the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in -combat, or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, -and thus win first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to -kill Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, -which we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of -far more pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We -also found in this building real sleeping apartments with ancient -beds of highly wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains -depending from the marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls -was most elaborate, and, unlike the frescoes in the other buildings -I had examined, portrayed many human figures in the compositions. -These were of people like myself, and of a much lighter color than -Dejah Thoris. They were clad in graceful, flowing robes, highly -ornamented with metal and jewels, and their luxuriant hair was -of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. The men were beardless -and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted for the most part, -a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as -she gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people -long extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not -see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking -the plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining -and in the rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched -Sola to bring the bedding and such food and utensils as she might -need, telling her that I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave -her, unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and -ask your pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against -you these past few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and -I think I understand your position among these people, but what I -cannot fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where -may you be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. -You speak my language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you -had but learned it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue -from the ice-clad south to the ice-clad north, though their written -languages differ. Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss empties -into the lost sea of Korus, is there supposed to be a different -language spoken, and, except in the legends of our ancestors, there -is no record of a Barsoomian returning up the river Iss, from the -shores of Korus in the valley of Dor. Do not tell me that you -have thus returned! They would kill you horribly anywhere upon -the surface of Barsoom if that were true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were -pressed against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia -a gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have -never seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, -so far as I am concerned. Do you believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she -should believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would -follow a general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian -heaven or hell, or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should -I care what she thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face -upturned, and her wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her -soul; and as my eyes met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from -me with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to -mine, she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know -what a 'gentleman' is, nor have I ever he does not wish to speak -the truth he is silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John -Carter?" she asked, and it seemed that this fair name of my fair -land had never sounded more beautiful than as it fell from those -perfect lips on that far-gone day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell -you, for I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has -permitted me to serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That -it was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I -hope that she would do so however much I craved her confidence and -respect. I would much rather not have told her anything of my -antecedents, but no man could look into the depth of those eyes -and refuse her slightest behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to believe -even though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you -are not of the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different--but -why should I trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my -heart tells me that I believe because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it -satisfied her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter -of fact it was about the only kind of logic that could be brought -to bear upon my problem. We fell into a general conversation then, -asking and answering many questions on each side. She was curious -to learn of the customs of my people and displayed a remarkable -knowledge of events on Earth. When I questioned her closely on this -seeming familiarity with earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your -planet fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which -takes place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in -the heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general -the instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, -which permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what -is transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These -pictures are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and -enlarged, objects no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly -recognized. I afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, -as well as the instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, "why -is it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants -of that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies -with strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with hideous -contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to conceive; -while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were entirely -undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings -might cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, explaining -that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, strange -garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned with our -meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of course, -would have to share the quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and -seemed much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed -that as she had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our -quarters were located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided -that she must have been eavesdropping, but as we could recall -nothing of importance that had passed between us we dismissed the -matter as of little consequence, merely promising ourselves to be -warned to the utmost caution in the future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture -and decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished over -a hundred thousand years before. They were the early progenitors -of her race, but had mixed with the other great race of early Martians, -who were very dark, almost black, and also with the reddish yellow -race which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced -into a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had -compelled them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing -fertile areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of -life, against the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the -race of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful -daughter. During the ages of hardships and incessant warring between -their own various races, as well as with the green men, and before -they had fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much of the -high civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired Martians -had become lost; but the red race of today has reached a point -where it feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a more -practical civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried with -the ancient Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary -race, but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries -of readjustment to new conditions, not only did their advancement -and production cease entirely, but practically all their archives, -records, and literature were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning -this lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the -city in which we were camping was supposed to have been a center -of commerce and culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a -beautiful, natural harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The -little valley on the west front of the city, she explained, was -all that remained of the harbor, while the pass through the hills -to the old sea bottom had been the channel through which the shipping -passed up to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, -and lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging -toward the center of the oceans, as the people had found it necessary -to follow the receding waters until necessity had forced upon them -their ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized -it. We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions -by a messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing -me to appear before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola -farewell, and commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to -the audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas -seated upon the rostrum. - - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, -and, fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have -by your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, -you are not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien -and yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you -can kill a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you -are reported to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner -of another race; a prisoner who, from her own admission, half -believes you are returned from the valley of Dor. Either one of -these accusations, if proved, would be sufficient grounds for your -execution, but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on -our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run off -with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; -it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate -my right to command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to -a better man, for such is the custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme -the greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do -not wish to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John -Carter, I should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, -may you be killed by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal -combat in self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you -apprehended in an attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one of -these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a responsibility. -The safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is of the greatest -importance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such -a capture; she is the granddaughter of the greatest of the red -jeddaks, who is also our bitterest enemy. I have spoken. The red -girl told us that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, -but we are a just and truthful race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible -for this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel -so quickly, and now I recalled those portions of our conversation -which had touched upon escape and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted -female. As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no -warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as -did his ablest lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from -my mind, my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my -every faculty on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute -necessity for escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, -was impressed upon me, for I was convinced that some horrible fate -awaited her at the headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification -of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality from which he -had descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, also, in marked -contrast to most of his fellows, a slave to that brute passion -which the waning demands for procreation upon their dying planet -has almost stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the clutches -of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. Far -better that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last moment, -as did those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took their -own lives rather than fall into the hands of the Indian braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars -Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His -demeanor toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we -had not just parted a few moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting -an opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I smiled, "I -am not yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the -plaza to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied -by Sola and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he said, -"and the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the -third floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your -choice of these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman -to the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not -our ways, but you can fight well enough to do about as you please, -and so, if you wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your -own affair; but as a chieftain you should have those to serve you, -and in accordance with our customs you may select any or all the -females from the retinues of the chieftains whose metal you now -wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so -he promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the -care of my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said -would be necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some -of the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of -combat, for the nights were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the -winding corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. -The beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as -usual, I was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought -me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second floor -of the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could rig -up some means of communication whereby she might signal me in case -she needed either my services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and -other sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on -this floor. The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous -court, which formed the center of the square made by the buildings -which faced the four contiguous streets, and which was now given -over to the quartering of the various animals belonging to the -warriors occupying the adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of -Mars, yet numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like -contraptions bore witness to the beauty which the court must have -presented in bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing -people whom stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only -from their homes, but from all except the vague legends of their -descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant Martian -vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; the -graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and handsome -men; the happy frolicking children--all sunlight, happiness and -peace. It was difficult to realize that they had gone; down through -ages of darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, until their hereditary -instincts of culture and humanitarianism had risen ascendant once -more in the final composite race which now is dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, -and casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the -air craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two -chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it -had become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of -the back rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second -load, which they advised me constituted the balance of my goods. -On the second trip they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other -women and youths, who, it seemed, formed the retinues of the two -chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; -the relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to -us that it is most difficult to describe. All property among the -green Martians is owned in common by the community, except the -personal weapons, ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the -individuals. These alone can one claim undisputed right to, nor -may he accumulate more of these than are required for his actual -needs. The surplus he holds merely as custodian, and it is passed -on to the younger members of the community as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a -military unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in -matters of instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies -of their continual roamings and their unending strife with other -communities and with the red Martians. His women are in no sense -wives. The green Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with -this earthly word. Their mating is a matter of community interest -solely, and is directed without reference to natural selection. -The council of chieftains of each community control the matter as -surely as the owner of a Kentucky racing stud directs the scientific -breeding of his stock for the improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, -but the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that -of the mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their -gloomy, loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both -men and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; -but better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at -the expense of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, -whether I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to -find quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. -One of the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, -and directed the others to take up the various activities which had -formerly constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of -them, nor did I care to. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained -within the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march -until they could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not -return; for to be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of -chariots and children was far from the desire of even so warlike -a people as the green Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed -me in many of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, -including lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore -the warriors. These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as -dangerous and vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are -sufficiently tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal -I wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as -the native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the -thoats did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic -instructions of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between -the ears with the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this -treatment was continued until the brutes either were subdued, or -had unseated their riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the -man and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol -he might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, -his torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned -in accordance with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment of -kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them that -they could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between -the ears to impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by -degrees, I won their confidence in much the same manner as I had -adopted countless times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a -good hand with animals, and by inclination, as well as because it -brought more lasting and satisfactory results, I was always kind -and humane in my dealings with the lower orders. I could take a -human life, if necessary, with far less compunction than that of -a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great -snouts against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond -to my every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the -Martian warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly -power unknown on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, -when he had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one -of my thoats which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his -teeth while feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court -yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer -sentiments have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of -battle as well as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey -my every command, and therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, -and I am a better warrior for the reason that I am a kind master. -Your other warriors would find it to the advantage of themselves -as well as of the community to adopt my methods in this respect. -Only a few days since you, yourself, told me that these great -brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often were the means -of turning victory into defeat, since, at a crucial moment, they -might elect to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' only -rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat -it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment -marked the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and -before I left the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction -of observing a regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one -might care to see. The effect on the precision and celerity of the -military movements was so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented -me with a massive anklet of gold from his own leg, as a sign of -his appreciation of my service to the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack -being deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little -of Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with -my lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training -of my thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had -been absent, walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating -the buildings in the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them -against venturing far from the plaza for fear of the great white -apes, whose ferocity I was only too well acquainted with. However, -since Woola accompanied them on all their excursions, and as Sola -was well armed, there was comparatively little cause for fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along -one of the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. -I advanced to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the -responsibility for Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to -return to her quarters on some trivial errand. I liked and trusted -Sola, but for some reason I desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, -who represented to me all that I had left behind upon Earth -in agreeable and congenial companionship. There seemed bonds of -mutual interest between us as powerful as though we had been born -under the same roof rather than upon different planets, hurtling -through space some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for -on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet -countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she -placed her little right hand upon my left shoulder in true red -Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, -"and that I would now see no more of you than of any of the other -warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, "notwithstanding -the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you -would not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, -but not his heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she continued, -"for whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars -Tarkas' retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get -Sola and me out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below -the buildings helping them mix their awful radium powder, and -make their terrible projectiles. You know that these have to be -manufactured by artificial light, as exposure to sunlight always -results in an explosion. You have noticed that their bullets explode -when they strike an object? Well, the opaque, outer coating is -broken by the impact, exposing a glass cylinder, almost solid, in -the forward end of which is a minute particle of radium powder. -The moment the sunlight, even though diffused, strikes this powder -it explodes with a violence which nothing can withstand. If you -ever witness a night battle you will note the absence of these -explosions, while the morning following the battle will be filled -at sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding missiles fired -the preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding projectiles -are used at night."[1] - -[1]I have used the word radium in describing this powder because -in the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a -mixture of which radium is the base. In Captain Carter's manuscript -it is mentioned always by the name used in the written language of -Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it would be difficult -and useless to reproduce. - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by -the immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were -keeping her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that -they should subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me -with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?" -I asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my -veins as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing that -can harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter -of ten thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back -without a break to the builder of the first great waterway, and -they, who do not even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At -heart they hate their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite -on me who stand for everything they have not, and for all they -most crave and never can attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, -for even though we die at their hands we can afford them pity, -since we are greater than they and they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," -as applied by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the -surprise of my life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many -months thereafter. Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our -fate with as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, -nevertheless, that I may be present the next time that any Martian, -green, red, pink, or violet, has the temerity to even so much as -frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon -me with dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd -little laugh, which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her -mouth, she shook her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not -tell you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, -have listened without anger," she soliloquized in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with -my soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would -take him home and nurse him back to health," she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least -among civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with -all her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, -and to a Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every -dead foeman means so much more to divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so -much perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune -her to enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and that -I have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be -dead, as likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom -another twelve times, remember that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the -more positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking -down upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were -alone in the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should -be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested -for an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber -of my being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; -and it seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but -of that I was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there -across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the silk -required she did not draw away, nor did she speak. And so, in -silence, we walked the surface of a dying world, but in the breast -of one of us at least had been born that which is ever oldest, yet -ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder -had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I -had loved her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that -first time in the plaza of the dead city of Korad. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought -of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten -the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against -the thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival -at Thark. I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow -by declaring a love which, in all probability she did not return. -Should I be so indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable -than now, and the thought that she might feel that I was taking -advantage of her helplessness, to influence her decision was the -final argument which sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would -rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is -that I should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, -a stranger, are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe -and that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's court and -feel his strong arms about me and my mother's tears and kisses on -my cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained -the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought -for and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my tongue had -been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and -ceased, and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out -to me, and without a word, and with head held high, she moved with -the carriage of the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway -of her quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached -the building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I -turned disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours -cross-legged, and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon -the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed -the five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful -women and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love -and a constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to -fall furiously and hopelessly in love with a creature from another -world, of a species similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. -A woman who was hatched from an egg, and whose span of life might -cover a thousand years; whose people had strange customs and ideas; -a woman whose hopes, whose pleasures, whose standards of virtue and -of right and wrong might vary as greatly from mine as did those of -the green Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise -for all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers -wherever love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous -and beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom -of my heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as -I sat cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom -raced through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up -the gold and marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, -and I believe it today as I sit at my desk in the little study -overlooking the Hudson. Twenty years have intervened; for ten of -them I lived and fought for Dejah Thoris and her people, and for -ten I have lived upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do -all Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts -at the poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but -she turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount -to her cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my peace -when I might have plead ignorance of the nature of my offense, or -at least the gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a half -conciliation. - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and so -I glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. In -doing so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by one -ankle to the side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive -spring lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom -I vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, -as they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being heaped upon -Dejah Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape -the Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not -go without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we -do not wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way -that will yet ensure security. I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it -were futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the key -be taken from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the prisoner -alone in future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the -friendship that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John Carter; -but have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy -the girl, and I myself will take the custody of the key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris -would attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court -of Tal Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the -river Iss." - -"It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp -I saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent -of something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. -Could it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an -ancient forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and -the black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I -had felt for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from -her so palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior -named Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never -made a kill among his own chieftains, and a second name only with -the metal of some chieftain. It was this custom which entitled -me to the names of either of the chieftains I had killed; in fact, -some of the warriors addressed me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of -the surnames of the two warrior chieftains whose metal I had taken, -or, in other words, whom I had slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my -direction, while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some -action. I paid little attention to it at the time, but the next -day I had good reason to recall the circumstances, and at the same -time gain a slight insight into the depths of Sarkoja's hatred and -the lengths to which she was capable of going to wreak her horrid -vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though -I spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as -the flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my -extremity I did what most other lovers would have done; I sought -word from her through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola -whom I intercepted in another part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. "Why -will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on the -part of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, poor -child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, -except that she is the daughter of a jed and the grand-daughter of -a jeddak and she has been humiliated by a creature who could not -polish the teeth of her grandmother's sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, "What -might a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian -women keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I -could not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely -and in this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded -very much like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then commenced -a train of thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my -people at home were doing. I had not seen them for years. There -was a family of Carters in Virginia who claimed close relationship -with me; I was supposed to be a great uncle, or something of the kind -equally foolish. I could pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty -years of age, and to be a great uncle always seemed the height -of incongruity, for my thoughts and feelings were those of a boy. -There was two little kiddies in the Carter family whom I had loved -and who had thought there was no one on Earth like Uncle Jack; I -could see them just as plainly, as I stood there under the moonlit -skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I had never longed for -any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had never known the -true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of the Carters -had always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and now my -heart turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I had -been thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! -I was a low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to -polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense -of humor came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and -furs and slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired -and healthy fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only -a single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right -what was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed -Tars Tarkas to investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, -including myself, and we raced across the velvety carpeting of moss -to the little enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in comparison -with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of my arrival -on Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that -the cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, the light -of battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open -the entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all -the eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back -to join the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask -Tars Tarkas if these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a -smaller people than his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I saw -hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like -all green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period -of incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen -hatching on the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed -an interesting piece of information, for it had always seemed -remarkable to me that the green Martian women, large as they were, -could bring forth such enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot -infants emerging from. As a matter of fact, the new-laid egg -is but little larger than an ordinary goose egg, and as it does -not commence to grow until subjected to the light of the sun the -chieftains have little difficulty in transporting several hundreds -of them at one time from the storage vaults to the incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest -the animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the -day's interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing -my riding cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided -the day's work between them, when Zad approached me, and without -a word struck my animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what -reply to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could -scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for -the brute he was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and -my only choice was to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with -his choice of weapons or a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could -have used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had -I wished, and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use -firearms or a spear while he held only his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided -himself upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him -at all, to do it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was -a long one and delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. -The entire community surrounded us, leaving a clear space about -one hundred feet in diameter for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I -was much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes -he would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword -upon his arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half -dozen minor wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver -an effective thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting -warily and with extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what -he was unable to do by brute strength. I must admit that he was a -magnificent swordsman, and had it not been for my greater endurance -and the remarkable agility the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me -I might not have been able to put up the creditable fight I did -against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; -the long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, -and ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with -each effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring -more than I, evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a -final blaze of glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding -flash of light struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his -approach and could only leap blindly to one side in an effort to -escape the mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my -vitals. I was only partially successful, as a sharp pain in my -left shoulder attested, but in the sweep of my glance as I sought -to again locate my adversary, a sight met my astonished gaze which -paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness had caused me. -There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot stood three figures, for the -purpose evidently of witnessing the encounter above the heads of -the intervening Tharks. There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, and Sarkoja, -and as my fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was -presented which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my -death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a -young tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something -which flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I -knew what had blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and -how Sarkoja had found a way to kill me without herself delivering -the final thrust. Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my -life for me then and there, for it took my mind for the fraction -of an instant entirely from my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris -struck the tiny mirror from her hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with -hatred and baffled rage, whipped out her dagger and aimed a terrific -blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, our dear and faithful Sola, -sprang between them; the last I saw was the great knife descending -upon her shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work -in hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, -feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I could -neither parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with outstretched -sword and with all the weight of my body, determined that I would -not die alone if I could prevent it. I felt the steel tear into -my chest, all went black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, -and I felt my knees giving beneath me. - - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down -but a moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, -and there I found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, -who lay stone dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. -As I regained my full senses I found his weapon piercing my left -breast, but only through the flesh and muscles which cover my -ribs, entering near the center of my chest and coming out below the -shoulder. As I had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely -passed beneath the muscles, inflicting a painful but not dangerous -wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning -my back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, -toward the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A -murmur of Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death -blows fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a -back seat. They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness -from loss of blood and a little soreness around the wound, I suffered -no great distress from this thrust which, under earthly treatment, -undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of -Dejah Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in -bandages, but apparently little the worse for her encounter with -Sarkoja, whose dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of -Sola's metal breast ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted -but a slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks -and furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing -a short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not understand -either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter of ten -thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who held -but the highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud race, -but they are just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have hurt -or wronged her grievously that she will not admit your existence -living, though she mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and so it -is difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people -weep in all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, -the other from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago -before they killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged -her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known -your mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like -to hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot -tonight, John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have -never spoken in all my life before. And now the signal has been -given to resume the march, you must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah -Thoris I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, -and be sure that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she -would speak with me I but await her command." - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in -line, and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my station -beside Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung -out across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate -and brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some -two hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast -and one hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the -same formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; -the fifty extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as -zitidars, and the five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors -running loose within the hollow square formed by the surrounding -warriors. The gleaming metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments -of the men and women, duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars -and thoats, and interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent -silks and furs and feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan -which would have turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; -and so we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, -except when the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of -a goaded zitidar, or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green -Martians converse but little, and then usually in monosyllables, -low and like the faint rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the pressure -of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, leaving no -sign that we had passed. We might indeed have been the wraiths of -the departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet for all -the sound or sign we made in passing. It was the first march of -a large body of men and animals I had ever witnessed which raised -no dust and left no spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars except -in the cultivated districts during the winter months, and even then -the absence of high winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been -approaching for two days and which marked the southern boundary of -this particular sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, -nor had they had water for nearly two months, not since shortly -after leaving Thark; but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they -require but little and can live almost indefinitely upon the moss -which covers Barsoom, and which, he told me, holds in its tiny stems -sufficient moisture to meet the limited demands of the animals. -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of -a torch upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked up at my -approach, her face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am -lonely. Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too -unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst -them, and I often wish that I were a true green Martian woman, -without love and without hope; but I have known love and so I am -lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am -sure that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green -Martians it has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living -Thark, nor do our legends hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally -for size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian -women, and caring little for their society, she often roamed the -deserted avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild -flowers that deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing -wishes which I believe I alone among Tharkian women today may -understand, for am I not the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty -it was to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they -roamed not beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such -things as interest a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they -came to meet more often, and, as was now quite evident to both, no -longer by chance, they talked about themselves, their likes, their -ambitions and their hopes. She trusted him and told him of the -awful repugnance she felt for the cruelties of their kind, for the -hideous, loveless lives they must ever lead, and then she waited -for the storm of denunciation to break from his cold, hard lips; -but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, -was of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was -a simple warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection -from the traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would -have paid the penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the -assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel -upon the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined -towers of ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for -the five long years it lay there in the process of incubation. She -dared not come oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience -she feared that her every move was watched. During this period -my father gained great distinction as a warrior and had taken the -metal from several chieftains. His love for my mother had never -diminished, and his own ambition in life was to reach a point -where he might wrest the metal from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, -as ruler of the Tharks, be free to claim her as his own, as well -as, by the might of his power, protect the child which otherwise -would be quickly dispatched should the truth become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus -in five short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood -high in the councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost -forever, in so far as it could come in time to save his loved ones, -for he was ordered away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad -south, to make war upon the natives there and despoil them of their -furs, for such is the manner of the green Barsoomian; he does not -labor for what he can wrest in battle from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been -over for three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly -before the time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth -to fetch the fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. -Thereafter my mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting -me nightly and lavishing upon me the love the community life would -have robbed us both of. She hoped, upon the return of the expedition -from the incubator, to mix me with the other young assigned to the -quarters of Tal Hajus, and thus escape the fate which would surely -follow discovery of her sin against the ancient traditions of the -green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other -young Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced -in education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence -of others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; -and then drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name -of my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower -chamber, and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed -in a frenzy of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent -of hatred and abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart -cold in terror. That she had heard the entire story was apparent, -and that she had suspected something wrong from my mother's long -nightly absences from her quarters accounted for her presence there -on that fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name -of my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my -mother to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount -of abuse or threats could wring this from her, and to save me from -needless torture she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone knew -nor would she even tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to -report her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping -me in the silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was -scarcely noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away -toward the outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to -the far south, out toward the man whose protection she might not -claim, but on whose face she wished to look once more before she -died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through -the hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from -either north or south or east or west would enter the city. The -sounds we heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of -zitidars, with the occasional clank of arms which announced the -approach of a body of warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind -was that it was my father returned from his expedition, but the -cunning of the Thark held her from headlong and precipitate flight -to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming -of the cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its -formation and thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As -the head of the procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of -the overhanging roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy -of her wondrous light. My mother shrank further back into the -friendly shadows, and from her hiding place saw that the expedition -was not that of my father, but the returning caravan bearing the -young Tharks. Instantly her plan was formed, and as a great chariot -swung close to our hiding place she slipped stealthily in upon the -trailing tailboard, crouching low in the shadow of the high side, -straining me to her bosom in a frenzy of love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would -she hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look -upon each other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza she -mixed me with the other children, whose guardians during the journey -were now free to relinquish their responsibility. We were herded -together into a great room, fed by women who had not accompanied -the expedition, and the next day we were parceled out among the -retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the -name of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at -last amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during -some awful torture she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to -save me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my -body to the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel -to this day that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare -expose me, at the present, at all events, because she also guesses, -I am sure, the identity of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by -the quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he -did not laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. -From that moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am -awaiting the day when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and -feel the carcass of Tal Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure -that he but waits the opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, -and that his great love is as strong in his breast as when it first -transfigured him nearly forty years ago, as I am that we sit here -upon the edge of a world-old ocean while sensible people sleep, -John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, nor -does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my -father's name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it -was she who carried the tale that brought death and torture upon -her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts -of her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless -lives of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of -Barsoom you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the -knowledge may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, I -am going to tell you the name of my father, nor place any restrictions -or conditions upon your tongue. When the time comes, speak the -truth if it seems best to you. I trust you because I know that you -are not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving -truthfulness, that you could lie like one of your own Virginia -gentlemen if a lie would save others from sorrow or suffering. My -father's name is Tars Tarkas." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were -twenty days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing -through or around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than -Korad. Twice we crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, -so-called by our earthly astronomers. When we approached these -points a warrior would be sent far ahead with a powerful field -glass, and if no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we -would advance as close as possible without chance of being seen and -then camp until dark, when we would slowly approach the cultivated -tract, and, locating one of the numerous, broad highways which cross -these areas at regular intervals, creep silently and stealthily -across to the arid lands upon the other side. It required five -hours to make one of these crossings without a single halt, and -the other consumed the entire night, so that we were just leaving -the confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke out upon -us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling through -the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the landscape from -time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, rambling buildings, -presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. There were many -trees, methodically arranged, and some of them were of enormous -height; there were animals in some of the enclosures, and they -announced their presence by terrified squealings and snortings as -they scented our queer, wild beasts and wilder human beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which -cuts each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. -The fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came -abreast of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance -at the approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled -madly down the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a -scared cat. The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they -were not out upon the warpath, and the only sign that I had that -they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of the caravan as -we hastened toward the bordering desert which marked our entrance -into the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word -to me that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride -kept me from making any advances. I verily believe that a man's -way with women is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The -weakling and the saphead have often great ability to charm the fair -sex, while the fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers -unafraid, sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green -men have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some -thirty thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. -Each community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are -under the rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities -make their headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are -scattered among other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout -the district claimed by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the -afternoon. There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the -returned expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the -names of warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, -in the formal greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered -that they brought two captives a greater interest was aroused, and -Dejah Thoris and I were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day -was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My -home now was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, -the main artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city. -I was at the far end of the square and had an entire building to -myself. The same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable -a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here, only, if that were -possible, on a larger and richer scale. My quarters would have -been suitable for housing the greatest of earthly emperors, but to -these queer creatures nothing about a building appealed to them but -its size and the enormity of its chambers; the larger the building, -the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus occupied what must have been -an enormous public building, the largest in the city, but entirely -unfitted for residence purposes; the next largest was reserved for -Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a lesser rank, and so on -to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The warriors occupied the -buildings with the chieftains to whose retinues they belonged; or, -if they preferred, sought shelter among any of the thousands of -untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each community -being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection of -building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, except -in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying edifices -which fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it -had been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the -intention of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined -upon having speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her -the necessity of our at least patching up a truce until I could -find some way of aiding her to escape. I searched in vain until -the upper rim of the great red sun was just disappearing behind -the horizon and then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from a -second-story window on the opposite side of the very street where -I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding -runway which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber -at the front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who -threw his great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; -the poor old fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would -devour me, his head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows -of tusks in his hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, -not seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur -from the far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick -strides I was standing beside her where she crouched among the furs -and silks upon an ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose -to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was -furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped -to protect and comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but -that you must aid me in effecting your escape, if such a thing be -possible, is not my request, but my command. When you are safe -once more at your father's court you may do with me as you please, -but from now on until that day I am your master, and you must obey -and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I -do not understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of -brute and noble. I only wish that I might read your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it -has lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever -lie beating alone for you until death stills it forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched -in a strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you -saying to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to -you, at least until you were no longer a captive among the green -men; what from your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I -had thought never to say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that -I am yours, body and soul, to serve you, to fight for you, and to -die for you. Only one thing I ask of you in return, and that is -that you make no sign, either of condemnation or of approbation of -my words until you are safe among your own people, and that whatever -sentiments you harbor toward me they be not influenced or colored -by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve you will be prompted solely -from selfish motives, since it gives me more pleasure to serve you -than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand -the motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more -willingly than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my -law. I have twice wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your -forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the -entrance of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her usual -calm and possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, "and -from what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either -of you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great -arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the -customs of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany -us in one supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris -can offer you a home and protection among her people, and your fate -can be no worse among them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be better -off among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise -you not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature -craves and which must always be denied you by the customs of your -own race. Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your -fate would be terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. -I know that even that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our -escape, but we want you with us, we want you to come to a land of -sunshine and happiness, amongst a people who know the meaning of -love, of sympathy, and of gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell -me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat might make -it in three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, -most of the way through thinly settled districts. They would know -and they would follow us. We might hide among the great trees for -a time, but the chances are small indeed for escape. They would -follow us to the very gates of Helium, and they would take toll of -life at every step; you do not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you -not draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah -Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she -drew upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory -I had ever seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long -straight lines, sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging -toward some great circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; -the circles, cities; and one far to the northwest of us she pointed -out as Helium. There were other cities closer, but she said she -feared to enter many of them, as they were not all friendly toward -Helium. - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which -now flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of -us which also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it -is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant -waterway," I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the best -route for our escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark -this same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and -saddle my thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the -other; each of us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for -two days, since the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so -long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I -would overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, -leaving them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, -I slipped quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the -courtyard, where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was -their habit, before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of -the Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the -latter grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally -emitting the sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state -of rage in which these creatures passed their existence. They were -quieter now, owing to the absence of man, but as they scented me -they became more restless and their hideous noise increased. It -was risky business, this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at -night; first, because their increasing noisiness might warn the -nearby warriors that something was amiss, and also because for -the slightest cause, or for no cause at all some great bull thoat -might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night -as this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged -the shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap -into the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently -to the great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the -court, and as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. -How I thanked the kind providence which had given me the foresight -to win the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently -from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their -way toward me through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body -and nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward -them with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to -pass out, and then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals -behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked -quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented -avenue which led toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah Thoris -and Sola. With the noiselessness of disembodied spirits we moved -stealthily along the deserted streets, but not until we were within -sight of the plain beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely. -I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty in -reaching our rendezvous undetected, but with my great thoats I was -not so sure for myself, as it was quite unusual for warriors to -leave the city after dark; in fact there was no place for them to -go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris -and Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall -of one of the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other -women of the same household may have come in to speak to Sola, and -so delayed their departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension -until nearly an hour had passed without a sign of them, and by the -time another half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with -grave anxiety. Then there broke upon the stillness of the night -the sound of an approaching party, which, from the noise, I knew -could be no fugitives creeping stealthily toward liberty. Soon the -party was near me, and from the black shadows of my entranceway I -perceived a score of mounted warriors, who, in passing, dropped a -dozen words that fetched my heart clean into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, -and so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. -Our plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now -on to the fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was -to return undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what -fate had overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous -thoats upon my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by -the knowledge of my escape was a problem of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with -a hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way -blindly through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after -me. They had difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but -as the buildings fronting the city's principal exposures were all -designed upon a magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through -without sticking fast; and thus we finally made the inner court -where I found, as I had expected, the usual carpet of moss-like -vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I could -return them to their own enclosure. That they would be as quiet -and contented here as elsewhere I was confident, nor was there -but the remotest possibility that they would be discovered, as the -green men had no great desire to enter these outlying buildings, -which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, which caused -them the sensation of fear--the great white apes of Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear -doorway of the building through which we had entered the court, -and, turning the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court -to the rear of the buildings upon the further side, and thence to -the avenue beyond. Waiting in the doorway of the building until -I was assured that no one was approaching, I hurried across to the -opposite side and through the first doorway to the court beyond; -thus, crossing through court after court with only the slight chance -of detection which the necessary crossing of the avenues entailed, -I made my way in safety to the courtyard in the rear of Dejah -Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered -in the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might -expect to meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had -another and safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah -Thoris should be found, and, after first determining as nearly -as possible which of the buildings she occupied, for I had never -observed them before from the court side, I took advantage of my -relatively great strength and agility and sprang upward until I -grasped the sill of a second-story window which I thought to be in -the rear of her apartment. Drawing myself inside the room I moved -stealthily toward the front of the building, and not until I had -quite reached the doorway of her room was I made aware by voices -that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself -that it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It -was well indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I -heard was in the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally -came to me proved a most timely warning. The speaker was a chieftain -and he was giving orders to four of his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, you -four are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the -combined strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring -back from Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him -to the vaults beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain him securely -where he may be found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak -with none, nor permit any other to enter this apartment before he -comes. There will be no danger of the girl returning, for by this -time she is safe in the arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors -have pity upon her, for Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja -has done a noble night's work. I go, and if you fail to capture -him when he comes, I commend your carcasses to the cold bosom of -Iss." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away -I returned to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of -action was formed upon the instant, and crossing the square and -the bordering avenue upon the opposite side I soon stood within -the courtyard of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I -soon discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing -I had hoped, for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled -with warriors and women. I then glanced up at the stories above, -discovering that the third was apparently unlighted, and so decided -to make my entrance to the building from that point. It was the -work of but a moment for me to reach the windows above, and soon -I had drawn myself within the sheltering shadows of the unlighted -third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of -this great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors -and women, and at one end was a great raised platform upon which -squatted the most hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He -had all the cold, hard, cruel, terrible features of the green -warriors, but accentuated and debased by the animal passions to -which he had given himself over for many years. There was not a -mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial countenance, while his -enormous bulk spread itself out upon the platform where he squatted -like some huge devil fish, his six limbs accentuating the similarity -in a horrible and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah -Thoris and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer -of him as he let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of -her beautiful figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what -she said, nor could I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She -stood there erect before him, her head high held, and even at the -distance I was from them I could read the scorn and disgust upon -her face as she let her haughty glance rest without sign of fear -upon him. She was indeed the proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, -every inch of her dear, precious little body; so small, so frail -beside the towering warriors around her, but in her majesty dwarfing -them into insignificance; she was the mightiest figure among them -and I verily believe that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and -that the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, -the warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the -surrounding chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before -the jeddak of the Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him -standing in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously -toying with the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in -implacable hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could -read his thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised -loathing upon his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, -forty years ago, had stood before this beast, and could I have -spoken a word into his ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus -would have been over; but finally he also strode from the room, not -knowing that he left his own daughter at the mercy of the creature -he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his -intentions, hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors -below. No one was near to intercept me, and I reached the main -floor of the chamber unobserved, taking my station in the shadow -of the same column that Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I -reached the floor Tal Hajus was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; -it shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure -were all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The -terrors of your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men through -all the ages to come; they will shudder in the shadows of the night -as their fathers tell them of the awful vengeance of the green -men; of the power and might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. But -before the torture you shall be mine for one short hour, and word -of that too shall go forth to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your -grandfather, that he may grovel upon the ground in the agony of -his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will commence; tonight thou art -Tal Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the -arm, but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. -My short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could -have plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I -was upon him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars -Tarkas, and, with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not -rob him of that sweet moment for which he had lived and hoped all -these long, weary years, and so, instead, I swung my good right -fist full upon the point of his jaw. Without a sound he slipped -to the floor as one dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, -and motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber -and to the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with -the straps and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and -then Dejah Thoris to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them -I drew them rapidly around the court in the shadows of the buildings, -and thus we returned over the same course I had so recently followed -from the distant boundary of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left -them, and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the -building to the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, and -Dejah Thoris behind me upon the other, we rode from the city of -Thark through the hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we -turned to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across -which, for two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main -artery leading to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but -I could hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me -with her dear head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty -one; greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make -it," she continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will never -know, for you have saved the last of our line from worse than -death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the -little fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, -and then, in unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit -moss; each of us occupied with his own thoughts. For my part -I could not be other than joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris' -warm body pressed close to mine, and with all our unpassed danger -my heart was singing as gaily as though we were already entering -the gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves -without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged -our beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could -hope to sight the ending of the first stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five -or six hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All -the following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had -sighted no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout -all Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, -nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the -moons and stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, -and the entire party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst -and fatigue. Far ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could -distinguish the outlines of low mountains. These we decided to -attempt to reach in the hope that from some ridge we might discern -the missing waterway. Night fell upon us before we reached our -goal, and, almost fainting from weariness and weakness, we lay down -and slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close -to mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old -Woola snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us -across that trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might -be. Putting my arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to -his, nor am I ashamed that I did it, nor of the tears that came to -my eyes as I thought of his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah -Thoris and Sola awakened, and it was decided that we push on at -once in an effort to gain the hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was commencing -to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although we had -not attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon of the -preceding day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched -violently to the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of -him and fell upon the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the poor -beast was in a pitiable condition, not even being able to rise, -although relieved of our weight. Sola told me that the coolness -of the night, when it fell, together with the rest would doubtless -revive him, and so I decided not to kill him, as was my first -intention, as I had thought it cruel to leave him alone there to -die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of his trappings, which -I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow to his fate, and -pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola and I walked, -making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this way we had -progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring -to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the -thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both -looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, -were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed -in a southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture -us, and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling -in the opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the -thoat, I commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, -presenting as small an object as possible for fear of attracting -the attention of the warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an -instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to -us a most providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any -great length of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover -us. As what proved to be the last warrior came into view from -the pass, he halted and, to our consternation, threw his small but -powerful fieldglass to his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all -directions. Evidently he was a chieftain, for in certain marching -formations among the green men a chieftain brings up the extreme -rear of the column. As his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped -in our breasts, and I could feel the cold sweat start from every -pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension on -our nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us -breathed for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and -then he lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the -warriors who had passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did -not wait for them to join him, however, instead he wheeled his -thoat and came tearing madly in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising -my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the -button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion -as the missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched -backward from his flying mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola -to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort -to reach the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew -that in the ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding -place, and even though they died there of hunger and thirst it -would be better so than that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. -Forcing my two revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection, -and, as a last resort, as an escape for themselves from the horrid -death which recapture would surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in -my arms and placed her upon the thoat behind Sola, who had already -mounted at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. -I have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to smile -as I lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for -a while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three -of us together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about -my neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, Sola! -Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give -up my life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but -I could not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet -embrace, and pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked -her up bodily and tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, commanding -the latter in peremptory tones to hold her there by force, and -then, slapping the thoat upon the flank, I saw them borne away; -Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself from Sola's -grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking -for their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but -scarcely had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying -flat upon my belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in -the magazine of my rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my -back, and I kept up a continuous stream of fire until I saw all -of the warriors who had been first to return from behind the ridge -either dead or scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost -upon me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola -had disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my -useless gun, and started away in the direction opposite to that -taken by Sola and her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led -them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention -from endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck -a projecting piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the -moss. As I looked up they were upon me, and although I drew my -long-sword in an attempt to sell my life as dearly as possible, -it was soon over. I reeled beneath their blows which fell upon me -in perfect torrents; my head swam; all was black, and I went down -beneath them to oblivion. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness -and I well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as -I realized that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner -of a small room in which were several green warriors, and bending -over me was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching -my couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for -his ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge -fellow, terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one -broken tusk and a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were -human skulls and depending from these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory -into gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured -him that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we -mount and ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I -had ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent -the beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit -of the column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully -and rapidly had the applications and injections of the female -exercised their therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound -and plastered the injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after -they had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before -the leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and -also decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead -hands which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the -Warhoons, as well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which greatly -transcends even that of the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object -of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, -the jed who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost -studied efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the -ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark -whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the -great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," -replied the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but -he shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall -save him. O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather -than by a water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could -tear the metal with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an -instant, his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, -and then without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he -hurled himself at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with -nature's weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued -was as fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could -picture. They tore at each others' eyes and ears with their hands -and with their gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until -both were cut fairly to ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, -quicker and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter -was done saving only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped -in breaking away from a clinch. It was the one little opening that -Dak Kova needed, and hurling himself at the body of his adversary -he buried his single mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last -powerful effort ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length -of his body, the great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar -Comas' jaw. Victor and vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon -the moss, a huge mass of torn and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on -the part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. -Three days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar -Comas which, by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and -placing his foot upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed -the title of Jeddak of Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to -the ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what -remained, amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that -it was decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon -a small Thark community in retaliation for the destruction of the -incubator, until after the great games, and the entire body of -warriors, ten thousand in number, turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an -index to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They -are a smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not -a day passed but that some members of the various Warhoon communities -met in deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels -within a single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and -I was immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the -floor and walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to -the utter darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there -days, or weeks, or months. It was the most horrible experience -of all my life and that my mind did not give way to the terrors of -that inky blackness has been a wonder to me ever since. The place -was filled with creeping, crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies -passed over me when I lay down, and in the darkness I occasionally -caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed in horrible -intentness upon me. No sound reached me from the world above and -no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was brought to me, -although I at first bombarded him with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful -creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by -my tottering reason upon this single emissary who represented to -me the entire horde of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where -he could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place -it upon the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. -So, with the cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of -my cell when next I heard him approaching and gathering a little -slack of the great chain which held me in my hand I waited his -coming, crouching like some beast of prey. As he stooped to place -my food upon the ground I swung the chain above my head and crashed -the links with all my strength upon his skull. Without a sound he -slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell -upon his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. -Presently they came in contact with a small chain at the end of -which dangled a number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these -keys brought back my reason with the suddenness of thought. No -longer was I a jibbering idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the -means of escape within my very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck -I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes -fixed, unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I -shrank back from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I -crouched holding my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on -came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet. -Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating -sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess -of my dungeon. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt -to remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as -I reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror -that it was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of -those gleaming eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured -in their neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for -weeks, for months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment -to drag my dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger -appeared and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did -I allow my reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and -chained near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red -Martian and I could scarcely await the departure of his guards -to address him. As their retreating footsteps died away in the -distance, I called out softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting -only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited -by the news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she -and Sola could easily have reached a point of safety from where they -left me. He said that he knew the place well because the defile -through which the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered -us was the only one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a -great waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the -navy of Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition -which had fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah -Thoris' capture, and he briefly related the events which followed -the defeat of the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward -Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital -of Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they -had been attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the -craft to which Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. -His vessel was chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships -but finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time -of our coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about -ten survivors of the original crew of seven hundred officers and -men. Immediately seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty -war ships, had been dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and -from these vessels two thousand smaller craft had been kept out -continuously in futile search for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of -Barsoom by the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had -been found. They had been searching among the northern hordes, -and only within the past few days had they extended their quest to -the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers -and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while -exploring their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my -greatest respect and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's -boundary and on foot had penetrated to the buildings surrounding -the plaza. For two days and nights he had explored their quarters -and their dungeons in search of his beloved princess only to fall -into the hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave, -after assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for -the great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface -of the ground was excavated below the surface. it had partially -filled with debris so that how large it had originally been was -difficult to say. In its present condition it held the entire -twenty thousand Warhoons of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around -it the Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined -edifices of the ancient city to prevent the animals and the -captives from escaping into the audience, and at each end had been -constructed cages to hold them until their turns came to meet some -horrible death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In -the others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, -and women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild -beasts of Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their -roaring, growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable -appearance of any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart -feel grave forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about -the arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would -be pitted against each other until only two remained alive; the -victor in the last encounter being set free, whether animal or -man. The following morning the cages would be filled with a new -consignment of victims, and so on throughout the ten days of the -games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill -and within an hour every available part of the seating space was -occupied. Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center -of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open -and a dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the -arena. Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack -of twelve calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost -defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid -sight. The yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to -the excellent quality of the sport and when I turned back to the -arena, as Kantos Kan told me it was over, I saw three victorious -calots, snarling and growling over the bodies of their prey. The -women had given a good account of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it -went throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as -I was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in -agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's play -to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty -multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from -the arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of -some far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for -the liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself -had always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of -margins, especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had -little hope that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed -down all before him during the day. The fellow towered nearly -sixteen feet in height, while Kantos Kan was some inches under six -feet. As they advanced to meet one another I saw for the first -time a trick of Martian swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's -every hope of victory and life on one cast of the dice, for, as he -came to within about twenty feet of the huge fellow he threw his -sword arm far behind him over his shoulder and with a mighty sweep -hurled his weapon point foremost at the green warrior. It flew -true as an arrow and piercing the poor devil's heart laid him dead -upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as -we approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the -battle until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means -of escape. The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to -fight each other and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed -a fatal thrust. Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered -to Kantos Kan to thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. -As he did so I staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm -and thus fell to the ground with his weapon apparently protruding -from my chest. Kantos Kan perceived my coup and stepping quickly -to my side he placed his foot upon my neck and withdrawing his -sword from my body gave me the final death blow through the neck -which is supposed to sever the jugular vein, but in this instance -the cold blade slipped harmlessly into the sand of the arena. In -the darkness which had now fallen none could tell but that he had -really finished me. I whispered to him to go and claim his freedom -and then look for me in the hills east of the city, and so he left -me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and -as the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching -the hills beyond. - - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come -I started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point -where he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food consisted -of vegetable milk from the plants which gave so bounteously of this -priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights -guided only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some -protruding rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several -times I was attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities -that leaped upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my -long-sword in my hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my -strange, newly acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, -but once I was down with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy -face pressed close to mine before I knew that I was even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was -large and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its -throat before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, -and slowly I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, -vise-like, upon its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach -me with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and -choke the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms -gave to the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes -and gleaming tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as -the hairy face touched mine again, I realized that all was over. -And then a living mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding -darkness full upon the creature that held me pinioned to the ground. -The two rolled growling upon the moss, tearing and rending one -another in a frightful manner, but it was soon over and my preserver -stood with lowered head above the throat of the dead thing which -would have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting -up the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, -but from whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to -know. That I was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, -but my pleasure at seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the -reason of his leaving Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, -could account for his absence from her, so faithful I knew him to -be to my commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but -a shadow of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and -commenced greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized -that the poor fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was -in but little better plight but I could not bring myself to eat the -uncooked flesh and I had no means of making a fire. When Woola had -finished his meal I again took up my weary and seemingly endless -wandering in quest of the elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to -see the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About -noon I dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building -which covered perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred -feet in the air. It showed no aperture in the mighty walls other -than the tiny door at which I sank exhausted, nor was there any -sign of life about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known -to the inmates of the place, unless a small round role in the wall -near the door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness -of a lead pencil and thinking that it might be in the nature of a -speaking tube I put my mouth to it and was about to call into it -when a voice issued from it asking me whom I might be, where from, -and the nature of my errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, -yet you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither -green nor red. In the name of the ninth day, what manner of creature -are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In -the name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk -into the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the -left, exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further -end of which was another door, similar in every respect to the one -I had just passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed -the first door it slid gently into place behind us and receded -rapidly to its original position in the front wall of the building. -As the door had slipped aside I had noted its great thickness, fully -twenty feet, and as it reached its place once more after closing -behind us, great cylinders of steel had dropped from the ceiling -behind it and fitted their lower ends into apertures countersunk -in the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side -as the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found -food and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed -me to satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus -engaged my invisible host put me through a severe and searching -cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it -is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that -by the conformation of your brain and the strange location of your -internal organs and the shape and size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian -I could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, -dried up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but -a single article of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold -from which depended upon his chest a great ornament as large as -a dinner plate set solid with huge diamonds, except for the exact -center which was occupied by a strange stone, an inch in diameter, -that scintillated nine different and distinct rays; the seven -colors of our earthly prism and two beautiful rays which, to me, -were new and nameless. I cannot describe them any more than you -could describe red to a blind man. I only know that they were -beautiful in the extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest -part of our intercourse was that I could read his every thought -while he could not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, -and thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to -me later and which I would never have known had he suspected my -strange power, for the Martians have such perfect control of their -mental machinery that they are able to direct their thoughts with -absolute precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. -The secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth -ray, one of the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating -from the great stone in my host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means -of finely adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge -building, three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which -the ninth ray is stored. This product is then treated electrically, -or rather certain proportions of refined electric vibrations are -incorporated with it, and the result is then pumped to the five -principal air centers of the planet where, as it is released, -contact with the ether of space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the -great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a -thousand years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was -that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty -radium pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing -all Mars with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, -he told me, he had watched these pumps which are used alternately -a day each at a stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half -Earth hours. He has one assistant who divides the watch with him. -Half a Martian year, about three hundred and forty-four of our -days, each of these men spend alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles -of the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever hold -the secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as it is -with walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely unassailable, -even the roof being guarded from assault by air craft by a glass -covering five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians -or some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the -very existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon the -uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that -the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks are -so finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action of a -certain combination of thought waves. To experiment with my new-found -toy I thought to surprise him into revealing this combination and -so I asked him in a casual manner how he had managed to unlock the -massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the building. As -quick as a flash there leaped to his mind nine Martian sounds, but -as quickly faded as he answered that this was a secret he must not -divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that -he had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to -a nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium -as they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do -not trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a long -and restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that -he had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over -me in the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half -formed words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were -cut off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to -me in my little knowledge of thought transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was -dead I could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery -of the great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of -the planet--all, even Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For -the others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought -of Dejah Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken -host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to -me; I would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought -waves I had read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down -winding runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached -the great hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. -Nowhere had I seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself -by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a -slight noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess -in the corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the -darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the dimly -lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I saw that -he held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was sharpening -it upon a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect the radium -pumps, which would take about thirty minutes, and then return to -my bed chamber and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place -and crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood -between me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine -thought waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when -finally the great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to -one side. One after the other the remaining mighty portals opened -at my command and Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, -but little better off than we had been before, other than that we -had full stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for -the first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as -quickly as possible. This I reached about morning and entering -the first enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a -habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought -any response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw myself -upon the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened -my eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from -us and covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been -a prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All -I ask is food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper -directions for reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which -was only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, -had been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground -on a large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve -sunk in the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in -the entrance hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts -and bars for their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up -out of harm's way during the night. They also have private means -for lowering or raising them from the ground without if they wish -to go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three -similar houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being -government officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, -prisoners of war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who -were too poor to pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian -governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I -spent several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long -and arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejah Thoris -and the old man of the atmosphere plant--they advised me to color -my body to more nearly resemble their own race and then attempt to -find employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after -you have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the -higher nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through -military service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," explained -one of them, "and save our richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic -bull thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. -The animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in -color and shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of -the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I anointed -my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown quite -long, in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the back and -banged in front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon Barsoom -as a full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were also -renewed in the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the house -of Ptor, which was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The -medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except -that the coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as -they require it and redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more -than he can redeem, the government pays his creditors in full and -the debtor works out the amount upon the farms or in mines, which -are all owned by the government. This suits everybody except -the debtor as it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient -voluntary labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars, -stretching as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole, through -wild stretches peopled by wild animals and wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to -me they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived -long upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until -I was out of sight upon the broad white turnpike. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive -things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, -and pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. -Along either side of these conduits, and extending their entire -length, lie the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts -of about the same size, each tract being under the supervision of -one or more government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting -immense quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is -carried underground through a vast network of small pipes directly -to the roots of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always -uniform, for there are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and -no insects, or destroying birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic -animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and vegetables, -but not a single article of food which was exactly similar to -anything on Earth. Every plant and flower and vegetable and animal -has been so refined by ages of careful, scientific cultivation and -breeding that the like of them on Earth dwindled into pale, gray, -characterless nothingness by comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble -class and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One -of the older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several -years before and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed -destined ever to keep these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of -Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors -Kajak, Dejah Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she walks -upon and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium -has been draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I -fear will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to -his place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, -the people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war -is not a popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. -Our forces took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of -Helium on their search for the princess, and so we have been able -easily to reduce the city to a sorry plight. it is said she will -fall within the next few passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a green -warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped -from the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, -only to fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were found -wandering upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict -were discovered nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was -it at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I -determined to make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly -as I could and carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter's -possible whereabouts as lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants -of Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which -is never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down -Broadway with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be -somewhat similar to that which I should have produced had I entered -Zodanga with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me -so great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just -before we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became -imperative that we separate. Had nothing further than my own -safety or pleasure been at stake no argument could have prevailed -upon me to turn away the one creature upon Barsoom that had never -failed in a demonstration of affection and loyalty; but as I would -willingly have offered my life in the service of her in search of -whom I was about to challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, -mysterious city, I could not permit even Woola's life to threaten -the success of my venture, much less his momentary happiness, for -I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so I bade the poor -beast an affectionate farewell, promising him, however, that if I -came through my adventure in safety that in some way I should find -the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with -a touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the -vast, walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the -streets were practically deserted. The residences, raised high upon -their metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the uprights -themselves presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. The -shops as a rule were not raised from the ground nor were their -doors bolted or barred, since thievery is practically unknown upon -Barsoom. Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, -and for this reason alone their homes are raised high above the -ground at night, or in times of danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be -near the offices of the government agents to whom they had given -me letters. My way led to the central square or plaza, which is -a characteristic of all Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the -palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty -and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public buildings, -cafes, and shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration -of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation -which carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking -briskly toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the -slightest attention to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, -and turning I placed my hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my -hand the point of his long-sword was at my breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me -fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and -exclaimed, laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the -further moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become -a Darseen that you can change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I -had briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the -arena at Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans -I would shortly be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus -with my revered and departed ancestors. I am here in the interest -of Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of -Dejah Thoris, our princess. Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her -hidden in the city and has fallen madly in love with her. His father, -Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has made her voluntary marriage to -his son the price of peace between our countries, but Tardos Mors -will not accede to the demands and has sent word that he and his -people would rather look upon the dead face of their princess than -see her wed to any than her own choice, and that personally he would -prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost and burning Helium to -joining the metal of his house with that of Than Kosis. His reply -was the deadliest affront he could have put upon Than Kosis and the -Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and his strength -in Helium is greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I have -not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the -Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the -confidence of Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this division -of the navy, and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am -glad that you are here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my -princess and two of us working together should be able to accomplish -much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming -upon the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening -and the cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led -me to one of these gorgeous eating places where we were served -entirely by mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from -the time it entered the building in its raw state until it emerged -hot and delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response -to the touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters -of the air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked -that I be enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with -custom an examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to -have no fear on this score as he would attend to that part of the -matter. He accomplished this by taking my order for examination -to the examining officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, -"when they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is -done and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long -before that time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little contrivances -which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of the one-man -air craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches -thick, tapering to a point at each end. The driver sits on top of -this plane upon a seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium -engine which propels it. The medium of buoyancy is contained -within the thin metal walls of the body and consists of the eighth -Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as it may be termed in view -of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no -matter from what source it emanates. They have learned that it -is the solar eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the -various planets, and that it is the individual eighth ray of each -planet which "reflects," or propels the light thus obtained out -into space once more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by -the surface of Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends -to propel light from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out -from the planet constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which -when confined is able to life enormous weights from the surface of -the ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy -balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and -control the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some -nine hundred years before, the first great battle ship to be built -with eighth ray reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity -of the rays and she had sailed up from Helium with five hundred -officers and men, never to return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had -carried her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid -of powerful telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand -miles from Mars; a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom -to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, -and as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in -the palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen -Kantos Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced -at terrific velocity toward the south, following one of the great -waterways which enter Zodanga from that direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an -hour when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors -racing madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying -to reach the confines of one of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear -of the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was -a red Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I -was attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded -by the tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing -some damage when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down -on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors -leaned low to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each -seemed striving to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and -in another moment his fate would have been sealed had it not been -for my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the warriors -I soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I rammed -the prow of my little flier between the shoulders of the nearest. -The impact sufficient to have torn through inches of solid steel, -hurled the fellow's headless body into the air over the head of -his thoat, where it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts of -the other two warriors turned squealing in terror, and bolted in -opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of -the astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely -aid and promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, -for it was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose -life I had saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would -surely return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. -Hastening to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to -finish the needed repairs and had almost completed them when we -saw the two green monsters returning at top speed from opposite -sides of us. When they had approached within a hundred yards their -thoats again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance -further toward the air craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best -he could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, -as had now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened -to return to my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate -straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon -his throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. -With a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and -with outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body -of the green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and -he sank limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries -and after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the -return voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as -these frail vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians -and troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was -black with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, -flying long streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags -of odd and picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close -beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which, -he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual -officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He -then unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore -a member of the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our -way through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly -over the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon -the small domestic bull thoats of the red Martians, and their -trappings and ornamentation bore such a quantity of gorgeously -colored feathers that I could not but be struck with the startling -resemblance the concourse bore to a band of the red Indians of my -own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence -of my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to descend. -As they waited for the troops to move into position facing the -jeddak the two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his staff -occasionally glancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation -and presently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body of -troops had wheeled into position before their emperor. A member -of the staff advanced toward the troops, and calling the name of -a soldier commanded him to advance. The officer then recited the -nature of the heroic act which had won the approval of the jeddak, -and the latter advanced and placed a metal ornament upon the left -arm of the lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine -lightly to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others -do. As I halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice -audible to the entire assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable courage -and skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than -Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is -the pleasure of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon -me, said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well -defend a cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the -person of the jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar -of The Guards and will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his -staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters -on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an -orderly from the palace to guide me I reported to the officer in -charge of the palace. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -I FIND DEJAH - - - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions -to station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, -is always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all -is fair in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian -conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which -Than Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with -his son, Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did -not perceive my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced -them. The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held -between the ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass -false ceiling a few inches below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage -which encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of -the chamber. Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long -as Than Kosis was in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. -My only duty was to guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much -as possible. I would be relieved after a period of four hours. -The major-domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance -of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could -perceive all that took place within the room as readily as though -there had been no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end -of the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the -soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak -and not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, -was Dejah Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in -hand they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in -surprise, and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of -Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, -assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my -son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples -playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative -of woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in -matters concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, -as has your son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, -but now I am, and I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words -and to accept the assurance of the Princess of Helium that when -the time comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It -is far from my desire to push war further against the people of -Helium, and, your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to -my people issued forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange -indeed to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to -give herself to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It requires -but the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, -say the word that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular -strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium take -to peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, -still followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, -to the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, -and from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love -for me, had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given -herself to the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. -I must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel -truth to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my -post and hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward -the door by which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly through -this opening I discovered a maze of winding corridors, branching -and turning in every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon became -hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall when -I heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the opposite -side of the partition against which I leaned and presently I made -out the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words but I -knew that I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end -of which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room -only to find myself in a small ante-chamber in which were the four -guards who had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and -accosted me, asking the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately -with Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of -The Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward -the opposite door of the ante-chamber, behind which I could hear -Dejah Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs -at my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me -pass in peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to -join him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my -further progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one -who had first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the -apartments of the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than -Kosis under guard to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down -your sword; you cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with -a grim smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists -and I can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had -me backed against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly -I worked my way to a corner of the room where I could force them to -come at me only one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty -minutes; the clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam -in the little room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, -and there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back -peering over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and -I knew that she did not recognize me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with -only two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down -after the fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. -The third fell within ten seconds after the second, and the last -lay dead upon the bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave -men and noble fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced -to kill them, but I would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom -could I have reached the side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, -who still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass -me in my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, -"and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot -be--no, for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. -"Do you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the -heart of your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched -hands, but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with -a shudder and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, and -whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before--but -now it is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not -have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that -I lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes -in the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to -another to save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan -army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and -all Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom -that is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless -formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than -does the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death -upon him. I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may -you call me your princess. No longer are you my chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, -but I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you -spoke to me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down -upon us, no other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant -them then, my princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is -true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them -now for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known -our ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise -would have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed -me before all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but -I would have given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended -me? You called me your princess without having asked my hand of -me, and then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not -know, and I should not have been offended; I see that now. But -there was no one to tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom -there are two kinds of women in the cities of the red men. The one -they fight for that they may ask them in marriage; the other kind -they fight for also, but never ask their hands. When a man has -won a woman he may address her as his princess, or in any of the -several terms which signify possession. You had fought for me, -but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you called me your -princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even then, John -Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until you made -it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. -"You must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian -customs. What I failed to do, through implicit belief that -my petition would be presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah -Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, and by all the Virginian fighting -blood that flows in my veins you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may -never be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the -man who slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We -are ruled by custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You -must bear the sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. -That, and the memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must -go now, nor ever see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost -to me until the ceremony had actually been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in -the mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered -Dejah Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, -and as I could never reach my original post without a guide, -suspicion would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered -wandering aimlessly through the palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. -The walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind -which I secreted myself without being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no -interest in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four -of the men to relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of -Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and -indeed they were upon me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad -had scarcely left the guardroom before one of their number burst in -again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four comrades -butchered in the antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter -through the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, -and searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for -as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell -in behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, -in passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day -coming in through a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought -for an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony -which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground -was about thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building -was a wall fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass -about a foot in thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path -would have appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength -and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear was in -being detected before darkness fell, for I could not make the leap -in broad daylight while the court below and the avenue beyond were -crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one -by accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the -ceiling of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the -capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I -settled down within it than I heard a number of people enter the -apartment. The group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could -plainly overhear their every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could -believe that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single -enemy might reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or -eight fighting men could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We -shall soon know, however, for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds -of your faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of -fighting men, but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced -by the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips -of Than Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact -the impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the -four guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the -metal of one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was -little short of marvelous for he fought fair against the entire -four and vanquished them by his surpassing skill and superhuman -strength and endurance. Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, -my Jeddak, such a man was never seen before in this or any other -country upon Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and -questioned was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could -not read one iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion -of the encounter, and that when she looked there was but one man -engaged with the guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as -ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he -went on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially -as to his fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at -once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now -that I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting -man in Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. -And his name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon -Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he -knew as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity -among the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He -also is a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, -and where one is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple -the air patrol, and let every man who leaves the city by air or -ground be subjected to the closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within -the palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, -"and not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the -guards, other than that which was recorded of him at the time he -entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, -"and in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the -Princess of Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She -may know more than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few -were in sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang -quickly to the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue -beyond the palace grounds. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -LOST IN THE SKY - - - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared -the building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that -the place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered -near the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means -of reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were -situated was through an adjoining building, and after considerable -maneuvering I managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors -away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment -I stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise -at my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour -of duty must have ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, -and when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news -that Dejah Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with -dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess -to the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we -of Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate -the horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a -resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from -this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I -can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for -personal reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that -frees Dejah Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is -promised to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the -shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand -upon your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall -go out at the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, -for Dejah Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to -reach his quarters in the palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force -patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air -of confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at -last. "I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle -of the highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was -passing above the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required -that we investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a -face peering from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, -to me, most unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that -the possessor of the peering face was none other than Sab Than. -He was slightly put out at being detected and commanded me to keep -the matter to myself, explaining that the passage from the tower -led directly to his apartments, and was known only to him. If I -can reach the roof of the barracks and get my machine I can be in -Sab Than's quarters in five minutes; but how am I to escape from -this building, guarded as you say it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the -street and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the -building, filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, -who, in common with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully -a thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were -higher than these barracks, though several topped it by a few -hundred feet; the docks of the great battleships of the line standing -some fifteen hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and -passenger stations of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught -with much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the -task. The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate -made the feat much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found -ornamental ledges and projections which fairly formed a perfect -ladder for me all the way to the eaves of the building. Here I -met my first real obstacle. The eaves projected nearly twenty feet -from the wall to which I clung, and though I encircled the great -building I could find no opening through them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof -through the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not -risk a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one -of the long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which -dangled a great hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides -and bottoms of their craft for various purposes of repair, and by -means of which landing parties are lowered to the ground from the -battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its -hold, but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not -know. It might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the -roof, so that as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would -slip off and launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon -the supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the -strap. Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard -pavements, and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the -supporting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned -me cold with apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver -I found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by -the merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come -up from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, -or I call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close -a shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning toward -the edge of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my -strap, hung all my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and -to his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped -him by his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the -roof. The weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked -off his attempted cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and -then hung him over the edge of the roof as I myself had hung a -few moments before. I knew it would be morning before he would be -discovered, and I needed all the time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon -had out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast behind -mine I started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I -dove down into the streets of the city far below the plane usually -occupied by the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling -safely upon the roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos -Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided -that I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the -palace and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow -me. He set my compass for me, a clever little device which will -remain steadfastly fixed upon any given point on the surface of -Barsoom, and bidding each other farewell we rose together and sped -in the direction of the palace which lay in the route which I must -take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing -its piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared -out a command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention -to his hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while -I rose steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian -sky followed by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the -pursuit, and later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and -a battery of rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little -machine, now rising and now falling, I managed to elude their -search-lights most of the time, but I was also losing ground by these -tactics, and so I decided to hazard everything on a straight-away -course and leave the result to fate and the speed of my machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only -to the navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our -machines, so that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I -could dodge their projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, -and I was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a -well-directed shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my little -craft. The concussion nearly capsized her, and with a sickening -plunge she hurtled downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not -know, but I must have been very close to the ground when I started -to rise again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below -me. Rising again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally -making out their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, -evidently in search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I -venture to flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found -to my consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly -destroyed my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true -I could follow the stars in the general direction of Helium, but -without knowing the exact location of the city or the speed at -which I was traveling my chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my -compass intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in -between four and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning -found me speeding over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after -nearly six hours of continuous flight at high speed. Presently a -great city showed below me, but it was not Helium, as that alone -of all Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular -walled cities about seventy-five miles apart and would have been -easily distinguishable from the altitude at which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned -back in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon -several other large cities, but none resembling the description which -Kantos Kan had given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city -formation of Helium, another distinguishing feature is the two -immense towers, one of vivid scarlet rising nearly a mile into -the air from the center of one of the cities, while the other, of -bright yellow and of the same height, marks her sister. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and -as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several -thousand green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had -I seen them than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with -the almost unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was -instantly a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged -in life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for -an instant separate himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, -with good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground -with drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of -battle, I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as -I was a trifle behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing -him, and whom I recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. -The mighty fellow made quick work of one of them, but in stepping -back for another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and was -down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick as lightning -they were upon him, and Tars Tarkas would have been gathered to his -fathers in short order had I not sprung before his prostrate form -and engaged his adversaries. I had accounted for one of them when -the mighty Thark regained his feet and quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I -think I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my -friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle -turned and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon -their thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and -upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side -asked or gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to -Tars Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain -attended the customary council which immediately follows an -engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. -It was Woola--faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back -to Thark and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to -my former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly -hopeless watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars Tarkas, -on his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw and recognized -you as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to bring you -before him tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you may take -your choice from among them, and I will accompany you to the nearest -waterway that leads to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a cruel green -warrior, but he can be a friend as well. Come, we must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling -with Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall -not sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have -the chance you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, -and that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to -the most horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which -Sola had told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march -to Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in -passion and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been -heaped upon the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, -terrible existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any -future misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were instrumental -in bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. -I have just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has -learned of your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, -Sarkoja, it is not our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him -tying one end of a strap about your neck and the other end to a wild -thoat, merely to test your fitness to survive and help perpetuate -our race. Having heard that he would do this on the morrow, I -thought it only right to warn you, for I am a just man. The river -Iss is but a short pilgrimage, Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely -wait to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering -at the entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it is -dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own -hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute -my person with his vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council -and ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today -I have fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest -warrior. You owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much -today. You claim to be just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as I -command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to -set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus -fumed and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your -mighty jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the -thick of battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and -little children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen -him fight with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled -him with a single blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks -fashion their jeddaks? There stands beside me now a great Thark, -a mighty warrior and a noble man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must -prove his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite -Tars Tarkas to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is -afraid; Tal Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands -I could kill him, and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted -upon Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green -of his countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never -in my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. -There could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." -And still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal -Hajus, prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus -drew his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the -dead monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank -I had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among -them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars -Tarkas, as well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist -them in my cause against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of -my adventures, and in a few words had explained to him the thought -I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the council, -"which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. -Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now -held by the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her -country from devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. -The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought -that had we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain -sufficient assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the -size and frequency of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably -supreme among the green men of all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to -the bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half -hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead -sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred -thousand strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services -of three smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at -the heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we -were all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars -Tarkas, through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted -fifty thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days -after we set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled -city of Zodanga, one hundred and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious -green monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red -men. Never in the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had -such a force of green warriors marched to battle together. It was -a monstrous task to keep even a semblance of harmony among them, -and it was a marvel to me that he got them to the city without a -mighty battle among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged by -their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for the Zodangans, -who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of extermination against -the green men, directing special attention toward despoiling their -incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the -city devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces -in two divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division -opposite a large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and -approached one of the small gates that pierced the walls at short -intervals. These gates have no regular guard, but are covered by -sentries, who patrol the avenue that encircles the city just within -the walls as our metropolitan police patrol their beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the -task of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, -an impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany -me were of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know -me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, -I commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I -ordered to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head of -the topmost warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps -from the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting -from a short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier -to the next, and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of -the highest I clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew -myself to its broad expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of -leather from an equal number of my warriors. These lengths we had -previously fastened together, and passing one end to the topmost -warrior I lowered the other end cautiously over the opposite side of -the wall toward the avenue below. No one was in sight, so, lowering -myself to the end of my leather strap, I dropped the remaining -thirty feet to the pavement below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, -and in another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within -the doomed city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of -the enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the -distance a blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined -to lead a detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, -while the balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of -the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty Tharks, -with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to capture and -open one of the great gates while with the nine remaining I took -the other. We were to do our work quietly, no shots were to be -fired and no general advance made until I had reached the palace -with my fifty Tharks. Our plans worked to perfection. The two -sentries we met were dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of -the lost sea of Korus, and the guards at both gates followed them -in silence. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed -by Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led them -to the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without assistance. -Once inside, however, the gate gave me considerable trouble, but I -finally was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges, and -soon my fierce escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak -of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows -of the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber -of Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their -women, as though some important function was in progress. There -was not a guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the -fact that the city and palace walls were considered impregnable, -and so I came close and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted with -diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by officers -and dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad aisle -lined on either side with soldiery, and as I looked there entered -this aisle at the far end of the hall, the head of a procession -which advanced to the foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing -a huge salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a -great golden chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly -behind these officers came four others carrying a similar salver -which supported the magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess -of the reigning house of Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a -feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot -of the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had -entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple -standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently -two officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the -figures, and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for -it was Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers -and placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, springing -the padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than -he turned to the other figure, from which the officers now removed -the enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed -the most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments -were adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold -swung open in the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above -my head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the -great window and sprang into the midst of the astonished assemblage. -With a bound I was on the steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, -and as he stood riveted with surprise I brought my long-sword down -upon the golden chain that would have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced -me from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled -dagger he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed -him as easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom -stayed my hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward -my heart I held him as though in a vise and with my long-sword -pointed to the far end of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his -fifty warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word -of fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were -hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris -to my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than -Kosis now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant -we were engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up -the steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, -Dejah Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot -that made Sab Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead -upon the floor the new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' -grasp, and again we faced each other. He was soon joined by a -quartet of officers, and, with my back against a golden throne, I -fought once again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend -myself and yet not strike down Sab Than and, with him, my last -chance to win the woman I loved. My blade was swinging with the -rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry the thrusts and cuts of -my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was down, when several -more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to avenge the death -of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! Strike -her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward -the little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized -my intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked -my chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah -Thoris against any army of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, -and I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save -Dejah Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through -the crowd of pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of -his mighty longsword he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he -hewed a pathway before him until in another moment he stood upon -the platform beside me, dealing death and destruction right and -left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted -to escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and -myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower -of Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody -shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, and -leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen warriors -and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The jailers had -all left to join the fighters in the throne room, so we searched -the labyrinthine prison without opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and compartment, -and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. Guided by -the sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the -fight, faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told -me that the air patrol had captured him before he reached the high -tower of the palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the -bars and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I -returned to search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open -the padlocks of his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon -we had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to -us from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct -the fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, -the green warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for -other Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left -alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to -her she greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom -has never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are -as you? Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you -have done in a few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom -no man has ever done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea -bottoms and brought them to fight as allies of a red Martian people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was -not I who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that -would work greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am -free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I returned. -"I have done many strange things in my life, many things that wiser -men would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies have -I dreamed of winning a Dejah Thoris for myself--for never had I -dreamed that in all the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess -of Helium. That you are a princess does not abash me, but that -you are you is enough to make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my -princess, to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his -plea before the plea were made," she replied, rising and placing -her dear hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and -kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true -daughter of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to -John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely -destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected -from within. Several battleships had escaped, but there were -thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we -could, man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners and -make for Helium without further loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings -with a fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly -one hundred thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports -with our thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal clutches -of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. They -were looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In -a hundred places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense -smoke were rising above the city as though to blot out from the -eye of heaven the horrid sights beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow -towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan -battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, -and advanced to meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each -of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to -realize that we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had -opened fire upon them almost as they left the ground. With their -uncanny marksmanship they raked the on-coming fleet with volley -after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent -out hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real -air battle I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above -the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries -were useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have -no skill in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most -effective, and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly -influenced, if not wholly determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring -broadside after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole -was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the -Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely over, the little -figures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground -a thousand feet below; then with sickening velocity she tore after -them, almost completely burying herself in the soft loam of the -ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising -above the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering -battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet -tower of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but -they were soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, -and above each hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop -boarding parties upon their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers -the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered -Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these -mighty fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that -surrender should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth -of the commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the -brave fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped -from the towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an -end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and -when she was within hailing distance I called out that we had the -Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her -to the flagship that she might be taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great -cry arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the -colors of the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon -her upper works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the -meaning of the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim -and unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now -came forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at -sight of Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, -crowding about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other -than her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for -they were men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, -and she knew them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to -them, turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess -as well as her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won -the aid of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of -Dejah Thoris, and the relief of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "and -here he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen, -Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward -me they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my -surprise, was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly -speech. Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely -formal, and their ways lend themselves amazingly well to dignified -and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that -I would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but -partly won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans -to account for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had -been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to -have the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with -our land attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris -was borne in triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos -Mors, Jeddak of Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these -beasts upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and -so we put out for a point about ten miles from the city and began -the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and -this work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. -Twice we were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with -little loss, however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command -to advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp -from the north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, -as had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. -With wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of -battle-enraged thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle -line confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward -noon, I began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered -from pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, -while pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green -warriors. The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we -receive any word from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty thoats -bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. At -the same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the opposite -breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they were being -crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city's -gates, a huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which -were the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within -the city during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round -of applause and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, -and precious jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. -Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates -of Helium, and that they came now as friends and allies filled the -red men with rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat -as we passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of -the ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about -me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and -his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together -with myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos -Mors an expression of his gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of -the palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps -one of their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as -an arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a -ruler of men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, -Jeddak of Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest -living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may -lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far greater -boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for -a man of another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the -meaning of friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of -Thark can understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate -the sentiments so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and -to each spoke words of friendship and appreciation - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and -without one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all -Helium, yes, on all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and -father of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors -and seemed even more affected by the meeting than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his -voice choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, -as I was to later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness -as a fighter that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In -common with all Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he -think of what she had escaped without deep emotion. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted -and entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted -by ten thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they -started on the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser -Helium with a small party of nobles accompanied them all the way -to Thark to cement more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched -to Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah -Thoris and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed -never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that -did not bring some new proof of their love for my princess, the -incomparable Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white -egg. For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak's Guard had -constantly stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the -city that Dejah Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before -our little shrine planning for the future, when the delicate shell -should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat -there talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven -our lives together and of this wonder which was coming to augment -our happiness and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a -sight. Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its -very speed bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for -the jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat -which must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to -the council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that -body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back -and forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he -turned toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from -a score of capitals elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter -in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a -thousand cruisers have been searching for him until just now one -of them returns bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits -beneath his house horribly mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would -take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has -already commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine -of the pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for -hundreds of years now; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The -instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of -Barsoom--the engine has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young -noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head -addressed Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity -to show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as -though a thousand useful years still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to -do than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our -ways with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had -reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank -whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of -air, but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult -at the higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas -of Helium were filled with people. All business had ceased. For -the most part the people looked bravely into the face of their -unalterable doom. Here and there, however, men and women gave way -to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands -into the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family -had collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the -palace. We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the -awe of the grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed -to feel the weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close -to Dejah Thoris and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace -at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing longingly upon -the unknown little life that now she would never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors -arose, saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of -Barsoom are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world -which through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens -peopled not even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong -hand upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head -was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. -With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! -It is cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon -a life of love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia -sprang to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be -some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange -world for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious -mind a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of -lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned upon me--the -key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying -love to my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace -top. I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing -to the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at -the rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout -machine that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would -have followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old -agility and strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in -another moment I was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all -Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only -a few feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against -time with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. -As I turned for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen -her stagger and sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. -That she had dropped into the last coma which would end in death, -if the air supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, -throwing caution to the winds, I flung overboard everything but -the engine and compass, even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly -along the deck with one hand on the steering wheel and the other -pushing the speed lever to its last notch I split the thin air of -dying Mars with the speed of a meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the -ground before the small door which was withholding the spark of -life from the inhabitants of an entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce -the wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, -and now most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air -would awaken them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the engines?" -I asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one -else upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three -days men crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain -attempts to solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled -the nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian -had crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single -panel before us we waited in the silence of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump -room turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has -to exist tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and -as I saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees -through the last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments -were upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me -as I rose to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I -had been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which -showed through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets -and in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled -paper. One of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted -up what appeared to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I -discovered a strange, still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As -I approached it I saw that it was the dead and mummified remains -of a little old woman with long black hair, and the thing it leaned -over was a small charcoal burner upon which rested a round copper -vessel containing a small quantity of greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and -stretching entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. -From the thong which held them stretched another to the dead hand -of the little old woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung -to the motion with a noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out into -the fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge -which ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered mountains -in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in the sky, the -cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I could scarcely -believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself upon me--I -was looking upon Arizona from the same ledge from which ten years -before I had gazed with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down -the trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach -the people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my -Dejah Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death -beside the tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner -courtyard of the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my questions. -For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken back to the -world of my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside her there -than live on Earth all those millions of terrible miles from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously -wealthy; but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, -just twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon -Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by -my desk, and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not -called before since that long dead night, and I think I can see, -across that awful abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman -standing in the garden of a palace, and at her side is a little -boy who puts his arm around her as she points into the sky toward -the planet Earth, while at their feet is a huge and hideous creature -with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells -me that I shall soon know. - - -End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Princess of Mars -by Edgar Rice Burroughs - diff --git a/old/pmars12.zip b/old/pmars12.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dfd637a..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars12h.htm b/old/pmars12h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index fd6534a..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7935 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> -<html> -<head> -<title>Princess of Mars</title> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= -"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> -<style type="text/css"> -<!-- -body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} -blockquote {font-size:14pt} -P {font-size:14pt} ---> -</style> -</head> -<body> -The Project Gutenberg Etext of Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice -Burroughs (#1 in The Martian Tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs) <br> -<p>Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to -check the laws for your country before redistributing these -files!!!<br> -</p> - -Please take a look at the important information in this header. -We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an -electronic path open for the next readers. <br> -<p>Please do not remove this.<br> -</p> - -This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. -Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* -<br> - -<br><br><br><br> -<h1>A Princess Of Mars</h1> -<br><br> -<h2>By Edgar Rice Burroughs</h2> -<br><br><br> -<br> - - -<h1 id="ref_1">CHAPTER I</h1> - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a -hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never -aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I -can recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I -appear today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel -that I cannot go on living forever; that some day I shall die the -real death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why -I should fear death, I who have died twice and am still alive; -but yet I have the same horror of it as you who have never died, -and it is because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am -so convinced of my mortality. <br> -<p>And because of this conviction I have determined to write down -the story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. -I cannot explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the -words of an ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the -strange events that befell me during the ten years that my dead -body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave.<br> -</p> - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this -manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know -that the average human mind will not believe what it cannot -grasp, and so I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, the -pulpit, and the press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am -but telling the simple truths which some day science will -substantiate. Possibly the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, -and the knowledge which I can set down in this chronicle, will -aid in an earlier understanding of the mysteries of our sister -planet; mysteries to you, but no longer mysteries to me. <br> -<p>My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack -Carter of Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself -possessed of several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a -captain's commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no -longer existed; the servant of a state which had vanished with -the hopes of the South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only -means of livelihood, fighting, gone, I determined to work my way -to the southwest and attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a -search for gold.<br> -</p> - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another -Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We were -extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after many -hardships and privations, we located the most remarkable -gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest dreams had ever -pictured. Powell, who was a mining engineer by education, stated -that we had uncovered over a million dollars worth of ore in a -trifle over three months. <br> -<p>As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one -of us must return to civilization, purchase the necessary -machinery and return with a sufficient force of men properly to -work the mine.<br> -</p> - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the -mechanical requirements of mining we determined that it would be -best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold -down our claim against the remote possibility of its being jumped -by some wandering prospector. <br> -<p>On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of -our burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and -started down the mountainside toward the valley, across which led -the first stage of his journey.<br> -</p> - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little -pack animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the -valley, and all during the morning I would catch occasional -glimpses of them as they topped a hog back or came out upon a -level plateau. My last sight of Powell was about three in the -afternoon as he entered the shadows of the range on the opposite -side of the valley. <br> -<p>Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the -valley and was much surprised to note three little dots in about -the same place I had last seen my friend and his two pack -animals. I am not given to needless worrying, but the more I -tried to convince myself that all was well with Powell, and that -the dots I had seen on his trail were antelope or wild horses, -the less I was able to assure myself.<br> -</p> - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile -Indian, and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, -and were wont to ridicule the stories we had heard of the great -numbers of these vicious marauders that were supposed to haunt -the trails, taking their toll in lives and torture of every white -party which fell into their merciless clutches. <br> -<p>Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced -Indian fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among -the Sioux in the North, and I knew that his chances were small -against a party of cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could -endure the suspense no longer, and, arming myself with my two -Colt revolvers and a carbine, I strapped two belts of cartridges -about me and catching my saddle horse, started down the trail -taken by Powell in the morning.<br> -</p> - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount -into a canter and continued this, where the going permitted, -until, close upon dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks -joined those of Powell. They were the tracks of unshod ponies, -three of them, and the ponies had been galloping. <br> -<p>I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced -to await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to -speculate on the question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I -had conjured up impossible dangers, like some nervous old -housewife, and when I should catch up with Powell would get a -good laugh for my pains. However, I am not prone to -sensitiveness, and the following of a sense of duty, wherever it -may lead, has always been a kind of fetich with me throughout my -life; which may account for the honors bestowed upon me by three -republics and the decorations and friendships of an old and -powerful emperor and several lesser kings, in whose service my -sword has been red many a time.<br> -</p> - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to -proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail -at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about -midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell had expected to -camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely -deserted, with no signs of having been recently occupied as a -camp. <br> -<p>I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing -horsemen, for such I was now convinced they must be, continued -after Powell with only a brief stop at the hole for water; and -always at the same rate of speed as his.<br> -</p> - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they -wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the -torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, -hoping against hope that I would catch up with the red rascals -before they attacked him. <br> -<p>Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report -of two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me -now if ever, and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed -up the narrow and difficult mountain trail.<br> -</p> - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing -further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, -open plateau near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a -narrow, overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this -table land, and the sight which met my eyes filled me with -consternation and dismay. <br> -<p>The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, -and there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered -around some object near the center of the camp. Their attention -was so wholly riveted to this point of interest that they did not -notice me, and I easily could have turned back into the dark -recesses of the gorge and made my escape with perfect safety. The -fact, however, that this thought did not occur to me until the -following day removes any possible right to a claim to heroism to -which the narration of this episode might possibly otherwise -entitle me.<br> -</p> - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes -heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my -voluntary acts have placed me face to face with death, I cannot -recall a single one where any alternative step to that I took -occurred to me until many hours later. My mind is evidently so -constituted that I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty -without recourse to tiresome mental processes. However that may -be, I have never regretted that cowardice is not optional with -me. <br> -<p>In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was -the center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I -do not know, but within an instant from the moment the scene -broke upon my view I had whipped out my revolvers and was -charging down upon the entire army of warriors, shooting rapidly, -and whooping at the top of my lungs. Singlehanded, I could not -have pursued better tactics, for the red men, convinced by sudden -surprise that not less than a regiment of regulars was upon them, -turned and fled in every direction for their bows, arrows, and -rifles.<br> -</p> - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona -moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile -arrows of the braves. That he was already dead I could not but be -convinced, and yet I would have saved his body from mutilation at -the hands of the Apaches as quickly as I would have saved the man -himself from death. <br> -<p>Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and -grasping his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my -mount. A backward glance convinced me that to return by the way I -had come would be more hazardous than to continue across the -plateau, so, putting spurs to my poor beast, I made a dash for -the opening to the pass which I could distinguish on the far side -of the table land.<br> -</p> - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I -was pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact -that it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately -by moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected -manner of my advent, and that I was a rather rapidly moving -target saved me from the various deadly projectiles of the enemy -and permitted me to reach the shadows of the surrounding peaks -before an orderly pursuit could be organized. <br> -<p>My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I -had probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to -the pass than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile -which led to the summit of the range and not to the pass which I -had hoped would carry me to the valley and to safety. It is -probable, however, that to this fact I owe my life and the -remarkable experiences and adventures which befell me during the -following ten years.<br> -</p> - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I -heard the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and -fainter far off to my left. <br> -<p>I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged -rock formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which -my horse had borne me and the body of Powell.<br> -</p> - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail -below and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages -disappearing around the point of a neighboring peak. <br> -<p>I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the -wrong trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the -right direction as soon as they located my tracks.<br> -</p> - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The -trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general -direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred -feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly -perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine. <br> -<p>I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a -sharp turn to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. -The opening was about four feet in height and three to four feet -wide, and at this opening the trail ended.<br> -</p> - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is -a startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight -almost without warning. <br> -<p>Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most -painstaking examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of -life. I forced water from my canteen between his dead lips, -bathed his face and rubbed his hands, working over him -continuously for the better part of an hour in the face of the -fact that I knew him to be dead.<br> -</p> - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every -respect; a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true -friend; and it was with a feeling of the deepest grief that I -finally gave up my crude endeavors at resuscitation. <br> -<p>Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into -the cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a -hundred feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a -smooth and well-worn floor, and many other evidences that the -cave had, at some remote period, been inhabited. The back of the -cave was so lost in dense shadow that I could not distinguish -whether there were openings into other apartments or not.<br> -</p> - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of -my long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement -of the fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my -present location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to -the cave against an army. <br> -<p>I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the -strong desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few -moments' rest, but I knew that this would never do, as it would -mean certain death at the hands of my red friends, who might be -upon me at any moment. With an effort I started toward the -opening of the cave only to reel drunkenly against a side wall, -and from there slip prone upon the floor.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_2">CHAPTER II</h1> - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, -and I was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when -the sound of approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to -spring to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles -refused to respond to my will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as -unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, -for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the -cave. It was extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the -opening which led to daylight. There also came to my nostrils a -faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume that I had been -overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental -faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. <br> -<p>I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the -short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of -the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the -approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were -creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to -my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make short -work of me as I did not particularly relish the thought of the -innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit prompted -them.<br> -</p> - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of -their nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was -thrust cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage -eyes looked into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of -the cave I was sure for the early morning sun was falling full -upon me through the opening. <br> -<p>The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; -his eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage -face appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their -necks over the shoulders of their fellows whom they could not -pass upon the narrow ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and -fear, but for what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until -ten years later. That there were still other braves behind those -who regarded me was apparent from the fact that the leaders -passed back whispered word to those behind them.<br> -</p> - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the -recesses of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of -the Indians, they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So -frantic were their efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind -me that one of the braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to -the rocks below. Their wild cries echoed in the canyon for a -short time, and then all was still once more. <br> -<p>The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it -had been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the -possible horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a -relative term and so I can only measure my feelings at that time -by what I had experienced in previous positions of danger and by -those that I have passed through since; but I can say without -shame that if the sensations I endured during the next few -minutes were fear, then may God help the coward, for cowardice is -of a surety its own punishment.<br> -</p> - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and -unknown danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache -warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly -flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome -predicaments for a man who had ever been used to fighting for his -life with all the energy of a powerful physique. <br> -<p>Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of -somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and -I was left to the contemplation of my position without -interruption. I could but vaguely conjecture the cause of my -paralysis, and my only hope lay in that it might pass off as -suddenly as it had fallen upon me.<br> -</p> - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with -dragging rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, -evidently in search of food and water, and I was left alone with -my mysterious unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, -which lay just within my range of vision upon the ledge where I -had placed it in the early morning. <br> -<p>From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence -of the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke -upon my startled ears, and there came again from the black -shadows the sound of a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of -dead leaves. The shock to my already overstrained nervous system -was terrible in the extreme, and with a superhuman effort I -strove to break my awful bonds. It was an effort of the mind, of -the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I could not move even -so much as my little finger, but none the less mighty for all -that. And then something gave, there was a momentary feeling of -nausea, a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and I -stood with my back against the wall of the cave facing my unknown -foe.<br> -</p> - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay -my own body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes -staring toward the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon -the ground. I looked first at my lifeless clay there upon the -floor of the cave and then down at myself in utter bewilderment; -for there I lay clothed, and yet here I stood but naked as at the -minute of my birth. <br> -<p>The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it -left me for a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange -metamorphosis. My first thought was, is this then death! Have I -indeed passed over forever into that other life! But I could not -well believe this, as I could feel my heart pounding against my -ribs from the exertion of my efforts to release myself from the -anaesthesis which had held me. My breath was coming in quick, -short gasps, cold sweat stood out from every pore of my body, and -the ancient experiment of pinching revealed the fact that I was -anything other than a wraith.<br> -</p> - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked -and unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing -which menaced me. <br> -<p>My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My -carbine was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse -had wandered off I was left without means of defense. My only -alternative seemed to lie in flight and my decision was -crystallized by a recurrence of the rustling sound from the thing -which now seemed, in the darkness of the cave and to my distorted -imagination, to be creeping stealthily upon me.<br> -</p> - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible -place I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of -a clear Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the -cave acted as an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new -courage coursing through me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge -I upbraided myself for what now seemed to me wholly unwarranted -apprehension. I reasoned with myself that I had lain helpless for -many hours within the cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my -better judgment, when permitted the direction of clear and -logical reasoning, convinced me that the noises I had heard must -have resulted from purely natural and harmless causes; probably -the conformation of the cave was such that a slight breeze had -caused the sounds I heard. <br> -<p>I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill -my lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. -As I did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of -rocky gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the -moonlight into a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous -enchantment.<br> -</p> - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an -Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the -distance, the strange lights and shadows upon hog back and -arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful -cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as though -one were catching for the first time a glimpse of some dead and -forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of any other -spot upon our earth. <br> -<p>As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the -landscape to the heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous -and fitting canopy for the wonders of the earthly scene. My -attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close to the -distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of -overpowering fascination--it was Mars, the god of war, and for -me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of -irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night -it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, -to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron.<br> -</p> - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt -myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless -immensity of space. There was an instant of extreme cold and -utter darkness. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_3">CHAPTER III</h1> - -MY ADVENT ON MARS <br> -<br> -<p>I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew -that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or -my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my -inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as -your conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not -question the fact; neither did I.<br> -</p> - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike -vegetation which stretched around me in all directions for -interminable miles. I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular -basin, along the outer verge of which I could distinguish the -irregularities of low hills. <br> -<p>It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat -of it was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than -would have been true under similar conditions on an Arizona -desert. Here and there were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing -rock which glistened in the sunlight; and a little to my left, -perhaps a hundred yards, appeared a low, walled enclosure about -four feet in height. No water, and no other vegetation than the -moss was in evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty I determined -to do a little exploring.<br> -</p> - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for -the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing -upright, carried me into the Martian air to the height of about -three yards. I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without -appreciable shock or jar. Now commenced a series of evolutions -which even then seemed ludicrous in the extreme. I found that I -must learn to walk all over again, as the muscular exertion which -carried me easily and safely upon Earth played strange antics -with me upon Mars. <br> -<p>Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my -attempts to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me -clear of the ground a couple of feet at each step and landed me -sprawling upon my face or back at the end of each second or third -hop. My muscles, perfectly attuned and accustomed to the force of -gravity on Earth, played the mischief with me in attempting for -the first time to cope with the lesser gravitation and lower air -pressure on Mars.<br> -</p> - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was -the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the -unique plan of reverting to first principles in locomotion, -creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a few moments had -reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure. <br> -<p>There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest -me, but as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously -gained my feet and peered over the top upon the strangest sight -it had ever been given me to see.<br> -</p> - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five -inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large -eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly -uniform in size being about two and one-half feet in diameter. -<br> -<p>Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures -which sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to -doubt my sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny -bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as I afterward learned, two -legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs which could -be used at will either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at -the extreme sides of their heads a trifle above the center and -protruded in such a manner that they could be directed either -forward or back and also independently of each other, thus -permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or in two -directions at once, without the necessity of turning the -head.<br> -</p> - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, -were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch -on these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits -in the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and -ears. <br> -<p>There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite -soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the -male than in the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not -so out of proportion to their bodies as in the case of the -young.<br> -</p> - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil -is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. -These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise -fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve -upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes of earthly -human beings are located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that -of ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against -the dark background of their olive skins their tusks stand out in -a most striking manner, making these weapons present a singularly -formidable appearance. <br> -<p>Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but -little time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I -had seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I -stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their -shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown -Martians from behind me.<br> -</p> - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which -covers practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception -of the frozen areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated -districts, they might have captured me easily, but their -intentions were far more sinister. It was the rattling of the -accouterments of the foremost warrior which warned me. <br> -<p>On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I -escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party -swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to -strike against the butt of his great metal shod spear I should -have snuffed out without ever knowing that death was near me. But -the little sound caused me to turn, and there upon me, not ten -feet from my breast, was the point of that huge spear, a spear -forty feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, and held low at the -side of a mounted replica of the little devils I had been -watching.<br> -</p> - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and -terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man -himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in -height and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred -pounds. He sat his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal's -barrel with his lower limbs, while the hands of his two right -arms held his immense spear low at the side of his mount; his two -left arms were outstretched laterally to help preserve his -balance, the thing he rode having neither bridle or reins of any -description for guidance. <br> -<p>And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered -ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad -flat tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held -straight out behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its -head from its snout to its long, massive neck.<br> -</p> - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a -dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was -white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and -hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were -heavily padded and nailless, which fact had also contributed to -the noiselessness of their approach, and, in common with a -multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the fauna of -Mars. The highest type of man and one other animal, the only -mammal existing on Mars, alone have well-formed nails, and there -are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence there. <br> -<p>Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, -similar in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing -individual characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as -no two of us are identical although we are all cast in a similar -mold. This picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I -have described at length, made but one terrible and swift -impression on me as I turned to meet it.<br> -</p> - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested -itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and -that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging -spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time -superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for -such I had determined it must be. <br> -<p>My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less -than it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried -me fully thirty feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet -from my pursuers and on the opposite side of the enclosure.<br> -</p> - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and -turning saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were -surveying me with expressions which I afterward discovered marked -extreme astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying -themselves that I had not molested their young. <br> -<p>They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating -and pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the -little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to -look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, -the thing which weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of -hurdling.<br> -</p> - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and -they are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they -must overcome. The result is that they are infinitely less agile -and less powerful, in proportion to their weight, than an Earth -man, and I doubt that were one of them suddenly to be transported -to Earth he could lift his own weight from the ground; in fact, I -am convinced that he could not do so. <br> -<p>My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been -upon Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly -looked upon me as a wonderful discovery to be captured and -exhibited among their fellows.<br> -</p> - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely -the appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate -these people in my mind from those other warriors who, only the -day before, had been pursuing me. <br> -<p>I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in -addition to the huge spear which I have described. The weapon -which caused me to decide against an attempt at escape by flight -was what was evidently a rifle of some description, and which I -felt, for some reason, they were peculiarly efficient in -handling.<br> -</p> - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I -learned later was a very light and intensely hard growth much -prized on Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The -metal of the barrel is an alloy composed principally of aluminum -and steel which they have learned to temper to a hardness far -exceeding that of the steel with which we are familiar. The -weight of these rifles is comparatively little, and with the -small caliber, explosive, radium projectiles which they use, and -the great length of the barrel, they are deadly in the extreme -and at ranges which would be unthinkable on Earth. The theoretic -effective radius of this rifle is three hundred miles, but the -best they can do in actual service when equipped with their -wireless finders and sighters is but a trifle over two hundred -miles. <br> -<p>This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for -the Martian firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned -me against an attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the -muzzles of twenty of these death-dealing machines.<br> -</p> - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode -away in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of -their number alone by the enclosure. When they had covered -perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and turning their mounts -toward us sat watching the warrior by the enclosure. <br> -<p>He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and -was evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they -seemed to have moved to their present position at his direction. -When his force had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his -spear and small arms, and came around the end of the incubator -toward me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the -ornaments strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast.<br> -</p> - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an -enormous metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm -of his hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a -language, it is needless to say, I could not understand. He then -stopped as though waiting for my reply, pricking up his -antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking eyes still -further toward me. <br> -<p>As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, -on Mars!<br> -</p> - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and -explained to him that while I did not understand his language, -his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that at the -present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course I might have -been a babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried -to him, but he understood the action with which I immediately -followed my words. <br> -<p>Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet -from his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; -smiled at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an -answering smile, and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine -we turned and walked back toward his mount. At the same time he -motioned his followers to advance. They started toward us on a -wild run, but were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he -feared that were I to be really frightened again I might jump -entirely out of the landscape.<br> -</p> - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I -would ride behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. -The fellow designated reached down two or three hands and lifted -me up behind him on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on -as best I could by the belts and straps which held the Martian's -weapons and ornaments. <br> -<p>The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the -range of hills in the distance.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_4">CHAPTER IV</h1> - -A PRISONER <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of -one of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter -with the Martians had taken place. <br> -<p>In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far -extremity of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an -enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it by what -appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, but -only to the edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a -flight of broad steps.<br> -</p> - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the -buildings were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the -appearance of not having been tenanted for years, possibly for -ages. Toward the center of the city was a large plaza, and upon -this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it were camped -some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same breed as my -captors, for such I now considered them despite the suave manner -in which I had been trapped. <br> -<p>With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The -women varied in appearance but little from the men, except that -their tusks were much larger in proportion to their height, in -some instances curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their -bodies were smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers and -toes bore the rudiments of nails, which were entirely lacking -among the males. The adult females ranged in height from ten to -twelve feet.<br> -</p> - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, -and all looked precisely alike to me, except that some were -taller than others; older, I presumed. <br> -<p>I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any -appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of -maturity, about forty, until, at about the age of one thousand -years, they go voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage -down the river Iss, which leads no living Martian knows whither -and from whose bosom no Martian has ever returned, or would be -allowed to live did he return after once embarking upon its cold, -dark waters.<br> -</p> - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, -and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The -other nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, -in hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the -greatest death loss comes during the age of childhood, when vast -numbers of the little Martians fall victims to the great white -apes of Mars. <br> -<p>The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of -maturity is about three hundred years, but would be nearer the -one-thousand mark were it not for the various means leading to -violent death. Owing to the waning resources of the planet it -evidently became necessary to counteract the increasing longevity -which their remarkable skill in therapeutics and surgery -produced, and so human life has come to be considered but lightly -on Mars, as is evidenced by their dangerous sports and the almost -continual warfare between the various communities.<br> -</p> - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the -fact that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a -weapon of destruction. <br> -<p>As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed -anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the -leader of the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a -trot across the plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an -edifice as mortal eye has rested upon.<br> -</p> - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was -constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and -brilliant stones which sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. -The main entrance was some hundred feet in width and projected -from the building proper to form a huge canopy above the entrance -hall. There was no stairway, but a gentle incline to the first -floor of the building opened into an enormous chamber encircled -by galleries. <br> -<p>On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly -carved wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or -fifty male Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the -platform proper squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with -metal ornaments, gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought -leather trappings ingeniously set with precious stones. From his -shoulders depended a short cape of white fur lined with brilliant -scarlet silk.<br> -</p> - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the -hall in which they were congregated was the fact that the -creatures were entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, -and other furnishings; these being of a size adapted to human -beings such as I, whereas the great bulks of the Martians could -scarcely have squeezed into the chairs, nor was there room -beneath the desks for their long legs. Evidently, then, there -were other denizens on Mars than the wild and grotesque creatures -into whose hands I had fallen, but the evidences of extreme -antiquity which showed all around me indicated that these -buildings might have belonged to some long-extinct and forgotten -race in the dim antiquity of Mars. <br> -<p>Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a -sign from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again -locking his arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience -chamber. There were few formalities observed in approaching the -Martian chieftain. My captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the -others making way for him as he advanced. The chieftain rose to -his feet and uttered the name of my escort who, in turn, halted -and repeated the name of the ruler followed by his title.<br> -</p> - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant -nothing to me, but later I came to know that this was the -customary greeting between green Martians. Had the men been -strangers, and therefore unable to exchange names, they would -have silently exchanged ornaments, had their missions been -peaceful--otherwise they would have exchanged shots, or have -fought out their introduction with some other of their various -weapons. <br> -<p>My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the -vice-chieftain of the community, and a man of great ability as a -statesman and warrior. He evidently explained briefly the -incidents connected with his expedition, including my capture, -and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at some -length.<br> -</p> - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him -that neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that -when I smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, -and the similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, -convinced me that we had at least something in common; the -ability to smile, therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. -But I was to learn that the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, -and that the Martian laugh is a thing to cause strong men to -blanch in horror. <br> -<p>The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at -variance with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The -death agonies of a fellow being are, to these strange creatures -provocative of the wildest hilarity, while their chief form of -commonest amusement is to inflict death on their prisoners of war -in various ingenious and horrible ways.<br> -</p> - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, -feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal -chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform, -and, motioning me to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the -open plaza. <br> -<p>Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal -failure, except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so -now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs -like some monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, -much to the amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to -creeping, but this did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to -my feet by a towering fellow who had laughed most heartily at my -misfortunes.<br> -</p> - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to mine -and I did the only thing a gentleman might do under the -circumstances of brutality, boorishness, and lack of -consideration for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely -to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to the -floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest desk, -expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his fellows, but -determined to give them as good a battle as the unequal odds -would permit before I gave up my life. <br> -<p>My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at -first struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals -of laughter and applause. I did not recognize the applause as -such, but later, when I had become acquainted with their customs, -I learned that I had won what they seldom accord, a manifestation -of approbation.<br> -</p> - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any -of his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, -holding out one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza -without further mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for -which we had come to the open, but I was not long in being -enlightened. They first repeated the word "sak" a number of -times, and then Tars Tarkas made several jumps, repeating the -same word before each leap; then, turning to me, he said, "sak!" -I saw what they were after, and gathering myself together I -"sakked" with such marvelous success that I cleared a good -hundred and fifty feet; nor did I this time, lose my equilibrium, -but landed squarely upon my feet without falling. I then returned -by easy jumps of twenty-five or thirty feet to the little group -of warriors. <br> -<p>My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser -Martians, and they immediately broke into demands for a -repetition, which the chieftain then ordered me to make; but I -was both hungry and thirsty, and determined on the spot that my -only method of salvation was to demand the consideration from -these creatures which they evidently would not voluntarily -accord. I therefore ignored the repeated commands to "sak," and -each time they were made I motioned to my mouth and rubbed my -stomach.<br> -</p> - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some -instructions and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her -proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza toward a large -building on the far side. <br> -<p>My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just -arrived at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a -light olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as -I afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of -Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the -buildings fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of -silks and furs upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters -of several of the natives.<br> -</p> - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon -all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of -antiquity which convinced me that the architects and builders of -these wondrous creations had nothing in common with the crude -half-brutes which now occupied them. <br> -<p>Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the -center of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, -as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response -to her call I obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It -waddled in on its ten short legs, and squatted down before the -girl like an obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a -Shetland pony, but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of -a frog, except that the jaws were equipped with three rows of -long, sharp tusks.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_5">CHAPTER V</h1> - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word -or two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could -not but wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do -when left alone in such close proximity to such a relatively -tender morsel of meat; but my fears were groundless, as the -beast, after surveying me intently for a moment, crossed the room -to the only exit which led to the street, and lay down full -length across the threshold. <br> -<p>This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it -was destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me -carefully during the time I remained a captive among these green -men; twice saving my life, and never voluntarily being away from -me a moment.<br> -</p> - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the -room in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted -scenes of rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, -ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed -gardens--scenes which might have portrayed earthly views but for -the different colorings of the vegetation. The work had evidently -been wrought by a master hand, so subtle the atmosphere, so -perfect the technique; yet nowhere was there a representation of -a living animal, either human or brute, by which I could guess at -the likeness of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars. -<br> -<p>While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture -on the possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had -so far met with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and -drink. These she placed on the floor beside me, and seating -herself a short ways off regarded me intently. The food consisted -of about a pound of some solid substance of the consistency of -cheese and almost tasteless, while the liquid was apparently milk -from some animal. It was not unpleasant to the taste, though -slightly acid, and I learned in a short time to prize it very -highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from an animal, as -there is only one mammal on Mars and that one very rare indeed, -but from a large plant which grows practically without water, but -seems to distill its plentiful supply of milk from the products -of the soil, the moisture of the air, and the rays of the sun. A -single plant of this species will give eight or ten quarts of -milk per day.<br> -</p> - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need -of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I -must have slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I -was very cold. I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, -but it had become partially dislodged and in the darkness I could -not see to replace it. Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the -fur over me, shortly afterwards adding another to my covering. -<br> -<p>I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I -wrong. This girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I -came in contact, disclosed characteristics of sympathy, -kindliness, and affection; her ministrations to my bodily wants -were unfailing, and her solicitous care saved me from much -suffering and many hardships.<br> -</p> - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as -there is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in -temperature are sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the -transitions from brilliant daylight to darkness. The nights are -either brilliantly illumined or very dark, for if neither of the -two moons of Mars happen to be in the sky almost total darkness -results, since the lack of atmosphere, or, rather, the very thin -atmosphere, fails to diffuse the starlight to any great extent; -on the other hand, if both of the moons are in the heavens at -night the surface of the ground is brightly illuminated. <br> -<p>Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to -Earth; the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles -distant, while the further is but little more than fourteen -thousand miles away, against the nearly one-quarter million miles -which separate us from our moon. The nearer moon of Mars makes a -complete revolution around the planet in a little over seven and -one-half hours, so that she may be seen hurtling through the sky -like some huge meteor two or three times each night, revealing -all her phases during each transit of the heavens.<br> -</p> - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a -nocturnal Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And -it is well that nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted -the Martian night, for the green men of Mars, being a nomadic -race without high intellectual development, have but crude means -for artificial lighting; depending principally upon torches, a -kind of candle, and a peculiar oil lamp which generates a gas and -burns without a wick. <br> -<p>This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching -white light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be -obtained by mining in one of several widely separated and remote -localities it is seldom used by these creatures whose only -thought is for today, and whose hatred for manual labor has kept -them in a semi-barbaric state for countless ages.<br> -</p> - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I -awaken until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in -number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, piled -high with a motley array of silks and furs. Across the threshold -lay stretched the sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last -seen him on the preceding day; apparently he had not moved a -muscle; his eyes were fairly glued upon me, and I fell to -wondering just what might befall me should I endeavor to escape. -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the -exact attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to -leave the room. I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could -escape him should he pursue me once I was outside the building, -for I had begun to take great pride in my ability as a jumper. -Furthermore, I could see from the shortness of his legs that the -brute himself was no jumper and probably no runner. <br> -<p>Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see -that my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, -finding that by moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my -balance as well as make reasonably rapid progress. As I neared -the brute he backed cautiously away from me, and when I had -reached the open he moved to one side to let me pass. He then -fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in my rear as I -made my way along the deserted street.<br> -</p> - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when -we reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, -uttering strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. -Thinking to have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward -him, and when almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far -beyond him and away from the city. He wheeled instantly and -charged me with the most appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had -thought his short legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been -coursing with greyhounds the latter would have appeared as though -asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this is the fleetest -animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, and -ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the -Martian man. <br> -<p>I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the -fangs of the beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his -charge by doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he was -almost upon me. This maneuver gave me a considerable advantage, -and I was able to reach the city quite a bit ahead of him, and as -he came tearing after me I jumped for a window about thirty feet -from the ground in the face of one of the buildings overlooking -the valley.<br> -</p> - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal -beneath me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely -had I gained a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped -me by the neck from behind and dragged me violently into the -room. Here I was thrown upon my back, and beheld standing over me -a colossal ape-like creature, white and hairless except for an -enormous shock of bristly hair upon its head. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_6">CHAPTER VI</h1> - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS <br> -<br> -<p>The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it -did the Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with -one huge foot, while it jabbered and gesticulated at some -answering creature behind me. This other, which was evidently its -mate, soon came toward us, bearing a mighty stone cudgel with -which it evidently intended to brain me.<br> -</p> - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing -erect, and had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of -arms or legs, midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their -eyes were close together and non-protruding; their ears were high -set, but more laterally located than those of the Martians, while -their snouts and teeth were strikingly like those of our African -gorilla. Altogether they were not unlovely when viewed in -comparison with the green Martians. <br> -<p>The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my -upturned face when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself -through the doorway full upon the breast of my executioner. With -a shriek of fear the ape which held me leaped through the open -window, but its mate closed in a terrific death struggle with my -preserver, which was nothing less than my faithful watch-thing; I -cannot bring myself to call so hideous a creature a dog.<br> -</p> - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the -wall I witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to -see. The strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two -creatures is approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast -had an advantage in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs -far into the breast of his adversary; but the great arms and paws -of the ape, backed by muscles far transcending those of the -Martian men I had seen, had locked the throat of my guardian and -slowly were choking out his life, and bending back his head and -neck upon his body, where I momentarily expected the former to -fall limp at the end of a broken neck. <br> -<p>In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire -front of its breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the -powerful jaws. Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither -one emitting a sound of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great -eyes of my beast bulging completely from their sockets and blood -flowing from its nostrils. That he was weakening perceptibly was -evident, but so also was the ape, whose struggles were growing -momentarily less.<br> -</p> - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which -seems ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which -had fallen to the floor at the commencement of the battle, and -swinging it with all the power of my earthly arms I crashed it -full upon the head of the ape, crushing his skull as though it -had been an eggshell. <br> -<p>Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a -new danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of -terror, had returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the -interior of the building. I glimpsed him just before he reached -the doorway and the sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his -lifeless fellow stretched upon the floor, and frothing at the -mouth, in the extremity of his rage, filled me, I must confess, -with dire forebodings.<br> -</p> - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived -neither glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength -against the iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged -denizen of an unknown world; in fact, the only outcome of such an -encounter, so far as I might be concerned, seemed sudden death. -<br> -<p>I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the -street I might gain the plaza and safety before the creature -could overtake me; at least there was a chance for safety in -flight, against almost certain death should I remain and fight -however desperately.<br> -</p> - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against -his four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my -first blow, for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the -cudgel, he could reach out and annihilate me with the others -before I could recover for a second attack. <br> -<p>In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I -had turned to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the -form of my erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the -four winds. He lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his -great eyes fastened upon me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for -protection. I could not withstand that look, nor could I, on -second thought, have deserted my rescuer without giving as good -an account of myself in his behalf as he had in mine.<br> -</p> - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel -to prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as -heavily as I could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just -below the knees, eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so -throwing him off his balance that he lunged full upon me with -arms wide stretched to ease his fall. <br> -<p>Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly -tactics, and swinging my right fist full upon the point of his -chin I followed it with a smashing left to the pit of his -stomach. The effect was marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, -after delivering the second blow, he reeled and fell upon the -floor doubled up with pain and gasping for wind. Leaping over his -prostrate body, I seized the cudgel and finished the monster -before he could regain his feet.<br> -</p> - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, -turning, I beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors -standing in the doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I -was, for the second time, the recipient of their zealously -guarded applause. <br> -<p>My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she -had quickly informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately -with a handful of warriors to search for me. As they had -approached the limits of the city they had witnessed the actions -of the bull ape as he bolted into the building, frothing with -rage.<br> -</p> - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely -possible that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts -and had witnessed my short but decisive battle with him. This -encounter, together with my set-to with the Martian warrior on -the previous day and my feats of jumping placed me upon a high -pinnacle in their regard. Evidently devoid of all the finer -sentiments of friendship, love, or affection, these people fairly -worship physical prowess and bravery, and nothing is too good for -the object of their adoration as long as he maintains his -position by repeated examples of his skill, strength, and -courage. <br> -<p>Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own -volition, was the only one of the Martians whose face had not -been twisted in laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the -contrary, was sober with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I -had finished the monster, rushed to me and carefully examined my -body for possible wounds or injuries. Satisfying herself that I -had come off unscathed she smiled quietly, and, taking my hand, -started toward the door of the chamber.<br> -</p> - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing -over the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and -whose life I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in -argument, and finally one of them addressed me, but remembering -my ignorance of his language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, -with a word and gesture, gave some command to the fellow and -turned to follow us from the room. <br> -<p>There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my -beast, and I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. -It was well I did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol -from its holster and was on the point of putting an end to the -creature when I sprang forward and struck up his arm. The bullet -striking the wooden casing of the window exploded, blowing a hole -completely through the wood and masonry.<br> -</p> - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising -it to its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of -surprise which my actions elicited from the Martians were -ludicrous; they could not understand, except in a feeble and -childish way, such attributes as gratitude and compassion. The -warrior whose gun I had struck up looked enquiringly at Tars -Tarkas, but the latter signed that I be left to my own devices, -and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast following -close at heel, and Sola grasping me tightly by the arm. <br> -<p>I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched -over me with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I -later came to know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more -loyalty, more gratitude than could have been found in the entire -five million green Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead -sea bottoms of Mars.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_7">CHAPTER VII</h1> - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which -followed while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me -to the plaza, where I found the entire community engaged in -watching or helping at the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals -to great three-wheeled chariots. There were about two hundred and -fifty of these vehicles, each drawn by a single animal, any one -of which, from their appearance, might easily have drawn the -entire wagon train when fully loaded. <br> -<p>The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with -ornaments of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the -back of each of the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a -young Martian driver. Like the animals upon which the warriors -were mounted, the heavier draft animals wore neither bit nor -bridle, but were guided entirely by telepathic means.<br> -</p> - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively -few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the -universal language of Mars, through the medium of which the -higher and lower animals of this world of paradoxes are able to -communicate to a greater or less extent, depending upon the -intellectual sphere of the species and the development of the -individual. <br> -<p>As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, -Sola dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the -procession toward the point by which I had entered the city the -day before. At the head of the caravan rode some two hundred -warriors, five abreast, and a like number brought up the rear, -while twenty-five or thirty outriders flanked us on either -side.<br> -</p> - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were heavily -armed, and at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, -my own beast following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful -creature never left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I -spent on Mars. Our way led out across the little valley before -the city, through the hills, and down into the dead sea bottom -which I had traversed on my journey from the incubator to the -plaza. The incubator, as it proved, was the terminal point of our -journey this day, and, as the entire cavalcade broke into a mad -gallop as soon as we reached the level expanse of sea bottom, we -were soon within sight of our goal. <br> -<p>On reaching it the chariots were parked with military -precision on the four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of -warriors, headed by the enormous chieftain, and including Tars -Tarkas and several other lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced -toward it. I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something to the -principal chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, as nearly as I -can translate it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, Jed; jed being his -title.<br> -</p> - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, -calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I -had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under -Martian conditions, and quickly responding to his command I -advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors stood. -<br> -<p>As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very -few eggs had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the -hideous little devils. They ranged in height from three to four -feet, and were moving restlessly about the enclosure as though -searching for food.<br> -</p> - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the -incubator and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my -performance of yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, -and, as I must confess that my prowess gave me no little -satisfaction, I responded quickly, leaping entirely over the -parked chariots on the far side of the incubator. As I returned, -Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and turning to his -warriors gave a few words of command relative to the incubator. -They paid no further attention to me and I was thus permitted to -remain close and watch their operations, which consisted in -breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to -permit of the exit of the young Martians. <br> -<p>On either side of this opening the women and the younger -Martians, both male and female, formed two solid walls leading -out through the chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. -Between these walls the little Martians scampered, wild as deer; -being permitted to run the full length of the aisle, where they -were captured one at a time by the women and older children; the -last in the line capturing the first little one to reach the end -of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line capturing the second, -and so on until all the little fellows had left the enclosure and -been appropriated by some youth or female. As the women caught -the young they fell out of line and returned to their respective -chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young men -were later turned over to some of the women.<br> -</p> - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, -was over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a -hideous little creature held tightly in her arms. <br> -<p>The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in -teaching them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with -which they are loaded down from the very first year of their -lives. Coming from eggs in which they have lain for five years, -the period of incubation, they step forth into the world -perfectly developed except in size. Entirely unknown to their -mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in pointing out the -fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the common children -of the community, and their education devolves upon the females -who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator.<br> -</p> - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the -incubator, as was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to -lay, until less than a year before she became the mother of -another woman's offspring. But this counts for little among the -green Martians, as parental and filial love is as unknown to them -as it is common among us. I believe this horrible system which -has been carried on for ages is the direct cause of the loss of -all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts among -these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother -love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught -that they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by -their physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should -they prove deformed or defective in any way they are promptly -shot; nor do they see a tear shed for a single one of the many -cruel hardships they pass through from earliest infancy. <br> -<p>I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and -pitiless struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural -resources of which have dwindled to a point where the support of -each additional life means an added tax upon the community into -which it is thrown.<br> -</p> - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of -each species, and with almost supernatural foresight they -regulate the birth rate to merely offset the loss by death. <br> -<p>Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs -each year, and those which meet the size, weight, and specific -gravity tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean -vault where the temperature is too low for incubation. Every year -these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty -chieftains, and all but about one hundred of the most perfect are -destroyed out of each yearly supply. At the end of five years -about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen from the -thousands brought forth. These are then placed in the almost -air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays after a -period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed -today was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but -about one per cent of the eggs hatching in two days. If the -remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing of the fate of the -little Martians. They were not wanted, as their offspring might -inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged incubation, and -thus upset the system which has maintained for ages and which -permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time for return -to the incubators, almost to an hour.<br> -</p> - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is -little or no likelihood of their being discovered by other -tribes. The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children -in the community for another five years. I was later to witness -the results of the discovery of an alien incubator. <br> -<p>The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was -cast formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. -They roamed an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between -forty and eighty degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east -and west by two large fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in -the southwest corner of this district, near the crossing of two -of the so-called Martian canals.<br> -</p> - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory -in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before -us a tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew -nothing. <br> -<p>After our return to the dead city I passed several days in -comparative idleness. On the day following our return all the -warriors had ridden forth early in the morning and had not -returned until just before darkness fell. As I later learned, -they had been to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs were -kept and had transported them to the incubator, which they had -then walled up for another five years, and which, in all -probability, would not be visited again during that period.<br> -</p> - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the -incubator were located many miles south of the incubator, and -would be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why -they did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators nearer -home has always been a mystery to me, and, like many other -Martian mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable by earthly reasoning -and customs. <br> -<p>Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care -for the young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us -required much attention, and as we were both about equally -advanced in Martian education, Sola took it upon herself to train -us together.<br> -</p> - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong -and physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had -considerable amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we -displayed. The Martian language, as I have said, is extremely -simple, and in a week I could make all my wants known and -understand nearly everything that was said to me. Likewise, under -Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic powers so that I -shortly could sense practically everything that went on around -me. <br> -<p>What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch -telepathic messages easily from others, and often when they were -not intended for me, no one could read a jot from my mind under -any circumstances. At first this vexed me, but later I was very -glad of it, as it gave me an undoubted advantage over the -Martians.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_8">CHAPTER VIII</h1> - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward -home, but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into -the open ground before the city than orders were given for an -immediate and hasty return. As though trained for years in this -particular evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into -the spacious doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less -than three minutes, the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons -and mounted warriors was nowhere to be seen. <br> -<p>Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, -in fact, the same one in which I had had my encounter with the -apes, and, wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I -mounted to an upper floor and peered from the window out over the -valley and the hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their -sudden scurrying to cover. A huge craft, long, low, and -gray-painted, swung slowly over the crest of the nearest hill. -Following it came another, and another, and another, until twenty -of them, swinging low above the ground, sailed slowly and -majestically toward us.<br> -</p> - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the -upper works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd -device that gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at -the distance at which we were from the vessels. I could see -figures crowding the forward decks and upper works of the air -craft. Whether they had discovered us or simply were looking at -the deserted city I could not say, but in any event they received -a rude reception, for suddenly and without warning the green -Martian warriors fired a terrific volley from the windows of the -buildings facing the little valley across which the great ships -were so peacefully advancing. <br> -<p>Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel -swung broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play -returned our fire, at the same time moving parallel to our front -for a short distance and then turning back with the evident -intention of completing a great circle which would bring her up -to position once more opposite our firing line; the other vessels -followed in her wake, each one opening upon us as she swung into -position. Our own fire never diminished, and I doubt if -twenty-five per cent of our shots went wild. It had never been -given me to see such deadly accuracy of aim, and it seemed as -though a little figure on one of the craft dropped at the -explosion of each bullet, while the banners and upper works -dissolved in spurts of flame as the irresistible projectiles of -our warriors mowed through them.<br> -</p> - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I -afterward learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first -volley, which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the -sighting apparatus of the guns unprotected from the deadly aim of -our warriors. <br> -<p>It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points -for his fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. -For example, a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, -direct their fire entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting -apparatus of the big guns of an attacking naval force; another -detail attends to the smaller guns in the same way; others pick -off the gunners; still others the officers; while certain other -quotas concentrate their attention upon the other members of the -crew, upon the upper works, and upon the steering gear and -propellers.<br> -</p> - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung -trailing off in the direction from which it had first appeared. -Several of the craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but -barely under the control of their depleted crews. Their fire had -ceased entirely and all their energies seemed focused upon -escape. Our warriors then rushed up to the roofs of the buildings -which we occupied and followed the retreating armada with a -continuous fusillade of deadly fire. <br> -<p>One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests -of the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in -sight. This had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be -entirely unmanned, as not a moving figure was visible upon her -decks. Slowly she swung from her course, circling back toward us -in an erratic and pitiful manner. Instantly the warriors ceased -firing, for it was quite apparent that the vessel was entirely -helpless, and, far from being in a position to inflict harm upon -us, she could not even control herself sufficiently to -escape.<br> -</p> - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to -meet her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them -to hope to reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I -could see the bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could -not make out what manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign -of life was manifest upon her as she drifted slowly with the -light breeze in a southeasterly direction. <br> -<p>She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by -all but some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to -the roofs to cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or -of reinforcements. It soon became evident that she would strike -the face of the buildings about a mile south of our position, and -as I watched the progress of the chase I saw a number of warriors -gallop ahead, dismount and enter the building she seemed destined -to touch.<br> -</p> - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with -their great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few -moments they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was -being hauled to ground by their fellows below. <br> -<p>After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the -vessel from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead -sailors, evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of -them appeared from below dragging a little figure among them. The -creature was considerably less than half as tall as the green -Martian warriors, and from my balcony I could see that it walked -erect upon two legs and surmised that it was some new and strange -Martian monstrosity with which I had not as yet become -acquainted.<br> -</p> - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were -requisitioned to transport the loot, which consisted in arms, -ammunition, silks, furs, jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, -and a quantity of solid foods and liquids, including many casks -of water, the first I had seen since my advent upon Mars. <br> -<p>After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines -fast to the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a -southwesterly direction. A few of them then boarded her and were -busily engaged in what appeared, from my distant position, as the -emptying of the contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies -of the sailors and over the decks and works of the vessel.<br> -</p> - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to -leave the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, -waiting an instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint -spurt of flame rose from the point where the missile struck he -swung over the side and was quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had -he alighted than the guy ropes were simultaneous released, and -the great warship, lightened by the removal of the loot, soared -majestically into the air, her decks and upper works a mass of -roaring flames. <br> -<p>Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher -as the flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight -upon her. Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for -hours, until finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the -distance. The sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one -contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided -and unmanned through the lonely wastes of the Martian heavens; a -derelict of death and destruction, typifying the life story of -these strange and ferocious creatures into whose unfriendly hands -fate had carried it.<br> -</p> - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended -to the street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the -defeat and annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather -than the routing by our green warriors of a horde of similar, -though unfriendly, creatures. I could not fathom the seeming -hallucination, nor could I free myself from it; but somewhere in -the innermost recesses of my soul I felt a strange yearning -toward these unknown foemen, and a mighty hope surged through me -that the fleet would return and demand a reckoning from the green -warriors who had so ruthlessly and wantonly attacked it. <br> -<p>Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, -the hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me -as though I had been the object of some search on her part. The -cavalcade was returning to the plaza, the homeward march having -been given up for that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for -more than a week, owing to the fear of a return attack by the air -craft.<br> -</p> - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon -the open plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so -we remained at the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. -<br> -<p>As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which -filled my whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, -exultation, and depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle -sense of relief and happiness; for just as we neared the throng -of Martians I caught a glimpse of the prisoner from the battle -craft who was being roughly dragged into a nearby building by a -couple of green Martian females.<br> -</p> - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish -figure, similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past -life. She did not see me at first, but just as she was -disappearing through the portal of the building which was to be -her prison she turned, and her eyes met mine. Her face was oval -and beautiful in the extreme, her every feature was finely -chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and lustrous and her head -surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, caught loosely -into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was of a light -reddish copper color, against which the crimson glow of her -cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a -strangely enhancing effect. <br> -<p>She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who -accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments -she was entirely naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the -beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure.<br> -</p> - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, -and she made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did -not, of course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each -other, and then the look of hope and renewed courage which had -glorified her face as she discovered me, faded into one of utter -dejection, mingled with loathing and contempt. I realized I had -not answered her signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian -customs, I intuitively felt that she had made an appeal for -succor and protection which my unfortunate ignorance had -prevented me from answering. And then she was dragged out of my -sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_9">CHAPTER IX</h1> - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE <br> -<br> -<p>As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed -this encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression -upon her usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts -were I did not know, for as yet I had learned but little of the -Martian tongue; enough only to suffice for my daily needs.<br> -</p> - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise -awaited me. A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and -full accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a -few unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and -menacing. <br> -<p>Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, -remodeled the trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after -they completed the work I went about garbed in all the panoply of -war.<br> -</p> - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each -day practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all -the weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly -weapons made me an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a -very satisfactory manner. <br> -<p>The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted -solely by the women, who not only attend to the education of the -young in the arts of individual defense and offense, but are also -the artisans who produce every manufactured article wrought by -the green Martians. They make the powder, the cartridges, the -firearms; in fact everything of value is produced by the females. -In time of actual warfare they form a part of the reserves, and -when the necessity arises fight with even greater intelligence -and ferocity than the men.<br> -</p> - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make -the laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They -are unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. -Customs have been handed down by ages of repetition, but the -punishment for ignoring a custom is a matter for individual -treatment by a jury of the culprit's peers, and I may say that -justice seldom misses fire, but seems rather to rule in inverse -ratio to the ascendency of law. In one respect at least the -Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers. <br> -<p>I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent -to our first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse -of her as she was being conducted to the great audience chamber -where I had had my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not -but note the unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her -guards treated her; so different from the almost maternal -kindliness which Sola manifested toward me, and the respectful -attitude of the few green Martians who took the trouble to notice -me at all.<br> -</p> - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me -that they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by -a common language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola -distracted by my importunities to hasten on my education and -within a few more days I had mastered the Martian tongue -sufficiently well to enable me to carry on a passable -conversation and to fully understand practically all that I -heard. <br> -<p>At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or -four females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside -Sola and her youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After -they had retired for the night it was customary for the adults to -carry on a desultory conversation for a short time before lapsing -into sleep, and now that I could understand their language I was -always a keen listener, although I never proffered any remarks -myself.<br> -</p> - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience -chamber the conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I -was all ears on the instant. I had feared to question Sola -relative to the beautiful captive, as I could not but recall the -strange expression I had noted upon her face after my first -encounter with the prisoner. That it denoted jealousy I could not -say, and yet, judging all things by mundane standards as I still -did, I felt it safer to affect indifference in the matter until I -learned more surely Sola's attitude toward the object of my -solicitude. <br> -<p>Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had -been present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and -it was toward her the question turned.<br> -</p> - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes -of the red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her -for ransom?" <br> -<p>"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and -exhibit her last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," -replied Sarkoja.<br> -</p> - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She -is very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would -hold her for ransom." <br> -<p>Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence -of weakness on the part of Sola.<br> -</p> - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," -snapped Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled -with water, and the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed -upon. In our day we have progressed to a point where such -sentiments mark weakness and atavism. It will not be well for you -to permit Tars Tarkas to learn that you hold such degenerate -sentiments, as I doubt that he would care to entrust such as you -with the grave responsibilities of maternity." <br> -<p>"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this -red woman," retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would -she should we have fallen into her hands. It is only the men of -her kind who war upon us, and I have ever thought that their -attitude toward us is but the reflection of ours toward them. -They live at peace with all their fellows, except when duty calls -upon them to make war, while we are at peace with none; forever -warring among our own kind as well as upon the red men, and even -in our own communities the individuals fight amongst themselves. -Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the time -we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the river -of mystery, the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an -unknown, but at least no more frightful and terrible existence! -Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end in an early death. Say -what you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to -me than a continuation of the horrible existence we are forced to -lead in this life."<br> -</p> - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and -shocked the other women, that, after a few words of general -reprimand, they all lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One -thing the episode had accomplished was to assure me of Sola's -friendliness toward the poor girl, and also to convince me that I -had been extremely fortunate in falling into her hands rather -than those of some of the other females. I knew that she was fond -of me, and now that I had discovered that she hated cruelty and -barbarity I was confident that I could depend upon her to aid me -and the girl captive to escape, provided of course that such a -thing was within the range of possibilities. <br> -<p>I did not even know that there were any better conditions to -escape to, but I was more than willing to take my chances among -people fashioned after my own mold rather than to remain longer -among the hideous and bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where -to go, and how, was as much of a puzzle to me as the age-old -search for the spring of eternal life has been to earthly men -since the beginning of time.<br> -</p> - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the -dreamless and refreshing sleep of Mars. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_10">CHAPTER X</h1> - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF <br> -<br> -<p>Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was -allowed me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not -attempt to leave the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. -She had warned me, however, against venturing forth unarmed, as -this city, like all other deserted metropolises of an ancient -Martian civilization, was peopled by the great white apes of my -second day's adventure.<br> -</p> - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city -Sola had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I -attempt it, and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his -fierce nature by ignoring his warnings should I venture too close -to the forbidden territory. His nature was such, she said, that -he would bring me back into the city dead or alive should I -persist in opposing him; "preferably dead," she added. <br> -<p>On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when -suddenly I found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were -low hills pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to -explore the country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from -which I sprang, to view what the landscape beyond the encircling -hills might disclose from the summits which shut out my view.<br> -</p> - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent -opportunity to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that -the brute loved me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him -than in any other Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure -that gratitude for the acts that had twice saved his life would -more than outweigh his loyalty to the duty imposed upon him by -cruel and loveless masters. <br> -<p>As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before -me, and thrust his body against my legs. His expression was -pleading rather than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks -or utter his fearful guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and -companionship of my kind, I had developed considerable affection -for Woola and Sola, for the normal earthly man must have some -outlet for his natural affections, and so I decided upon an -appeal to a like instinct in this great brute, sure that I would -not be disappointed.<br> -</p> - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground -and putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed -him, talking in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have -to my hound at home, as I would have talked to any other friend -among the lower animals. His response to my manifestation of -affection was remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great -mouth to its full width, baring the entire expanse of his upper -rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout until his great eyes were -almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you have ever seen a -collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facial distortion. -<br> -<p>He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; -jumped up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his -great weight; then wriggling and squirming around me like a -playful puppy presenting its back for the petting it craves. I -could not resist the ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding -my sides I rocked back and forth in the first laughter which had -passed my lips in many days; the first, in fact, since the -morning Powell had left camp when his horse, long unused, had -precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him off headforemost into a -pot of frijoles.<br> -</p> - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and -then I remembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, -suffering, death. Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's -head and back, talked to him for a few minutes, and then in an -authoritative tone commanded him to follow me, and arising -started for the hills. <br> -<p>There was no further question of authority between us; Woola -was my devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and -undisputed master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few -minutes, and I found nothing of particular interest to reward me. -Numerous brilliantly colored and strangely formed wild flowers -dotted the ravines and from the summit of the first hill I saw -still other hills stretching off toward the north, and rising, -one range above another, until lost in mountains of quite -respectable dimensions; though I afterward found that only a few -peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height; the -suggestion of magnitude was merely relative.<br> -</p> - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars -Tarkas relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while -theoretically a prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to -regain the city limits before the defection of Woola could be -discovered by his erstwhile masters. The adventure decided me -never again to leave the limits of my prescribed stamping grounds -until I was ready to venture forth for good and all, as it would -certainly result in a curtailment of my liberties, as well as the -probable death of Woola, were we to be discovered. <br> -<p>On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive -girl. She was standing with her guards before the entrance to the -audience chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty -glance and turned her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, -so earthly womanly, that though it stung my pride it also warmed -my heart with a feeling of companionship; it was good to know -that someone else on Mars beside myself had human instincts of a -civilized order, even though the manifestation of them was so -painful and mortifying.<br> -</p> - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are -mostly atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have -aroused such passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an -exception; I never saw her perform a cruel or uncouth act, or -fail in uniform kindliness and good nature. She was indeed, as -her fellow Martian had said of her, an atavism; a dear and -precious reversion to a former type of loved and loving ancestor. -<br> -<p>Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I -halted to view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for -presently Lorquas Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached -the building and, signing the guards to follow with the prisoner -entered the audience chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat -favored character, and also convinced that the warriors did not -know of my proficiency in their language, as I had pleaded with -Sola to keep this a secret on the grounds that I did not wish to -be forced to talk with the men until I had perfectly mastered the -Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt to enter the audience -chamber and listen to the proceedings.<br> -</p> - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below -them stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the -women was Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present -at the hearing of the preceding day, the results of which she had -reported to the occupants of our dormitory last night. Her -attitude toward the captive was most harsh and brutal. When she -held her, she sunk her rudimentary nails into the poor girl's -flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful manner. When it was -necessary to move from one spot to another she either jerked her -roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. She seemed to be -venting upon this poor defenseless creature all the hatred, -cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backed by -unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors. <br> -<p>The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely -indifferent; if the prisoner had been left to her alone, and -fortunately she was at night, she would have received no harsh -treatment, nor, by the same token would she have received any -attention at all.<br> -</p> - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they -fell on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture -of impatience. Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not -catch, but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they -paid no further attention to me. <br> -<p>"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the -prisoner.<br> -</p> - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." <br> -<p>"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued.<br> -</p> - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my -father's father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air -currents, and to take atmospheric density tests," replied the -fair prisoner, in a low, well-modulated voice. <br> -<p>"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on -a peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft -denoted. The work we were doing was as much in your interests as -in ours, for you know full well that were it not for our labors -and the fruits of our scientific operations there would not be -enough air or water on Mars to support a single human life. For -ages we have maintained the air and water supply at practically -the same point without an appreciable loss, and we have done this -in the face of the brutal and ignorant interference of your green -men.<br> -</p> - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your -fellows, must you ever go on down the ages to your final -extinction but little above the plane of the dumb brutes that -serve you! A people without written language, without art, -without homes, without love; the victim of eons of the horrible -community idea. Owning everything in common, even to your women -and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in common. You -hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. Come back -to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the light of -kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will find -the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we -may do still more to regenerate our dying planet. The -grand-daughter of the greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks -has asked you. Will you come?" <br> -<p>Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and -intently at the young woman for several moments after she had -ceased speaking. What was passing in their minds no man may know, -but that they were moved I truly believe, and if one man high -among them had been strong enough to rise above custom, that -moment would have marked a new and mighty era for Mars.<br> -</p> - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an -expression as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green -Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with -self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and as he opened his -mouth to speak, a look almost of benignity, of kindliness, -momentarily lighted up his fierce and terrible countenance. <br> -<p>What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were -never spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the -trend of thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps -of the rostrum, and striking the frail captive a powerful blow -across the face, which felled her to the floor, placed his foot -upon her prostrate form and turning toward the assembled council -broke into peals of horrid, mirthless laughter.<br> -</p> - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor -did the aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the -brute, but the mood passed, their old selves reasserted their -ascendency, and they smiled. It was portentous however that they -did not laugh aloud, for the brute's act constituted a -side-splitting witticism according to the ethics which rule green -Martian humor. <br> -<p>That I have taken moments to write down a part of what -occurred as that blow fell does not signify that I remained -inactive for any such length of time. I think I must have sensed -something of what was coming, for I realize now that I was -crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow aimed at her -beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the hand descended I -was halfway across the hall.<br> -</p> - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon -him. The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, -but I believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful -in the terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck -him full in the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as -he drew his short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his -breast, hooking one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping -one of his huge tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow -after blow upon his enormous chest. <br> -<p>He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was -too close to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he -attempted to do in direct opposition to Martian custom which says -that you may not fight a fellow warrior in private combat with -any other than the weapon with which you are attacked. In fact he -could do nothing but make a wild and futile attempt to dislodge -me. With all his immense bulk he was little if any stronger than -I, and it was but the matter of a moment or two before he sank, -bleeding and lifeless, to the floor.<br> -</p> - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching -the battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I -raised her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the -side of the room. <br> -<p>Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of -silk from my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from -her nostrils. I was soon successful as her injuries amounted to -little more than an ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak -she placed her hand upon my arm and looking up into my eyes, -said:<br> -</p> - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition -in the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and -kill one of your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. -What strange manner of man are you, that you consort with the -green men, though your form is that of my race, while your color -is little darker than that of the white ape? Tell me, are you -human, or are you more than human?" <br> -<p>"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to -tell you now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of -myself that I fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice -it, for the present, that I am your friend, and, so far as our -captors will permit, your protector and your servant."<br> -</p> - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" <br> -<p>"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John -Carter, and I claim Virginia, one of the United States of -America, Earth, as my home; but why I am permitted to wear arms I -do not know, nor was I aware that my regalia was that of a -chieftain."<br> -</p> - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of -the warriors, bearing arms, accouterments and ornaments, and in a -flash one of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up -for me. I saw that the body of my dead antagonist had been -stripped, and I read in the menacing yet respectful attitude of -the warrior who had brought me these trophies of the kill the -same demeanor as that evinced by the other who had brought me my -original equipment, and now for the first time I realized that my -blow, on the occasion of my first battle in the audience chamber -had resulted in the death of my adversary. <br> -<p>The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now -apparent; I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude -justice, which always marks Martian dealings, and which, among -other things, has caused me to call her the planet of paradoxes, -I was accorded the honors due a conqueror; the trappings and the -position of the man I killed. In truth, I was a Martian -chieftain, and this I learned later was the cause of my great -freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber.<br> -</p> - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had -noticed that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward -toward us, and the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most -quizzical manner. Finally he addressed me: <br> -<p>"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was -deaf and dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, -John Carter?"<br> -</p> - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in -that you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; -I have to thank Sola for my learning." <br> -<p>"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other -respects needs considerable polish. Do you know what your -unprecedented temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill -either of the two chieftains whose metal you now wear?"<br> -</p> - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have -killed me," I answered, smiling. <br> -<p>"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense -would a Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for -other purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not -pleasant to dwell upon.<br> -</p> - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken -into the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we -reach the headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas -Ptomel that you be accorded the respect your acts have earned -you. You will be treated by us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you -must not forget that every chief who ranks you is responsible for -your safe delivery to our mighty and most ferocious ruler. I am -done." <br> -<p>"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not -of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the -future as I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of -my conscience and guided by the standards of mine own people. If -you will leave me alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the -individual Barsoomians with whom I must deal either respect my -rights as a stranger among you, or take whatever consequences may -befall. Of one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your -ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever -would offer her injury or insult in the future must figure on -making a full accounting to me. I understand that you belittle -all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and I -can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics -are not incompatible with an ability to fight."<br> -</p> - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which -would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green -Martians, nor was I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply -impressed them, and their attitude toward me thereafter was still -further respectful. <br> -<p>Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only -comment was more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal -Hajus, Jeddak of Thark."<br> -</p> - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to -her feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering -guardian harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the -chieftains. Was I not now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would -assume the responsibilities of one. They did not molest us, and -so Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, and John Carter, gentleman -of Virginia, followed by the faithful Woola, passed through utter -silence from the audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among -the Tharks of Barsoom. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_11">CHAPTER XI</h1> - -WITH DEJAH THORIS <br> -<br> -<p>As we reached the open the two female guards who had been -detailed to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though -to assume custody of her once more. The poor child shrank against -me and I felt her two little hands fold tightly over my arm. -Waving the women away, I informed them that Sola would attend the -captive hereafter, and I further warned Sarkoja that any more of -her cruel attentions bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in -Sarkoja's sudden and painful demise.<br> -</p> - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to -Dejah Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon -Mars, nor women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and -departed to hatch up deviltries against us. <br> -<p>I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to -guard Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to -find other quarters where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, -and I finally informed her that I myself would take up my -quarters among the men.<br> -</p> - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand -and slung across my shoulder. <br> -<p>"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I -must do your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any -circumstances. The man whose metal you carry was young, but he -was a great warrior, and had by his promotions and kills won his -way close to the rank of Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second -to Lorquas Ptomel only. You are eleventh, there are but ten -chieftains in this community who rank you in prowess."<br> -</p> - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. <br> -<p>"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that -honor by the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet -you in combat, or should he attack you, you may kill him in -self-defense, and thus win first place."<br> -</p> - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire to -kill Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. <br> -<p>I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new -quarters, which we found in a building nearer the audience -chamber and of far more pretentious architecture than our former -habitation. We also found in this building real sleeping -apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought metal swinging -from enormous gold chains depending from the marble ceilings. The -decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, unlike the -frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed many -human figures in the compositions. These were of people like -myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were -clad in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and -jewels, and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and -reddish bronze. The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. -The scenes depicted for the most part, a fair-skinned, -fair-haired people at play.<br> -</p> - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as -she gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a -people long extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently -did not see them. <br> -<p>We decided to use this room, on the second floor and -overlooking the plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another -room adjoining and in the rear for the cooking and supplies. I -then dispatched Sola to bring the bedding and such food and -utensils as she might need, telling her that I would guard Dejah -Thoris until her return.<br> -</p> - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. -<br> -<p>"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you -leave her, unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, -and ask your pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored -against you these past few days?"<br> -</p> - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." <br> -<p>"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, -and I think I understand your position among these people, but -what I cannot fathom is your statement that you are not of -Barsoom."<br> -</p> - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where -may you be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. -You speak my language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that -you had but learned it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same -tongue from the ice-clad south to the ice-clad north, though -their written languages differ. Only in the valley Dor, where the -river Iss empties into the lost sea of Korus, is there supposed -to be a different language spoken, and, except in the legends of -our ancestors, there is no record of a Barsoomian returning up -the river Iss, from the shores of Korus in the valley of Dor. Do -not tell me that you have thus returned! They would kill you -horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom if that were true; -tell me it is not!" <br> -<p>Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice -was pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, -were pressed against me as though to wring a denial from my very -heart.<br> -</p> - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia -a gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have -never seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still -lost, so far as I am concerned. Do you believe me?" <br> -<p>And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that -she should believe me. It was not that I feared the results which -would follow a general belief that I had returned from the -Barsoomian heaven or hell, or whatever it was. Why was it, then! -Why should I care what she thought? I looked down at her; her -beautiful face upturned, and her wonderful eyes opening up the -very depth of her soul; and as my eyes met hers I knew why, -and--I shuddered.<br> -</p> - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from -me with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to -mine, she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know -what a 'gentleman' is, nor have I ever he does not wish to speak -the truth he is silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, -John Carter?" she asked, and it seemed that this fair name of my -fair land had never sounded more beautiful than as it fell from -those perfect lips on that far-gone day. <br> -<p>"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, -which revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of -your Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot -tell you, for I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence -has permitted me to serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am -here."<br> -</p> - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That -it was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I -hope that she would do so however much I craved her confidence -and respect. I would much rather not have told her anything of my -antecedents, but no man could look into the depth of those eyes -and refuse her slightest behest. <br> -<p>Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to -believe even though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive -that you are not of the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet -different--but why should I trouble my poor head with such a -problem, when my heart tells me that I believe because I wish to -believe!"<br> -</p> - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it -satisfied her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter -of fact it was about the only kind of logic that could be brought -to bear upon my problem. We fell into a general conversation -then, asking and answering many questions on each side. She was -curious to learn of the customs of my people and displayed a -remarkable knowledge of events on Earth. When I questioned her -closely on this seeming familiarity with earthly things she -laughed, and cried out: <br> -<p>"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and -much concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of -your planet fully as well as of his own. Can we not see -everything which takes place upon Earth, as you call it; is it -not hanging there in the heavens in plain sight?"<br> -</p> - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements -had confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in -general the instruments her people had used and been perfecting -for ages, which permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect -image of what is transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the -stars. These pictures are so perfect in detail that, when -photographed and enlarged, objects no greater than a blade of -grass may be distinctly recognized. I afterward, in Helium, saw -many of these pictures, as well as the instruments which produced -them. <br> -<p>"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, -"why is it that you do not recognize me as identical with the -inhabitants of that planet?"<br> -</p> - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a -questioning child. <br> -<p>"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and -star having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of -Barsoom, shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and -me; and, further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover -their bodies with strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their -heads with hideous contraptions the purpose of which we have been -unable to conceive; while you, when found by the Tharkian -warriors, were entirely undisfigured and unadorned.<br> -</p> - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings -might cause a doubt as to your earthliness." <br> -<p>I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, -explaining that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to -her, strange garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola -returned with our meager belongings and her young Martian -protege, who, of course, would have to share the quarters with -them.<br> -</p> - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and -seemed much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed -that as she had mounted the approach to the upper floors where -our quarters were located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We -decided that she must have been eavesdropping, but as we could -recall nothing of importance that had passed between us we -dismissed the matter as of little consequence, merely promising -ourselves to be warned to the utmost caution in the future. <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably -flourished over a hundred thousand years before. They were the -early progenitors of her race, but had mixed with the other great -race of early Martians, who were very dark, almost black, and -also with the reddish yellow race which had flourished at the -same time.<br> -</p> - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been -forced into a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian -seas had compelled them to seek the comparatively few and always -diminishing fertile areas, and to defend themselves, under new -conditions of life, against the wild hordes of green men. <br> -<p>Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in -the race of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and -beautiful daughter. During the ages of hardships and incessant -warring between their own various races, as well as with the -green men, and before they had fitted themselves to the changed -conditions, much of the high civilization and many of the arts of -the fair-haired Martians had become lost; but the red race of -today has reached a point where it feels that it has made up in -new discoveries and in a more practical civilization for all that -lies irretrievably buried with the ancient Barsoomians, beneath -the countless intervening ages.<br> -</p> - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary -race, but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of -readjustment to new conditions, not only did their advancement -and production cease entirely, but practically all their -archives, records, and literature were lost. <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends -concerning this lost race of noble and kindly people. She said -that the city in which we were camping was supposed to have been -a center of commerce and culture known as Korad. It had been -built upon a beautiful, natural harbor, landlocked by magnificent -hills. The little valley on the west front of the city, she -explained, was all that remained of the harbor, while the pass -through the hills to the old sea bottom had been the channel -through which the shipping passed up to the city's gates.<br> -</p> - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, -and lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found -converging toward the center of the oceans, as the people had -found it necessary to follow the receding waters until necessity -had forced upon them their ultimate salvation, the so-called -Martian canals. <br> -<p>We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in -our conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we -realized it. We were brought back to a realization of our present -conditions by a messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel -directing me to appear before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris -and Sola farewell, and commanding Woola to remain on guard, I -hastened to the audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel -and Tars Tarkas seated upon the rostrum.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_12">CHAPTER XII</h1> - -A PRISONER WITH POWER <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, -and, fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: -<br> -<p>"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you -have by your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it -may, you are not one of us; you owe us no allegiance.<br> -</p> - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a -prisoner and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are -an alien and yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget -and yet you can kill a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. -And now you are reported to have been plotting to escape with -another prisoner of another race; a prisoner who, from her own -admission, half believes you are returned from the valley of Dor. -Either one of these accusations, if proved, would be sufficient -grounds for your execution, but we are a just people and you -shall have a trial on our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus so -commands. <br> -<p>"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run -off with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal -Hajus; it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either -demonstrate my right to command, or the metal from my dead -carcass will go to a better man, for such is the custom of the -Tharks.<br> -</p> - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not -wish to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John -Carter, I should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may -you be killed by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal -combat in self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you -apprehended in an attempt to escape. <br> -<p>"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one -of these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a -responsibility. The safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus is -of the greatest importance. Not in a thousand years have the -Tharks made such a capture; she is the granddaughter of the -greatest of the red jeddaks, who is also our bitterest enemy. I -have spoken. The red girl told us that we were without the softer -sentiments of humanity, but we are a just and truthful race. You -may go."<br> -</p> - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning -of Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be -responsible for this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas -Ptomel so quickly, and now I recalled those portions of our -conversation which had touched upon escape and upon my origin. -<br> -<p>Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted -female. As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no -warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as -did his ablest lieutenant, Tars Tarkas.<br> -</p> - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my -mind, my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my -every faculty on this subject. Now, more than before, the -absolute necessity for escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was -concerned, was impressed upon me, for I was convinced that some -horrible fate awaited her at the headquarters of Tal Hajus. <br> -<p>As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated -personification of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and -brutality from which he had descended. Cold, cunning, -calculating; he was, also, in marked contrast to most of his -fellows, a slave to that brute passion which the waning demands -for procreation upon their dying planet has almost stilled in the -Martian breast.<br> -</p> - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the -clutches of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon -me. Far better that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the -last moment, as did those brave frontier women of my lost land, -who took their own lives rather than fall into the hands of the -Indian braves. <br> -<p>As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings -Tars Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience chamber. -His demeanor toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though -we had not just parted a few moments before.<br> -</p> - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. <br> -<p>"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I -quartered either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was -awaiting an opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I -smiled, "I am not yet familiar with all the customs of the -Tharks."<br> -</p> - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the -plaza to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that -occupied by Sola and her charges. <br> -<p>"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he -said, "and the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, -but the third floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take -your choice of these.<br> -</p> - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman -to the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not -our ways, but you can fight well enough to do about as you -please, and so, if you wish to give your woman to a captive, it -is your own affair; but as a chieftain you should have those to -serve you, and in accordance with our customs you may select any -or all the females from the retinues of the chieftains whose -metal you now wear." <br> -<p>I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very -nicely without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, -and so he promised to send women to me for this purpose and also -for the care of my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, -which he said would be necessary. I suggested that they might -also bring some of the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to -me as spoils of combat, for the nights were cold and I had none -of my own.<br> -</p> - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the -winding corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable -quarters. The beauties of the other buildings were repeated in -this, and, as usual, I was soon lost in a tour of investigation -and discovery. <br> -<p>I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this -brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the -second floor of the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me -that I could rig up some means of communication whereby she might -signal me in case she needed either my services or my -protection.<br> -</p> - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and -other sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on -this floor. The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous -court, which formed the center of the square made by the -buildings which faced the four contiguous streets, and which was -now given over to the quartering of the various animals belonging -to the warriors occupying the adjoining buildings. <br> -<p>While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, -moss-like vegetation which blankets practically the entire -surface of Mars, yet numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and -pergola-like contraptions bore witness to the beauty which the -court must have presented in bygone times, when graced by the -fair-haired, laughing people whom stern and unalterable cosmic -laws had driven not only from their homes, but from all except -the vague legends of their descendants.<br> -</p> - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant -Martian vegetation which once filled this scene with life and -color; the graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight -and handsome men; the happy frolicking children--all sunlight, -happiness and peace. It was difficult to realize that they had -gone; down through ages of darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, -until their hereditary instincts of culture and humanitarianism -had risen ascendant once more in the final composite race which -now is dominant upon Mars. <br> -<p>My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young -females bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking -utensils, and casks of food and drink, including considerable -loot from the air craft. All this, it seemed, had been the -property of the two chieftains I had slain, and now, by the -customs of the Tharks, it had become mine. At my direction they -placed the stuff in one of the back rooms, and then departed, -only to return with a second load, which they advised me -constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip they were -accompanied by ten or fifteen other women and youths, who, it -seemed, formed the retinues of the two chieftains.<br> -</p> - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their -servants; the relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything -known to us that it is most difficult to describe. All property -among the green Martians is owned in common by the community, -except the personal weapons, ornaments and sleeping silks and -furs of the individuals. These alone can one claim undisputed -right to, nor may he accumulate more of these than are required -for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as custodian, -and it is passed on to the younger members of the community as -necessity demands. <br> -<p>The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a -military unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in -matters of instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the -exigencies of their continual roamings and their unending strife -with other communities and with the red Martians. His women are -in no sense wives. The green Martians use no word corresponding -in meaning with this earthly word. Their mating is a matter of -community interest solely, and is directed without reference to -natural selection. The council of chieftains of each community -control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky racing -stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the -improvement of the whole.<br> -</p> - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, -but the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with -the community interest in the offspring being held paramount to -that of the mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and -their gloomy, loveless, mirthless existence. <br> -<p>It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, -both men and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal -Hajus; but better far a finer balance of human characteristics -even at the expense of a slight and occasional loss of -chastity.<br> -</p> - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, -whether I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them -to find quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to -me. One of the girls I charged with the duties of my simple -cuisine, and directed the others to take up the various -activities which had formerly constituted their vocations. -Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did I care to. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_13">CHAPTER XIII</h1> - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS <br> -<br> -<p>Following the battle with the air ships, the community -remained within the city for several days, abandoning the -homeward march until they could feel reasonably assured that the -ships would not return; for to be caught on the open plains with -a cavalcade of chariots and children was far from the desire of -even so warlike a people as the green Martians.<br> -</p> - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me in -many of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, -including lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which -bore the warriors. These creatures, which are known as thoats, -are as dangerous and vicious as their masters, but when once -subdued are sufficiently tractable for the purposes of the green -Martians. <br> -<p>Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose -metal I wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as -well as the native warriors. The method was not at all -complicated. If the thoats did not respond with sufficient -celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they were -dealt a terrific blow between the ears with the butt of a pistol, -and if they showed fight this treatment was continued until the -brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their riders.<br> -</p> - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between -the man and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his -pistol he might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; -if not, his torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women -and burned in accordance with Tharkian custom. <br> -<p>My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the -experiment of kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I -taught them that they could not unseat me, and even rapped them -sharply between the ears to impress upon them my authority and -mastery. Then, by degrees, I won their confidence in much the -same manner as I had adopted countless times with my many mundane -mounts. I was ever a good hand with animals, and by inclination, -as well as because it brought more lasting and satisfactory -results, I was always kind and humane in my dealings with the -lower orders. I could take a human life, if necessary, with far -less compunction than that of a poor, unreasoning, irresponsible -brute.<br> -</p> - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the -entire community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their -great snouts against my body in awkward evidence of affection, -and respond to my every command with an alacrity and docility -which caused the Martian warriors to ascribe to me the possession -of some earthly power unknown on Mars. <br> -<p>"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one -afternoon, when he had seen me run my arm far between the great -jaws of one of my thoats which had wedged a piece of stone -between two of his teeth while feeding upon the moss-like -vegetation within our court yard.<br> -</p> - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer -sentiments have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of -battle as well as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey -my every command, and therefore my fighting efficiency is -enhanced, and I am a better warrior for the reason that I am a -kind master. Your other warriors would find it to the advantage -of themselves as well as of the community to adopt my methods in -this respect. Only a few days since you, yourself, told me that -these great brutes, by the uncertainty of their tempers, often -were the means of turning victory into defeat, since, at a -crucial moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their -riders." <br> -<p>"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' -only rejoinder.<br> -</p> - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat -it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment -marked the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and -before I left the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the -satisfaction of observing a regiment of as tractable and docile -mounts as one might care to see. The effect on the precision and -celerity of the military movements was so remarkable that Lorquas -Ptomel presented me with a massive anklet of gold from his own -leg, as a sign of his appreciation of my service to the horde. -<br> -<p>On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we -again took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another -attack being deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel.<br> -</p> - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but -little of Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars -Tarkas with my lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as -in the training of my thoats. The few times I had visited her -quarters she had been absent, walking upon the streets with Sola, -or investigating the buildings in the near vicinity of the plaza. -I had warned them against venturing far from the plaza for fear -of the great white apes, whose ferocity I was only too well -acquainted with. However, since Woola accompanied them on all -their excursions, and as Sola was well armed, there was -comparatively little cause for fear. <br> -<p>On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching -along one of the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the -east. I advanced to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take -the responsibility for Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her -to return to her quarters on some trivial errand. I liked and -trusted Sola, but for some reason I desired to be alone with -Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I had left behind -upon Earth in agreeable and congenial companionship. There seemed -bonds of mutual interest between us as powerful as though we had -been born under the same roof rather than upon different planets, -hurtling through space some forty-eight million miles apart.<br> -</p> - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for -on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet -countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she -placed her little right hand upon my left shoulder in true red -Martian salute. <br> -<p>"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she -said, "and that I would now see no more of you than of any of the -other warriors."<br> -</p> - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, -"notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute -verity." <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris laughed.<br> -</p> - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you -would not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, -but not his heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." <br> -<p>"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she -continued, "for whenever you have been off duty one of the older -women of Tars Tarkas' retinue has always arranged to trump up -some excuse to get Sola and me out of sight. They have had me -down in the pits below the buildings helping them mix their awful -radium powder, and make their terrible projectiles. You know that -these have to be manufactured by artificial light, as exposure to -sunlight always results in an explosion. You have noticed that -their bullets explode when they strike an object? Well, the -opaque, outer coating is broken by the impact, exposing a glass -cylinder, almost solid, in the forward end of which is a minute -particle of radium powder. The moment the sunlight, even though -diffused, strikes this powder it explodes with a violence which -nothing can withstand. If you ever witness a night battle you -will note the absence of these explosions, while the morning -following the battle will be filled at sunrise with the sharp -detonations of exploding missiles fired the preceding night. As a -rule, however, non-exploding projectiles are used at -night."[1]<br> -</p> - -[1]I have used the word radium in describing this powder because -in the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe it to be a -mixture of which radium is the base. In Captain Carter's -manuscript it is mentioned always by the name used in the written -language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it would -be difficult and useless to reproduce. <br> -<p>While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of -this wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned -by the immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they -were keeping her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but -that they should subject her to dangerous and arduous labor -filled me with rage.<br> -</p> - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors -leap in my veins as I awaited her reply. <br> -<p>"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing -that can harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the -daughter of ten thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry -straight back without a break to the builder of the first great -waterway, and they, who do not even know their own mothers, are -jealous of me. At heart they hate their horrid fates, and so -wreak their poor spite on me who stand for everything they have -not, and for all they most crave and never can attain. Let us -pity them, my chieftain, for even though we die at their hands we -can afford them pity, since we are greater than they and they -know it."<br> -</p> - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," as -applied by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the -surprise of my life, but I did not know at that time, nor for -many months thereafter. Yes, I still had much to learn upon -Barsoom. <br> -<p>"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our -fate with as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, -nevertheless, that I may be present the next time that any -Martian, green, red, pink, or violet, has the temerity to even so -much as frown on you, my princess."<br> -</p> - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon -me with dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd -little laugh, which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her -mouth, she shook her head and cried: <br> -<p>"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little -child."<br> -</p> - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. <br> -<p>"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may -not tell you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos -Mors, have listened without anger," she soliloquized in -conclusion.<br> -</p> - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing -moods; joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as -contrasted with my soft heart and natural kindliness. <br> -<p>"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you -would take him home and nurse him back to health," she -laughed.<br> -</p> - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least -among civilized men." <br> -<p>This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, -with all her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a -Martian, and to a Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; -for every dead foeman means so much more to divide between those -who live.<br> -</p> - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her -so much perturbation a moment before and so I continued to -importune her to enlighten me. <br> -<p>"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and -that I have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I -be dead, as likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled -Barsoom another twelve times, remember that I listened and that -I--smiled."<br> -</p> - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the -more positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. <br> -<p>Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the -great avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth -looking down upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed -that we were alone in the universe, and I, at least, was content -that it should be so.<br> -</p> - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks -I threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm -rested for an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every -fiber of my being such as contact with no other mortal had even -produced; and it seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward -me, but of that I was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested -there across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the -silk required she did not draw away, nor did she speak. And so, -in silence, we walked the surface of a dying world, but in the -breast of one of us at least had been born that which is ever -oldest, yet ever new. <br> -<p>I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked -shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I -knew that I had loved her since the first moment that my eyes had -met hers that first time in the plaza of the dead city of -Korad.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_14">CHAPTER XIV</h1> - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought -of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten -the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way -against the thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon -our arrival at Thark. I could not chance causing her additional -pain or sorrow by declaring a love which, in all probability she -did not return. Should I be so indiscreet, her position would be -even more unbearable than now, and the thought that she might -feel that I was taking advantage of her helplessness, to -influence her decision was the final argument which sealed my -lips. <br> -<p>"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you -would rather return to Sola and your quarters."<br> -</p> - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is -that I should always be happy and contented when you, John -Carter, a stranger, are with me; yet at such times it seems that -I am safe and that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's -court and feel his strong arms about me and my mother's tears and -kisses on my cheek." <br> -<p>"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had -explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its -meaning.<br> -</p> - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." <br> -<p>"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and -sisters?"<br> -</p> - -"Yes." <br> -<p>"And a--lover?"<br> -</p> - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. <br> -<p>"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask -personal questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he -has fought for and won."<br> -</p> - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my tongue had -been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself -and ceased, and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them -out to me, and without a word, and with head held high, she moved -with the carriage of the queen she was toward the plaza and the -doorway of her quarters. <br> -<p>I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she -reached the building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany -her, I turned disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for -hours cross-legged, and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating -upon the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor devils of -mortals.<br> -</p> - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed -the five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of -beautiful women and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire -for love and a constant search for my ideal, it had remained for -me to fall furiously and hopelessly in love with a creature from -another world, of a species similar possibly, yet not identical -with mine. A woman who was hatched from an egg, and whose span of -life might cover a thousand years; whose people had strange -customs and ideas; a woman whose hopes, whose pleasures, whose -standards of virtue and of right and wrong might vary as greatly -from mine as did those of the green Martians. <br> -<p>Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was -suffering the greatest misery I had ever known I would not have -had it otherwise for all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and -such are lovers wherever love is known.<br> -</p> - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was -virtuous and beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from -the bottom of my heart, from the depth of my soul on that night -in Korad as I sat cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer -moon of Barsoom raced through the western sky toward the horizon, -and lighted up the gold and marble, and jeweled mosaics of my -world-old chamber, and I believe it today as I sit at my desk in -the little study overlooking the Hudson. Twenty years have -intervened; for ten of them I lived and fought for Dejah Thoris -and her people, and for ten I have lived upon her memory. <br> -<p>The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, -as do all Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow -melts at the poles.<br> -</p> - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, -but she turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood -mount to her cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held -my peace when I might have plead ignorance of the nature of my -offense, or at least the gravity of it, and so have effected, at -worst, a half conciliation. <br> -<p>My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and -so I glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. -In doing so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by -one ankle to the side of the vehicle.<br> -</p> - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. <br> -<p>"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening -her disapproval of the procedure.<br> -</p> - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive -spring lock. <br> -<p>"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it."<br> -</p> - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. <br> -<p>I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to -whom I vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and -cruelties, as they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being -heaped upon Dejah Thoris.<br> -</p> - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape -the Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will -not go without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and -we do not wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest -way that will yet ensure security. I have spoken." <br> -<p>I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that -it were futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the -key be taken from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the -prisoner alone in future.<br> -</p> - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the -friendship that, I must confess, I feel for you." <br> -<p>"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John -Carter; but have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to -annoy the girl, and I myself will take the custody of the -key."<br> -</p> - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, -smiling. <br> -<p>He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke.<br> -</p> - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris -would attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the -court of Tal Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains -into the river Iss." <br> -<p>"It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I -replied<br> -</p> - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making -camp I saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. <br> -<p>With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an -undercurrent of something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever -battling to subdue. Could it be a vestige of some human instinct -come back from an ancient forbear to haunt him with the horror of -his people's ways!<br> -</p> - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and -the black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I -had felt for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from -her so palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. -<br> -<p>A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a -warrior named Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who -had never made a kill among his own chieftains, and a second name -only with the metal of some chieftain. It was this custom which -entitled me to the names of either of the chieftains I had -killed; in fact, some of the warriors addressed me as Dotar -Sojat, a combination of the surnames of the two warrior -chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, in other words, whom I -had slain in fair fight.<br> -</p> - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my -direction, while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to -some action. I paid little attention to it at the time, but the -next day I had good reason to recall the circumstances, and at -the same time gain a slight insight into the depths of Sarkoja's -hatred and the lengths to which she was capable of going to wreak -her horrid vengeance on me. <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and -though I spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so -much as the flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. -In my extremity I did what most other lovers would have done; I -sought word from her through an intimate. In this instance it was -Sola whom I intercepted in another part of camp.<br> -</p> - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. -"Why will she not speak to me?" <br> -<p>Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on -the part of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they -were, poor child.<br> -</p> - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, -except that she is the daughter of a jed and the grand-daughter -of a jeddak and she has been humiliated by a creature who could -not polish the teeth of her grandmother's sorak." <br> -<p>I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, -"What might a sorak be, Sola?"<br> -</p> - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red Martian -women keep to play with," explained Sola. <br> -<p>Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must -rank pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; -but I could not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so -homely and in this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for -it sounded very much like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then -commenced a train of thought quite new to me. I began to wonder -what my people at home were doing. I had not seen them for years. -There was a family of Carters in Virginia who claimed close -relationship with me; I was supposed to be a great uncle, or -something of the kind equally foolish. I could pass anywhere for -twenty-five to thirty years of age, and to be a great uncle -always seemed the height of incongruity, for my thoughts and -feelings were those of a boy. There was two little kiddies in the -Carter family whom I had loved and who had thought there was no -one on Earth like Uncle Jack; I could see them just as plainly, -as I stood there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom, and I longed -for them as I had never longed for any mortals before. By nature -a wanderer, I had never known the true meaning of the word home, -but the great hall of the Carters had always stood for all that -the word did mean to me, and now my heart turned toward it from -the cold and unfriendly peoples I had been thrown amongst. For -did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I was a low creature, so -low in fact that I was not even fit to polish the teeth of her -grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor came to my -rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and slept -upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man.<br> -</p> - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only -a single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right -what was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars -Tarkas to investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, -including myself, and we raced across the velvety carpeting of -moss to the little enclosure. <br> -<p>It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in -comparison with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time of -my arrival on Mars.<br> -</p> - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, -finally announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon -and that the cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. -<br> -<p>"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, the -light of battle leaping to his fierce face.<br> -</p> - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore -open the entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon -demolished all the eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting -we dashed back to join the cavalcade. During the ride I took -occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if these Warhoons whose eggs we had -destroyed were a smaller people than his Tharks. <br> -<p>"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those I -saw hatching in your incubator," I added.<br> -</p> - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like -all green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year -period of incubation until they obtained the size of those I had -seen hatching on the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was -indeed an interesting piece of information, for it had always -seemed remarkable to me that the green Martian women, large as -they were, could bring forth such enormous eggs as I had seen the -four-foot infants emerging from. As a matter of fact, the -new-laid egg is but little larger than an ordinary goose egg, and -as it does not commence to grow until subjected to the light of -the sun the chieftains have little difficulty in transporting -several hundreds of them at one time from the storage vaults to -the incubators. <br> -<p>Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to -rest the animals, and it was during this halt that the second of -the day's interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in -changing my riding cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for -I divided the day's work between them, when Zad approached me, -and without a word struck my animal a terrific blow with his -long-sword.<br> -</p> - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what -reply to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I -could scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him -down for the brute he was; but he stood waiting with drawn -long-sword, and my only choice was to draw my own and meet him in -fair fight with his choice of weapons or a lesser one. <br> -<p>This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I -could have used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my -fists had I wished, and been entirely within my rights, but I -could not use firearms or a spear while he held only his -long-sword.<br> -</p> - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided -himself upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him -at all, to do it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was -a long one and delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. -The entire community surrounded us, leaving a clear space about -one hundred feet in diameter for our battle. <br> -<p>Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, -but I was much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped -his rushes he would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick -from my sword upon his arm or back. He was soon streaming blood -from a half dozen minor wounds, but I could not obtain an opening -to deliver an effective thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and -fighting warily and with extreme dexterity, he tried to do by -science what he was unable to do by brute strength. I must admit -that he was a magnificent swordsman, and had it not been for my -greater endurance and the remarkable agility the lesser -gravitation of Mars lent me I might not have been able to put up -the creditable fight I did against him.<br> -</p> - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either -side; the long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the -sunlight, and ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed -together with each effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that -he was tiring more than I, evidently decided to close in and end -the battle in a final blaze of glory for himself; just as he -rushed me a blinding flash of light struck full in my eyes, so -that I could not see his approach and could only leap blindly to -one side in an effort to escape the mighty blade that it seemed I -could already feel in my vitals. I was only partially successful, -as a sharp pain in my left shoulder attested, but in the sweep of -my glance as I sought to again locate my adversary, a sight met -my astonished gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary -blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot stood -three figures, for the purpose evidently of witnessing the -encounter above the heads of the intervening Tharks. There were -Dejah Thoris, Sola, and Sarkoja, and as my fleeting glance swept -over them a little tableau was presented which will stand graven -in my memory to the day of my death. <br> -<p>As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of -a young tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; -something which flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. -Then I knew what had blinded me at that crucial moment of the -fight, and how Sarkoja had found a way to kill me without herself -delivering the final thrust. Another thing I saw, too, which -almost lost my life for me then and there, for it took my mind -for the fraction of an instant entirely from my antagonist; for, -as Dejah Thoris struck the tiny mirror from her hand, Sarkoja, -her face livid with hatred and baffled rage, whipped out her -dagger and aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, -our dear and faithful Sola, sprang between them; the last I saw -was the great knife descending upon her shielding breast.<br> -</p> - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it -extremely interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention -to the work in hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. <br> -<p>We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, -feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust I -could neither parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with -outstretched sword and with all the weight of my body, determined -that I would not die alone if I could prevent it. I felt the -steel tear into my chest, all went black before me, my head -whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees giving beneath me.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_15">CHAPTER XV</h1> - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down -but a moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, -and there I found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of -Zad, who lay stone dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea -bottom. As I regained my full senses I found his weapon piercing -my left breast, but only through the flesh and muscles which -cover my ribs, entering near the center of my chest and coming -out below the shoulder. As I had lunged I had turned so that his -sword merely passed beneath the muscles, inflicting a painful but -not dangerous wound. <br> -<p>Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and -turning my back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and -disgusted, toward the chariots which bore my retinue and my -belongings. A murmur of Martian applause greeted me, but I cared -not for it.<br> -</p> - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death -blows fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a -back seat. They soon had me patched up so that, except for -weakness from loss of blood and a little soreness around the -wound, I suffered no great distress from this thrust which, under -earthly treatment, undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back -for days. <br> -<p>As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot -of Dejah Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest -swathed in bandages, but apparently little the worse for her -encounter with Sarkoja, whose dagger it seemed had struck the -edge of one of Sola's metal breast ornaments and, thus deflected, -had inflicted but a slight flesh wound.<br> -</p> - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks -and furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was -standing a short distance from the vehicle. <br> -<p>"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by -an inclination of my head.<br> -</p> - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." <br> -<p>"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish -its teeth?" I queried, smiling.<br> -</p> - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not -understand either her ways or yours, but I am sure the -granddaughter of ten thousand jeddaks would never grieve like -this over any who held but the highest claim upon her affections. -They are a proud race, but they are just, as are all Barsoomians, -and you must have hurt or wronged her grievously that she will -not admit your existence living, though she mourns you dead. <br> -<p>"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and -so it is difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two -people weep in all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept -from sorrow, the other from baffled rage. The first was my -mother, years ago before they killed her; the other was Sarkoja, -when they dragged her from me today."<br> -</p> - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known -your mother, child." <br> -<p>"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like -to hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot -tonight, John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have -never spoken in all my life before. And now the signal has been -given to resume the march, you must go."<br> -</p> - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah -Thoris I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, -and be sure that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she -would speak with me I but await her command." <br> -<p>Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place in -line, and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped to my -station beside Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column.<br> -</p> - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung -out across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate -and brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of -some two hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five -abreast and one hundred yards apart, and followed by a like -number in the same formation, with a score or more of flankers on -either side; the fifty extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, -known as zitidars, and the five or six hundred extra thoats of -the warriors running loose within the hollow square formed by the -surrounding warriors. The gleaming metal and jewels of the -gorgeous ornaments of the men and women, duplicated in the -trappings of the zitidars and thoats, and interspersed with the -flashing colors of magnificent silks and furs and feathers, lent -a barbaric splendor to the caravan which would have turned an -East Indian potentate green with envy. <br> -<p>The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet -of the animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea -bottom; and so we moved in utter silence, like some huge -phantasmagoria, except when the stillness was broken by the -guttural growling of a goaded zitidar, or the squealing of -fighting thoats. The green Martians converse but little, and then -usually in monosyllables, low and like the faint rumbling of -distant thunder.<br> -</p> - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the -pressure of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, -leaving no sign that we had passed. We might indeed have been the -wraiths of the departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying -planet for all the sound or sign we made in passing. It was the -first march of a large body of men and animals I had ever -witnessed which raised no dust and left no spoor; for there is no -dust upon Mars except in the cultivated districts during the -winter months, and even then the absence of high winds renders it -almost unnoticeable. <br> -<p>We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been -approaching for two days and which marked the southern boundary -of this particular sea. Our animals had been two days without -drink, nor had they had water for nearly two months, not since -shortly after leaving Thark; but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, -they require but little and can live almost indefinitely upon the -moss which covers Barsoom, and which, he told me, holds in its -tiny stems sufficient moisture to meet the limited demands of the -animals. After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food -and vegetable milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the -light of a torch upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked -up at my approach, her face lighting with pleasure and with -welcome.<br> -</p> - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am -lonely. Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too -unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst -them, and I often wish that I were a true green Martian woman, -without love and without hope; but I have known love and so I am -lost. <br> -<p>"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my -parents. From what I have learned of you and the ways of your -people I am sure that the tale will not seem strange to you, but -among green Martians it has no parallel within the memory of the -oldest living Thark, nor do our legends hold many similar -tales.<br> -</p> - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed -principally for size. She was also less cold and cruel than most -green Martian women, and caring little for their society, she -often roamed the deserted avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat -among the wild flowers that deck the nearby hills, thinking -thoughts and wishing wishes which I believe I alone among -Tharkian women today may understand, for am I not the child of my -mother? <br> -<p>"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty -it was to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they -roamed not beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such -things as interest a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they -came to meet more often, and, as was now quite evident to both, -no longer by chance, they talked about themselves, their likes, -their ambitions and their hopes. She trusted him and told him of -the awful repugnance she felt for the cruelties of their kind, -for the hideous, loveless lives they must ever lead, and then she -waited for the storm of denunciation to break from his cold, hard -lips; but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her.<br> -</p> - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my -mother, was of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her -lover was a simple warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their -defection from the traditions of the Tharks been discovered both -would have paid the penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus -and the assembled hordes. <br> -<p>"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass -vessel upon the highest and most inaccessible of the partially -ruined towers of ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited -it for the five long years it lay there in the process of -incubation. She dared not come oftener, for in the mighty guilt -of her conscience she feared that her every move was watched. -During this period my father gained great distinction as a -warrior and had taken the metal from several chieftains. His love -for my mother had never diminished, and his own ambition in life -was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal from Tal -Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to claim -her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect -the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the -truth become known.<br> -</p> - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus -in five short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood -high in the councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost -forever, in so far as it could come in time to save his loved -ones, for he was ordered away upon a long expedition to the -ice-clad south, to make war upon the natives there and despoil -them of their furs, for such is the manner of the green -Barsoomian; he does not labor for what he can wrest in battle -from others. <br> -<p>"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been -over for three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly -before the time for the return of an expedition which had gone -forth to fetch the fruits of a community incubator, the egg had -hatched. Thereafter my mother continued to keep me in the old -tower, visiting me nightly and lavishing upon me the love the -community life would have robbed us both of. She hoped, upon the -return of the expedition from the incubator, to mix me with the -other young assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, and thus -escape the fate which would surely follow discovery of her sin -against the ancient traditions of the green men.<br> -</p> - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and -one night she told me the story I have told to you up to this -point, impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and -the great caution I must exercise after she had placed me with -the other young Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was -further advanced in education than they, nor by any sign to -divulge in the presence of others my affection for her, or my -knowledge of my parentage; and then drawing me close to her she -whispered in my ear the name of my father. <br> -<p>"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower -chamber, and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes -fixed in a frenzy of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The -torrent of hatred and abuse she poured out upon her turned my -young heart cold in terror. That she had heard the entire story -was apparent, and that she had suspected something wrong from my -mother's long nightly absences from her quarters accounted for -her presence there on that fateful night.<br> -</p> - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered -name of my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands -upon my mother to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no -amount of abuse or threats could wring this from her, and to save -me from needless torture she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she -alone knew nor would she even tell her child. <br> -<p>"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus -to report her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, -wrapping me in the silks and furs of her night coverings, so that -I was scarcely noticeable, descended to the streets and ran -wildly away toward the outskirts of the city, in the direction -which led to the far south, out toward the man whose protection -she might not claim, but on whose face she wished to look once -more before she died.<br> -</p> - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us -from across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass -through the hills which led to the gates, the pass by which -caravans from either north or south or east or west would enter -the city. The sounds we heard were the squealing of thoats and -the grumbling of zitidars, with the occasional clank of arms -which announced the approach of a body of warriors. The thought -uppermost in her mind was that it was my father returned from his -expedition, but the cunning of the Thark held her from headlong -and precipitate flight to greet him. <br> -<p>"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the -coming of the cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, -breaking its formation and thronging the thoroughfare from wall -to wall. As the head of the procession passed us the lesser moon -swung clear of the overhanging roofs and lit up the scene with -all the brilliancy of her wondrous light. My mother shrank -further back into the friendly shadows, and from her hiding place -saw that the expedition was not that of my father, but the -returning caravan bearing the young Tharks. Instantly her plan -was formed, and as a great chariot swung close to our hiding -place she slipped stealthily in upon the trailing tailboard, -crouching low in the shadow of the high side, straining me to her -bosom in a frenzy of love.<br> -</p> - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night -would she hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever -look upon each other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza -she mixed me with the other children, whose guardians during the -journey were now free to relinquish their responsibility. We were -herded together into a great room, fed by women who had not -accompanied the expedition, and the next day we were parceled out -among the retinues of the chieftains. <br> -<p>"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by -Tal Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and -shameful torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her -lips the name of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, -dying at last amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains -during some awful torture she was undergoing.<br> -</p> - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me -to save me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had -thrown my body to the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, -and I feel to this day that she suspects my true origin, but does -not dare expose me, at the present, at all events, because she -also guesses, I am sure, the identity of my father. <br> -<p>"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of -my mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never -by the quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; -only he did not laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death -struggles. From that moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, -and I am awaiting the day when he shall win the goal of his -ambition, and feel the carcass of Tal Hajus beneath his foot, for -I am as sure that he but waits the opportunity to wreak a -terrible vengeance, and that his great love is as strong in his -breast as when it first transfigured him nearly forty years ago, -as I am that we sit here upon the edge of a world-old ocean while -sensible people sleep, John Carter."<br> -</p> - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. <br> -<p>"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, -nor does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone -know my father's name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know -that it was she who carried the tale that brought death and -torture upon her he loved."<br> -</p> - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy -thoughts of her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor -creatures whom the heartless, senseless customs of their race had -doomed to loveless lives of cruelty and of hate. Presently she -spoke. <br> -<p>"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom -of Barsoom you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because -the knowledge may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or -myself, I am going to tell you the name of my father, nor place -any restrictions or conditions upon your tongue. When the time -comes, speak the truth if it seems best to you. I trust you -because I know that you are not cursed with the terrible trait of -absolute and unswerving truthfulness, that you could lie like one -of your own Virginia gentlemen if a lie would save others from -sorrow or suffering. My father's name is Tars Tarkas."<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_16">CHAPTER XVI</h1> - -WE PLAN ESCAPE <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were -twenty days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing -through or around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than -Korad. Twice we crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, -so-called by our earthly astronomers. When we approached these -points a warrior would be sent far ahead with a powerful field -glass, and if no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we -would advance as close as possible without chance of being seen -and then camp until dark, when we would slowly approach the -cultivated tract, and, locating one of the numerous, broad -highways which cross these areas at regular intervals, creep -silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other -side. It required five hours to make one of these crossings -without a single halt, and the other consumed the entire night, -so that we were just leaving the confines of the high-walled -fields when the sun broke out upon us. <br> -<p>Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but -little, except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless -hurtling through the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of -the landscape from time to time, disclosing walled fields and -low, rambling buildings, presenting much the appearance of -earthly farms. There were many trees, methodically arranged, and -some of them were of enormous height; there were animals in some -of the enclosures, and they announced their presence by terrified -squealings and snortings as they scented our queer, wild beasts -and wilder human beings.<br> -</p> - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which -cuts each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. -The fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I -came abreast of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single -glance at the approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet -and fled madly down the road, scaling a nearby wall with the -agility of a scared cat. The Tharks paid him not the slightest -attention; they were not out upon the warpath, and the only sign -that I had that they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of -the caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert which -marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus. <br> -<p>Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no -word to me that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish -pride kept me from making any advances. I verily believe that a -man's way with women is in inverse ratio to his prowess among -men. The weakling and the saphead have often great ability to -charm the fair sex, while the fighting man who can face a -thousand real dangers unafraid, sits hiding in the shadows like -some frightened child.<br> -</p> - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the -ancient city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this -horde of green men have stolen even their name. The hordes of -Thark number some thirty thousand souls, and are divided into -twenty-five communities. Each community has its own jed and -lesser chieftains, but all are under the rule of Tal Hajus, -Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their headquarters at the -city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among other deserted -cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed by Tal -Hajus. <br> -<p>We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the -afternoon. There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the -returned expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the -names of warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, -in the formal greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered -that they brought two captives a greater interest was aroused, -and Dejah Thoris and I were the centers of inquiring groups.<br> -</p> - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day -was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My -home now was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the -south, the main artery down which we had marched from the gates -of the city. I was at the far end of the square and had an entire -building to myself. The same grandeur of architecture which was -so noticeable a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here, -only, if that were possible, on a larger and richer scale. My -quarters would have been suitable for housing the greatest of -earthly emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing about a -building appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its -chambers; the larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal -Hajus occupied what must have been an enormous public building, -the largest in the city, but entirely unfitted for residence -purposes; the next largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the -next for the jed of a lesser rank, and so on to the bottom of the -list of five jeds. The warriors occupied the buildings with the -chieftains to whose retinues they belonged; or, if they -preferred, sought shelter among any of the thousands of -untenanted buildings in their own quarter of town; each community -being assigned a certain section of the city. The selection of -building had to be made in accordance with these divisions, -except in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all occupying -edifices which fronted upon the plaza. <br> -<p>When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that -it had been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with -the intention of locating Sola and her charges, as I had -determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to -impress on her the necessity of our at least patching up a truce -until I could find some way of aiding her to escape. I searched -in vain until the upper rim of the great red sun was just -disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly head of -Woola peering from a second-story window on the opposite side of -the very street where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza.<br> -</p> - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding -runway which led to the second floor, and entering a great -chamber at the front of the building was greeted by the frenzied -Woola, who threw his great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to -the floor; the poor old fellow was so glad to see me that I -thought he would devour me, his head split from ear to ear, -showing his three rows of tusks in his hobgoblin smile. <br> -<p>Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked -hurriedly through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah -Thoris, and then, not seeing her, I called her name. There was an -answering murmur from the far corner of the apartment, and with a -couple of quick strides I was standing beside her where she -crouched among the furs and silks upon an ancient carved wooden -seat. As I waited she rose to her full height and looking me -straight in the eye said:<br> -</p> - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" -<br> -<p>"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was -furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped -to protect and comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but -that you must aid me in effecting your escape, if such a thing be -possible, is not my request, but my command. When you are safe -once more at your father's court you may do with me as you -please, but from now on until that day I am your master, and you -must obey and aid me."<br> -</p> - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. <br> -<p>"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you -I do not understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of -brute and noble. I only wish that I might read your heart."<br> -</p> - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it -has lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever -lie beating alone for you until death stills it forever." <br> -<p>She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands -outstretched in a strange, groping gesture.<br> -</p> - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you -saying to me?" <br> -<p>"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say -to you, at least until you were no longer a captive among the -green men; what from your attitude toward me for the past twenty -days I had thought never to say to you; I am saying, Dejah -Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul, to serve you, to fight -for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I ask of you in -return, and that is that you make no sign, either of condemnation -or of approbation of my words until you are safe among your own -people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they be -not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to -serve you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it -gives me more pleasure to serve you than not."<br> -</p> - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand -the motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more -willingly than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my -law. I have twice wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask your -forgiveness." <br> -<p>Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the -entrance of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her -usual calm and possessed self.<br> -</p> - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, -"and from what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for -either of you." <br> -<p>"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris.<br> -</p> - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great -arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." -<br> -<p>"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the -customs of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany -us in one supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris -can offer you a home and protection among her people, and your -fate can be no worse among them than it must ever be here."<br> -</p> - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be -better off among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I -can promise you not only a home with us, but the love and -affection your nature craves and which must always be denied you -by the customs of your own race. Come with us, Sola; we might go -without you, but your fate would be terrible if they thought you -had connived to aid us. I know that even that fear would not -tempt you to interfere in our escape, but we want you with us, we -want you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness, amongst a -people who know the meaning of love, of sympathy, and of -gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; tell me that you will." <br> -<p>"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles -to the south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat -might make it in three hours; and then to Helium it is five -hundred miles, most of the way through thinly settled districts. -They would know and they would follow us. We might hide among the -great trees for a time, but the chances are small indeed for -escape. They would follow us to the very gates of Helium, and -they would take toll of life at every step; you do not know -them."<br> -</p> - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you -not draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah -Thoris?" <br> -<p>"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair -she drew upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian -territory I had ever seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction -with long straight lines, sometimes running parallel and -sometimes converging toward some great circle. The lines, she -said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and one far to the -northwest of us she pointed out as Helium. There were other -cities closer, but she said she feared to enter many of them, as -they were not all friendly toward Helium.<br> -</p> - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which -now flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north -of us which also seemed to lead to Helium. <br> -<p>"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I -asked.<br> -</p> - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it -is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." <br> -<p>"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant -waterway," I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the -best route for our escape."<br> -</p> - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave -Thark this same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find -and saddle my thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I -the other; each of us carrying sufficient food and drink to last -us for two days, since the animals could not be urged too rapidly -for so long a distance. <br> -<p>I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the -less frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, -where I would overtake them with the thoats as quickly as -possible; then, leaving them to gather what food, silks, and furs -we were to need, I slipped quietly to the rear of the first -floor, and entered the courtyard, where our animals were moving -restlessly about, as was their habit, before settling down for -the night.<br> -</p> - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of -the Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, -the latter grunting their low gutturals and the former -occasionally emitting the sharp squeal which denotes the almost -habitual state of rage in which these creatures passed their -existence. They were quieter now, owing to the absence of man, -but as they scented me they became more restless and their -hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this entering a -paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their -increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that -something was amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or -for no cause at all some great bull thoat might take it upon -himself to lead a charge upon me. <br> -<p>Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a -night as this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, -I hugged the shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's -warning to leap into the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus -I moved silently to the great gates which opened upon the street -at the back of the court, and as I neared the exit I called -softly to my two animals. How I thanked the kind providence which -had given me the foresight to win the love and confidence of -these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far side of the -court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me through -the surging mountains of flesh.<br> -</p> - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my -body and nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to -reward them with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great -beasts to pass out, and then slipping quietly after them I closed -the portals behind me. <br> -<p>I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead -walked quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an -unfrequented avenue which led toward the point I had arranged to -meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With the noiselessness of disembodied -spirits we moved stealthily along the deserted streets, but not -until we were within sight of the plain beyond the city did I -commence to breathe freely. I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris -would find no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous undetected, -but with my great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as it was -quite unusual for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact -there was no place for them to go within any but a long ride.<br> -</p> - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris -and Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall -of one of the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other -women of the same household may have come in to speak to Sola, -and so delayed their departure, I did not feel any undue -apprehension until nearly an hour had passed without a sign of -them, and by the time another half hour had crawled away I was -becoming filled with grave anxiety. Then there broke upon the -stillness of the night the sound of an approaching party, which, -from the noise, I knew could be no fugitives creeping stealthily -toward liberty. Soon the party was near me, and from the black -shadows of my entranceway I perceived a score of mounted -warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen words that fetched my -heart clean into the top of my head. <br> -<p>"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the -city, and so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was -enough. Our plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape -from now on to the fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope -now was to return undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and -learn what fate had overtaken her, but how to do it with these -great monstrous thoats upon my hands, now that the city probably -was aroused by the knowledge of my escape was a problem of no -mean proportions.<br> -</p> - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of -the construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities -with a hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my -way blindly through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats -after me. They had difficulty in negotiating some of the -doorways, but as the buildings fronting the city's principal -exposures were all designed upon a magnificent scale, they were -able to wriggle through without sticking fast; and thus we -finally made the inner court where I found, as I had expected, -the usual carpet of moss-like vegetation which would prove their -food and drink until I could return them to their own enclosure. -That they would be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was -confident, nor was there but the remotest possibility that they -would be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to -enter these outlying buildings, which were frequented by the only -thing, I believe, which caused them the sensation of fear--the -great white apes of Barsoom. <br> -<p>Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear -doorway of the building through which we had entered the court, -and, turning the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the -court to the rear of the buildings upon the further side, and -thence to the avenue beyond. Waiting in the doorway of the -building until I was assured that no one was approaching, I -hurried across to the opposite side and through the first doorway -to the court beyond; thus, crossing through court after court -with only the slight chance of detection which the necessary -crossing of the avenues entailed, I made my way in safety to the -courtyard in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters.<br> -</p> - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered -in the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might -expect to meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I -had another and safer method of reaching the upper story where -Dejah Thoris should be found, and, after first determining as -nearly as possible which of the buildings she occupied, for I had -never observed them before from the court side, I took advantage -of my relatively great strength and agility and sprang upward -until I grasped the sill of a second-story window which I thought -to be in the rear of her apartment. Drawing myself inside the -room I moved stealthily toward the front of the building, and not -until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was I made -aware by voices that it was occupied. <br> -<p>I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure -myself that it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture -within. It was well indeed that I took this precaution, for the -conversation I heard was in the low gutturals of men, and the -words which finally came to me proved a most timely warning. The -speaker was a chieftain and he was giving orders to four of his -warriors.<br> -</p> - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he -surely will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's -edge, you four are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will -require the combined strength of all of you to do it if the -reports they bring back from Korad are correct. When you have him -fast bound bear him to the vaults beneath the jeddak's quarters -and chain him securely where he may be found when Tal Hajus -wishes him. Allow him to speak with none, nor permit any other to -enter this apartment before he comes. There will be no danger of -the girl returning, for by this time she is safe in the arms of -Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors have pity upon her, for Tal -Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja has done a noble night's -work. I go, and if you fail to capture him when he comes, I -commend your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_17">CHAPTER XVII</h1> - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE <br> -<br> -<p>As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the -door where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had -heard enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly -away I returned to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan -of action was formed upon the instant, and crossing the square -and the bordering avenue upon the opposite side I soon stood -within the courtyard of Tal Hajus.<br> -</p> - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me -where first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered -within. I soon discovered that my approach was not to be the easy -thing I had hoped, for the rear rooms bordering the court were -filled with warriors and women. I then glanced up at the stories -above, discovering that the third was apparently unlighted, and -so decided to make my entrance to the building from that point. -It was the work of but a moment for me to reach the windows -above, and soon I had drawn myself within the sheltering shadows -of the unlighted third floor. <br> -<p>Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and -creeping noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light -in the apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a -doorway I discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense -inner chamber which towered from the first floor, two stories -below me, to the dome-like roof of the building, high above my -head. The floor of this great circular hall was thronged with -chieftains, warriors and women, and at one end was a great raised -platform upon which squatted the most hideous beast I had ever -put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard, cruel, terrible -features of the green warriors, but accentuated and debased by -the animal passions to which he had given himself over for many -years. There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon his bestial -countenance, while his enormous bulk spread itself out upon the -platform where he squatted like some huge devil fish, his six -limbs accentuating the similarity in a horrible and startling -manner.<br> -</p> - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah -Thoris and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer -of him as he let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines -of her beautiful figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear -what she said, nor could I make out the low grumbling of his -reply. She stood there erect before him, her head high held, and -even at the distance I was from them I could read the scorn and -disgust upon her face as she let her haughty glance rest without -sign of fear upon him. She was indeed the proud daughter of a -thousand jeddaks, every inch of her dear, precious little body; -so small, so frail beside the towering warriors around her, but -in her majesty dwarfing them into insignificance; she was the -mightiest figure among them and I verily believe that they felt -it. <br> -<p>Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, -and that the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the -chieftains, the warriors and the women melted away into the -shadows of the surrounding chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola -stood alone before the jeddak of the Tharks.<br> -</p> - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him -standing in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously -toying with the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent -in implacable hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I -could read his thoughts as they were an open book for the -undisguised loathing upon his face. He was thinking of that other -woman who, forty years ago, had stood before this beast, and -could I have spoken a word into his ear at that moment the reign -of Tal Hajus would have been over; but finally he also strode -from the room, not knowing that he left his own daughter at the -mercy of the creature he most loathed. <br> -<p>Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his -intentions, hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors -below. No one was near to intercept me, and I reached the main -floor of the chamber unobserved, taking my station in the shadow -of the same column that Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I -reached the floor Tal Hajus was speaking.<br> -</p> - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your -people would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand -times rather would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the -agony of torture; it shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; -ten days of pleasure were all too short to show the love I harbor -for your race. The terrors of your death shall haunt the slumbers -of the red men through all the ages to come; they will shudder in -the shadows of the night as their fathers tell them of the awful -vengeance of the green men; of the power and might and hate and -cruelty of Tal Hajus. But before the torture you shall be mine -for one short hour, and word of that too shall go forth to Tardos -Mors, Jeddak of Helium, your grandfather, that he may grovel upon -the ground in the agony of his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will -commence; tonight thou art Tal Hajus'; come!" <br> -<p>He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by -the arm, but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between -them. My short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I -could have plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized -that I was upon him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought -of Tars Tarkas, and, with all my rage, with all my hatred, I -could not rob him of that sweet moment for which he had lived and -hoped all these long, weary years, and so, instead, I swung my -good right fist full upon the point of his jaw. Without a sound -he slipped to the floor as one dead.<br> -</p> - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, -and motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber -and to the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with -the straps and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and -then Dejah Thoris to the ground below. Dropping lightly after -them I drew them rapidly around the court in the shadows of the -buildings, and thus we returned over the same course I had so -recently followed from the distant boundary of the city. <br> -<p>We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had -left them, and placing the trappings upon them we hastened -through the building to the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon -one beast, and Dejah Thoris behind me upon the other, we rode -from the city of Thark through the hills to the south.<br> -</p> - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and -toward the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from -us, we turned to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy -waste across which, for two hundred dangerous and weary miles, -lay another main artery leading to Helium. <br> -<p>No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but -I could hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me -with her dear head resting against my shoulder.<br> -</p> - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty -one; greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make -it," she continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will -never know, for you have saved the last of our line from worse -than death." <br> -<p>I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed -the little fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for -support, and then, in unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, -moonlit moss; each of us occupied with his own thoughts. For my -part I could not be other than joyful had I tried, with Dejah -Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine, and with all our -unpassed danger my heart was singing as gaily as though we were -already entering the gates of Helium.<br> -</p> - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found -ourselves without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We -therefore urged our beasts to a speed that must tell on them -sorely before we could hope to sight the ending of the first -stage of our journey. <br> -<p>We rode all night and all the following day with only a few -short rests. On the second night both we and our animals were -completely fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for -some five or six hours, taking up the journey once more before -daylight. All the following day we rode, and when, late in the -afternoon we had sighted no distant trees, the mark of the great -waterways throughout all Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon -us--we were lost.<br> -</p> - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, -nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the -moons and stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, -and the entire party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst -and fatigue. Far ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could -distinguish the outlines of low mountains. These we decided to -attempt to reach in the hope that from some ridge we might -discern the missing waterway. Night fell upon us before we -reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness and -weakness, we lay down and slept. <br> -<p>I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing -close to mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my -blessed old Woola snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had -followed us across that trackless waste to share our fate, -whatever it might be. Putting my arms about his neck I pressed my -cheek close to his, nor am I ashamed that I did it, nor of the -tears that came to my eyes as I thought of his love for me. -Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and Sola awakened, and it was -decided that we push on at once in an effort to gain the -hills.<br> -</p> - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was -commencing to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, -although we had not attempted to force them out of a walk since -about noon of the preceding day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to -one side and pitched violently to the ground. Dejah Thoris and I -were thrown clear of him and fell upon the soft moss with -scarcely a jar; but the poor beast was in a pitiable condition, -not even being able to rise, although relieved of our weight. -Sola told me that the coolness of the night, when it fell, -together with the rest would doubtless revive him, and so I -decided not to kill him, as was my first intention, as I had -thought it cruel to leave him alone there to die of hunger and -thirst. Relieving him of his trappings, which I flung down beside -him, we left the poor fellow to his fate, and pushed on with the -one thoat as best we could. Sola and I walked, making Dejah -Thoris ride, much against her will. In this way we had progressed -to within about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring to reach -when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the thoat, -cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing down -from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both -looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly -discernible, were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed -to be headed in a southwesterly direction, which would take them -away from us. <br> -<p>They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to -capture us, and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were -traveling in the opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris -from the thoat, I commanded the animal to lie down and we three -did the same, presenting as small an object as possible for fear -of attracting the attention of the warriors toward us.<br> -</p> - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an -instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; -to us a most providential ridge; since, had they been in view for -any great length of time, they scarcely could have failed to -discover us. As what proved to be the last warrior came into view -from the pass, he halted and, to our consternation, threw his -small but powerful fieldglass to his eye and scanned the sea -bottom in all directions. Evidently he was a chieftain, for in -certain marching formations among the green men a chieftain -brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung -toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the -cold sweat start from every pore in my body. <br> -<p>Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension on -our nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us -breathed for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and -then he lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the -warriors who had passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did -not wait for them to join him, however, instead he wheeled his -thoat and came tearing madly in our direction.<br> -</p> - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. -Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and -touched the button which controlled the trigger; there was a -sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal, and the charging -chieftain pitched backward from his flying mount. <br> -<p>Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed -Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty -effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were upon us. -I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might find a -temporary hiding place, and even though they died there of hunger -and thirst it would be better so than that they fell into the -hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers upon them as a -slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an escape -for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would surely -mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the -thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command.<br> -</p> - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. -I have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to -smile as I lied. <br> -<p>"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?"<br> -</p> - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for -a while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three -of us together." <br> -<p>She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms -about my neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, -Sola! Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she loves."<br> -</p> - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give -up my life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; -but I could not then give even a second to the rapture of her -sweet embrace, and pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I -picked her up bodily and tossed her to her seat behind Sola -again, commanding the latter in peremptory tones to hold her -there by force, and then, slapping the thoat upon the flank, I -saw them borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free -herself from Sola's grasp. <br> -<p>Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and -looking for their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then -me; but scarcely had they discovered me than I commenced firing, -lying flat upon my belly in the moss. I had an even hundred -rounds in the magazine of my rifle, and another hundred in the -belt at my back, and I kept up a continuous stream of fire until -I saw all of the warriors who had been first to return from -behind the ridge either dead or scurrying to cover.<br> -</p> - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing -madly toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were -almost upon me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris -and Sola had disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing -down my useless gun, and started away in the direction opposite -to that taken by Sola and her charge. <br> -<p>If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted -those astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while -it led them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their -attention from endeavoring to capture me.<br> -</p> - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a -projecting piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the -moss. As I looked up they were upon me, and although I drew my -long-sword in an attempt to sell my life as dearly as possible, -it was soon over. I reeled beneath their blows which fell upon me -in perfect torrents; my head swam; all was black, and I went down -beneath them to oblivion. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_18">CHAPTER XVIII</h1> - -CHAINED IN WARHOON <br> -<br> -<p>It must have been several hours before I regained -consciousness and I well remember the feeling of surprise which -swept over me as I realized that I was not dead.<br> -</p> - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner -of a small room in which were several green warriors, and bending -over me was an ancient and ugly female. <br> -<p>As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, -saying,<br> -</p> - -"He will live, O Jed." <br> -<p>"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and -approaching my couch, "he should render rare sport for the great -games."<br> -</p> - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for -his ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge -fellow, terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one -broken tusk and a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were -human skulls and depending from these a number of dried human -hands. <br> -<p>His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much -while among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from -purgatory into gehenna.<br> -</p> - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured -him that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we -mount and ride after the main column. <br> -<p>I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as -I had ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to -prevent the beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace -in pursuit of the column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so -wonderfully and rapidly had the applications and injections of -the female exercised their therapeutic powers, and so deftly had -she bound and plastered the injuries.<br> -</p> - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after -they had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before -the leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. -<br> -<p>Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, -and also decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried -dead hands which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among -the Warhoons, as well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which -greatly transcends even that of the Tharks.<br> -</p> - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the -object of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, -Dak Kova, the jed who had captured me, and I could not but note -the almost studied efforts which the latter made to affront his -superior. <br> -<p>He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered -the presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before -the ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice.<br> -</p> - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark -whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the -great games." <br> -<p>"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," -replied the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity.<br> -</p> - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but -he shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall -save him. O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak -rather than by a water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak -Kova could tear the metal with his bare hands!" <br> -<p>Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an -instant, his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and -hate, and then without drawing a weapon and without uttering a -word he hurled himself at the throat of his defamer.<br> -</p> - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with -nature's weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which -ensued was as fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination -could picture. They tore at each others' eyes and ears with their -hands and with their gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored -until both were cut fairly to ribbons from head to foot. <br> -<p>Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was -stronger, quicker and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the -encounter was done saving only the final death thrust when Bar -Comas slipped in breaking away from a clinch. It was the one -little opening that Dak Kova needed, and hurling himself at the -body of his adversary he buried his single mighty tusk in Bar -Comas' groin and with a last powerful effort ripped the young -jeddak wide open the full length of his body, the great tusk -finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas' jaw. Victor and -vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, a huge mass of -torn and bloody flesh.<br> -</p> - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on -the part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he -deserved. Three days later he walked without assistance to the -body of Bar Comas which, by custom, had not been moved from where -it fell, and placing his foot upon the neck of his erstwhile -ruler he assumed the title of Jeddak of Warhoon. <br> -<p>The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to -the ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what -remained, amid wild and terrible laughter.<br> -</p> - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it -was decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a -small Thark community in retaliation for the destruction of the -incubator, until after the great games, and the entire body of -warriors, ten thousand in number, turned back toward Warhoon. -<br> -<p>My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but -an index to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. -They are a smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. -Not a day passed but that some members of the various Warhoon -communities met in deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight -mortal duels within a single day.<br> -</p> - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I -was immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the -floor and walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to -the utter darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there -days, or weeks, or months. It was the most horrible experience of -all my life and that my mind did not give way to the terrors of -that inky blackness has been a wonder to me ever since. The place -was filled with creeping, crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies -passed over me when I lay down, and in the darkness I -occasionally caught glimpses of gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed in -horrible intentness upon me. No sound reached me from the world -above and no word would my jailer vouchsafe when my food was -brought to me, although I at first bombarded him with questions. -<br> -<p>Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful -creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was centered -by my tottering reason upon this single emissary who represented -to me the entire horde of Warhoons.<br> -</p> - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where -he could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to -place it upon the floor his head was about on a level with my -breast. So, with the cunning of a madman, I backed into the far -corner of my cell when next I heard him approaching and gathering -a little slack of the great chain which held me in my hand I -waited his coming, crouching like some beast of prey. As he -stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the chain above -my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his -skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead. <br> -<p>Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I -fell upon his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead -throat. Presently they came in contact with a small chain at the -end of which dangled a number of keys. The touch of my fingers on -these keys brought back my reason with the suddenness of thought. -No longer was I a jibbering idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with -the means of escape within my very hands.<br> -</p> - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck -I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes -fixed, unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I -shrank back from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I -crouched holding my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on -came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet. -Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating -sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant -recess of my dungeon. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_19">CHAPTER XIX</h1> - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA <br> -<br> -<p>Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to -attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my former -jailer. But as I reached out into the darkness to locate it I -found to my horror that it was gone. Then the truth flashed on -me; the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged my prize away -from me to be devoured in their neighboring lair; as they had -been waiting for days, for weeks, for months, through all this -awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my dead carcass to -their feast.<br> -</p> - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger -appeared and my incarceration went on as before, but not again -did I allow my reason to be submerged by the horror of my -position. <br> -<p>Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and -chained near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red -Martian and I could scarcely await the departure of his guards to -address him. As their retreating footsteps died away in the -distance, I called out softly the Martian word of greeting, -kaor.<br> -</p> - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered <br> -<p>"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium."<br> -</p> - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." <br> -<p>And then I told him my story as I have written it here, -omitting only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was -much excited by the news of Helium's princess and seemed quite -positive that she and Sola could easily have reached a point of -safety from where they left me. He said that he knew the place -well because the defile through which the Warhoon warriors had -passed when they discovered us was the only one ever used by them -when marching to the south.<br> -</p> - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a -great waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. -<br> -<p>My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in -the navy of Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated -expedition which had fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the -time of Dejah Thoris' capture, and he briefly related the events -which followed the defeat of the battleships.<br> -</p> - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly -toward Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the -capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of -Barsoom, they had been attacked by a great body of war vessels -and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan belonged were either -destroyed or captured. His vessel was chased for days by three of -the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped during the darkness of -a moonless night. <br> -<p>Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the -time of our coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with -about ten survivors of the original crew of seven hundred -officers and men. Immediately seven great fleets, each of one -hundred mighty war ships, had been dispatched to search for Dejah -Thoris, and from these vessels two thousand smaller craft had -been kept out continuously in futile search for the missing -princess.<br> -</p> - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of -Barsoom by the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had -been found. They had been searching among the northern hordes, -and only within the past few days had they extended their quest -to the south. <br> -<p>Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man -fliers and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the -Warhoons while exploring their city. The bravery and daring of -the man won my greatest respect and admiration. Alone he had -landed at the city's boundary and on foot had penetrated to the -buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days and nights he had -explored their quarters and their dungeons in search of his -beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of -Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that -Dejah Thoris was not a captive there.<br> -</p> - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became -well acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few -days only elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our -dungeon for the great games. We were conducted early one morning -to an enormous amphitheater, which instead of having been built -upon the surface of the ground was excavated below the surface. -it had partially filled with debris so that how large it had -originally been was difficult to say. In its present condition it -held the entire twenty thousand Warhoons of the assembled hordes. -<br> -<p>The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around -it the Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined -edifices of the ancient city to prevent the animals and the -captives from escaping into the audience, and at each end had -been constructed cages to hold them until their turns came to -meet some horrible death upon the arena.<br> -</p> - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In -the others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green -warriors, and women of other hordes, and many strange and -ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had never before seen. -The din of their roaring, growling and squealing was deafening -and the formidable appearance of any one of them was enough to -make the stoutest heart feel grave forebodings. <br> -<p>Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of -these prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead -about the arena. The winners in the various contests of the day -would be pitted against each other until only two remained alive; -the victor in the last encounter being set free, whether animal -or man. The following morning the cages would be filled with a -new consignment of victims, and so on throughout the ten days of -the games.<br> -</p> - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill -and within an hour every available part of the seating space was -occupied. Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the -center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform. -<br> -<p>At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown -open and a dozen green Martian females were driven to the center -of the arena. Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a -pack of twelve calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them.<br> -</p> - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost -defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the -horrid sight. The yells and laughter of the green horde bore -witness to the excellent quality of the sport and when I turned -back to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me it was over, I saw three -victorious calots, snarling and growling over the bodies of their -prey. The women had given a good account of themselves. <br> -<p>Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so -it went throughout the long, hot, horrible day.<br> -</p> - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, -but as I was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my -adversary in agility and generally in strength as well, it proved -but child's play to me. Time and time again I won the applause of -the bloodthirsty multitude, and toward the end there were cries -that I be taken from the arena and be made a member of the hordes -of Warhoon. <br> -<p>Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior -of some far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself.<br> -</p> - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror -for the liberty which was accorded the final winner. <br> -<p>Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like -myself had always proven victorious, but occasionally by the -smallest of margins, especially when pitted against the green -warriors. I had little hope that he could best his giant -adversary who had mowed down all before him during the day. The -fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height, while Kantos Kan -was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to meet one -another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian swordsmanship -which centered Kantos Kan's every hope of victory and life on one -cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty feet of -the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his -shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost -at the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the -poor devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena.<br> -</p> - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the -battle until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some -means of escape. The horde evidently guessed that we had no -hearts to fight each other and so they howled in rage as neither -of us placed a fatal thrust. Just as I saw the sudden coming of -dark I whispered to Kantos Kan to thrust his sword between my -left arm and my body. As he did so I staggered back clasping the -sword tightly with my arm and thus fell to the ground with his -weapon apparently protruding from my chest. Kantos Kan perceived -my coup and stepping quickly to my side he placed his foot upon -my neck and withdrawing his sword from my body gave me the final -death blow through the neck which is supposed to sever the -jugular vein, but in this instance the cold blade slipped -harmlessly into the sand of the arena. In the darkness which had -now fallen none could tell but that he had really finished me. I -whispered to him to go and claim his freedom and then look for me -in the hills east of the city, and so he left me. <br> -<p>When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the -top and as the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an -untenanted portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in -reaching the hills beyond.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_20">CHAPTER XX</h1> - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not -come I started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a -point where he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food -consisted of vegetable milk from the plants which gave so -bounteously of this priceless fluid. <br> -<p>Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the -nights guided only by the stars and hiding during the days behind -some protruding rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. -Several times I was attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth -monstrosities that leaped upon me in the dark, so that I had ever -to grasp my long-sword in my hand that I might be ready for them. -Usually my strange, newly acquired telepathic power warned me in -ample time, but once I was down with vicious fangs at my jugular -and a hairy face pressed close to mine before I knew that I was -even threatened.<br> -</p> - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was -large and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at -its throat before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my -neck, and slowly I forced the hairy face from me and closed my -fingers, vise-like, upon its windpipe. <br> -<p>Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to -reach me with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my -grip and choke the life from it as I kept it from my throat. -Slowly my arms gave to the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the -burning eyes and gleaming tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, -until, as the hairy face touched mine again, I realized that all -was over. And then a living mass of destruction sprang from the -surrounding darkness full upon the creature that held me pinioned -to the ground. The two rolled growling upon the moss, tearing and -rending one another in a frightful manner, but it was soon over -and my preserver stood with lowered head above the throat of the -dead thing which would have killed me.<br> -</p> - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting -up the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, -but from whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to -know. That I was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, -but my pleasure at seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the -reason of his leaving Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, -could account for his absence from her, so faithful I knew him to -be to my commands. <br> -<p>By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but -a shadow of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and -commenced greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I -realized that the poor fellow was more than half starved. I, -myself, was in but little better plight but I could not bring -myself to eat the uncooked flesh and I had no means of making a -fire. When Woola had finished his meal I again took up my weary -and seemingly endless wandering in quest of the elusive -waterway.<br> -</p> - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to -see the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About -noon I dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building -which covered perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred -feet in the air. It showed no aperture in the mighty walls other -than the tiny door at which I sank exhausted, nor was there any -sign of life about it. <br> -<p>I could find no bell or other method of making my presence -known to the inmates of the place, unless a small round role in -the wall near the door was for that purpose. It was of about the -bigness of a lead pencil and thinking that it might be in the -nature of a speaking tube I put my mouth to it and was about to -call into it when a voice issued from it asking me whom I might -be, where from, and the nature of my errand.<br> -</p> - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. <br> -<p>"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a -calot, yet you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are -neither green nor red. In the name of the ninth day, what manner -of creature are you?"<br> -</p> - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In -the name of humanity open to us," I replied. <br> -<p>Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had -sunk into the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to -the left, exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the -further end of which was another door, similar in every respect -to the one I had just passed. No one was in sight, yet -immediately we passed the first door it slid gently into place -behind us and receded rapidly to its original position in the -front wall of the building. As the door had slipped aside I had -noted its great thickness, fully twenty feet, and as it reached -its place once more after closing behind us, great cylinders of -steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and fitted their -lower ends into apertures countersunk in the floor.<br> -</p> - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side -as the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I -found food and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice -directed me to satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while -I was thus engaged my invisible host put me through a severe and -searching cross-examination. <br> -<p>"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on -concluding its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the -truth, and it is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I -can tell that by the conformation of your brain and the strange -location of your internal organs and the shape and size of your -heart."<br> -</p> - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. <br> -<p>"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a -Barsoomian I could read those."<br> -</p> - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, -dried up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a -single article of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold -from which depended upon his chest a great ornament as large as a -dinner plate set solid with huge diamonds, except for the exact -center which was occupied by a strange stone, an inch in -diameter, that scintillated nine different and distinct rays; the -seven colors of our earthly prism and two beautiful rays which, -to me, were new and nameless. I cannot describe them any more -than you could describe red to a blind man. I only know that they -were beautiful in the extreme. <br> -<p>The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the -strangest part of our intercourse was that I could read his every -thought while he could not fathom an iota from my mind unless I -spoke.<br> -</p> - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental -operations, and thus I learned a great deal which proved of -immense value to me later and which I would never have known had -he suspected my strange power, for the Martians have such perfect -control of their mental machinery that they are able to direct -their thoughts with absolute precision. <br> -<p>The building in which I found myself contained the machinery -which produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on -Mars. The secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the -ninth ray, one of the beautiful scintillations which I had noted -emanating from the great stone in my host's diadem.<br> -</p> - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means of -finely adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge -building, three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which -the ninth ray is stored. This product is then treated -electrically, or rather certain proportions of refined electric -vibrations are incorporated with it, and the result is then -pumped to the five principal air centers of the planet where, as -it is released, contact with the ether of space transforms it -into atmosphere. <br> -<p>There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in -the great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for -a thousand years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, -was that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus.<br> -</p> - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty -radium pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing -all Mars with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, -he told me, he had watched these pumps which are used alternately -a day each at a stretch, or a little over twenty-four and -one-half Earth hours. He has one assistant who divides the watch -with him. Half a Martian year, about three hundred and forty-four -of our days, each of these men spend alone in this huge, isolated -plant. <br> -<p>Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the -principles of the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one -time ever hold the secret of ingress to the great building, -which, built as it is with walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, -is absolutely unassailable, even the roof being guarded from -assault by air craft by a glass covering five feet thick.<br> -</p> - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians -or some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the -very existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon -the uninterrupted working of this plant. <br> -<p>One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was -that the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The -locks are so finely adjusted that the doors are released by the -action of a certain combination of thought waves. To experiment -with my new-found toy I thought to surprise him into revealing -this combination and so I asked him in a casual manner how he had -managed to unlock the massive doors for me from the inner -chambers of the building. As quick as a flash there leaped to his -mind nine Martian sounds, but as quickly faded as he answered -that this was a secret he must not divulge.<br> -</p> - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared -that he had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I -read suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his -words were still fair. <br> -<p>Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter -to a nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to -Zodanga, which he said, was the nearest Martian city.<br> -</p> - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for -Helium as they are at war with that country. My assistant and I -are of no country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman -which we wear protects us in all lands, even among the green -men--though we do not trust ourselves to their hands if we can -avoid it," he added. <br> -<p>"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a -long and restful sleep--yes, a long sleep."<br> -</p> - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish -that he had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing -over me in the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and -the half formed words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good -of Barsoom." <br> -<p>As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts -were cut off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed -strange to me in my little knowledge of thought transference.<br> -</p> - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was -dead I could no more escape, and with the stopping of the -machinery of the great plant I should die with all the other -inhabitants of the planet--all, even Dejah Thoris were she not -already dead. For the others I did not give the snap of my -finger, but the thought of Dejah Thoris drove from my mind all -desire to kill my mistaken host. <br> -<p>Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by -Woola, sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had -come to me; I would attempt to force the great locks by the nine -thought waves I had read in my host's mind.<br> -</p> - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down -winding runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached -the great hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. -Nowhere had I seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself -by night. <br> -<p>I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a -slight noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a -recess in the corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in -the darkness.<br> -</p> - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the -dimly lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I -saw that he held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was -sharpening it upon a stone. In his mind was the decision to -inspect the radium pumps, which would take about thirty minutes, -and then return to my bed chamber and finish me. <br> -<p>As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the -runway which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my -hiding place and crossed to the great door, the inner of the -three which stood between me and liberty.<br> -</p> - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine -thought waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when -finally the great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to -one side. One after the other the remaining mighty portals opened -at my command and Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, -free, but little better off than we had been before, other than -that we had full stomachs. <br> -<p>Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made -for the first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike -as quickly as possible. This I reached about morning and entering -the first enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a -habitation.<br> -</p> - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing -brought any response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I -threw myself upon the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. -<br> -<p>Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and -opened my eyes to see three red Martians standing a short -distance from us and covering me with their rifles.<br> -</p> - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been -a prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I -ask is food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper -directions for reaching my destination." <br> -<p>They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me -placing their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner -of their custom of salute, and asking me many questions about -myself and my wanderings. They then took me to the house of one -of them which was only a short distance away.<br> -</p> - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper -standing among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all -red-Martian homes, had been raised at night some forty or fifty -feet from the ground on a large round metal shaft which slid up -or down within a sleeve sunk in the ground, and was operated by a -tiny radium engine in the entrance hall of the building. Instead -of bothering with bolts and bars for their dwellings, the red -Martians simply run them up out of harm's way during the night. -They also have private means for lowering or raising them from -the ground without if they wish to go away and leave them. <br> -<p>These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three -similar houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being -government officers in charge. The labor was performed by -convicts, prisoners of war, delinquent debtors and confirmed -bachelors who were too poor to pay the high celibate tax which -all red-Martian governments impose.<br> -</p> - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I -spent several days with them, resting and recuperating from my -long and arduous experiences. <br> -<p>When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejah -Thoris and the old man of the atmosphere plant--they advised me -to color my body to more nearly resemble their own race and then -attempt to find employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the -navy.<br> -</p> - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until -after you have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among -the higher nobles of the court. This you can most easily do -through military service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," -explained one of them, "and save our richest favors for the -fighting man." <br> -<p>When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small -domestic bull thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all -red Martians. The animal is about the size of a horse and quite -gentle, but in color and shape an exact replica of his huge and -fierce cousin of the wilds.<br> -</p> - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I -anointed my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had -grown quite long, in the prevailing fashion of the time, square -at the back and banged in front, so that I could have passed -anywhere upon Barsoom as a full-fledged red Martian. My metal and -ornaments were also renewed in the style of a Zodangan gentleman, -attached to the house of Ptor, which was the family name of my -benefactors. <br> -<p>They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The -medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own -except that the coins are oval. Paper money is issued by -individuals as they require it and redeemed twice yearly. If a -man issues more than he can redeem, the government pays his -creditors in full and the debtor works out the amount upon the -farms or in mines, which are all owned by the government. This -suits everybody except the debtor as it has been a difficult -thing to obtain sufficient voluntary labor to work the great -isolated farm lands of Mars, stretching as they do like narrow -ribbons from pole to pole, through wild stretches peopled by wild -animals and wilder men.<br> -</p> - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to -me they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived -long upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until -I was out of sight upon the broad white turnpike. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_21">CHAPTER XXI</h1> - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA <br> -<br> -<p>As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive -things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom.<br> -</p> - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in -immense underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting -ice caps, and pumped through long conduits to the various -populated centers. Along either side of these conduits, and -extending their entire length, lie the cultivated districts. -These are divided into tracts of about the same size, each tract -being under the supervision of one or more government officers. -<br> -<p>Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus -wasting immense quantities of water by evaporation, the precious -liquid is carried underground through a vast network of small -pipes directly to the roots of the vegetation. The crops upon -Mars are always uniform, for there are no droughts, no rains, no -high winds, and no insects, or destroying birds.<br> -</p> - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic -animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and -vegetables, but not a single article of food which was exactly -similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and flower and -vegetable and animal has been so refined by ages of careful, -scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of them on -Earth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by -comparison. <br> -<p>At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the -noble class and while in conversation we chanced to speak of -Helium. One of the older men had been there on a diplomatic -mission several years before and spoke with regret of the -conditions which seemed destined ever to keep these two countries -at war.<br> -</p> - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of -Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors -Kajak, Dejah Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. <br> -<p>"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she -walks upon and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all -Helium has been draped in mourning.<br> -</p> - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I -fear will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man -to his place." <br> -<p>"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding -Helium, the people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for -the war is not a popular one, since it is not based on right or -justice. Our forces took advantage of the absence of the -principal fleet of Helium on their search for the princess, and -so we have been able easily to reduce the city to a sorry plight. -it is said she will fall within the next few passages of the -further moon."<br> -</p> - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, -Dejah Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. <br> -<p>"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a -green warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She -escaped from the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of -another world, only to fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their -thoats were found wandering upon the sea bottom and evidences of -a bloody conflict were discovered nearby."<br> -</p> - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it -at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I -determined to make every effort possible to reach Helium as -quickly as I could and carry to Tardos Mors such news of his -granddaughter's possible whereabouts as lay in my power. <br> -<p>Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at -Zodanga. From the moment that I had come in contact with the red -inhabitants of Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount -of unwelcome attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a -species which is never domesticated by the red men. Were one to -stroll down Broadway with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect -would be somewhat similar to that which I should have produced -had I entered Zodanga with Woola.<br> -</p> - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so -great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just -before we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it -became imperative that we separate. Had nothing further than my -own safety or pleasure been at stake no argument could have -prevailed upon me to turn away the one creature upon Barsoom that -had never failed in a demonstration of affection and loyalty; but -as I would willingly have offered my life in the service of her -in search of whom I was about to challenge the unknown dangers of -this, to me, mysterious city, I could not permit even Woola's -life to threaten the success of my venture, much less his -momentary happiness, for I doubted not he soon would forget me. -And so I bade the poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising -him, however, that if I came through my adventure in safety that -in some way I should find the means to search him out. <br> -<p>He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in -the direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I -bear to watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga -and with a touch of heartsickness approached her frowning -walls.<br> -</p> - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the -vast, walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the -streets were practically deserted. The residences, raised high -upon their metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the -uprights themselves presented the appearance of steel tree -trunks. The shops as a rule were not raised from the ground nor -were their doors bolted or barred, since thievery is practically -unknown upon Barsoom. Assassination is the ever-present fear of -all Barsoomians, and for this reason alone their homes are raised -high above the ground at night, or in times of danger. <br> -<p>The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for -reaching the point of the city where I could find living -accommodations and be near the offices of the government agents -to whom they had given me letters. My way led to the central -square or plaza, which is a characteristic of all Martian -cities.<br> -</p> - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the -palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty -and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public -buildings, cafes, and shops. <br> -<p>As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and -admiration of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous -scarlet vegetation which carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a -red Martian walking briskly toward me from one of the avenues. He -paid not the slightest attention to me, but as he came abreast I -recognized him, and turning I placed my hand upon his shoulder, -calling out:<br> -</p> - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" <br> -<p>Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower -my hand the point of his long-sword was at my breast.<br> -</p> - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me -fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and -exclaimed, laughing, <br> -<p>"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all -Barsoom who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of -the further moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you -become a Darseen that you can change your color at will?"<br> -</p> - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I -had briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the -arena at Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I -would shortly be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus -with my revered and departed ancestors. I am here in the interest -of Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of -Dejah Thoris, our princess. Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her -hidden in the city and has fallen madly in love with her. His -father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, has made her voluntary -marriage to his son the price of peace between our countries, but -Tardos Mors will not accede to the demands and has sent word that -he and his people would rather look upon the dead face of their -princess than see her wed to any than her own choice, and that -personally he would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost -and burning Helium to joining the metal of his house with that of -Than Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he could have put -upon Than Kosis and the Zodangans, but his people love him the -more for it and his strength in Helium is greater today than -ever. <br> -<p>"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I -have not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join -the Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win -the confidence of Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this -division of the navy, and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah -Thoris. I am glad that you are here, John Carter, for I know your -loyalty to my princess and two of us working together should be -able to accomplish much."<br> -</p> - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming -upon the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening -and the cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led -me to one of these gorgeous eating places where we were served -entirely by mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from -the time it entered the building in its raw state until it -emerged hot and delicious upon the tables before the guests, in -response to the touching of tiny buttons to indicate their -desires. <br> -<p>After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the -headquarters of the air-scout squadron and introducing me to his -superior asked that I be enrolled as a member of the corps. In -accordance with custom an examination was necessary, but Kantos -Kan had told me to have no fear on this score as he would attend -to that part of the matter. He accomplished this by taking my -order for examination to the examining officer and representing -himself as John Carter.<br> -</p> - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, -"when they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is -done and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long -before that time." <br> -<p>The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me the -intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little -contrivances which the Martians use for this purpose. The body of -the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide -and three inches thick, tapering to a point at each end. The -driver sits on top of this plane upon a seat constructed over the -small, noiseless radium engine which propels it. The medium of -buoyancy is contained within the thin metal walls of the body and -consists of the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as -it may be termed in view of its properties.<br> -</p> - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the -Martians have discovered that it is an inherent property of all -light no matter from what source it emanates. They have learned -that it is the solar eighth ray which propels the light of the -sun to the various planets, and that it is the individual eighth -ray of each planet which "reflects," or propels the light thus -obtained out into space once more. The solar eighth ray would be -absorbed by the surface of Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth -ray, which tends to propel light from Mars into space, is -constantly streaming out from the planet constituting a force of -repulsion of gravity which when confined is able to life enormous -weights from the surface of the ground. <br> -<p>It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation -that battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail -as gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a -toy balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth.<br> -</p> - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and -control the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some -nine hundred years before, the first great battle ship to be -built with eighth ray reservoirs was stored with too great a -quantity of the rays and she had sailed up from Helium with five -hundred officers and men, never to return. <br> -<p>Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had -carried her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the -aid of powerful telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten -thousand miles from Mars; a tiny satellite that will thus -encircle Barsoom to the end of time.<br> -</p> - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first -flight, and as a result of it I won a promotion which included -quarters in the palace of Than Kosis. <br> -<p>As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had -seen Kantos Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I -raced at terrific velocity toward the south, following one of the -great waterways which enter Zodanga from that direction.<br> -</p> - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than -an hour when I descried far below me a party of three green -warriors racing madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed -to be trying to reach the confines of one of the walled fields. -<br> -<p>Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the -rear of the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit -was a red Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to -which I was attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, -surrounded by the tools with which he had evidently been occupied -in repairing some damage when surprised by the green -warriors.<br> -</p> - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down -on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the -warriors leaned low to the right, with their great metal-shod -spears. Each seemed striving to be the first to impale the poor -Zodangan and in another moment his fate would have been sealed -had it not been for my timely arrival. <br> -<p>Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the -warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I -rammed the prow of my little flier between the shoulders of the -nearest. The impact sufficient to have torn through inches of -solid steel, hurled the fellow's headless body into the air over -the head of his thoat, where it fell sprawling upon the moss. The -mounts of the other two warriors turned squealing in terror, and -bolted in opposite directions.<br> -</p> - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of -the astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely -aid and promised that my day's work would bring the reward it -merited, for it was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of -Zodanga whose life I had saved. <br> -<p>We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would -surely return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. -Hastening to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to -finish the needed repairs and had almost completed them when we -saw the two green monsters returning at top speed from opposite -sides of us. When they had approached within a hundred yards -their thoats again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to -advance further toward the air craft which had frightened -them.<br> -</p> - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals -advanced toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. <br> -<p>I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the -best he could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no -effort, as had now from much practice become habitual with me, I -hastened to return to my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in -desperate straits.<br> -</p> - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon -his throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final -thrust. With a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between -us, and with outstretched point drove my sword completely through -the body of the green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the -ground and he sank limply upon the prostrate form of the -Zodangan. <br> -<p>A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal -injuries and after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to -attempt the return voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, -however, as these frail vessels are not intended to convey but a -single person.<br> -</p> - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further -mishap returned to Zodanga. <br> -<p>As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of -civilians and troops assembled upon the plain before the city. -The sky was black with naval vessels and private and public -pleasure craft, flying long streamers of gay-colored silks, and -banners and flags of odd and picturesque design.<br> -</p> - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine -close beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the -ceremony, which, he said, was for the purpose of conferring -honors on individual officers and men for bravery and other -distinguished service. He then unfurled a little ensign which -denoted that his craft bore a member of the royal family of -Zodanga, and together we made our way through the maze of -low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of -Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic -bull thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and -ornamentation bore such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers -that I could not but be struck with the startling resemblance the -concourse bore to a band of the red Indians of my own Earth. <br> -<p>One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the -presence of my companion above them and the ruler motioned for -him to descend. As they waited for the troops to move into -position facing the jeddak the two talked earnestly together, the -jeddak and his staff occasionally glancing up at me. I could not -hear their conversation and presently it ceased and all -dismounted, as the last body of troops had wheeled into position -before their emperor. A member of the staff advanced toward the -troops, and calling the name of a soldier commanded him to -advance. The officer then recited the nature of the heroic act -which had won the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advanced -and placed a metal ornament upon the left arm of the lucky -man.<br> -</p> - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, <br> -<p>"John Carter, air scout!"<br> -</p> - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of -military discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little -machine lightly to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen -the others do. As I halted before the officer, he addressed me in -a voice audible to the entire assemblage of troops and -spectators. <br> -<p>"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable -courage and skill in defending the person of the cousin of the -jeddak Than Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green -warriors, it is the pleasure of our jeddak to confer on you the -mark of his esteem."<br> -</p> - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon -me, said: <br> -<p>"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful -achievement, which seems little short of miraculous, and if you -can so well defend a cousin of the jeddak how much better could -you defend the person of the jeddak himself. You are therefore -appointed a padwar of The Guards and will be quartered in my -palace hereafter."<br> -</p> - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his -staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters -on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with -an orderly from the palace to guide me I reported to the officer -in charge of the palace. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_22">CHAPTER XXII</h1> - -I FIND DEJAH <br> -<br> -<p>The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions -to station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, -is always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all -is fair in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian -conflict.<br> -</p> - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which -Than Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with -his son, Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and -did not perceive my entrance. <br> -<p>The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced -them. The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held -between the ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass -false ceiling a few inches below.<br> -</p> - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage -which encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of -the chamber. Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so -long as Than Kosis was in the apartment. When he left I was to -follow. My only duty was to guard the ruler and keep out of sight -as much as possible. I would be relieved after a period of four -hours. The major-domo then left me. <br> -<p>The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the -appearance of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding -place I could perceive all that took place within the room as -readily as though there had been no curtain intervening.<br> -</p> - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite -end of the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard -entered, surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than -Kosis the soldiers fell to either side and there standing before -the jeddak and not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant -with smiles, was Dejah Thoris. <br> -<p>Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in -hand they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in -surprise, and, rising, saluted her.<br> -</p> - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of -Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, -assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to -my son?" <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples -playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer:<br> -</p> - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the -prerogative of woman to change her mind as she listed and to -dissemble in matters concerning her heart. That you will forgive, -Than Kosis, as has your son. Two days ago I was not sure of his -love for me, but now I am, and I have come to beg of you to -forget my rash words and to accept the assurance of the Princess -of Helium that when the time comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince -of Zodanga." <br> -<p>"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It -is far from my desire to push war further against the people of -Helium, and, your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to -my people issued forthwith."<br> -</p> - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange -indeed to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to -give herself to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." -<br> -<p>"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It -requires but the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my -father, say the word that will hasten my happiness, and end this -unpopular strife."<br> -</p> - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium -take to peace. I shall at least offer it to them." <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the -apartment, still followed by her guards.<br> -</p> - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, -broken, to the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had -offered my life, and from whose lips I had so recently heard a -declaration of love for me, had lightly forgotten my very -existence and smilingly given herself to the son of her people's -most hated enemy. <br> -<p>Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe -it. I must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the -cruel truth to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I -deserted my post and hastened through the passage behind the -tapestries toward the door by which she had left the chamber. -Slipping quietly through this opening I discovered a maze of -winding corridors, branching and turning in every direction.<br> -</p> - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon -became hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side -wall when I heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming -from the opposite side of the partition against which I leaned -and presently I made out the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not -hear the words but I knew that I could not possibly be mistaken -in the voice. <br> -<p>Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the -end of which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the -room only to find myself in a small ante-chamber in which were -the four guards who had accompanied her. One of them instantly -arose and accosted me, asking the nature of my business.<br> -</p> - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately -with Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." <br> -<p>"And your order?" asked the fellow.<br> -</p> - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of -The Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode -toward the opposite door of the ante-chamber, behind which I -could hear Dejah Thoris conversing. <br> -<p>But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The -guardsman stepped before me, saying,<br> -</p> - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." -<br> -<p>"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, -hangs at my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you -let me pass in peace or no?"<br> -</p> - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to -join him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my -further progress. <br> -<p>"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one -who had first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the -apartments of the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to -Than Kosis under guard to explain this unwarranted temerity. -Throw down your sword; you cannot hope to overcome four of us," -he added with a grim smile.<br> -</p> - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists -and I can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had -me backed against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. -Slowly I worked my way to a corner of the room where I could -force them to come at me only one at a time, and thus we fought -upward of twenty minutes; the clanging of steel on steel -producing a veritable bedlam in the little room. <br> -<p>The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her -apartment, and there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola -at her back peering over her shoulder. Her face was set and -emotionless and I knew that she did not recognize me, nor did -Sola.<br> -</p> - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, -with only two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them -down after the fashion of my fighting that had won me many a -victory. The third fell within ten seconds after the second, and -the last lay dead upon the bloody floor a few moments later. They -were brave men and noble fighters, and it grieved me that I had -been forced to kill them, but I would have willingly depopulated -all Barsoom could I have reached the side of my Dejah Thoris in -no other way. <br> -<p>Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian -Princess, who still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of -recognition.<br> -</p> - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass -me in my misery?" <br> -<p>"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend."<br> -</p> - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, -"and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot -be--no, for he is dead." <br> -<p>"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I -said. "Do you not recognize, even through paint and strange -metal, the heart of your chieftain?"<br> -</p> - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched -hands, but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with -a shudder and a little moan of misery. <br> -<p>"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, -and whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour -before--but now it is too late, too late."<br> -</p> - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not -have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that -I lived?" <br> -<p>"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you -yesterday and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with -your ashes in the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised -my body to another to save my people from the curse of a -victorious Zodangan army."<br> -</p> - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and -all Zodanga cannot prevent it." <br> -<p>"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on -Barsoom that is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but -meaningless formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more -certain than does the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the -seal of death upon him. I am as good as married, John Carter. No -longer may you call me your princess. No longer are you my -chieftain."<br> -</p> - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah -Thoris, but I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last -words you spoke to me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were -charging down upon us, no other man shall ever claim you as his -bride. You meant them then, my princess, and you mean them still! -Say that it is true." <br> -<p>"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat -them now for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only -known our ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the -promise would have been yours long months ago, and you could have -claimed me before all others. It might have meant the fall of -Helium, but I would have given my empire for my Tharkian -chief."<br> -</p> - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended -me? You called me your princess without having asked my hand of -me, and then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not -know, and I should not have been offended; I see that now. But -there was no one to tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom -there are two kinds of women in the cities of the red men. The -one they fight for that they may ask them in marriage; the other -kind they fight for also, but never ask their hands. When a man -has won a woman he may address her as his princess, or in any of -the several terms which signify possession. You had fought for -me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you called me -your princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even -then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, -until you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me -through combat." <br> -<p>"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I -cried. "You must know that my fault was of ignorance of your -Barsoomian customs. What I failed to do, through implicit belief -that my petition would be presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, -Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, and by all the Virginian -fighting blood that flows in my veins you shall be."<br> -</p> - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may -never be yours while Sab Than lives." <br> -<p>"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than -dies."<br> -</p> - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the -man who slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We -are ruled by custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You -must bear the sorrow with me. That at least we may share in -common. That, and the memory of the brief days among the Tharks. -You must go now, nor ever see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain -that was." <br> -<p>Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was -not entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was -lost to me until the ceremony had actually been performed.<br> -</p> - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in -the mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I -discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments. <br> -<p>I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of -Zodanga, for the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to -be explained, and as I could never reach my original post without -a guide, suspicion would surely rest on me so soon as I was -discovered wandering aimlessly through the palace.<br> -</p> - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, -and this I followed downward for several stories until I reached -the doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of -guardsmen. The walls of this room were hung with transparent -tapestries behind which I secreted myself without being -apprehended. <br> -<p>The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no -interest in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four -of the men to relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess -of Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and -indeed they were upon me all too soon, for it seemed that the -squad had scarcely left the guardroom before one of their number -burst in again breathlessly, crying that they had found their -four comrades butchered in the antechamber.<br> -</p> - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter -through the corridors and apartments carrying messages and -orders, and searching for signs of the assassin. <br> -<p>This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, -for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I -fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace -until, in passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed light -of day coming in through a series of larger windows.<br> -</p> - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, -sought for an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great -balcony which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The -ground was about thirty feet below, and at a like distance from -the building was a wall fully twenty feet high, constructed of -polished glass about a foot in thickness. To a red Martian escape -by this path would have appeared impossible, but to me, with my -earthly strength and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My -only fear was in being detected before darkness fell, for I could -not make the leap in broad daylight while the court below and the -avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans. <br> -<p>Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found -one by accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from -the ceiling of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into -the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had -I settled down within it than I heard a number of people enter -the apartment. The group stopped beneath my hiding place and I -could plainly overhear their every word.<br> -</p> - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. <br> -<p>"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could -believe that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a -single enemy might reach the inner chambers, but how a force of -six or eight fighting men could have done so unobserved is beyond -me. We shall soon know, however, for here comes the royal -psychologist."<br> -</p> - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: <br> -<p>"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead -minds of your faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a -number of fighting men, but by a single opponent."<br> -</p> - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was -evidenced by the impatient exclamation of incredulity which -escaped the lips of Than Kosis. <br> -<p>"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he -cried.<br> -</p> - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact -the impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the -four guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the -metal of one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was -little short of marvelous for he fought fair against the entire -four and vanquished them by his surpassing skill and superhuman -strength and endurance. Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my -Jeddak, such a man was never seen before in this or any other -country upon Barsoom. <br> -<p>"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and -questioned was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I -could not read one iota of it. She said that she witnessed a -portion of the encounter, and that when she looked there was but -one man engaged with the guardsmen; a man whom she did not -recognize as ever having seen."<br> -</p> - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had -rescued from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first -ancestor," he went on, "but the description fits him to -perfection, especially as to his fighting ability." <br> -<p>"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me -at once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me -now that I think upon it that there should have been such a -fighting man in Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant -before today. And his name too, John Carter, who ever heard of -such a name upon Barsoom!"<br> -</p> - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in -the palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the -air-scout squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, -but he knew nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had -told them he knew as little, since he had but recently met me -during our captivity among the Warhoons. <br> -<p>"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He -also is a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, -and where one is we shall sooner or later find the other. -Quadruple the air patrol, and let every man who leaves the city -by air or ground be subjected to the closest scrutiny."<br> -</p> - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within -the palace walls. <br> -<p>"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the -palace grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the -fellow, "and not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar -of the guards, other than that which was recorded of him at the -time he entered."<br> -</p> - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis -contentedly, "and in the meanwhile we will repair to the -apartments of the Princess of Helium and question her in regard -to the affair. She may know more than she cared to divulge to -you, Notan. Come." <br> -<p>They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I -slipped lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. -Few were in sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I -sprang quickly to the top of the glass wall and from there to the -avenue beyond the palace grounds.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_23">CHAPTER XXIII</h1> - -LOST IN THE SKY <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared -the building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, -that the place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal -loitered near the front entrance and in the rear were others. My -only means of reaching, unseen, the upper story where our -apartments were situated was through an adjoining building, and -after considerable maneuvering I managed to attain the roof of a -shop several doors away. <br> -<p>Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in -the building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another -moment I stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no -surprise at my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as -my tour of duty must have ended some time since.<br> -</p> - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the -palace, and when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The -news that Dejah Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled -him with dismay. <br> -<p>"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in -all Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved -princess to the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her -mind to have assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do -not know how we of Helium love the members of our ruling house, -cannot appreciate the horror with which I contemplate such an -unholy alliance."<br> -</p> - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a -resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium -from this disgrace?" <br> -<p>"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, -"I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but -for personal reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow -that frees Dejah Thoris."<br> -</p> - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. <br> -<p>"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?"<br> -</p> - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is -promised to Sab Than." <br> -<p>The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the -shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming:<br> -</p> - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a -more fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my -hand upon your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than -shall go out at the point of my sword for the sake of my love for -Helium, for Dejah Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall -try to reach his quarters in the palace." <br> -<p>"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple -force patrols the sky."<br> -</p> - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air -of confidence. <br> -<p>"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at -last. "I know a secret entrance to the palace through the -pinnacle of the highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day -as I was passing above the palace on patrol duty. In this work it -is required that we investigate any unusual occurrence we may -witness, and a face peering from the pinnacle of the high tower -of the palace was, to me, most unusual. I therefore drew near and -discovered that the possessor of the peering face was none other -than Sab Than. He was slightly put out at being detected and -commanded me to keep the matter to myself, explaining that the -passage from the tower led directly to his apartments, and was -known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the barracks and -get my machine I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five minutes; -but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say it -is?"<br> -</p> - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I -asked. <br> -<p>"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the -roof."<br> -</p> - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." -<br> -<p>Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the -street and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the -building, filled as it was with members of the air-scout -squadron, who, in common with all Zodanga, were on the lookout -for me.<br> -</p> - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were -higher than these barracks, though several topped it by a few -hundred feet; the docks of the great battleships of the line -standing some fifteen hundred feet from the ground, while the -freight and passenger stations of the merchant squadrons rose -nearly as high. <br> -<p>It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one -fraught with much danger, but there was no other way, and so I -essayed the task. The fact that Barsoomian architecture is -extremely ornate made the feat much simpler than I had -anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges and projections -which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way to the -eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The -eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I -clung, and though I encircled the great building I could find no -opening through them.<br> -</p> - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof -through the building. <br> -<p>There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I -must take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who -would not risk a thousand deaths for such as she.<br> -</p> - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one -of the long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which -dangled a great hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides -and bottoms of their craft for various purposes of repair, and by -means of which landing parties are lowered to the ground from the -battleships. <br> -<p>I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before -it finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen -its hold, but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did -not know. It might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of -the roof, so that as my body swung out at the end of the strap it -would slip off and launch me to the pavement a thousand feet -below.<br> -</p> - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the -strap. Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard -pavements, and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the -supporting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating sound which -turned me cold with apprehension; then the hook caught and I was -safe. <br> -<p>Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and -drew myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet -I was confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose -revolver I found myself looking.<br> -</p> - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. <br> -<p>"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just -by the merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I -replied.<br> -</p> - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come -up from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, -or I call the guard." <br> -<p>"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how -close a shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning -toward the edge of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end -of my strap, hung all my weapons.<br> -</p> - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side -and to his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I -grasped him by his throat and his pistol arm and threw him -heavily to the roof. The weapon dropped from his grasp, and my -fingers choked off his attempted cry for assistance. I gagged and -bound him and then hung him over the edge of the roof as I myself -had hung a few moments before. I knew it would be morning before -he would be discovered, and I needed all the time that I could -gain. <br> -<p>Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and -soon had out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast -behind mine I started my engine, and skimming over the edge of -the roof I dove down into the streets of the city far below the -plane usually occupied by the air patrol. In less than a minute I -was settling safely upon the roof of our apartment beside the -astonished Kantos Kan.<br> -</p> - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided -that I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter -the palace and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to -follow me. He set my compass for me, a clever little device which -will remain steadfastly fixed upon any given point on the surface -of Barsoom, and bidding each other farewell we rose together and -sped in the direction of the palace which lay in the route which -I must take to reach Helium. <br> -<p>As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, -throwing its piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice -roared out a command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no -attention to his hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the -darkness, while I rose steadily and at terrific speed raced -through the Martian sky followed by a dozen of the air-scout -craft which had joined the pursuit, and later by a swift cruiser -carrying a hundred men and a battery of rapid-fire guns. By -twisting and turning my little machine, now rising and now -falling, I managed to elude their search-lights most of the time, -but I was also losing ground by these tactics, and so I decided -to hazard everything on a straight-away course and leave the -result to fate and the speed of my machine.<br> -</p> - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only -to the navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our -machines, so that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if I -could dodge their projectiles for a few moments. <br> -<p>As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around -me convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the -die was cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight -course toward Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and -further behind, and I was just congratulating myself on my lucky -escape, when a well-directed shot from the cruiser exploded at -the prow of my little craft. The concussion nearly capsized her, -and with a sickening plunge she hurtled downward through the dark -night.<br> -</p> - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not -know, but I must have been very close to the ground when I -started to rise again, as I plainly heard the squealing of -animals below me. Rising again I scanned the heavens for my -pursuers, and finally making out their lights far behind me, saw -that they were landing, evidently in search of me. <br> -<p>Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I -venture to flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found -to my consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly -destroyed my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true I -could follow the stars in the general direction of Helium, but -without knowing the exact location of the city or the speed at -which I was traveling my chances for finding it were slim.<br> -</p> - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my -compass intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in -between four and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning -found me speeding over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after -nearly six hours of continuous flight at high speed. Presently a -great city showed below me, but it was not Helium, as that alone -of all Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular -walled cities about seventy-five miles apart and would have been -easily distinguishable from the altitude at which I was flying. -<br> -<p>Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I -turned back in a southeasterly direction, passing during the -forenoon several other large cities, but none resembling the -description which Kantos Kan had given me of Helium. In addition -to the twin-city formation of Helium, another distinguishing -feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid scarlet rising -nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the cities, -while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks -her sister.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_24">CHAPTER XXIV</h1> - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, -and as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon -several thousand green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. -Scarcely had I seen them than a volley of shots was directed at -me, and with the almost unfailing accuracy of their aim my little -craft was instantly a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to the -ground. <br> -<p>I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, -among warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they -engaged in life and death struggles. The men were fighting on -foot with long-swords, while an occasional shot from a -sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict would bring down a -warrior who might for an instant separate himself from the -entangled mass.<br> -</p> - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or -die, with good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the -ground with drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. -<br> -<p>I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three -antagonists, and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the -light of battle, I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not -see me, as I was a trifle behind him, and just then the three -warriors opposing him, and whom I recognized as Warhoons, charged -simultaneously. The mighty fellow made quick work of one of them, -but in stepping back for another thrust he fell over a dead body -behind him and was down and at the mercy of his foes in an -instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars Tarkas -would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not -sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I -had accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his -feet and quickly settled the other.<br> -</p> - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, <br> -<p>"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no -other mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for -me. I think I have learned that there is such a thing as -friendship, my friend."<br> -</p> - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to -shoulder, during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of -battle turned and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell -back upon their thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. -<br> -<p>Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, -and upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither -side asked or gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take -prisoners.<br> -</p> - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly -to Tars Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the -chieftain attended the customary council which immediately -follows an engagement. <br> -<p>As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard -something move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up -there rushed suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which -bore me backward upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had -been reclining. It was Woola--faithful, loving Woola. He had -found his way back to Thark and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, -had gone immediately to my former quarters where he had taken up -his pathetic and seemingly hopeless watch for my return.<br> -</p> - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars -Tarkas, on his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw -and recognized you as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me -to bring you before him tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; -you may take your choice from among them, and I will accompany -you to the nearest waterway that leads to Helium. Tars Tarkas may -be a cruel green warrior, but he can be a friend as well. Come, -we must start." <br> -<p>"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked.<br> -</p> - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I -should chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of -battling with Tal Hajus." <br> -<p>"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You -shall not sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can -have the chance you wait."<br> -</p> - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into -wild fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt -him, and that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be -subjected to the most horrible tortures. <br> -<p>While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which -Sola had told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march -to Thark.<br> -</p> - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in -passion and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had -been heaped upon the only thing he had ever loved in all his -cold, cruel, terrible existence. <br> -<p>He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal -Hajus, only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. -At his request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of -venomous hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense -for any future misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might -bring me.<br> -</p> - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were -instrumental in bringing about the torture and death of a woman -named Gozava. I have just discovered that the warrior who loved -that woman has learned of your part in the transaction. He may -not kill you, Sarkoja, it is not our custom, but there is nothing -to prevent him tying one end of a strap about your neck and the -other end to a wild thoat, merely to test your fitness to survive -and help perpetuate our race. Having heard that he would do this -on the morrow, I thought it only right to warn you, for I am a -just man. The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage, Sarkoja. Come, -John Carter." <br> -<p>The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen -after.<br> -</p> - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely -wait to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering -at the entrance as I came in. <br> -<p>"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it -is dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own -hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute -my person with his vile gaze."<br> -</p> - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council -and ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today -I have fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest -warrior. You owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much -today. You claim to be just people--" <br> -<p>"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as -I command."<br> -</p> - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to -set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." <br> -<p>"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus -fumed and frothed, I continued.<br> -</p> - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your -mighty jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the -thick of battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and -little children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen -him fight with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him -with a single blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks -fashion their jeddaks? There stands beside me now a great Thark, -a mighty warrior and a noble man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" <br> -<p>A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion.<br> -</p> - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must -prove his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite -Tars Tarkas to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is -afraid; Tal Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I -could kill him, and he knows it." <br> -<p>After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were -riveted upon Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy -green of his countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon -his lips.<br> -</p> - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never in -my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. -There could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." -And still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. <br> -<p>"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal -Hajus, prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?"<br> -</p> - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. <br> -<p>There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal -Hajus drew his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas.<br> -</p> - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the -dead monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. <br> -<p>His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the -rank I had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity -among them.<br> -</p> - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars -Tarkas, as well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist -them in my cause against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of -my adventures, and in a few words had explained to him the -thought I had in mind. <br> -<p>"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the -council, "which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you -briefly. Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our -prisoner, is now held by the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she -must wed to save her country from devastation at the hands of the -Zodangan forces.<br> -</p> - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to -Helium. The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have -often thought that had we an alliance with the people of Helium -we could obtain sufficient assurance of sustenance to permit us -to increase the size and frequency of our hatchings, and thus -become unquestionably supreme among the green men of all Barsoom. -What say you?" <br> -<p>It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they -rose to the bait as a speckled trout to a fly.<br> -</p> - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half -hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across -dead sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. -<br> -<p>In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred -thousand strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the -services of three smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot -of Zodanga.<br> -</p> - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at -the heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. <br> -<p>We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we -camped during the day at deserted cities where, even to the -beasts, we were all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On -the march Tars Tarkas, through his remarkable ability and -statesmanship, enlisted fifty thousand more warriors from various -hordes, so that, ten days after we set out we halted at midnight -outside the great walled city of Zodanga, one hundred and fifty -thousand strong.<br> -</p> - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious -green monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red -men. Never in the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had -such a force of green warriors marched to battle together. It was -a monstrous task to keep even a semblance of harmony among them, -and it was a marvel to me that he got them to the city without a -mighty battle among themselves. <br> -<p>But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were -submerged by their greater hatred for the red men, and especially -for the Zodangans, who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of -extermination against the green men, directing special attention -toward despoiling their incubators.<br> -</p> - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to -the city devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his -forces in two divisions out of earshot of the city, with each -division opposite a large gateway, I took twenty dismounted -warriors and approached one of the small gates that pierced the -walls at short intervals. These gates have no regular guard, but -are covered by sentries, who patrol the avenue that encircles the -city just within the walls as our metropolitan police patrol -their beats. <br> -<p>The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty -feet thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and -the task of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green -warriors, an impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to -accompany me were of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did -not know me.<br> -</p> - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms -locked, I commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a -sixth I ordered to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The -head of the topmost warrior towered over forty feet from the -ground. <br> -<p>In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three -steps from the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then -starting from a short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from -one tier to the next, and with a final bound from the broad -shoulders of the highest I clutched the top of the great wall and -quietly drew myself to its broad expanse. After me I dragged six -lengths of leather from an equal number of my warriors. These -lengths we had previously fastened together, and passing one end -to the topmost warrior I lowered the other end cautiously over -the opposite side of the wall toward the avenue below. No one was -in sight, so, lowering myself to the end of my leather strap, I -dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement below.<br> -</p> - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, -and in another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within -the doomed city of Zodanga. <br> -<p>I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary -of the enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the -distance a blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I -determined to lead a detachment of warriors directly within the -palace itself, while the balance of the great horde was attacking -the barracks of the soldiery.<br> -</p> - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty -Tharks, with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to -capture and open one of the great gates while with the nine -remaining I took the other. We were to do our work quietly, no -shots were to be fired and no general advance made until I had -reached the palace with my fifty Tharks. Our plans worked to -perfection. The two sentries we met were dispatched to their -fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, and the guards -at both gates followed them in silence. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_25">CHAPTER XXV</h1> - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA <br> -<br> -<p>As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, -headed by Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. -I led them to the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without -assistance. Once inside, however, the gate gave me considerable -trouble, but I finally was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its -huge hinges, and soon my fierce escort was riding across the -gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga.<br> -</p> - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows -of the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience -chamber of Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles -and their women, as though some important function was in -progress. There was not a guard in sight without the palace, due, -I presume, to the fact that the city and palace walls were -considered impregnable, and so I came close and peered within. -<br> -<p>At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones -encrusted with diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, -surrounded by officers and dignitaries of state. Before them -stretched a broad aisle lined on either side with soldiery, and -as I looked there entered this aisle at the far end of the hall, -the head of a procession which advanced to the foot of the -throne.<br> -</p> - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing a -huge salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a -great golden chain with a collar and padlock at each end. -Directly behind these officers came four others carrying a -similar salver which supported the magnificent ornaments of a -prince and princess of the reigning house of Zodanga. <br> -<p>At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and -halted, facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then -came more dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the -army, and finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, -so that not a feature of either was discernible. These two -stopped at the foot of the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the -balance of the procession had entered and assumed their stations -Than Kosis addressed the couple standing before him. I could not -hear his words, but presently two officers advanced and removed -the scarlet robe from one of the figures, and I saw that Kantos -Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab Than, Prince of -Zodanga, who stood revealed before me.<br> -</p> - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the -salvers and placed one of the collars of gold about his son's -neck, springing the padlock fast. After a few more words -addressed to Sab Than he turned to the other figure, from which -the officers now removed the enshrouding silks, disclosing to my -now comprehending view Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. <br> -<p>The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment -Dejah Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It -was an impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it -seemed the most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the -ornaments were adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar -of gold swung open in the hands of Than Kosis I raised my -long-sword above my head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered -the glass of the great window and sprang into the midst of the -astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the steps of the -platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with surprise -I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would -have bound Dejah Thoris to another.<br> -</p> - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced -me from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled -dagger he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have -killed him as easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of -Barsoom stayed my hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew -toward my heart I held him as though in a vise and with my -long-sword pointed to the far end of the hall. <br> -<p>"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!"<br> -</p> - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, -forging through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas -and his fifty warriors on their great thoats. <br> -<p>A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no -word of fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga -were hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks.<br> -</p> - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah -Thoris to my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in -this Than Kosis now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an -instant we were engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. <br> -<p>As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing -up the steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to -strike, Dejah Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found -the spot that made Sab Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father -rolled dead upon the floor the new jeddak tore himself free from -Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again we faced each other. He was soon -joined by a quartet of officers, and, with my back against a -golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard -pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down Sab Than and, -with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My blade was -swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry the -thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was -down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and -to avenge the death of the old.<br> -</p> - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! -Strike her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" <br> -<p>Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way -toward the little doorway back of the throne, but the officers -realized my intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and -blocked my chances for gaining a position where I could have -defended Dejah Thoris against any army of swordsmen.<br> -</p> - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the -room, and I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle -could save Dejah Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas -surging through the crowd of pygmies that swarmed about him. With -one swing of his mighty longsword he laid a dozen corpses at his -feet, and so he hewed a pathway before him until in another -moment he stood upon the platform beside me, dealing death and -destruction right and left. <br> -<p>The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one -attempted to escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because -only Tharks remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah -Thoris and myself.<br> -</p> - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the -flower of Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the -bloody shambles. <br> -<p>My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, -and leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen -warriors and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The -jailers had all left to join the fighters in the throne room, so -we searched the labyrinthine prison without opposition.<br> -</p> - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and -compartment, and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint -response. Guided by the sound, we soon found him helpless in a -dark recess. <br> -<p>He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the -fight, faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told -me that the air patrol had captured him before he reached the -high tower of the palace, so that he had not even seen Sab -Than.<br> -</p> - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the -bars and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I -returned to search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open -the padlocks of his cell and of his chains. <br> -<p>Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and -soon we had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room.<br> -</p> - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came -to us from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to -direct the fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as -guide, the green warriors commencing a thorough search of the -palace for other Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I -were left alone. <br> -<p>She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned -to her she greeted me with a wan smile.<br> -</p> - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom -has never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are -as you? Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you -have done in a few short months what in all the past ages of -Barsoom no man has ever done: joined together the wild hordes of -the sea bottoms and brought them to fight as allies of a red -Martian people." <br> -<p>"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was -not I who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power -that would work greater miracles than this you have seen."<br> -</p> - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, <br> -<p>"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I am -free."<br> -</p> - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I -returned. "I have done many strange things in my life, many -things that wiser men would not have dared, but never in my -wildest fancies have I dreamed of winning a Dejah Thoris for -myself--for never had I dreamed that in all the universe dwelt -such a woman as the Princess of Helium. That you are a princess -does not abash me, but that you are you is enough to make me -doubt my sanity as I ask you, my princess, to be mine." <br> -<p>"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to -his plea before the plea were made," she replied, rising and -placing her dear hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my -arms and kissed her.<br> -</p> - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true -daughter of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to -John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia. <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<br> -<h1 id="ref_26">CHAPTER XXVI</h1> - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY <br> -<br> -<p>Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report -that Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were -entirely destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to -be expected from within. Several battleships had escaped, but -there were thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard of -Thark warriors.<br> -</p> - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we -could, man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners -and make for Helium without further loss of time. <br> -<p>Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock -buildings with a fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, -carrying nearly one hundred thousand green warriors, followed by -a fleet of transports with our thoats.<br> -</p> - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal -clutches of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser -hordes. They were looting, murdering, and fighting amongst -themselves. In a hundred places they had applied the torch, and -columns of dense smoke were rising above the city as though to -blot out from the eye of heaven the horrid sights beneath. <br> -<p>In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and -yellow towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of -Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers without -the city, and advanced to meet us.<br> -</p> - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each -of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to -realize that we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had -opened fire upon them almost as they left the ground. With their -uncanny marksmanship they raked the on-coming fleet with volley -after volley. <br> -<p>The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, -sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first -real air battle I had ever witnessed.<br> -</p> - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above -the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their -batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no -navy, have no skill in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, -however, was most effective, and the final outcome of the -engagement was strongly influenced, if not wholly determined, by -their presence. <br> -<p>At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring -broadside after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole -was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the -Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely over, the -little figures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting toward -the ground a thousand feet below; then with sickening velocity -she tore after them, almost completely burying herself in the -soft loam of the ancient sea bottom.<br> -</p> - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and -with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a -pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position -above their adversaries, from which they poured upon them from -their keel bomb batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. -<br> -<p>Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in -rising above the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the -beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the -high scarlet tower of greater Helium. Several others attempted to -escape, but they were soon surrounded by thousands of tiny -individual fliers, and above each hung a monster battleship of -Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon their decks.<br> -</p> - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the -victorious Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp -of the besiegers the battle was over, and the remaining vessels -of the conquered Zodangans were headed toward the cities of -Helium under prize crews. <br> -<p>There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these -mighty fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded -that surrender should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to -earth of the commander of the vanquished vessel. One after -another the brave fellows, holding their colors high above their -heads, leaped from the towering bows of their mighty craft to an -awful death.<br> -</p> - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful -plunge, thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, -did the fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men -come to an end. <br> -<p>We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and -when she was within hailing distance I called out that we had the -Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer -her to the flagship that she might be taken immediately to the -city.<br> -</p> - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great -cry arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the -colors of the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon -her upper works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught -the meaning of the signals flashed them they took up the wild -acclaim and unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight. <br> -<p>The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to -and touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As -their astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, -who now came forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped -aghast, but at sight of Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, -they came forward, crowding about him.<br> -</p> - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other -than her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for -they were men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, -and she knew them well. <br> -<p>"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to -them, turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her -princess as well as her victory today."<br> -</p> - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and -complimentary things, but what seemed to impress them most was -that I had won the aid of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for -the liberation of Dejah Thoris, and the relief of Helium. <br> -<p>"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, -"and here he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and -statesmen, Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark."<br> -</p> - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner -toward me they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, -to my surprise, was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in -courtly speech. Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are -extremely formal, and their ways lend themselves amazingly well -to dignified and courtly manners. <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out -that I would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle -was but partly won; we still had the land forces of the besieging -Zodangans to account for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until -that had been accomplished.<br> -</p> - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange -to have the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction -with our land attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah -Thoris was borne in triumph back to the court of her grandfather, -Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. <br> -<p>In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats -of the green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. -Without landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload -these beasts upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for -it, and so we put out for a point about ten miles from the city -and began the task.<br> -</p> - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and -this work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. -Twice we were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with -little loss, however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. -<br> -<p>As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the -command to advance, and in three parties we crept upon the -Zodangan camp from the north, the south and the east.<br> -</p> - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts -and, as had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to -charge. With wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing -of battle-enraged thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. <br> -<p>We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched -battle line confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed -until, toward noon, I began to fear for the result of the -battle.<br> -</p> - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered -from pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like -waterways, while pitted against them were less than a hundred -thousand green warriors. The forces from Helium had not arrived, -nor could we receive any word from them. <br> -<p>Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between -the Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our -much-needed reinforcements had come.<br> -</p> - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty -thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the -enemy. At the same moment the battle line of Helium surged over -the opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment -they were being crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they -fought, but in vain. <br> -<p>The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the -last Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the -prisoners were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater -city's gates, a huge triumphal procession of conquering -heroes.<br> -</p> - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which -were the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain -within the city during the battle. We were greeted with an -endless round of applause and showered with ornaments of gold, -platinum, silver, and precious jewels. The city had gone mad with -joy. <br> -<p>My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. -Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the -gates of Helium, and that they came now as friends and allies -filled the red men with rejoicing.<br> -</p> - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by -the loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge -thoat as we passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the -face of the ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed -close about me. <br> -<p>As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party -of officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas -and his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, -together with myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from -Tardos Mors an expression of his gratitude for our services.<br> -</p> - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of -the palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower -steps one of their number descended to meet us. <br> -<p>He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight -as an arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing -of a ruler of men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos -Mors, Jeddak of Helium.<br> -</p> - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his -first words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. -<br> -<p>"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest -living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he may -lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far -greater boon."<br> -</p> - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a -man of another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the -meaning of friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of -Thark can understand you; that they can appreciate and -reciprocate the sentiments so graciously expressed." <br> -<p>Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, -and to each spoke words of friendship and appreciation<br> -</p> - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. <br> -<p>"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and -without one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all -Helium, yes, on all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my -esteem."<br> -</p> - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and -father of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors -and seemed even more affected by the meeting than had his father. -<br> -<p>He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his -voice choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, -as I was to later learn, a reputation for ferocity and -fearlessness as a fighter that was remarkable even upon warlike -Barsoom. In common with all Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor -could he think of what she had escaped without deep emotion.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_27">CHAPTER XXVII</h1> - -FROM JOY TO DEATH <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were -feasted and entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents -and escorted by ten thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors -Kajak, they started on the return journey to their own lands. The -jed of lesser Helium with a small party of nobles accompanied -them all the way to Thark to cement more closely the new bonds of -peace and friendship. <br> -<p>Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all -his chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter.<br> -</p> - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by -Tars Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been -dispatched to Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which -made Dejah Thoris and John Carter one. <br> -<p>For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the -armies of Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The -people seemed never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day -passed that did not bring some new proof of their love for my -princess, the incomparable Dejah Thoris.<br> -</p> - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a -snow-white egg. For nearly five years ten soldiers of the -jeddak's Guard had constantly stood over it, and not a day passed -when I was in the city that Dejah Thoris and I did not stand hand -in hand before our little shrine planning for the future, when -the delicate shell should break. <br> -<p>Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat -there talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven -our lives together and of this wonder which was coming to augment -our happiness and fulfill our hopes.<br> -</p> - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a -sight. Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its -very speed bespoke the unusual. <br> -<p>Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for -the jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat -which must convoy it to the palace docks.<br> -</p> - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to -the council chamber, which I found filling with the members of -that body. <br> -<p>On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing -back and forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their -seats he turned toward us.<br> -</p> - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no -wireless report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon -him from a score of capitals elicited a sign of response. <br> -<p>"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the -matter in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All -day a thousand cruisers have been searching for him until just -now one of them returns bearing his dead body, which was found in -the pits beneath his house horribly mutilated by some -assassin.<br> -</p> - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would -take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has -already commenced, and there would be little to fear were the -engine of the pumping plant to run as it should and as they all -have for hundreds of years now; but the worst, we fear, has -happened. The instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure -on all parts of Barsoom--the engine has stopped." <br> -<p>"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to -live."<br> -</p> - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young -noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head -addressed Tardos Mors. <br> -<p>"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever -shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our -opportunity to show them how they should die. Let us go about our -duties as though a thousand useful years still lay before -us."<br> -</p> - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to -do than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went -our ways with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our -hearts. <br> -<p>When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already -had reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard.<br> -</p> - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank -whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." -<br> -<p>The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply -of air, but on the morning of the third day breathing became -difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues -and plazas of Helium were filled with people. All business had -ceased. For the most part the people looked bravely into the face -of their unalterable doom. Here and there, however, men and women -gave way to quiet grief.<br> -</p> - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to -succumb and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by -thousands into the unconsciousness which precedes death by -asphyxiation. <br> -<p>Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family -had collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the -palace. We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as -the awe of the grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola -seemed to feel the weight of the impending calamity, for he -pressed close to Dejah Thoris and to me, whining pitifully.<br> -</p> - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace -at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing longingly upon -the unknown little life that now she would never know. <br> -<p>As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos -Mors arose, saying,<br> -</p> - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of -Barsoom are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world -which through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens -peopled not even by memories. It is the end." <br> -<p>He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his -strong hand upon the shoulders of the men.<br> -</p> - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her -head was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was -lifeless. With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. -<br> -<p>Her eyes opened and looked into mine.<br> -</p> - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! It -is cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a -life of love and happiness." <br> -<p>As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of -unconquerable power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood -of Virginia sprang to life in my veins.<br> -</p> - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be -some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a -strange world for love of you, will find it." <br> -<p>And with my words there crept above the threshold of my -conscious mind a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a -flash of lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned upon -me--the key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant!<br> -</p> - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying -love to my breast I cried. <br> -<p>"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the -palace top. I can save Barsoom yet."<br> -</p> - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing -to the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone -at the rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, -air-scout machine that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. -<br> -<p>Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who -would have followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with -my old agility and strength to the high ramparts of the palace, -and in another moment I was headed toward the goal of the hopes -of all Barsoom.<br> -</p> - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only -a few feet above the ground. <br> -<p>I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race -against time with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always -before me. As I turned for a last look as I left the palace -garden I had seen her stagger and sink upon the ground beside the -little incubator. That she had dropped into the last coma which -would end in death, if the air supply remained unreplenished, I -well knew, and so, throwing caution to the winds, I flung -overboard everything but the engine and compass, even to my -ornaments, and lying on my belly along the deck with one hand on -the steering wheel and the other pushing the speed lever to its -last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a -meteor.<br> -</p> - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant -loomed suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to -the ground before the small door which was withholding the spark -of life from the inhabitants of an entire planet. <br> -<p>Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to -pierce the wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like -surface, and now most of them lay in the last sleep from which -not even air would awaken them.<br> -</p> - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. <br> -<p>"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the -engines?" I asked.<br> -</p> - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one -else upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three -days men crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain -attempts to solve its mystery." <br> -<p>I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was -with difficulty that I controlled my mind at all.<br> -</p> - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled -the nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian -had crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single -panel before us we waited in the silence of death. <br> -<p>Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise -and follow it but I was too weak.<br> -</p> - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump -room turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has -to exist tomorrow!" <br> -<p>From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, -and as I saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and -knees through the last doorway I sank unconscious upon the -ground.<br> -</p> - -<br> -<p><br> -</p> - -<h1 id="ref_28">CHAPTER XXVIII</h1> - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE <br> -<p><br> -</p> - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments -were upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from -me as I rose to a sitting posture. <br> -<p>I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I -was clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway -I had been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky -which showed through a ragged aperture.<br> -</p> - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets -and in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled -paper. One of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted -up what appeared to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I -discovered a strange, still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As -I approached it I saw that it was the dead and mummified remains -of a little old woman with long black hair, and the thing it -leaned over was a small charcoal burner upon which rested a round -copper vessel containing a small quantity of greenish powder. -<br> -<p>Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and -stretching entirely across the cave, was a row of human -skeletons. From the thong which held them stretched another to -the dead hand of the little old woman; as I touched the cord the -skeletons swung to the motion with a noise as of the rustling of -dry leaves.<br> -</p> - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out -into the fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. <br> -<p>The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge -which ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with -consternation.<br> -</p> - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered -mountains in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in -the sky, the cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I -could scarcely believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced -itself upon me--I was looking upon Arizona from the same ledge -from which ten years before I had gazed with longing upon Mars. -<br> -<p>Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, -down the trail from the cave.<br> -</p> - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. <br> -<p>Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air -reach the people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was -my Dejah Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in -death beside the tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of -the inner courtyard of the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of -Helium?<br> -</p> - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my -questions. For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken -back to the world of my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside -her there than live on Earth all those millions of terrible miles -from her. <br> -<p>The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously -wealthy; but what care I for wealth!<br> -</p> - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, -just twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon -Mars. <br> -<p>I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by -my desk, and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not -called before since that long dead night, and I think I can see, -across that awful abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman -standing in the garden of a palace, and at her side is a little -boy who puts his arm around her as she points into the sky toward -the planet Earth, while at their feet is a huge and hideous -creature with a heart of gold.<br> -</p> - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells -me that I shall soon know. <br> -<p>End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Princess of Mars by -Edgar Rice Burroughs<br> -</p> -</body> -</html> - diff --git a/old/pmars12h.zip b/old/pmars12h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e95c11f..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars12l.lit b/old/pmars12l.lit Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 54d4be4..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12l.lit +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars12l.zip b/old/pmars12l.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 14586d8..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12l.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars12p.prc b/old/pmars12p.prc Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 67c9343..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12p.prc +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars12p.zip b/old/pmars12p.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f6a45b6..0000000 --- a/old/pmars12p.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/pmars13.txt b/old/pmars13.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 360194a..0000000 --- a/old/pmars13.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7837 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs -#1 in our series by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the -copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing -this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. - -This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project -Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the -header without written permission. - -Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the -eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is -important information about your specific rights and restrictions in -how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a -donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. - - -**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** - -**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** - -*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** - - -Title: A Princess of Mars - -Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs - -Release Date: April, 1993 [EBook #62] -[This file was last updated on February 15, 2005] - -Edition: 13 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - - - - -Corrections supplied in November 2001 by Andrew Sly. -Illustrations for the HTML format provided by Tim Holmes. - - - - - -A PRINCESS OF MARS - -by Edgar Rice Burroughs - - - -To My Son Jack - - - -FOREWORD - - -To the Reader of this Work: - -In submitting Captain Carter's strange manuscript to you in book -form, I believe that a few words relative to this remarkable -personality will be of interest. - -My first recollection of Captain Carter is of the few months he -spent at my father's home in Virginia, just prior to the opening of -the civil war. I was then a child of but five years, yet I well -remember the tall, dark, smooth-faced, athletic man whom I called -Uncle Jack. - -He seemed always to be laughing; and he entered into the sports -of the children with the same hearty good fellowship he displayed -toward those pastimes in which the men and women of his own age -indulged; or he would sit for an hour at a time entertaining my old -grandmother with stories of his strange, wild life in all parts of -the world. We all loved him, and our slaves fairly worshipped the -ground he trod. - -He was a splendid specimen of manhood, standing a good two inches -over six feet, broad of shoulder and narrow of hip, with the -carriage of the trained fighting man. His features were regular -and clear cut, his hair black and closely cropped, while his eyes -were of a steel gray, reflecting a strong and loyal character, -filled with fire and initiative. His manners were perfect, and -his courtliness was that of a typical southern gentleman of the -highest type. - -His horsemanship, especially after hounds, was a marvel and delight -even in that country of magnificent horsemen. I have often heard -my father caution him against his wild recklessness, but he would -only laugh, and say that the tumble that killed him would be from -the back of a horse yet unfoaled. - -When the war broke out he left us, nor did I see him again for some -fifteen or sixteen years. When he returned it was without warning, -and I was much surprised to note that he had not aged apparently a -moment, nor had he changed in any other outward way. He was, when -others were with him, the same genial, happy fellow we had known of -old, but when he thought himself alone I have seen him sit for -hours gazing off into space, his face set in a look of wistful -longing and hopeless misery; and at night he would sit thus looking -up into the heavens, at what I did not know until I read his -manuscript years afterward. - -He told us that he had been prospecting and mining in Arizona part -of the time since the war; and that he had been very successful -was evidenced by the unlimited amount of money with which he was -supplied. As to the details of his life during these years he -was very reticent, in fact he would not talk of them at all. - -He remained with us for about a year and then went to New York, -where he purchased a little place on the Hudson, where I visited -him once a year on the occasions of my trips to the New York -market--my father and I owning and operating a string of general -stores throughout Virginia at that time. Captain Carter had a -small but beautiful cottage, situated on a bluff overlooking the -river, and during one of my last visits, in the winter of 1885, I -observed he was much occupied in writing, I presume now, upon this -manuscript. - -He told me at this time that if anything should happen to him he -wished me to take charge of his estate, and he gave me a key to a -compartment in the safe which stood in his study, telling me I -would find his will there and some personal instructions which he -had me pledge myself to carry out with absolute fidelity. - -After I had retired for the night I have seen him from my window -standing in the moonlight on the brink of the bluff overlooking the -Hudson with his arms stretched out to the heavens as though in -appeal. I thought at the time that he was praying, although I never -understood that he was in the strict sense of the term a religious -man. - -Several months after I had returned home from my last visit, the -first of March, 1886, I think, I received a telegram from him asking -me to come to him at once. I had always been his favorite among the -younger generation of Carters and so I hastened to comply with his -demand. - -I arrived at the little station, about a mile from his grounds, on -the morning of March 4, 1886, and when I asked the livery man to -drive me out to Captain Carter's he replied that if I was a friend -of the Captain's he had some very bad news for me; the Captain had -been found dead shortly after daylight that very morning by the -watchman attached to an adjoining property. - -For some reason this news did not surprise me, but I hurried out to -his place as quickly as possible, so that I could take charge of the -body and of his affairs. - -I found the watchman who had discovered him, together with the local -police chief and several townspeople, assembled in his little study. -The watchman related the few details connected with the finding of -the body, which he said had been still warm when he came upon it. -It lay, he said, stretched full length in the snow with the arms -outstretched above the head toward the edge of the bluff, and when -he showed me the spot it flashed upon me that it was the identical -one where I had seen him on those other nights, with his arms -raised in supplication to the skies. - -There were no marks of violence on the body, and with the aid of a -local physician the coroner's jury quickly reached a decision of -death from heart failure. Left alone in the study, I opened the -safe and withdrew the contents of the drawer in which he had told -me I would find my instructions. They were in part peculiar -indeed, but I have followed them to each last detail as faithfully -as I was able. - -He directed that I remove his body to Virginia without embalming, -and that he be laid in an open coffin within a tomb which he -previously had had constructed and which, as I later learned, was -well ventilated. The instructions impressed upon me that I must -personally see that this was carried out just as he directed, -even in secrecy if necessary. - -His property was left in such a way that I was to receive the -entire income for twenty-five years, when the principal was to -become mine. His further instructions related to this manuscript -which I was to retain sealed and unread, just as I found it, for -eleven years; nor was I to divulge its contents until twenty-one -years after his death. - -A strange feature about the tomb, where his body still lies, is -that the massive door is equipped with a single, huge gold-plated -spring lock which can be opened _only from the inside_. - -Yours very sincerely, - -Edgar Rice Burroughs. - - - -CONTENTS - - I On the Arizona Hills - II The Escape of the Dead - III My Advent on Mars - IV A Prisoner - V I Elude My Watch Dog - VI A Fight That Won Friends - VII Child-Raising on Mars - VIII A Fair Captive from the Sky - IX I Learn the Language - X Champion and Chief - XI With Dejah Thoris - XII A Prisoner with Power - XIII Love-Making on Mars - XIV A Duel to the Death - XV Sola Tells Me Her Story - XVI We Plan Escape - XVII A Costly Recapture - XVIII Chained in Warhoon - XIX Battling in the Arena - XX In the Atmosphere Factory - XXI An Air Scout for Zodanga - XXII I Find Dejah - XXIII Lost in the Sky - XXIV Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend - XXV The Looting of Zodanga - XXVI Through Carnage to Joy - XXVII From Joy to Death -XXVIII At the Arizona Cave - - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE ARIZONA HILLS - - - -I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a -hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged -as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can -recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear -today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I -cannot go on living forever; that some day I shall die the real -death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I -should fear death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet -I have the same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is -because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so convinced -of my mortality. - -And because of this conviction I have determined to write down the -story of the interesting periods of my life and of my death. I -cannot explain the phenomena; I can only set down here in the words -of an ordinary soldier of fortune a chronicle of the strange events -that befell me during the ten years that my dead body lay -undiscovered in an Arizona cave. - -I have never told this story, nor shall mortal man see this -manuscript until after I have passed over for eternity. I know that -the average human mind will not believe what it cannot grasp, and so -I do not purpose being pilloried by the public, the pulpit, and the -press, and held up as a colossal liar when I am but telling the -simple truths which some day science will substantiate. Possibly -the suggestions which I gained upon Mars, and the knowledge which I -can set down in this chronicle, will aid in an earlier understanding -of the mysteries of our sister planet; mysteries to you, but no -longer mysteries to me. - -My name is John Carter; I am better known as Captain Jack Carter of -Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself possessed -of several hundred thousand dollars (Confederate) and a captain's -commission in the cavalry arm of an army which no longer existed; -the servant of a state which had vanished with the hopes of the -South. Masterless, penniless, and with my only means of livelihood, -fighting, gone, I determined to work my way to the southwest and -attempt to retrieve my fallen fortunes in a search for gold. - -I spent nearly a year prospecting in company with another -Confederate officer, Captain James K. Powell of Richmond. We -were extremely fortunate, for late in the winter of 1865, after -many hardships and privations, we located the most remarkable -gold-bearing quartz vein that our wildest dreams had ever pictured. -Powell, who was a mining engineer by education, stated that we had -uncovered over a million dollars worth of ore in a trifle over three -months. - -As our equipment was crude in the extreme we decided that one of us -must return to civilization, purchase the necessary machinery and -return with a sufficient force of men properly to work the mine. - -As Powell was familiar with the country, as well as with the -mechanical requirements of mining we determined that it would be -best for him to make the trip. It was agreed that I was to hold -down our claim against the remote possibility of its being jumped -by some wandering prospector. - -On March 3, 1866, Powell and I packed his provisions on two of our -burros, and bidding me good-bye he mounted his horse, and started -down the mountainside toward the valley, across which led the first -stage of his journey. - -The morning of Powell's departure was, like nearly all Arizona -mornings, clear and beautiful; I could see him and his little pack -animals picking their way down the mountainside toward the valley, -and all during the morning I would catch occasional glimpses of them -as they topped a hog back or came out upon a level plateau. My last -sight of Powell was about three in the afternoon as he entered the -shadows of the range on the opposite side of the valley. - -Some half hour later I happened to glance casually across the valley -and was much surprised to note three little dots in about the same -place I had last seen my friend and his two pack animals. I am not -given to needless worrying, but the more I tried to convince myself -that all was well with Powell, and that the dots I had seen on his -trail were antelope or wild horses, the less I was able to assure -myself. - -Since we had entered the territory we had not seen a hostile Indian, -and we had, therefore, become careless in the extreme, and were wont -to ridicule the stories we had heard of the great numbers of these -vicious marauders that were supposed to haunt the trails, taking -their toll in lives and torture of every white party which fell into -their merciless clutches. - -Powell, I knew, was well armed and, further, an experienced Indian -fighter; but I too had lived and fought for years among the Sioux in -the North, and I knew that his chances were small against a party of -cunning trailing Apaches. Finally I could endure the suspense no -longer, and, arming myself with my two Colt revolvers and a carbine, -I strapped two belts of cartridges about me and catching my saddle -horse, started down the trail taken by Powell in the morning. - -As soon as I reached comparatively level ground I urged my mount -into a canter and continued this, where the going permitted, until, -close upon dusk, I discovered the point where other tracks joined -those of Powell. They were the tracks of unshod ponies, three of -them, and the ponies had been galloping. - -I followed rapidly until, darkness shutting down, I was forced to -await the rising of the moon, and given an opportunity to speculate -on the question of the wisdom of my chase. Possibly I had conjured -up impossible dangers, like some nervous old housewife, and when -I should catch up with Powell would get a good laugh for my pains. -However, I am not prone to sensitiveness, and the following of a -sense of duty, wherever it may lead, has always been a kind of -fetich with me throughout my life; which may account for the honors -bestowed upon me by three republics and the decorations and -friendships of an old and powerful emperor and several lesser kings, -in whose service my sword has been red many a time. - -About nine o'clock the moon was sufficiently bright for me to -proceed on my way and I had no difficulty in following the trail -at a fast walk, and in some places at a brisk trot until, about -midnight, I reached the water hole where Powell had expected to -camp. I came upon the spot unexpectedly, finding it entirely -deserted, with no signs of having been recently occupied as a camp. - -I was interested to note that the tracks of the pursuing horsemen, -for such I was now convinced they must be, continued after Powell -with only a brief stop at the hole for water; and always at the same -rate of speed as his. - -I was positive now that the trailers were Apaches and that they -wished to capture Powell alive for the fiendish pleasure of the -torture, so I urged my horse onward at a most dangerous pace, hoping -against hope that I would catch up with the red rascals before they -attacked him. - -Further speculation was suddenly cut short by the faint report of -two shots far ahead of me. I knew that Powell would need me now if -ever, and I instantly urged my horse to his topmost speed up the -narrow and difficult mountain trail. - -I had forged ahead for perhaps a mile or more without hearing -further sounds, when the trail suddenly debouched onto a small, open -plateau near the summit of the pass. I had passed through a narrow, -overhanging gorge just before entering suddenly upon this table -land, and the sight which met my eyes filled me with consternation -and dismay. - -The little stretch of level land was white with Indian tepees, and -there were probably half a thousand red warriors clustered around -some object near the center of the camp. Their attention was so -wholly riveted to this point of interest that they did not notice -me, and I easily could have turned back into the dark recesses of -the gorge and made my escape with perfect safety. The fact, -however, that this thought did not occur to me until the following -day removes any possible right to a claim to heroism to which the -narration of this episode might possibly otherwise entitle me. - -I do not believe that I am made of the stuff which constitutes -heroes, because, in all of the hundreds of instances that my -voluntary acts have placed me face to face with death, I cannot -recall a single one where any alternative step to that I took -occurred to me until many hours later. My mind is evidently so -constituted that I am subconsciously forced into the path of duty -without recourse to tiresome mental processes. However that may be, -I have never regretted that cowardice is not optional with me. - -In this instance I was, of course, positive that Powell was the -center of attraction, but whether I thought or acted first I do not -know, but within an instant from the moment the scene broke upon my -view I had whipped out my revolvers and was charging down upon the -entire army of warriors, shooting rapidly, and whooping at the top -of my lungs. Singlehanded, I could not have pursued better tactics, -for the red men, convinced by sudden surprise that not less than a -regiment of regulars was upon them, turned and fled in every -direction for their bows, arrows, and rifles. - -The view which their hurried routing disclosed filled me with -apprehension and with rage. Under the clear rays of the Arizona -moon lay Powell, his body fairly bristling with the hostile arrows -of the braves. That he was already dead I could not but be -convinced, and yet I would have saved his body from mutilation at -the hands of the Apaches as quickly as I would have saved the man -himself from death. - -Riding close to him I reached down from the saddle, and grasping -his cartridge belt drew him up across the withers of my mount. A -backward glance convinced me that to return by the way I had come -would be more hazardous than to continue across the plateau, so, -putting spurs to my poor beast, I made a dash for the opening to the -pass which I could distinguish on the far side of the table land. - -The Indians had by this time discovered that I was alone and I was -pursued with imprecations, arrows, and rifle balls. The fact that -it is difficult to aim anything but imprecations accurately by -moonlight, that they were upset by the sudden and unexpected manner -of my advent, and that I was a rather rapidly moving target saved me -from the various deadly projectiles of the enemy and permitted me to -reach the shadows of the surrounding peaks before an orderly pursuit -could be organized. - -My horse was traveling practically unguided as I knew that I had -probably less knowledge of the exact location of the trail to the -pass than he, and thus it happened that he entered a defile which -led to the summit of the range and not to the pass which I had -hoped would carry me to the valley and to safety. It is probable, -however, that to this fact I owe my life and the remarkable -experiences and adventures which befell me during the following -ten years. - -My first knowledge that I was on the wrong trail came when I heard -the yells of the pursuing savages suddenly grow fainter and fainter -far off to my left. - -I knew then that they had passed to the left of the jagged rock -formation at the edge of the plateau, to the right of which my -horse had borne me and the body of Powell. - -I drew rein on a little level promontory overlooking the trail below -and to my left, and saw the party of pursuing savages disappearing -around the point of a neighboring peak. - -I knew the Indians would soon discover that they were on the wrong -trail and that the search for me would be renewed in the right -direction as soon as they located my tracks. - -I had gone but a short distance further when what seemed to be an -excellent trail opened up around the face of a high cliff. The -trail was level and quite broad and led upward and in the general -direction I wished to go. The cliff arose for several hundred feet -on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular -drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine. - -I had followed this trail for perhaps a hundred yards when a sharp -turn to the right brought me to the mouth of a large cave. The -opening was about four feet in height and three to four feet wide, -and at this opening the trail ended. - -It was now morning, and, with the customary lack of dawn which is a -startling characteristic of Arizona, it had become daylight almost -without warning. - -Dismounting, I laid Powell upon the ground, but the most painstaking -examination failed to reveal the faintest spark of life. I forced -water from my canteen between his dead lips, bathed his face and -rubbed his hands, working over him continuously for the better part -of an hour in the face of the fact that I knew him to be dead. - -I was very fond of Powell; he was thoroughly a man in every respect; -a polished southern gentleman; a staunch and true friend; and it was -with a feeling of the deepest grief that I finally gave up my crude -endeavors at resuscitation. - -Leaving Powell's body where it lay on the ledge I crept into the -cave to reconnoiter. I found a large chamber, possibly a hundred -feet in diameter and thirty or forty feet in height; a smooth and -well-worn floor, and many other evidences that the cave had, at some -remote period, been inhabited. The back of the cave was so lost in -dense shadow that I could not distinguish whether there were -openings into other apartments or not. - -As I was continuing my examination I commenced to feel a pleasant -drowsiness creeping over me which I attributed to the fatigue of my -long and strenuous ride, and the reaction from the excitement of the -fight and the pursuit. I felt comparatively safe in my present -location as I knew that one man could defend the trail to the cave -against an army. - -I soon became so drowsy that I could scarcely resist the strong -desire to throw myself on the floor of the cave for a few moments' -rest, but I knew that this would never do, as it would mean certain -death at the hands of my red friends, who might be upon me at any -moment. With an effort I started toward the opening of the cave -only to reel drunkenly against a side wall, and from there slip -prone upon the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD - - - -A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, -and I was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the -sound of approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring -to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to -respond to my will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to -move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, for the first -time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was -extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led -to daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, -and I could only assume that I had been overcome by some poisonous -gas, but why I should retain my mental faculties and yet be unable -to move I could not fathom. - -I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short -stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the -cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching -horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily -upon me along the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I -remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I did not -particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they might -do to me if the spirit prompted them. - -I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their -nearness, and then a war-bonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust -cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyes looked -into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was -sure for the early morning sun was falling full upon me through the -opening. - -The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his -eyes bulging and his jaw dropped. And then another savage face -appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning their necks over -the shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the -narrow ledge. Each face was the picture of awe and fear, but for -what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until ten years later. -That there were still other braves behind those who regarded me was -apparent from the fact that the leaders passed back whispered word -to those behind them. - -Suddenly a low but distinct moaning sound issued from the recesses -of the cave behind me, and, as it reached the ears of the Indians, -they turned and fled in terror, panic-stricken. So frantic were -their efforts to escape from the unseen thing behind me that one of -the braves was hurled headlong from the cliff to the rocks below. -Their wild cries echoed in the canyon for a short time, and then -all was still once more. - -The sound which had frightened them was not repeated, but it had -been sufficient as it was to start me speculating on the possible -horror which lurked in the shadows at my back. Fear is a relative -term and so I can only measure my feelings at that time by what I -had experienced in previous positions of danger and by those that I -have passed through since; but I can say without shame that if the -sensations I endured during the next few minutes were fear, then may -God help the coward, for cowardice is of a surety its own -punishment. - -To be held paralyzed, with one's back toward some horrible and -unknown danger from the very sound of which the ferocious Apache -warriors turn in wild stampede, as a flock of sheep would madly -flee from a pack of wolves, seems to me the last word in fearsome -predicaments for a man who had ever been used to fighting for his -life with all the energy of a powerful physique. - -Several times I thought I heard faint sounds behind me as of -somebody moving cautiously, but eventually even these ceased, and I -was left to the contemplation of my position without interruption. -I could but vaguely conjecture the cause of my paralysis, and my -only hope lay in that it might pass off as suddenly as it had fallen -upon me. - -Late in the afternoon my horse, which had been standing with -dragging rein before the cave, started slowly down the trail, -evidently in search of food and water, and I was left alone with -my mysterious unknown companion and the dead body of my friend, -which lay just within my range of vision upon the ledge where I -had placed it in the early morning. - -From then until possibly midnight all was silence, the silence of -the dead; then, suddenly, the awful moan of the morning broke upon -my startled ears, and there came again from the black shadows the -sound of a moving thing, and a faint rustling as of dead leaves. -The shock to my already overstrained nervous system was terrible in -the extreme, and with a superhuman effort I strove to break my awful -bonds. It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; -not muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little finger, -but none the less mighty for all that. And then something gave, -there was a momentary feeling of nausea, a sharp click as of the -snapping of a steel wire, and I stood with my back against the wall -of the cave facing my unknown foe. - -And then the moonlight flooded the cave, and there before me lay my -own body as it had been lying all these hours, with the eyes staring -toward the open ledge and the hands resting limply upon the ground. -I looked first at my lifeless clay there upon the floor of the cave -and then down at myself in utter bewilderment; for there I lay -clothed, and yet here I stood but naked as at the minute of my -birth. - -The transition had been so sudden and so unexpected that it left me -for a moment forgetful of aught else than my strange metamorphosis. -My first thought was, is this then death! Have I indeed passed over -forever into that other life! But I could not well believe this, as -I could feel my heart pounding against my ribs from the exertion of -my efforts to release myself from the anaesthesis which had held me. -My breath was coming in quick, short gasps, cold sweat stood out -from every pore of my body, and the ancient experiment of pinching -revealed the fact that I was anything other than a wraith. - -Again was I suddenly recalled to my immediate surroundings by a -repetition of the weird moan from the depths of the cave. Naked and -unarmed as I was, I had no desire to face the unseen thing which -menaced me. - -My revolvers were strapped to my lifeless body which, for some -unfathomable reason, I could not bring myself to touch. My carbine -was in its boot, strapped to my saddle, and as my horse had wandered -off I was left without means of defense. My only alternative seemed -to lie in flight and my decision was crystallized by a recurrence of -the rustling sound from the thing which now seemed, in the darkness -of the cave and to my distorted imagination, to be creeping -stealthily upon me. - -Unable longer to resist the temptation to escape this horrible place -I leaped quickly through the opening into the starlight of a clear -Arizona night. The crisp, fresh mountain air outside the cave acted -as an immediate tonic and I felt new life and new courage coursing -through me. Pausing upon the brink of the ledge I upbraided myself -for what now seemed to me wholly unwarranted apprehension. I -reasoned with myself that I had lain helpless for many hours within -the cave, yet nothing had molested me, and my better judgment, when -permitted the direction of clear and logical reasoning, convinced me -that the noises I had heard must have resulted from purely natural -and harmless causes; probably the conformation of the cave was such -that a slight breeze had caused the sounds I heard. - -I decided to investigate, but first I lifted my head to fill my -lungs with the pure, invigorating night air of the mountains. As I -did so I saw stretching far below me the beautiful vista of rocky -gorge, and level, cacti-studded flat, wrought by the moonlight into -a miracle of soft splendor and wondrous enchantment. - -Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an -Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, -the strange lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the -grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture -at once enchanting and inspiring; as though one were catching for -the first time a glimpse of some dead and forgotten world, so -different is it from the aspect of any other spot upon our earth. - -As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to -the heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting -canopy for the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was -quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon. -As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering fascination--it -was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it had -always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at -it on that far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable -void, to lure me to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a -particle of iron. - -My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, -stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself -drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity -of space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -MY ADVENT ON MARS - - - -I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that -I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my -wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner -consciousness told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your -conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not -question the fact; neither did I. - -I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike -vegetation which stretched around me in all directions for -interminable miles. I seemed to be lying in a deep, circular -basin, along the outer verge of which I could distinguish the -irregularities of low hills. - -It was midday, the sun was shining full upon me and the heat of it -was rather intense upon my naked body, yet no greater than would -have been true under similar conditions on an Arizona desert. Here -and there were slight outcroppings of quartz-bearing rock which -glistened in the sunlight; and a little to my left, perhaps a -hundred yards, appeared a low, walled enclosure about four feet in -height. No water, and no other vegetation than the moss was in -evidence, and as I was somewhat thirsty I determined to do a little -exploring. - -Springing to my feet I received my first Martian surprise, for -the effort, which on Earth would have brought me standing upright, -carried me into the Martian air to the height of about three yards. -I alighted softly upon the ground, however, without appreciable -shock or jar. Now commenced a series of evolutions which even then -seemed ludicrous in the extreme. I found that I must learn to walk -all over again, as the muscular exertion which carried me easily and -safely upon Earth played strange antics with me upon Mars. - -Instead of progressing in a sane and dignified manner, my attempts -to walk resulted in a variety of hops which took me clear of the -ground a couple of feet at each step and landed me sprawling upon my -face or back at the end of each second or third hop. My muscles, -perfectly attuned and accustomed to the force of gravity on Earth, -played the mischief with me in attempting for the first time to cope -with the lesser gravitation and lower air pressure on Mars. - -I was determined, however, to explore the low structure which was -the only evidence of habitation in sight, and so I hit upon the -unique plan of reverting to first principles in locomotion, -creeping. I did fairly well at this and in a few moments had -reached the low, encircling wall of the enclosure. - -There appeared to be no doors or windows upon the side nearest me, -but as the wall was but about four feet high I cautiously gained my -feet and peered over the top upon the strangest sight it had ever -been given me to see. - -The roof of the enclosure was of solid glass about four or five -inches in thickness, and beneath this were several hundred large -eggs, perfectly round and snowy white. The eggs were nearly uniform -in size being about two and one-half feet in diameter. - -Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which -sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my -sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long -necks and six legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two -arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will -either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of -their heads a trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner -that they could be directed either forward or back and also -independently of each other, thus permitting this queer animal to -look in any direction, or in two directions at once, without the -necessity of turning the head. - -The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, -were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on -these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in -the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears. - -There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light -yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, -this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than -in the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of -proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young. - -The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil -is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. -These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise -fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward -to sharp points which end about where the eyes of earthly human -beings are located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that of -ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against -the dark background of their olive skins their tusks stand out in -a most striking manner, making these weapons present a singularly -formidable appearance. - -Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time -to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that -the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching -the hideous little monsters break from their shells I failed to note -the approach of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me. - -Coming, as they did, over the soft and soundless moss, which covers -practically the entire surface of Mars with the exception of the -frozen areas at the poles and the scattered cultivated districts, -they might have captured me easily, but their intentions were far -more sinister. It was the rattling of the accouterments of the -foremost warrior which warned me. - -On such a little thing my life hung that I often marvel that I -escaped so easily. Had not the rifle of the leader of the party -swung from its fastenings beside his saddle in such a way as to -strike against the butt of his great metal-shod spear I should have -snuffed out without ever knowing that death was near me. But the -little sound caused me to turn, and there upon me, not ten feet -from my breast, was the point of that huge spear, a spear forty -feet long, tipped with gleaming metal, and held low at the side -of a mounted replica of the little devils I had been watching. - -But how puny and harmless they now looked beside this huge and -terrific incarnation of hate, of vengeance and of death. The man -himself, for such I may call him, was fully fifteen feet in height -and, on Earth, would have weighed some four hundred pounds. He sat -his mount as we sit a horse, grasping the animal's barrel with his -lower limbs, while the hands of his two right arms held his immense -spear low at the side of his mount; his two left arms were -outstretched laterally to help preserve his balance, the thing he -rode having neither bridle or reins of any description for guidance. - -And his mount! How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten -feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat -tail, larger at the tip than at the root, and which it held straight -out behind while running; a gaping mouth which split its head from -its snout to its long, massive neck. - -Like its master, it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark -slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white, -and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a -vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded -and nailless, which fact had also contributed to the noiselessness -of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a -characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. The highest type of -man and one other animal, the only mammal existing on Mars, alone -have well-formed nails, and there are absolutely no hoofed animals -in existence there. - -Behind this first charging demon trailed nineteen others, similar -in all respects, but, as I learned later, bearing individual -characteristics peculiar to themselves; precisely as no two of us -are identical although we are all cast in a similar mold. This -picture, or rather materialized nightmare, which I have described at -length, made but one terrible and swift impression on me as I turned -to meet it. - -Unarmed and naked as I was, the first law of nature manifested -itself in the only possible solution of my immediate problem, and -that was to get out of the vicinity of the point of the charging -spear. Consequently I gave a very earthly and at the same time -superhuman leap to reach the top of the Martian incubator, for -such I had determined it must be. - -My effort was crowned with a success which appalled me no less than -it seemed to surprise the Martian warriors, for it carried me fully -thirty feet into the air and landed me a hundred feet from my -pursuers and on the opposite side of the enclosure. - -I alighted upon the soft moss easily and without mishap, and turning -saw my enemies lined up along the further wall. Some were surveying -me with expressions which I afterward discovered marked extreme -astonishment, and the others were evidently satisfying themselves -that I had not molested their young. - -They were conversing together in low tones, and gesticulating and -pointing toward me. Their discovery that I had not harmed the -little Martians, and that I was unarmed, must have caused them to -look upon me with less ferocity; but, as I was to learn later, the -thing which weighed most in my favor was my exhibition of hurdling. - -While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they -are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must -overcome. The result is that they are infinitely less agile and -less powerful, in proportion to their weight, than an Earth man, and -I doubt that were one of them suddenly to be transported to Earth he -could lift his own weight from the ground; in fact, I am convinced -that he could not do so. - -My feat then was as marvelous upon Mars as it would have been upon -Earth, and from desiring to annihilate me they suddenly looked upon -me as a wonderful discovery to be captured and exhibited among their -fellows. - -The respite my unexpected agility had given me permitted me to -formulate plans for the immediate future and to note more closely -the appearance of the warriors, for I could not disassociate these -people in my mind from those other warriors who, only the day -before, had been pursuing me. - -I noted that each was armed with several other weapons in addition -to the huge spear which I have described. The weapon which caused -me to decide against an attempt at escape by flight was what was -evidently a rifle of some description, and which I felt, for some -reason, they were peculiarly efficient in handling. - -These rifles were of a white metal stocked with wood, which I -learned later was a very light and intensely hard growth much prized -on Mars, and entirely unknown to us denizens of Earth. The metal of -the barrel is an alloy composed principally of aluminum and steel -which they have learned to temper to a hardness far exceeding that -of the steel with which we are familiar. The weight of these rifles -is comparatively little, and with the small caliber, explosive, -radium projectiles which they use, and the great length of the -barrel, they are deadly in the extreme and at ranges which would be -unthinkable on Earth. The theoretic effective radius of this rifle -is three hundred miles, but the best they can do in actual service -when equipped with their wireless finders and sighters is but a -trifle over two hundred miles. - -This is quite far enough to imbue me with great respect for the -Martian firearm, and some telepathic force must have warned me -against an attempt to escape in broad daylight from under the -muzzles of twenty of these death-dealing machines. - -The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode -away in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their -number alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two -hundred yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us sat -watching the warrior by the enclosure. - -He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was -evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed -to have moved to their present position at his direction. When -his force had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear -and small arms, and came around the end of the incubator toward -me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the ornaments -strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast. - -When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous -metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, -addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is -needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though -waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking -his strange-looking eyes still further toward me. - -As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little -conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making -overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the -withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have -signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, -on Mars! - -Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and -explained to him that while I did not understand his language, his -actions spoke for the peace and friendship that at the present -moment were most dear to my heart. Of course I might have been a -babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried to him, -but he understood the action with which I immediately followed my -words. - -Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from -his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow; smiled at -him and stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering -smile, and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine we turned -and walked back toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his -followers to advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but -were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were -I to be really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the -landscape. - -He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would -ride behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The -fellow designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up -behind him on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best -I could by the belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and -ornaments. - -The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range -of hills in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A PRISONER - - - -We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very -rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one -of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with -the Martians had taken place. - -In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after -traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far -extremity of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an -enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it by what -appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, but only -to the edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a flight -of broad steps. - -Upon closer observation I saw as we passed them that the buildings -were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of -not having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the -center of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the -buildings immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten -hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now -considered them despite the suave manner in which I had been -trapped. - -With the exception of their ornaments all were naked. The women -varied in appearance but little from the men, except that their -tusks were much larger in proportion to their height, in some -instances curving nearly to their high-set ears. Their bodies were -smaller and lighter in color, and their fingers and toes bore the -rudiments of nails, which were entirely lacking among the males. -The adult females ranged in height from ten to twelve feet. - -The children were light in color, even lighter than the women, and -all looked precisely alike to me, except that some were taller than -others; older, I presumed. - -I saw no signs of extreme age among them, nor is there any -appreciable difference in their appearance from the age of maturity, -about forty, until, at about the age of one thousand years, they go -voluntarily upon their last strange pilgrimage down the river Iss, -which leads no living Martian knows whither and from whose bosom no -Martian has ever returned, or would be allowed to live did he return -after once embarking upon its cold, dark waters. - -Only about one Martian in a thousand dies of sickness or disease, -and possibly about twenty take the voluntary pilgrimage. The other -nine hundred and seventy-nine die violent deaths in duels, in -hunting, in aviation and in war; but perhaps by far the greatest -death loss comes during the age of childhood, when vast numbers of -the little Martians fall victims to the great white apes of Mars. - -The average life expectancy of a Martian after the age of maturity -is about three hundred years, but would be nearer the one-thousand -mark were it not for the various means leading to violent death. -Owing to the waning resources of the planet it evidently became -necessary to counteract the increasing longevity which their -remarkable skill in therapeutics and surgery produced, and so human -life has come to be considered but lightly on Mars, as is evidenced -by their dangerous sports and the almost continual warfare between -the various communities. - -There are other and natural causes tending toward a diminution of -population, but nothing contributes so greatly to this end as the -fact that no male or female Martian is ever voluntarily without a -weapon of destruction. - -As we neared the plaza and my presence was discovered we were -immediately surrounded by hundreds of the creatures who seemed -anxious to pluck me from my seat behind my guard. A word from the -leader of the party stilled their clamor, and we proceeded at a -trot across the plaza to the entrance of as magnificent an edifice -as mortal eye has rested upon. - -The building was low, but covered an enormous area. It was -constructed of gleaming white marble inlaid with gold and brilliant -stones which sparkled and scintillated in the sunlight. The main -entrance was some hundred feet in width and projected from the -building proper to form a huge canopy above the entrance hall. -There was no stairway, but a gentle incline to the first floor of -the building opened into an enormous chamber encircled by galleries. - -On the floor of this chamber, which was dotted with highly carved -wooden desks and chairs, were assembled about forty or fifty male -Martians around the steps of a rostrum. On the platform proper -squatted an enormous warrior heavily loaded with metal ornaments, -gay-colored feathers and beautifully wrought leather trappings -ingeniously set with precious stones. From his shoulders depended -a short cape of white fur lined with brilliant scarlet silk. - -What struck me as most remarkable about this assemblage and the -hall in which they were congregated was the fact that the creatures -were entirely out of proportion to the desks, chairs, and other -furnishings; these being of a size adapted to human beings such as -I, whereas the great bulks of the Martians could scarcely have -squeezed into the chairs, nor was there room beneath the desks for -their long legs. Evidently, then, there were other denizens on Mars -than the wild and grotesque creatures into whose hands I had fallen, -but the evidences of extreme antiquity which showed all around me -indicated that these buildings might have belonged to some -long-extinct and forgotten race in the dim antiquity of Mars. - -Our party had halted at the entrance to the building, and at a sign -from the leader I had been lowered to the ground. Again locking his -arm in mine, we had proceeded into the audience chamber. There were -few formalities observed in approaching the Martian chieftain. My -captor merely strode up to the rostrum, the others making way for -him as he advanced. The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the -name of my escort who, in turn, halted and repeated the name of the -ruler followed by his title. - -At the time, this ceremony and the words they uttered meant nothing -to me, but later I came to know that this was the customary greeting -between green Martians. Had the men been strangers, and therefore -unable to exchange names, they would have silently exchanged -ornaments, had their missions been peaceful--otherwise they would -have exchanged shots, or have fought out their introduction with -some other of their various weapons. - -My captor, whose name was Tars Tarkas, was virtually the -vice-chieftain of the community, and a man of great ability as a -statesman and warrior. He evidently explained briefly the incidents -connected with his expedition, including my capture, and when he had -concluded the chieftain addressed me at some length. - -I replied in our good old English tongue merely to convince him that -neither of us could understand the other; but I noticed that when I -smiled slightly on concluding, he did likewise. This fact, and the -similar occurrence during my first talk with Tars Tarkas, convinced -me that we had at least something in common; the ability to smile, -therefore to laugh; denoting a sense of humor. But I was to learn -that the Martian smile is merely perfunctory, and that the Martian -laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror. - -The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are widely at -variance with our conceptions of incitants to merriment. The -death agonies of a fellow being are, to these strange creatures -provocative of the wildest hilarity, while their chief form of -commonest amusement is to inflict death on their prisoners of -war in various ingenious and horrible ways. - -The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely, feeling -my muscles and the texture of my skin. The principal chieftain then -evidently signified a desire to see me perform, and, motioning me -to follow, he started with Tars Tarkas for the open plaza. - -Now, I had made no attempt to walk, since my first signal failure, -except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm, and so now I went -skipping and flitting about among the desks and chairs like some -monstrous grasshopper. After bruising myself severely, much to -the amusement of the Martians, I again had recourse to creeping, -but this did not suit them and I was roughly jerked to my feet by -a towering fellow who had laughed most heartily at my misfortunes. - -As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent close to -mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do under the -circumstances of brutality, boorishness, and lack of consideration -for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely to his jaw and -he went down like a felled ox. As he sunk to the floor I wheeled -around with my back toward the nearest desk, expecting to be -overwhelmed by the vengeance of his fellows, but determined to -give them as good a battle as the unequal odds would permit before -I gave up my life. - -My fears were groundless, however, as the other Martians, at first -struck dumb with wonderment, finally broke into wild peals of -laughter and applause. I did not recognize the applause as such, -but later, when I had become acquainted with their customs, I -learned that I had won what they seldom accord, a manifestation -of approbation. - -The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen, nor did any of -his mates approach him. Tars Tarkas advanced toward me, holding out -one of his arms, and we thus proceeded to the plaza without further -mishap. I did not, of course, know the reason for which we had come -to the open, but I was not long in being enlightened. They first -repeated the word "sak" a number of times, and then Tars Tarkas made -several jumps, repeating the same word before each leap; then, -turning to me, he said, "sak!" I saw what they were after, and -gathering myself together I "sakked" with such marvelous success -that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I this time, -lose my equilibrium, but landed squarely upon my feet without -falling. I then returned by easy jumps of twenty-five or thirty -feet to the little group of warriors. - -My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser Martians, -and they immediately broke into demands for a repetition, which the -chieftain then ordered me to make; but I was both hungry and -thirsty, and determined on the spot that my only method of salvation -was to demand the consideration from these creatures which they -evidently would not voluntarily accord. I therefore ignored the -repeated commands to "sak," and each time they were made I motioned -to my mouth and rubbed my stomach. - -Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words, and the former, -calling to a young female among the throng, gave her some -instructions and motioned me to accompany her. I grasped her -proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza toward a large -building on the far side. - -My fair companion was about eight feet tall, having just arrived -at maturity, but not yet to her full height. She was of a light -olive-green color, with a smooth, glossy hide. Her name, as I -afterward learned, was Sola, and she belonged to the retinue of -Tars Tarkas. She conducted me to a spacious chamber in one of the -buildings fronting on the plaza, and which, from the litter of -silks and furs upon the floor, I took to be the sleeping quarters -of several of the natives. - -The room was well lighted by a number of large windows and was -beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics, but upon -all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch of the finger of -antiquity which convinced me that the architects and builders of -these wondrous creations had nothing in common with the crude -half-brutes which now occupied them. - -Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center -of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though -signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call -I obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in -on its ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an -obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, -but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except -that the jaws were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG - - - -Sola stared into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or -two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I could not but -wonder what this ferocious-looking monstrosity might do when left -alone in such close proximity to such a relatively tender morsel of -meat; but my fears were groundless, as the beast, after surveying me -intently for a moment, crossed the room to the only exit which led -to the street, and lay down full length across the threshold. - -This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog, but it was -destined not to be my last, for this fellow guarded me carefully -during the time I remained a captive among these green men; twice -saving my life, and never voluntarily being away from me a moment. - -While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more minutely the -room in which I found myself captive. The mural painting depicted -scenes of rare and wonderful beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, -ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, winding roadways, sun-kissed -gardens--scenes which might have portrayed earthly views but for -the different colorings of the vegetation. The work had evidently -been wrought by a master hand, so subtle the atmosphere, so perfect -the technique; yet nowhere was there a representation of a living -animal, either human or brute, by which I could guess at the -likeness of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars. - -While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture on the -possible explanation of the strange anomalies which I had so far met -with on Mars, Sola returned bearing both food and drink. These she -placed on the floor beside me, and seating herself a short ways off -regarded me intently. The food consisted of about a pound of some -solid substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, -while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal. It was not -unpleasant to the taste, though slightly acid, and I learned in a -short time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, -not from an animal, as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one -very rare indeed, but from a large plant which grows practically -without water, but seems to distill its plentiful supply of milk -from the products of the soil, the moisture of the air, and the rays -of the sun. A single plant of this species will give eight or ten -quarts of milk per day. - -After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated, but feeling the need -of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon asleep. I must -have slept several hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was -very cold. I noticed that someone had thrown a fur over me, but it -had become partially dislodged and in the darkness I could not see -to replace it. Suddenly a hand reached out and pulled the fur over -me, shortly afterwards adding another to my covering. - -I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola, nor was I wrong. -This girl alone, among all the green Martians with whom I came in -contact, disclosed characteristics of sympathy, kindliness, and -affection; her ministrations to my bodily wants were unfailing, and -her solicitous care saved me from much suffering and many hardships. - -As I was to learn, the Martian nights are extremely cold, and as -there is practically no twilight or dawn, the changes in temperature -are sudden and most uncomfortable, as are the transitions from -brilliant daylight to darkness. The nights are either brilliantly -illumined or very dark, for if neither of the two moons of Mars -happen to be in the sky almost total darkness results, since the -lack of atmosphere, or, rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to -diffuse the starlight to any great extent; on the other hand, if -both of the moons are in the heavens at night the surface of the -ground is brightly illuminated. - -Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our moon to Earth; -the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while -the further is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, -against the nearly one-quarter million miles which separate us from -our moon. The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete revolution -around the planet in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that -she may be seen hurtling through the sky like some huge meteor two -or three times each night, revealing all her phases during each -transit of the heavens. - -The further moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and -one-quarter hours, and with her sister satellite makes a nocturnal -Martian scene one of splendid and weird grandeur. And it is well -that nature has so graciously and abundantly lighted the Martian -night, for the green men of Mars, being a nomadic race without -high intellectual development, have but crude means for artificial -lighting; depending principally upon torches, a kind of candle, and -a peculiar oil lamp which generates a gas and burns without a wick. - -This last device produces an intensely brilliant far-reaching white -light, but as the natural oil which it requires can only be obtained -by mining in one of several widely separated and remote localities -it is seldom used by these creatures whose only thought is for -today, and whose hatred for manual labor has kept them in a -semi-barbaric state for countless ages. - -After Sola had replenished my coverings I again slept, nor did I -awaken until daylight. The other occupants of the room, five in -number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high -with a motley array of silks and furs. Across the threshold lay -stretched the sleepless guardian brute, just as I had last seen him -on the preceding day; apparently he had not moved a muscle; his eyes -were fairly glued upon me, and I fell to wondering just what might -befall me should I endeavor to escape. - -I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and -experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone. It -therefore now occurred to me that the surest way of learning the -exact attitude of this beast toward me would be to attempt to leave -the room. I felt fairly secure in my belief that I could escape him -should he pursue me once I was outside the building, for I had begun -to take great pride in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I could -see from the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no -jumper and probably no runner. - -Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that -my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding -that by moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as -well as make reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he -backed cautiously away from me, and when I had reached the open he -moved to one side to let me pass. He then fell in behind me and -followed about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the -deserted street. - -Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we -reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering -strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to -have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when -almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and -away from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the -most appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short -legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds -the latter would have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I -was to learn, this is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its -intelligence, loyalty, and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and -as the protector of the Martian man. - -I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs -of the beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by -doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me. -This maneuver gave me a considerable advantage, and I was able to -reach the city quite a bit ahead of him, and as he came tearing -after me I jumped for a window about thirty feet from the ground -in the face of one of the buildings overlooking the valley. - -Grasping the sill I pulled myself up to a sitting posture without -looking into the building, and gazed down at the baffled animal -beneath me. My exultation was short-lived, however, for scarcely -had I gained a secure seat upon the sill than a huge hand grasped -me by the neck from behind and dragged me violently into the room. -Here I was thrown upon my back, and beheld standing over me a -colossal ape-like creature, white and hairless except for an -enormous shock of bristly hair upon its head. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS - - - -The thing, which more nearly resembled our earthly men than it did -the Martians I had seen, held me pinioned to the ground with one -huge foot, while it jabbered and gesticulated at some answering -creature behind me. This other, which was evidently its mate, -soon came toward us, bearing a mighty stone cudgel with which it -evidently intended to brain me. - -The creatures were about ten or fifteen feet tall, standing erect, -and had, like the green Martians, an intermediary set of arms or -legs, midway between their upper and lower limbs. Their eyes were -close together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but -more laterally located than those of the Martians, while their -snouts and teeth were strikingly like those of our African gorilla. -Altogether they were not unlovely when viewed in comparison with -the green Martians. - -The cudgel was swinging in the arc which ended upon my upturned -face when a bolt of myriad-legged horror hurled itself through the -doorway full upon the breast of my executioner. With a shriek of -fear the ape which held me leaped through the open window, but its -mate closed in a terrific death struggle with my preserver, which -was nothing less than my faithful watch-thing; I cannot bring myself -to call so hideous a creature a dog. - -As quickly as possible I gained my feet and backing against the wall -I witnessed such a battle as it is vouchsafed few beings to see. -The strength, agility, and blind ferocity of these two creatures -is approached by nothing known to earthly man. My beast had an -advantage in his first hold, having sunk his mighty fangs far into -the breast of his adversary; but the great arms and paws of the ape, -backed by muscles far transcending those of the Martian men I had -seen, had locked the throat of my guardian and slowly were choking -out his life, and bending back his head and neck upon his body, -where I momentarily expected the former to fall limp at the end of -a broken neck. - -In accomplishing this the ape was tearing away the entire front of -its breast, which was held in the vise-like grip of the powerful -jaws. Back and forth upon the floor they rolled, neither one -emitting a sound of fear or pain. Presently I saw the great eyes -of my beast bulging completely from their sockets and blood flowing -from its nostrils. That he was weakening perceptibly was evident, -but so also was the ape, whose struggles were growing momentarily -less. - -Suddenly I came to myself and, with that strange instinct which -seems ever to prompt me to my duty, I seized the cudgel, which had -fallen to the floor at the commencement of the battle, and swinging -it with all the power of my earthly arms I crashed it full upon the -head of the ape, crushing his skull as though it had been an -eggshell. - -Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new -danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, -had returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior -of the building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway -and the sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless -fellow stretched upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the -extremity of his rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire -forebodings. - -I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not too -overwhelmingly against me, but in this instance I perceived neither -glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength against -the iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged denizen of an -unknown world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so -far as I might be concerned, seemed sudden death. - -I was standing near the window and I knew that once in the street I -might gain the plaza and safety before the creature could overtake -me; at least there was a chance for safety in flight, against almost -certain death should I remain and fight however desperately. - -It is true I held the cudgel, but what could I do with it against -his four great arms? Even should I break one of them with my first -blow, for I figured that he would attempt to ward off the cudgel, -he could reach out and annihilate me with the others before I could -recover for a second attack. - -In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind I had -turned to make for the window, but my eyes alighting on the form -of my erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight to the four -winds. He lay gasping upon the floor of the chamber, his great eyes -fastened upon me in what seemed a pitiful appeal for protection. I -could not withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have -deserted my rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in -his behalf as he had in mine. - -Without more ado, therefore, I turned to meet the charge of the -infuriated bull ape. He was now too close upon me for the cudgel to -prove of any effective assistance, so I merely threw it as heavily -as I could at his advancing bulk. It struck him just below the -knees, eliciting a howl of pain and rage, and so throwing him off -his balance that he lunged full upon me with arms wide stretched -to ease his fall. - -Again, as on the preceding day, I had recourse to earthly tactics, -and swinging my right fist full upon the point of his chin I -followed it with a smashing left to the pit of his stomach. -The effect was marvelous, for, as I lightly sidestepped, after -delivering the second blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor -doubled up with pain and gasping for wind. Leaping over his -prostrate body, I seized the cudgel and finished the monster -before he could regain his feet. - -As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me, and, -turning, I beheld Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four warriors -standing in the doorway of the chamber. As my eyes met theirs I -was, for the second time, the recipient of their zealously guarded -applause. - -My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had -quickly informed Tars Tarkas, who had set out immediately with a -handful of warriors to search for me. As they had approached the -limits of the city they had witnessed the actions of the bull ape -as he bolted into the building, frothing with rage. - -They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely -possible that his actions might prove a clew to my whereabouts -and had witnessed my short but decisive battle with him. This -encounter, together with my set-to with the Martian warrior on the -previous day and my feats of jumping placed me upon a high pinnacle -in their regard. Evidently devoid of all the finer sentiments of -friendship, love, or affection, these people fairly worship physical -prowess and bravery, and nothing is too good for the object of their -adoration as long as he maintains his position by repeated examples -of his skill, strength, and courage. - -Sola, who had accompanied the searching party of her own volition, -was the only one of the Martians whose face had not been twisted in -laughter as I battled for my life. She, on the contrary, was sober -with apparent solicitude and, as soon as I had finished the monster, -rushed to me and carefully examined my body for possible wounds or -injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off unscathed she -smiled quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of -the chamber. - -Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were standing -over the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved my life, and -whose life I, in turn, had rescued. They seemed to be deep in -argument, and finally one of them addressed me, but remembering -my ignorance of his language turned back to Tars Tarkas, who, with -a word and gesture, gave some command to the fellow and turned to -follow us from the room. - -There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward my beast, -and I hesitated to leave until I had learned the outcome. It was -well I did so, for the warrior drew an evil looking pistol from its -holster and was on the point of putting an end to the creature when -I sprang forward and struck up his arm. The bullet striking the -wooden casing of the window exploded, blowing a hole completely -through the wood and masonry. - -I then knelt down beside the fearsome-looking thing, and raising it -to its feet motioned for it to follow me. The looks of surprise -which my actions elicited from the Martians were ludicrous; they -could not understand, except in a feeble and childish way, such -attributes as gratitude and compassion. The warrior whose gun I -had struck up looked enquiringly at Tars Tarkas, but the latter -signed that I be left to my own devices, and so we returned to -the plaza with my great beast following close at heel, and Sola -grasping me tightly by the arm. - -I had at least two friends on Mars; a young woman who watched over -me with motherly solicitude, and a dumb brute which, as I later came -to know, held in its poor ugly carcass more love, more loyalty, more -gratitude than could have been found in the entire five million -green Martians who rove the deserted cities and dead sea bottoms -of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -CHILD-RAISING ON MARS - - - -After a breakfast, which was an exact replica of the meal of the -preceding day and an index of practically every meal which followed -while I was with the green men of Mars, Sola escorted me to the -plaza, where I found the entire community engaged in watching or -helping at the harnessing of huge mastodonian animals to great -three-wheeled chariots. There were about two hundred and fifty of -these vehicles, each drawn by a single animal, any one of which, -from their appearance, might easily have drawn the entire wagon -train when fully loaded. - -The chariots themselves were large, commodious, and gorgeously -decorated. In each was seated a female Martian loaded with -ornaments of metal, with jewels and silks and furs, and upon the -back of each of the beasts which drew the chariots was perched a -young Martian driver. Like the animals upon which the warriors were -mounted, the heavier draft animals wore neither bit nor bridle, but -were guided entirely by telepathic means. - -This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians, and accounts -largely for the simplicity of their language and the relatively -few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations. It is the -universal language of Mars, through the medium of which the higher -and lower animals of this world of paradoxes are able to communicate -to a greater or less extent, depending upon the intellectual sphere -of the species and the development of the individual. - -As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file, Sola -dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded with the -procession toward the point by which I had entered the city the -day before. At the head of the caravan rode some two hundred -warriors, five abreast, and a like number brought up the rear, -while twenty-five or thirty outriders flanked us on either side. - -Every one but myself--men, women, and children--were heavily armed, -and at the tail of each chariot trotted a Martian hound, my own -beast following closely behind ours; in fact, the faithful creature -never left me voluntarily during the entire ten years I spent on -Mars. Our way led out across the little valley before the city, -through the hills, and down into the dead sea bottom which I had -traversed on my journey from the incubator to the plaza. The -incubator, as it proved, was the terminal point of our journey this -day, and, as the entire cavalcade broke into a mad gallop as soon -as we reached the level expanse of sea bottom, we were soon within -sight of our goal. - -On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision -on the four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, -headed by the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and -several other lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. -I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something to the principal -chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, as nearly as I can -translate it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, Jed; jed being his -title. - -I was soon appraised of the subject of their conversation, as, -calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I -had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian -conditions, and quickly responding to his command I advanced to -the side of the incubator where the warriors stood. - -As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few -eggs had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous -little devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and -were moving restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for -food. - -As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the -incubator and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my -performance of yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, -as I must confess that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I -responded quickly, leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the -far side of the incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted -something at me, and turning to his warriors gave a few words of -command relative to the incubator. They paid no further attention -to me and I was thus permitted to remain close and watch their -operations, which consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of -the incubator large enough to permit of the exit of the young -Martians. - -On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, -both male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the -chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls -the little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run -the full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time -by the women and older children; the last in the line capturing the -first little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in -the line capturing the second, and so on until all the little -fellows had left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth -or female. As the women caught the young they fell out of line and -returned to their respective chariots, while those who fell into the -hands of the young men were later turned over to some of the women. - -I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, -was over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a -hideous little creature held tightly in her arms. - -The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in -teaching them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with -which they are loaded down from the very first year of their lives. -Coming from eggs in which they have lain for five years, the period -of incubation, they step forth into the world perfectly developed -except in size. Entirely unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, -would have difficulty in pointing out the fathers with any degree of -accuracy, they are the common children of the community, and their -education devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as -they leave the incubator. - -Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, -as was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until -less than a year before she became the mother of another woman's -offspring. But this counts for little among the green Martians, as -parental and filial love is as unknown to them as it is common among -us. I believe this horrible system which has been carried on for -ages is the direct cause of the loss of all the finer feelings and -higher humanitarian instincts among these poor creatures. From -birth they know no father or mother love, they know not the meaning -of the word home; they are taught that they are only suffered to -live until they can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that -they are fit to live. Should they prove deformed or defective in -any way they are promptly shot; nor do they see a tear shed for a -single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from -earliest infancy. - -I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or -intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless -struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of -which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional -life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown. - -By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each -species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the -birth rate to merely offset the loss by death. - -Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each -year, and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity -tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where -the temperature is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs -are carefully examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all -but about one hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each -yearly supply. At the end of five years about five hundred almost -perfect eggs have been chosen from the thousands brought forth. -These are then placed in the almost air-tight incubators to be -hatched by the sun's rays after a period of another five years. The -hatching which we had witnessed today was a fairly representative -event of its kind, all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching -in two days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing of -the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, as their -offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged -incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained for ages -and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time for -return to the incubators, almost to an hour. - -The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little -or no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The -result of such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community -for another five years. I was later to witness the results of the -discovery of an alien incubator. - -The community of which the green Martians with whom my lot was cast -formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They -roamed an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty -and eighty degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and -west by two large fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the -southwest corner of this district, near the crossing of two of -the so-called Martian canals. - -As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory -in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us -a tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing. - -After our return to the dead city I passed several days in -comparative idleness. On the day following our return all the -warriors had ridden forth early in the morning and had not returned -until just before darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been -to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs were kept and had -transported them to the incubator, which they had then walled up -for another five years, and which, in all probability, would not -be visited again during that period. - -The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the -incubator were located many miles south of the incubator, and would -be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did -not arrange to build their vaults and incubators nearer home has -always been a mystery to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, -unsolved and unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs. - -Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the -young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much -attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian -education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together. - -Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong -and physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had -considerable amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we -displayed. The Martian language, as I have said, is extremely -simple, and in a week I could make all my wants known and understand -nearly everything that was said to me. Likewise, under Sola's -tutelage, I developed my telepathic powers so that I shortly could -sense practically everything that went on around me. - -What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch -telepathic messages easily from others, and often when they were -not intended for me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any -circumstances. At first this vexed me, but later I was very glad -of it, as it gave me an undoubted advantage over the Martians. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A FAIR CAPTIVE FROM THE SKY - - - -The third day after the incubator ceremony we set forth toward home, -but scarcely had the head of the procession debouched into the open -ground before the city than orders were given for an immediate and -hasty return. As though trained for years in this particular -evolution, the green Martians melted like mist into the spacious -doorways of the nearby buildings, until, in less than three minutes, -the entire cavalcade of chariots, mastodons and mounted warriors -was nowhere to be seen. - -Sola and I had entered a building upon the front of the city, in -fact, the same one in which I had had my encounter with the apes, -and, wishing to see what had caused the sudden retreat, I mounted -to an upper floor and peered from the window out over the valley -and the hills beyond; and there I saw the cause of their sudden -scurrying to cover. A huge craft, long, low, and gray-painted, -swung slowly over the crest of the nearest hill. Following it came -another, and another, and another, until twenty of them, swinging -low above the ground, sailed slowly and majestically toward us. - -Each carried a strange banner swung from stem to stern above the -upper works, and upon the prow of each was painted some odd device -that gleamed in the sunlight and showed plainly even at the distance -at which we were from the vessels. I could see figures crowding -the forward decks and upper works of the air craft. Whether they -had discovered us or simply were looking at the deserted city I -could not say, but in any event they received a rude reception, -for suddenly and without warning the green Martian warriors fired a -terrific volley from the windows of the buildings facing the little -valley across which the great ships were so peacefully advancing. - -Instantly the scene changed as by magic; the foremost vessel swung -broadside toward us, and bringing her guns into play returned our -fire, at the same time moving parallel to our front for a short -distance and then turning back with the evident intention of -completing a great circle which would bring her up to position once -more opposite our firing line; the other vessels followed in her -wake, each one opening upon us as she swung into position. Our own -fire never diminished, and I doubt if twenty-five per cent of our -shots went wild. It had never been given me to see such deadly -accuracy of aim, and it seemed as though a little figure on one of -the craft dropped at the explosion of each bullet, while the banners -and upper works dissolved in spurts of flame as the irresistible -projectiles of our warriors mowed through them. - -The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I -afterward learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, -which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting -apparatus of the guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our -warriors. - -It seems that each green warrior has certain objective points for -his fire under relatively identical circumstances of warfare. For -example, a proportion of them, always the best marksmen, direct -their fire entirely upon the wireless finding and sighting apparatus -of the big guns of an attacking naval force; another detail attends -to the smaller guns in the same way; others pick off the gunners; -still others the officers; while certain other quotas concentrate -their attention upon the other members of the crew, upon the upper -works, and upon the steering gear and propellers. - -Twenty minutes after the first volley the great fleet swung trailing -off in the direction from which it had first appeared. Several of -the craft were limping perceptibly, and seemed but barely under the -control of their depleted crews. Their fire had ceased entirely -and all their energies seemed focused upon escape. Our warriors -then rushed up to the roofs of the buildings which we occupied and -followed the retreating armada with a continuous fusillade of deadly -fire. - -One by one, however, the ships managed to dip below the crests of -the outlying hills until only one barely moving craft was in sight. -This had received the brunt of our fire and seemed to be entirely -unmanned, as not a moving figure was visible upon her decks. Slowly -she swung from her course, circling back toward us in an erratic and -pitiful manner. Instantly the warriors ceased firing, for it was -quite apparent that the vessel was entirely helpless, and, far from -being in a position to inflict harm upon us, she could not even -control herself sufficiently to escape. - -As she neared the city the warriors rushed out upon the plain to -meet her, but it was evident that she still was too high for them -to hope to reach her decks. From my vantage point in the window I -could see the bodies of her crew strewn about, although I could not -make out what manner of creatures they might be. Not a sign of life -was manifest upon her as she drifted slowly with the light breeze -in a southeasterly direction. - -She was drifting some fifty feet above the ground, followed by all -but some hundred of the warriors who had been ordered back to the -roofs to cover the possibility of a return of the fleet, or of -reinforcements. It soon became evident that she would strike the -face of the buildings about a mile south of our position, and as I -watched the progress of the chase I saw a number of warriors gallop -ahead, dismount and enter the building she seemed destined to touch. - -As the craft neared the building, and just before she struck, the -Martian warriors swarmed upon her from the windows, and with their -great spears eased the shock of the collision, and in a few moments -they had thrown out grappling hooks and the big boat was being -hauled to ground by their fellows below. - -After making her fast, they swarmed the sides and searched the -vessel from stem to stern. I could see them examining the dead -sailors, evidently for signs of life, and presently a party of -them appeared from below dragging a little figure among them. -The creature was considerably less than half as tall as the green -Martian warriors, and from my balcony I could see that it walked -erect upon two legs and surmised that it was some new and strange -Martian monstrosity with which I had not as yet become acquainted. - -They removed their prisoner to the ground and then commenced a -systematic rifling of the vessel. This operation required several -hours, during which time a number of the chariots were requisitioned -to transport the loot, which consisted in arms, ammunition, silks, -furs, jewels, strangely carved stone vessels, and a quantity of -solid foods and liquids, including many casks of water, the first -I had seen since my advent upon Mars. - -After the last load had been removed the warriors made lines fast to -the craft and towed her far out into the valley in a southwesterly -direction. A few of them then boarded her and were busily engaged -in what appeared, from my distant position, as the emptying of the -contents of various carboys upon the dead bodies of the sailors and -over the decks and works of the vessel. - -This operation concluded, they hastily clambered over her sides, -sliding down the guy ropes to the ground. The last warrior to leave -the deck turned and threw something back upon the vessel, waiting an -instant to note the outcome of his act. As a faint spurt of flame -rose from the point where the missile struck he swung over the side -and was quickly upon the ground. Scarcely had he alighted than -the guy ropes were simultaneous released, and the great warship, -lightened by the removal of the loot, soared majestically into -the air, her decks and upper works a mass of roaring flames. - -Slowly she drifted to the southeast, rising higher and higher as the -flames ate away her wooden parts and diminished the weight upon her. -Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until -finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight -was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty -floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through -the lonely wastes of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death -and destruction, typifying the life story of these strange and -ferocious creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it. - -Much depressed, and, to me, unaccountably so, I slowly descended to -the street. The scene I had witnessed seemed to mark the defeat -and annihilation of the forces of a kindred people, rather than -the routing by our green warriors of a horde of similar, though -unfriendly, creatures. I could not fathom the seeming -hallucination, nor could I free myself from it; but somewhere in -the innermost recesses of my soul I felt a strange yearning toward -these unknown foemen, and a mighty hope surged through me that the -fleet would return and demand a reckoning from the green warriors -who had so ruthlessly and wantonly attacked it. - -Close at my heel, in his now accustomed place, followed Woola, the -hound, and as I emerged upon the street Sola rushed up to me as -though I had been the object of some search on her part. The -cavalcade was returning to the plaza, the homeward march having been -given up for that day; nor, in fact, was it recommenced for more -than a week, owing to the fear of a return attack by the air craft. - -Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be caught upon the -open plains with a caravan of chariots and children, and so we -remained at the deserted city until the danger seemed passed. - -As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which filled my -whole being with a great surge of mingled hope, fear, exultation, -and depression, and yet most dominant was a subtle sense of relief -and happiness; for just as we neared the throng of Martians I caught -a glimpse of the prisoner from the battle craft who was being -roughly dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green Martian -females. - -And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender, girlish -figure, similar in every detail to the earthly women of my past -life. She did not see me at first, but just as she was disappearing -through the portal of the building which was to be her prison she -turned, and her eyes met mine. Her face was oval and beautiful in -the extreme, her every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, -her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of -coal black, waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming -coiffure. Her skin was of a light reddish copper color, against -which the crimson glow of her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully -molded lips shone with a strangely enhancing effect. - -She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who -accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she -was entirely naked, nor could any apparel have enhanced the beauty -of her perfect and symmetrical figure. - -As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in astonishment, and -she made a little sign with her free hand; a sign which I did not, -of course, understand. Just a moment we gazed upon each other, and -then the look of hope and renewed courage which had glorified her -face as she discovered me, faded into one of utter dejection, -mingled with loathing and contempt. I realized I had not answered -her signal, and ignorant as I was of Martian customs, I intuitively -felt that she had made an appeal for succor and protection which my -unfortunate ignorance had prevented me from answering. And then she -was dragged out of my sight into the depths of the deserted edifice. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -I LEARN THE LANGUAGE - - - -As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this -encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her -usually expressionless countenance. What her thoughts were I did -not know, for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue; -enough only to suffice for my daily needs. - -As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise awaited -me. A warrior approached bearing the arms, ornaments, and full -accouterments of his kind. These he presented to me with a few -unintelligible words, and a bearing at once respectful and menacing. - -Later, Sola, with the aid of several of the other women, remodeled -the trappings to fit my lesser proportions, and after they completed -the work I went about garbed in all the panoply of war. - -From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the various -weapons, and with the Martian young I spent several hours each day -practicing upon the plaza. I was not yet proficient with all the -weapons, but my great familiarity with similar earthly weapons made -me an unusually apt pupil, and I progressed in a very satisfactory -manner. - -The training of myself and the young Martians was conducted solely -by the women, who not only attend to the education of the young -in the arts of individual defense and offense, but are also the -artisans who produce every manufactured article wrought by the -green Martians. They make the powder, the cartridges, the firearms; -in fact everything of value is produced by the females. In time -of actual warfare they form a part of the reserves, and when the -necessity arises fight with even greater intelligence and ferocity -than the men. - -The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war; in -strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops. They make -the laws as they are needed; a new law for each emergency. They are -unfettered by precedent in the administration of justice. Customs -have been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for -ignoring a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of -the culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, -but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law. -In one respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have -no lawyers. - -I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent to our -first encounter, and then only to catch a fleeting glimpse of her as -she was being conducted to the great audience chamber where I had -had my first meeting with Lorquas Ptomel. I could not but note the -unnecessary harshness and brutality with which her guards treated -her; so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola -manifested toward me, and the respectful attitude of the few green -Martians who took the trouble to notice me at all. - -I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the -prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that -they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common -language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted -by my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more -days I had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable -me to carry on a passable conversation and to fully understand -practically all that I heard. - -At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three or four -females and a couple of the recently hatched young, beside Sola and -her youthful ward, myself, and Woola the hound. After they had -retired for the night it was customary for the adults to carry on a -desultory conversation for a short time before lapsing into sleep, -and now that I could understand their language I was always a keen -listener, although I never proffered any remarks myself. - -On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience chamber -the conversation finally fell upon this subject, and I was all ears -on the instant. I had feared to question Sola relative to the -beautiful captive, as I could not but recall the strange expression -I had noted upon her face after my first encounter with the -prisoner. That it denoted jealousy I could not say, and yet, -judging all things by mundane standards as I still did, I felt it -safer to affect indifference in the matter until I learned more -surely Sola's attitude toward the object of my solicitude. - -Sarkoja, one of the older women who shared our domicile, had been -present at the audience as one of the captive's guards, and it -was toward her the question turned. - -"When," asked one of the women, "will we enjoy the death throes of -the red one? or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed, intend holding her for -ransom?" - -"They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit -her last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus," replied -Sarkoja. - -"What will be the manner of her going out?" inquired Sola. "She -is very small and very beautiful; I had hoped that they would hold -her for ransom." - -Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of -weakness on the part of Sola. - -"It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago," -snapped Sarkoja, "when all the hollows of the land were filled with -water, and the peoples were as soft as the stuff they sailed upon. -In our day we have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark -weakness and atavism. It will not be well for you to permit Tars -Tarkas to learn that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as I -doubt that he would care to entrust such as you with the grave -responsibilities of maternity." - -"I see nothing wrong with my expression of interest in this red -woman," retorted Sola. "She has never harmed us, nor would she -should we have fallen into her hands. It is only the men of her -kind who war upon us, and I have ever thought that their attitude -toward us is but the reflection of ours toward them. They live at -peace with all their fellows, except when duty calls upon them to -make war, while we are at peace with none; forever warring among -our own kind as well as upon the red men, and even in our own -communities the individuals fight amongst themselves. Oh, it is -one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the time we break the -shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the river of mystery, -the dark and ancient Iss which carries us to an unknown, but at -least no more frightful and terrible existence! Fortunate indeed is -he who meets his end in an early death. Say what you please to Tars -Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to me than a continuation of -the horrible existence we are forced to lead in this life." - -This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and -shocked the other women, that, after a few words of general -reprimand, they all lapsed into silence and were soon asleep. One -thing the episode had accomplished was to assure me of Sola's -friendliness toward the poor girl, and also to convince me that I -had been extremely fortunate in falling into her hands rather than -those of some of the other females. I knew that she was fond of me, -and now that I had discovered that she hated cruelty and barbarity -I was confident that I could depend upon her to aid me and the girl -captive to escape, provided of course that such a thing was within -the range of possibilities. - -I did not even know that there were any better conditions to escape -to, but I was more than willing to take my chances among people -fashioned after my own mold rather than to remain longer among the -hideous and bloodthirsty green men of Mars. But where to go, and -how, was as much of a puzzle to me as the age-old search for the -spring of eternal life has been to earthly men since the beginning -of time. - -I decided that at the first opportunity I would take Sola into my -confidence and openly ask her to aid me, and with this resolution -strong upon me I turned among my silks and furs and slept the -dreamless and refreshing sleep of Mars. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CHAMPION AND CHIEF - - - -Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was -allowed me, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not -attempt to leave the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. -She had warned me, however, against venturing forth unarmed, as -this city, like all other deserted metropolises of an ancient -Martian civilization, was peopled by the great white apes of my -second day's adventure. - -In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Sola -had explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt -it, and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature -by ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden -territory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me -back into the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him; -"preferably dead," she added. - -On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly -I found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills -pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the -country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, -to view what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might -disclose from the summits which shut out my view. - -It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent -opportunity to test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that -the brute loved me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him -than in any other Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that -gratitude for the acts that had twice saved his life would more -than outweigh his loyalty to the duty imposed upon him by cruel -and loveless masters. - -As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, and -thrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading rather -than ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearful -guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my -kind, I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, -for the normal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural -affections, and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in -this great brute, sure that I would not be disappointed. - -I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground -and putting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, -talking in my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my -hound at home, as I would have talked to any other friend among the -lower animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was -remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full -width, baring the entire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and -wrinkling his snout until his great eyes were almost hidden by the -folds of flesh. If you have ever seen a collie smile you may have -some idea of Woola's facial distortion. - -He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; -jumped up and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his -great weight; then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful -puppy presenting its back for the petting it craves. I could not -resist the ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I -rocked back and forth in the first laughter which had passed my lips -in many days; the first, in fact, since the morning Powell had left -camp when his horse, long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly -bucked him off headforemost into a pot of frijoles. - -My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawled -pitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then -I remembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, suffering, -death. Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and -back, talked to him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative -tone commanded him to follow me, and arising started for the hills. - -There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was my -devoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputed -master. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I -found nothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous -brilliantly colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the -ravines and from the summit of the first hill I saw still other -hills stretching off toward the north, and rising, one range above -another, until lost in mountains of quite respectable dimensions; -though I afterward found that only a few peaks on all Mars exceed -four thousand feet in height; the suggestion of magnitude was merely -relative. - -My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it had -resulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars -Tarkas relied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while -theoretically a prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to -regain the city limits before the defection of Woola could be -discovered by his erstwhile masters. The adventure decided me never -again to leave the limits of my prescribed stamping grounds until I -was ready to venture forth for good and all, as it would certainly -result in a curtailment of my liberties, as well as the probable -death of Woola, were we to be discovered. - -On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. -She was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience -chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and -turned her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly -womanly, that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with -a feeling of companionship; it was good to know that someone else on -Mars beside myself had human instincts of a civilized order, even -though the manifestation of them was so painful and mortifying. - -Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she -would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a -movement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostly -atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused -such passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never -saw her perform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform -kindliness and good nature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian -had said of her, an atavism; a dear and precious reversion to a -former type of loved and loving ancestor. - -Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted to -view the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently Lorquas -Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and, -signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audience -chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and -also convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in -their language, as I had pleaded with Sola to keep this a secret on -the grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men -until I had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an -attempt to enter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings. - -The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them -stood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women -was Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the -hearing of the preceding day, the results of which she had reported -to the occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward -the captive was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk -her rudimentary nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her -arm in a most painful manner. When it was necessary to move from -one spot to another she either jerked her roughly, or pushed her -headlong before her. She seemed to be venting upon this poor -defenseless creature all the hatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite -of her nine hundred years, backed by unguessable ages of fierce -and brutal ancestors. - -The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; -if the prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was -at night, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the -same token would she have received any attention at all. - -As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell -on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of -impatience. Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, -but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no -further attention to me. - -"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner. - -"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium." - -"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued. - -"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's -father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to -take atmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a -low, well-modulated voice. - -"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on a -peaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft -denoted. The work we were doing was as much in your interests as -in ours, for you know full well that were it not for our labors and -the fruits of our scientific operations there would not be enough -air or water on Mars to support a single human life. For ages we -have maintained the air and water supply at practically the same -point without an appreciable loss, and we have done this in the -face of the brutal and ignorant interference of your green men. - -"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows, -must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but -little above the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people -without written language, without art, without homes, without love; -the victim of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning -everything in common, even to your women and children, has resulted -in your owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you hate -all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our common -ancestors, come back to the light of kindliness and fellowship. The -way is open to you, you will find the hands of the red men stretched -out to aid you. Together we may do still more to regenerate our -dying planet. The granddaughter of the greatest and mightiest of -the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you come?" - -Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently at -the young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking. -What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were -moved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been -strong enough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked -a new and mighty era for Mars. - -I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an -expression as I had never seen upon the countenance of a green -Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, -with heredity, with age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to -speak, a look almost of benignity, of kindliness, momentarily -lighted up his fierce and terrible countenance. - -What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never -spoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend -of thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the -rostrum, and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across -the face, which felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her -prostrate form and turning toward the assembled council broke into -peals of horrid, mirthless laughter. - -For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did -the aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, -but the mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, -and they smiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh -aloud, for the brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism -according to the ethics which rule green Martian humor. - -That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as -that blow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any -such length of time. I think I must have sensed something of what -was coming, for I realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as -I saw the blow aimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and -ere the hand descended I was halfway across the hall. - -Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon -him. The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, -but I believe that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in -the terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him -full in the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew -his short-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, -hooking one leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his -huge tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon -his enormous chest. - -He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too -close to him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do -in direct opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not -fight a fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the -weapon with which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but -make a wild and futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense -bulk he was little if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter -of a moment or two before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the -floor. - -Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the -battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I -raised her in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side -of the room. - -Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk -from my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her -nostrils. I was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little -more than an ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed -her hand upon my arm and looking up into my eyes, said: - -"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition in -the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one -of your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange -manner of man are you, that you consort with the green men, though -your form is that of my race, while your color is little darker than -that of the white ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than -human?" - -"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell you -now, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that -I fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the -present, that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will -permit, your protector and your servant." - -"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and the -regalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where your -country?" - -"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, -and I claim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, -as my home; but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, -nor was I aware that my regalia was that of a chieftain." - -We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of the -warriors, bearing arms, accouterments and ornaments, and in a flash -one of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. -I saw that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I -read in the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had -brought me these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that -evinced by the other who had brought me my original equipment, and -now for the first time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of -my first battle in the audience chamber had resulted in the death -of my adversary. - -The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now -apparent; I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, -which always marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, -has caused me to call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded -the honors due a conqueror; the trappings and the position of the -man I killed. In truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I -learned later was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration -in the audience chamber. - -As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had -noticed that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward -toward us, and the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most -quizzical manner. Finally he addressed me: - -"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf -and dumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John -Carter?" - -"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that -you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have -to thank Sola for my learning." - -"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other -respects needs considerable polish. Do you know what your -unprecedented temerity would have cost you had you failed to -kill either of the two chieftains whose metal you now wear?" - -"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have -killed me," I answered, smiling. - -"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense -would a Martian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for -other purposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not -pleasant to dwell upon. - -"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, in -recognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, be -considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken -into the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we -reach the headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel -that you be accorded the respect your acts have earned you. You -will be treated by us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not -forget that every chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe -delivery to our mighty and most ferocious ruler. I am done." - -"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not of -Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the -future as I have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of -my conscience and guided by the standards of mine own people. If -you will leave me alone I will go in peace, but if not, let the -individual Barsoomians with whom I must deal either respect my -rights as a stranger among you, or take whatever consequences may -befall. Of one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your ultimate -intentions toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever would offer -her injury or insult in the future must figure on making a full -accounting to me. I understand that you belittle all sentiments of -generosity and kindliness, but I do not, and I can convince your -most doughty warrior that these characteristics are not incompatible -with an ability to fight." - -Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had I -descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which would -strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor -was I wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and -their attitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful. - -Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only -comment was more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal Hajus, -Jeddak of Thark." - -I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to -her feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering -guardian harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. -Was I not now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the -responsibilities of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah -Thoris, Princess of Helium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, -followed by the faithful Woola, passed through utter silence from -the audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of -Barsoom. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -WITH DEJAH THORIS - - - -As we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed -to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and made as though to assume -custody of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I -felt her two little hands fold tightly over my arm. Waving the -women away, I informed them that Sola would attend the captive -hereafter, and I further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel -attentions bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's -sudden and painful demise. - -My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm than good to -Dejah Thoris, for, as I learned later, men do not kill women upon -Mars, nor women, men. So Sarkoja merely gave us an ugly look and -departed to hatch up deviltries against us. - -I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard -Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other -quarters where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally -informed her that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. - -Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in my hand and -slung across my shoulder. - -"You are a great chieftain now, John Carter," she said, "and I -must do your bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any -circumstances. The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was -a great warrior, and had by his promotions and kills won his way -close to the rank of Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to -Lorquas Ptomel only. You are eleventh, there are but ten chieftains -in this community who rank you in prowess." - -"And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?" I asked. - -"You would be first, John Carter; but you may only win that honor -by the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in -combat, or should he attack you, you may kill him in self-defense, -and thus win first place." - -I laughed, and changed the subject. I had no particular desire -to kill Lorquas Ptomel, and less to be a jed among the Tharks. - -I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters, -which we found in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far -more pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also -found in this building real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of -highly wrought metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending -from the marble ceilings. The decoration of the walls was most -elaborate, and, unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had -examined, portrayed many human figures in the compositions. These -were of people like myself, and of a much lighter color than -Dejah Thoris. They were clad in graceful, flowing robes, highly -ornamented with metal and jewels, and their luxuriant hair was of -a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. The men were beardless -and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted for the most part, -a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play. - -Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of rapture as she -gazed upon these magnificent works of art, wrought by a people long -extinct; while Sola, on the other hand, apparently did not see them. - -We decided to use this room, on the second floor and overlooking -the plaza, for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and another room adjoining -and in the rear for the cooking and supplies. I then dispatched -Sola to bring the bedding and such food and utensils as she might -need, telling her that I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return. - -As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile. - -"And whereto, then, would your prisoner escape should you leave her, -unless it was to follow you and crave your protection, and ask your -pardon for the cruel thoughts she has harbored against you these -past few days?" - -"You are right," I answered, "there is no escape for either of us -unless we go together." - -"I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas, and -I think I understand your position among these people, but what I -cannot fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom." - -"In the name of my first ancestor, then," she continued, "where may -you be from? You are like unto my people, and yet so unlike. You -speak my language, and yet I heard you tell Tars Tarkas that you had -but learned it recently. All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from -the ice-clad south to the ice-clad north, though their written -languages differ. Only in the valley Dor, where the river Iss -empties into the lost sea of Korus, is there supposed to be a -different language spoken, and, except in the legends of our -ancestors, there is no record of a Barsoomian returning up the river -Iss, from the shores of Korus in the valley of Dor. Do not tell me -that you have thus returned! They would kill you horribly anywhere -upon the surface of Barsoom if that were true; tell me it is not!" - -Her eyes were filled with a strange, weird light; her voice was -pleading, and her little hands, reached up upon my breast, were -pressed against me as though to wring a denial from my very heart. - -"I do not know your customs, Dejah Thoris, but in my own Virginia -a gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am not of Dor; I have -never seen the mysterious Iss; the lost sea of Korus is still lost, -so far as I am concerned. Do you believe me?" - -And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that she -should believe me. It was not that I feared the results which would -follow a general belief that I had returned from the Barsoomian -heaven or hell, or whatever it was. Why was it, then! Why should -I care what she thought? I looked down at her; her beautiful face -upturned, and her wonderful eyes opening up the very depth of her -soul; and as my eyes met hers I knew why, and--I shuddered. - -A similar wave of feeling seemed to stir her; she drew away from me -with a sigh, and with her earnest, beautiful face turned up to mine, -she whispered: "I believe you, John Carter; I do not know what a -'gentleman' is, nor have I ever heard before of Virginia; but on -Barsoom no man lies; if he does not wish to speak the truth he is -silent. Where is this Virginia, your country, John Carter?" she -asked, and it seemed that this fair name of my fair land had never -sounded more beautiful than as it fell from those perfect lips on -that far-gone day. - -"I am of another world," I answered, "the great planet Earth, which -revolves about our common sun and next within the orbit of your -Barsoom, which we know as Mars. How I came here I cannot tell you, -for I do not know; but here I am, and since my presence has -permitted me to serve Dejah Thoris I am glad that I am here." - -She gazed at me with troubled eyes, long and questioningly. That -it was difficult to believe my statement I well knew, nor could I -hope that she would do so however much I craved her confidence and -respect. I would much rather not have told her anything of my -antecedents, but no man could look into the depth of those eyes -and refuse her slightest behest. - -Finally she smiled, and, rising, said: "I shall have to believe even -though I cannot understand. I can readily perceive that you are not -of the Barsoom of today; you are like us, yet different--but why -should I trouble my poor head with such a problem, when my heart -tells me that I believe because I wish to believe!" - -It was good logic, good, earthly, feminine logic, and if it -satisfied her I certainly could pick no flaws in it. As a matter of -fact it was about the only kind of logic that could be brought to -bear upon my problem. We fell into a general conversation then, -asking and answering many questions on each side. She was curious -to learn of the customs of my people and displayed a remarkable -knowledge of events on Earth. When I questioned her closely on this -seeming familiarity with earthly things she laughed, and cried out: - -"Why, every school boy on Barsoom knows the geography, and much -concerning the fauna and flora, as well as the history of your -planet fully as well as of his own. Can we not see everything which -takes place upon Earth, as you call it; is it not hanging there in -the heavens in plain sight?" - -This baffled me, I must confess, fully as much as my statements had -confounded her; and I told her so. She then explained in general -the instruments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, -which permit them to throw upon a screen a perfect image of what -is transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. These -pictures are so perfect in detail that, when photographed and -enlarged, objects no greater than a blade of grass may be distinctly -recognized. I afterward, in Helium, saw many of these pictures, as -well as the instruments which produced them. - -"If, then, you are so familiar with earthly things," I asked, "why -is it that you do not recognize me as identical with the inhabitants -of that planet?" - -She smiled again as one might in bored indulgence of a questioning -child. - -"Because, John Carter," she replied, "nearly every planet and star -having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, -shows forms of animal life almost identical with you and me; and, -further, Earth men, almost without exception, cover their bodies -with strange, unsightly pieces of cloth, and their heads with -hideous contraptions the purpose of which we have been unable to -conceive; while you, when found by the Tharkian warriors, were -entirely undisfigured and unadorned. - -"The fact that you wore no ornaments is a strong proof of your -un-Barsoomian origin, while the absence of grotesque coverings -might cause a doubt as to your earthliness." - -I then narrated the details of my departure from the Earth, -explaining that my body there lay fully clothed in all the, to her, -strange garments of mundane dwellers. At this point Sola returned -with our meager belongings and her young Martian protege, who, of -course, would have to share the quarters with them. - -Sola asked us if we had had a visitor during her absence, and seemed -much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as -she had mounted the approach to the upper floors where our quarters -were located, she had met Sarkoja descending. We decided that she -must have been eavesdropping, but as we could recall nothing of -importance that had passed between us we dismissed the matter as of -little consequence, merely promising ourselves to be warned to the -utmost caution in the future. - -Dejah Thoris and I then fell to examining the architecture and -decorations of the beautiful chambers of the building we were -occupying. She told me that these people had presumably flourished -over a hundred thousand years before. They were the early -progenitors of her race, but had mixed with the other great race -of early Martians, who were very dark, almost black, and also with -the reddish yellow race which had flourished at the same time. - -These three great divisions of the higher Martians had been forced -into a mighty alliance as the drying up of the Martian seas had -compelled them to seek the comparatively few and always diminishing -fertile areas, and to defend themselves, under new conditions of -life, against the wild hordes of green men. - -Ages of close relationship and intermarrying had resulted in the -race of red men, of which Dejah Thoris was a fair and beautiful -daughter. During the ages of hardships and incessant warring -between their own various races, as well as with the green men, and -before they had fitted themselves to the changed conditions, much -of the high civilization and many of the arts of the fair-haired -Martians had become lost; but the red race of today has reached a -point where it feels that it has made up in new discoveries and in a -more practical civilization for all that lies irretrievably buried -with the ancient Barsoomians, beneath the countless intervening -ages. - -These ancient Martians had been a highly cultivated and literary -race, but during the vicissitudes of those trying centuries of -readjustment to new conditions, not only did their advancement and -production cease entirely, but practically all their archives, -records, and literature were lost. - -Dejah Thoris related many interesting facts and legends concerning -this lost race of noble and kindly people. She said that the city -in which we were camping was supposed to have been a center of -commerce and culture known as Korad. It had been built upon a -beautiful, natural harbor, landlocked by magnificent hills. The -little valley on the west front of the city, she explained, was all -that remained of the harbor, while the pass through the hills to -the old sea bottom had been the channel through which the shipping -passed up to the city's gates. - -The shores of the ancient seas were dotted with just such cities, -and lesser ones, in diminishing numbers, were to be found converging -toward the center of the oceans, as the people had found it -necessary to follow the receding waters until necessity had forced -upon them their ultimate salvation, the so-called Martian canals. - -We had been so engrossed in exploration of the building and in our -conversation that it was late in the afternoon before we realized -it. We were brought back to a realization of our present conditions -by a messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me -to appear before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola -farewell, and commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to -the audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas -seated upon the rostrum. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -A PRISONER WITH POWER - - - -As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance, -and, fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: - -"You have been with us a few days, yet during that time you have -by your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, -you are not one of us; you owe us no allegiance. - -"Your position is a peculiar one," he continued; "you are a prisoner -and yet you give commands which must be obeyed; you are an alien and -yet you are a Tharkian chieftain; you are a midget and yet you can -kill a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist. And now you are -reported to have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of -another race; a prisoner who, from her own admission, half believes -you are returned from the valley of Dor. Either one of these -accusations, if proved, would be sufficient grounds for your -execution, but we are a just people and you shall have a trial on -our return to Thark, if Tal Hajus so commands. - -"But," he continued, in his fierce guttural tones, "if you run off -with the red girl it is I who shall have to account to Tal Hajus; -it is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate -my right to command, or the metal from my dead carcass will go to -a better man, for such is the custom of the Tharks. - -"I have no quarrel with Tars Tarkas; together we rule supreme the -greatest of the lesser communities among the green men; we do not -wish to fight between ourselves; and so if you were dead, John -Carter, I should be glad. Under two conditions only, however, may -you be killed by us without orders from Tal Hajus; in personal -combat in self-defense, should you attack one of us, or were you -apprehended in an attempt to escape. - -"As a matter of justice I must warn you that we only await one -of these two excuses for ridding ourselves of so great a -responsibility. The safe delivery of the red girl to Tal Hajus -is of the greatest importance. Not in a thousand years have the -Tharks made such a capture; she is the granddaughter of the -greatest of the red jeddaks, who is also our bitterest enemy. -I have spoken. The red girl told us that we were without the -softer sentiments of humanity, but we are a just and truthful -race. You may go." - -Turning, I left the audience chamber. So this was the beginning of -Sarkoja's persecution! I knew that none other could be responsible -for this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel so -quickly, and now I recalled those portions of our conversation -which had touched upon escape and upon my origin. - -Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas' oldest and most trusted -female. As such she was a mighty power behind the throne, for no -warrior had the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel to such an extent as -did his ablest lieutenant, Tars Tarkas. - -However, instead of putting thoughts of possible escape from my -mind, my audience with Lorquas Ptomel only served to center my -every faculty on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute -necessity for escape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was -impressed upon me, for I was convinced that some horrible fate -awaited her at the headquarters of Tal Hajus. - -As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated -personification of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity, and brutality -from which he had descended. Cold, cunning, calculating; he was, -also, in marked contrast to most of his fellows, a slave to that -brute passion which the waning demands for procreation upon their -dying planet has almost stilled in the Martian breast. - -The thought that the divine Dejah Thoris might fall into the -clutches of such an abysmal atavism started the cold sweat upon me. -Far better that we save friendly bullets for ourselves at the last -moment, as did those brave frontier women of my lost land, who took -their own lives rather than fall into the hands of the Indian -braves. - -As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings Tars -Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience chamber. His -demeanor toward me was unchanged, and he greeted me as though we -had not just parted a few moments before. - -"Where are your quarters, John Carter?" he asked. - -"I have selected none," I replied. "It seemed best that I quartered -either by myself or among the other warriors, and I was awaiting an -opportunity to ask your advice. As you know," and I smiled, "I am -not yet familiar with all the customs of the Tharks." - -"Come with me," he directed, and together we moved off across the -plaza to a building which I was glad to see adjoined that occupied -by Sola and her charges. - -"My quarters are on the first floor of this building," he said, "and -the second floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third -floor and the floors above are vacant; you may take your choice of -these. - -"I understand," he continued, "that you have given up your woman to -the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our -ways, but you can fight well enough to do about as you please, and -so, if you wish to give your woman to a captive, it is your own -affair; but as a chieftain you should have those to serve you, and -in accordance with our customs you may select any or all the females -from the retinues of the chieftains whose metal you now wear." - -I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely -without assistance except in the matter of preparing food, and so he -promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care -of my arms and the manufacture of my ammunition, which he said would -be necessary. I suggested that they might also bring some of the -sleeping silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of combat, -for the nights were cold and I had none of my own. - -He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the -winding corridor to the upper floors in search of suitable quarters. -The beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as -usual, I was soon lost in a tour of investigation and discovery. - -I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this -brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris, whose apartment was on the second -floor of the adjoining building, and it flashed upon me that I could -rig up some means of communication whereby she might signal me in -case she needed either my services or my protection. - -Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths, dressing rooms, and -other sleeping and living apartments, in all some ten rooms on this -floor. The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, -which formed the center of the square made by the buildings which -faced the four contiguous streets, and which was now given over to -the quartering of the various animals belonging to the warriors -occupying the adjoining buildings. - -While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow, moss-like -vegetation which blankets practically the entire surface of Mars, -yet numerous fountains, statuary, benches, and pergola-like -contraptions bore witness to the beauty which the court must have -presented in bygone times, when graced by the fair-haired, laughing -people whom stern and unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only -from their homes, but from all except the vague legends of their -descendants. - -One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant -Martian vegetation which once filled this scene with life and color; -the graceful figures of the beautiful women, the straight and -handsome men; the happy frolicking children--all sunlight, happiness -and peace. It was difficult to realize that they had gone; down -through ages of darkness, cruelty, and ignorance, until their -hereditary instincts of culture and humanitarianism had risen -ascendant once more in the final composite race which now is -dominant upon Mars. - -My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young females -bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, -and casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the -air craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two -chieftains I had slain, and now, by the customs of the Tharks, it -had become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of -the back rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second -load, which they advised me constituted the balance of my goods. -On the second trip they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other -women and youths, who, it seemed, formed the retinues of the two -chieftains. - -They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; -the relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us -that it is most difficult to describe. All property among the green -Martians is owned in common by the community, except the personal -weapons, ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. -These alone can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate -more of these than are required for his actual needs. The surplus -he holds merely as custodian, and it is passed on to the younger -members of the community as necessity demands. - -The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a -military unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in -matters of instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies -of their continual roamings and their unending strife with other -communities and with the red Martians. His women are in no sense -wives. The green Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with -this earthly word. Their mating is a matter of community interest -solely, and is directed without reference to natural selection. -The council of chieftains of each community control the matter -as surely as the owner of a Kentucky racing stud directs the -scientific breeding of his stock for the improvement of the whole. - -In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but -the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the -community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of -the mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy, -loveless, mirthless existence. - -It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both -men and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; -but better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at -the expense of a slight and occasional loss of chastity. - -Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, -whether I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to -find quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. -One of the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, -and directed the others to take up the various activities which had -formerly constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of -them, nor did I care to. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -LOVE-MAKING ON MARS - - - -Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained -within the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march -until they could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not -return; for to be caught on the open plains with a cavalcade of -chariots and children was far from the desire of even so warlike -a people as the green Martians. - -During our period of inactivity, Tars Tarkas had instructed me -in many of the customs and arts of war familiar to the Tharks, -including lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts which bore -the warriors. These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as -dangerous and vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are -sufficiently tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. - -Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal -I wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the -native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the -thoats did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic -instructions of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between -the ears with the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this -treatment was continued until the brutes either were subdued, or -had unseated their riders. - -In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the -man and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol -he might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, -his torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned -in accordance with Tharkian custom. - -My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the experiment -of kindness in my treatment of my thoats. First I taught them -that they could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between -the ears to impress upon them my authority and mastery. Then, by -degrees, I won their confidence in much the same manner as I had -adopted countless times with my many mundane mounts. I was ever a -good hand with animals, and by inclination, as well as because it -brought more lasting and satisfactory results, I was always kind and -humane in my dealings with the lower orders. I could take a human -life, if necessary, with far less compunction than that of a poor, -unreasoning, irresponsible brute. - -In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire -community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their great -snouts against my body in awkward evidence of affection, and respond -to my every command with an alacrity and docility which caused the -Martian warriors to ascribe to me the possession of some earthly -power unknown on Mars. - -"How have you bewitched them?" asked Tars Tarkas one afternoon, when -he had seen me run my arm far between the great jaws of one of my -thoats which had wedged a piece of stone between two of his teeth -while feeding upon the moss-like vegetation within our court yard. - -"By kindness," I replied. "You see, Tars Tarkas, the softer -sentiments have their value, even to a warrior. In the height of -battle as well as upon the march I know that my thoats will obey my -every command, and therefore my fighting efficiency is enhanced, and -I am a better warrior for the reason that I am a kind master. Your -other warriors would find it to the advantage of themselves as well -as of the community to adopt my methods in this respect. Only a few -days since you, yourself, told me that these great brutes, by the -uncertainty of their tempers, often were the means of turning -victory into defeat, since, at a crucial moment, they might elect -to unseat and rend their riders." - -"Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas' -only rejoinder. - -And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of -training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat -it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled warriors. That moment -marked the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and -before I left the community of Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction -of observing a regiment of as tractable and docile mounts as one -might care to see. The effect on the precision and celerity of the -military movements was so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented -me with a massive anklet of gold from his own leg, as a sign of -his appreciation of my service to the horde. - -On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft we again -took up the march toward Thark, all probability of another attack -being deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel. - -During the days just preceding our departure I had seen but little -of Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy by Tars Tarkas with my -lessons in the art of Martian warfare, as well as in the training of -my thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been -absent, walking upon the streets with Sola, or investigating the -buildings in the near vicinity of the plaza. I had warned them -against venturing far from the plaza for fear of the great white -apes, whose ferocity I was only too well acquainted with. However, -since Woola accompanied them on all their excursions, and as Sola -was well armed, there was comparatively little cause for fear. - -On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching along -one of the great avenues which lead into the plaza from the east. -I advanced to meet them, and telling Sola that I would take the -responsibility for Dejah Thoris' safekeeping, I directed her to -return to her quarters on some trivial errand. I liked and trusted -Sola, but for some reason I desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, -who represented to me all that I had left behind upon Earth in -agreeable and congenial companionship. There seemed bonds of mutual -interest between us as powerful as though we had been born under the -same roof rather than upon different planets, hurtling through space -some forty-eight million miles apart. - -That she shared my sentiments in this respect I was positive, for -on my approach the look of pitiful hopelessness left her sweet -countenance to be replaced by a smile of joyful welcome, as she -placed her little right hand upon my left shoulder in true red -Martian salute. - -"Sarkoja told Sola that you had become a true Thark," she said, -"and that I would now see no more of you than of any of the -other warriors." - -"Sarkoja is a liar of the first magnitude," I replied, -"notwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to absolute verity." - -Dejah Thoris laughed. - -"I knew that even though you became a member of the community you -would not cease to be my friend; 'A warrior may change his metal, -but not his heart,' as the saying is upon Barsoom." - -"I think they have been trying to keep us apart," she continued, -"for whenever you have been off duty one of the older women of Tars -Tarkas' retinue has always arranged to trump up some excuse to get -Sola and me out of sight. They have had me down in the pits below -the buildings helping them mix their awful radium powder, and make -their terrible projectiles. You know that these have to be -manufactured by artificial light, as exposure to sunlight always -results in an explosion. You have noticed that their bullets -explode when they strike an object? Well, the opaque, outer coating -is broken by the impact, exposing a glass cylinder, almost solid, -in the forward end of which is a minute particle of radium powder. -The moment the sunlight, even though diffused, strikes this powder -it explodes with a violence which nothing can withstand. If you -ever witness a night battle you will note the absence of these -explosions, while the morning following the battle will be filled at -sunrise with the sharp detonations of exploding missiles fired the -preceding night. As a rule, however, non-exploding projectiles are -used at night." [I have used the word radium in describing this -powder because in the light of recent discoveries on Earth I believe -it to be a mixture of which radium is the base. In Captain Carter's -manuscript it is mentioned always by the name used in the written -language of Helium and is spelled in hieroglyphics which it would be -difficult and useless to reproduce.] - -While I was much interested in Dejah Thoris' explanation of this -wonderful adjunct to Martian warfare, I was more concerned by the -immediate problem of their treatment of her. That they were keeping -her away from me was not a matter for surprise, but that they should -subject her to dangerous and arduous labor filled me with rage. - -"Have they ever subjected you to cruelty and ignominy, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors -leap in my veins as I awaited her reply. - -"Only in little ways, John Carter," she answered. "Nothing that can -harm me outside my pride. They know that I am the daughter of ten -thousand jeddaks, that I trace my ancestry straight back without a -break to the builder of the first great waterway, and they, who do -not even know their own mothers, are jealous of me. At heart they -hate their horrid fates, and so wreak their poor spite on me who -stand for everything they have not, and for all they most crave and -never can attain. Let us pity them, my chieftain, for even though -we die at their hands we can afford them pity, since we are greater -than they and they know it." - -Had I known the significance of those words "my chieftain," as -applied by a red Martian woman to a man, I should have had the -surprise of my life, but I did not know at that time, nor for many -months thereafter. Yes, I still had much to learn upon Barsoom. - -"I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our -fate with as good grace as possible, Dejah Thoris; but I hope, -nevertheless, that I may be present the next time that any Martian, -green, red, pink, or violet, has the temerity to even so much as -frown on you, my princess." - -Dejah Thoris caught her breath at my last words, and gazed upon me -with dilated eyes and quickening breath, and then, with an odd -little laugh, which brought roguish dimples to the corners of her -mouth, she shook her head and cried: - -"What a child! A great warrior and yet a stumbling little child." - -"What have I done now?" I asked, in sore perplexity. - -"Some day you shall know, John Carter, if we live; but I may not -tell you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos Mors, -have listened without anger," she soliloquized in conclusion. - -Then she broke out again into one of her gay, happy, laughing moods; -joking with me on my prowess as a Thark warrior as contrasted with -my soft heart and natural kindliness. - -"I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would -take him home and nurse him back to health," she laughed. - -"That is precisely what we do on Earth," I answered. "At least -among civilized men." - -This made her laugh again. She could not understand it, for, with -all her tenderness and womanly sweetness, she was still a Martian, -and to a Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every -dead foeman means so much more to divide between those who live. - -I was very curious to know what I had said or done to cause her so -much perturbation a moment before and so I continued to importune -her to enlighten me. - -"No," she exclaimed, "it is enough that you have said it and that I -have listened. And when you learn, John Carter, and if I be dead, -as likely I shall be ere the further moon has circled Barsoom -another twelve times, remember that I listened and that I--smiled." - -It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the -more positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very -hopelessness, I desisted. - -Day had now given away to night and as we wandered along the great -avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking -down upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were -alone in the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should -be so. - -The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I -threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested -for an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of -my being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and -it seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that -I was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her -shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did -not draw away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the -surface of a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least -had been born that which is ever oldest, yet ever new. - -I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder -had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had -loved her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that -first time in the plaza of the dead city of Korad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A DUEL TO THE DEATH - - - -My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of -the helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the -burdens of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the -thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at -Thark. I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow -by declaring a love which, in all probability she did not return. -Should I be so indiscreet, her position would be even more -unbearable than now, and the thought that she might feel that -I was taking advantage of her helplessness, to influence her -decision was the final argument which sealed my lips. - -"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you -would rather return to Sola and your quarters." - -"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that -I should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a -stranger, are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and -that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel -his strong arms about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my -cheek." - -"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had -explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its -meaning. - -"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, -thoughtful tone, "lovers." - -"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?" - -"Yes." - -"And a--lover?" - -She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question. - -"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal -questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought -for and won." - -"But I have fought--" I started, and then I wished my tongue had -been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and -ceased, and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to -me, and without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the -carriage of the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of -her quarters. - -I did not attempt to follow her, other than to see that she reached -the building in safety, but, directing Woola to accompany her, I -turned disconsolately and entered my own house. I sat for hours -cross-legged, and cross-tempered, upon my silks meditating upon -the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals. - -So this was love! I had escaped it for all the years I had roamed -the five continents and their encircling seas; in spite of beautiful -women and urging opportunity; in spite of a half-desire for love and -a constant search for my ideal, it had remained for me to fall -furiously and hopelessly in love with a creature from another world, -of a species similar possibly, yet not identical with mine. A woman -who was hatched from an egg, and whose span of life might cover a -thousand years; whose people had strange customs and ideas; a woman -whose hopes, whose pleasures, whose standards of virtue and of right -and wrong might vary as greatly from mine as did those of the green -Martians. - -Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the -greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise -for all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers -wherever love is known. - -To me, Dejah Thoris was all that was perfect; all that was virtuous -and beautiful and noble and good. I believed that from the bottom -of my heart, from the depth of my soul on that night in Korad as I -sat cross-legged upon my silks while the nearer moon of Barsoom -raced through the western sky toward the horizon, and lighted up the -gold and marble, and jeweled mosaics of my world-old chamber, and I -believe it today as I sit at my desk in the little study overlooking -the Hudson. Twenty years have intervened; for ten of them I lived -and fought for Dejah Thoris and her people, and for ten I have lived -upon her memory. - -The morning of our departure for Thark dawned clear and hot, as do -all Martian mornings except for the six weeks when the snow melts at -the poles. - -I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots, but -she turned her shoulder to me, and I could see the red blood mount -to her cheek. With the foolish inconsistency of love I held my -peace when I might have plead ignorance of the nature of my offense, -or at least the gravity of it, and so have effected, at worst, a -half conciliation. - -My duty dictated that I must see that she was comfortable, and -so I glanced into her chariot and rearranged her silks and furs. -In doing so I noted with horror that she was heavily chained by -one ankle to the side of the vehicle. - -"What does this mean?" I cried, turning to Sola. - -"Sarkoja thought it best," she answered, her face betokening her -disapproval of the procedure. - -Examining the manacles I saw that they fastened with a massive -spring lock. - -"Where is the key, Sola? Let me have it." - -"Sarkoja wears it, John Carter," she answered. - -I turned without further word and sought out Tars Tarkas, to whom I -vehemently objected to the unnecessary humiliations and cruelties, -as they seemed to my lover's eyes, that were being heaped upon Dejah -Thoris. - -"John Carter," he answered, "if ever you and Dejah Thoris escape the -Tharks it will be upon this journey. We know that you will not go -without her. You have shown yourself a mighty fighter, and we do -not wish to manacle you, so we hold you both in the easiest way -that will yet ensure security. I have spoken." - -I saw the strength of his reasoning at a flash, and knew that it -were futile to appeal from his decision, but I asked that the -key be taken from Sarkoja and that she be directed to leave the -prisoner alone in future. - -"This much, Tars Tarkas, you may do for me in return for the -friendship that, I must confess, I feel for you." - -"Friendship?" he replied. "There is no such thing, John Carter; -but have your will. I shall direct that Sarkoja cease to annoy -the girl, and I myself will take the custody of the key." - -"Unless you wish me to assume the responsibility," I said, smiling. - -He looked at me long and earnestly before he spoke. - -"Were you to give me your word that neither you nor Dejah Thoris -would attempt to escape until after we have safely reached the court -of Tal Hajus you might have the key and throw the chains into the -river Iss." - -"It were better that you held the key, Tars Tarkas," I replied - -He smiled, and said no more, but that night as we were making camp -I saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris' fetters himself. - -With all his cruel ferocity and coldness there was an undercurrent -of something in Tars Tarkas which he seemed ever battling to subdue. -Could it be a vestige of some human instinct come back from an -ancient forbear to haunt him with the horror of his people's ways! - -As I was approaching Dejah Thoris' chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the -black, venomous look she accorded me was the sweetest balm I had -felt for many hours. Lord, how she hated me! It bristled from her -so palpably that one might almost have cut it with a sword. - -A few moments later I saw her deep in conversation with a warrior -named Zad; a big, hulking, powerful brute, but one who had never -made a kill among his own chieftains, and a second name only with -the metal of some chieftain. It was this custom which entitled me -to the names of either of the chieftains I had killed; in fact, some -of the warriors addressed me as Dotar Sojat, a combination of the -surnames of the two warrior chieftains whose metal I had taken, or, -in other words, whom I had slain in fair fight. - -As Sarkoja talked with Zad he cast occasional glances in my -direction, while she seemed to be urging him very strongly to some -action. I paid little attention to it at the time, but the next -day I had good reason to recall the circumstances, and at the same -time gain a slight insight into the depths of Sarkoja's hatred and -the lengths to which she was capable of going to wreak her horrid -vengeance on me. - -Dejah Thoris would have none of me again on this evening, and though -I spoke her name she neither replied, nor conceded by so much as -the flutter of an eyelid that she realized my existence. In my -extremity I did what most other lovers would have done; I sought -word from her through an intimate. In this instance it was Sola -whom I intercepted in another part of camp. - -"What is the matter with Dejah Thoris?" I blurted out at her. -"Why will she not speak to me?" - -Sola seemed puzzled herself, as though such strange actions on -the part of two humans were quite beyond her, as indeed they were, -poor child. - -"She says you have angered her, and that is all she will say, except -that she is the daughter of a jed and the granddaughter of a jeddak -and she has been humiliated by a creature who could not polish the -teeth of her grandmother's sorak." - -I pondered over this report for some time, finally asking, -"What might a sorak be, Sola?" - -"A little animal about as big as my hand, which the red -Martian women keep to play with," explained Sola. - -Not fit to polish the teeth of her grandmother's cat! I must rank -pretty low in the consideration of Dejah Thoris, I thought; but I -could not help laughing at the strange figure of speech, so homely -and in this respect so earthly. It made me homesick, for it sounded -very much like "not fit to polish her shoes." And then commenced a -train of thought quite new to me. I began to wonder what my people -at home were doing. I had not seen them for years. There was a -family of Carters in Virginia who claimed close relationship with -me; I was supposed to be a great uncle, or something of the kind -equally foolish. I could pass anywhere for twenty-five to thirty -years of age, and to be a great uncle always seemed the height of -incongruity, for my thoughts and feelings were those of a boy. -There was two little kiddies in the Carter family whom I had loved -and who had thought there was no one on Earth like Uncle Jack; I -could see them just as plainly, as I stood there under the moonlit -skies of Barsoom, and I longed for them as I had never longed for -any mortals before. By nature a wanderer, I had never known the -true meaning of the word home, but the great hall of the Carters had -always stood for all that the word did mean to me, and now my heart -turned toward it from the cold and unfriendly peoples I had been -thrown amongst. For did not even Dejah Thoris despise me! I was a -low creature, so low in fact that I was not even fit to polish the -teeth of her grandmother's cat; and then my saving sense of humor -came to my rescue, and laughing I turned into my silks and furs and -slept upon the moon-haunted ground the sleep of a tired and healthy -fighting man. - -We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched with only -a single halt until just before dark. Two incidents broke the -tediousness of the march. About noon we espied far to our right -what was evidently an incubator, and Lorquas Ptomel directed Tars -Tarkas to investigate it. The latter took a dozen warriors, -including myself, and we raced across the velvety carpeting of -moss to the little enclosure. - -It was indeed an incubator, but the eggs were very small in -comparison with those I had seen hatching in ours at the time -of my arrival on Mars. - -Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely, finally -announcing that it belonged to the green men of Warhoon and that -the cement was scarcely dry where it had been walled up. - -"They cannot be a day's march ahead of us," he exclaimed, -the light of battle leaping to his fierce face. - -The work at the incubator was short indeed. The warriors tore open -the entrance and a couple of them, crawling in, soon demolished all -the eggs with their short-swords. Then remounting we dashed back -to join the cavalcade. During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars -Tarkas if these Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a -smaller people than his Tharks. - -"I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those -I saw hatching in your incubator," I added. - -He explained that the eggs had just been placed there; but, like all -green Martian eggs, they would grow during the five-year period of -incubation until they obtained the size of those I had seen hatching -on the day of my arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed an interesting -piece of information, for it had always seemed remarkable to me that -the green Martian women, large as they were, could bring forth such -enormous eggs as I had seen the four-foot infants emerging from. -As a matter of fact, the new-laid egg is but little larger than -an ordinary goose egg, and as it does not commence to grow until -subjected to the light of the sun the chieftains have little -difficulty in transporting several hundreds of them at one time -from the storage vaults to the incubators. - -Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the -animals, and it was during this halt that the second of the day's -interesting episodes occurred. I was engaged in changing my riding -cloths from one of my thoats to the other, for I divided the day's -work between them, when Zad approached me, and without a word struck -my animal a terrific blow with his long-sword. - -I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what -reply to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could -scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for -the brute he was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and -my only choice was to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with -his choice of weapons or a lesser one. - -This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could -have used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had -I wished, and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use -firearms or a spear while he held only his long-sword. - -I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided -himself upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him -at all, to do it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was -a long one and delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. -The entire community surrounded us, leaving a clear space about -one hundred feet in diameter for our battle. - -Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a wolf, but I -was much too quick for him, and each time I side-stepped his rushes -he would go lunging past me, only to receive a nick from my sword -upon his arm or back. He was soon streaming blood from a half -dozen minor wounds, but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an -effective thrust. Then he changed his tactics, and fighting warily -and with extreme dexterity, he tried to do by science what he -was unable to do by brute strength. I must admit that he was a -magnificent swordsman, and had it not been for my greater endurance -and the remarkable agility the lesser gravitation of Mars lent me -I might not have been able to put up the creditable fight I did -against him. - -We circled for some time without doing much damage on either side; -the long, straight, needle-like swords flashing in the sunlight, and -ringing out upon the stillness as they crashed together with each -effective parry. Finally Zad, realizing that he was tiring more -than I, evidently decided to close in and end the battle in a final -blaze of glory for himself; just as he rushed me a blinding flash of -light struck full in my eyes, so that I could not see his approach -and could only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the -mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals. I -was only partially successful, as a sharp pain in my left shoulder -attested, but in the sweep of my glance as I sought to again locate -my adversary, a sight met my astonished gaze which paid me well for -the wound the temporary blindness had caused me. There, upon Dejah -Thoris' chariot stood three figures, for the purpose evidently of -witnessing the encounter above the heads of the intervening Tharks. -There were Dejah Thoris, Sola, and Sarkoja, and as my fleeting -glance swept over them a little tableau was presented which will -stand graven in my memory to the day of my death. - -As I looked, Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the fury of a -young tigress and struck something from her upraised hand; something -which flashed in the sunlight as it spun to the ground. Then I knew -what had blinded me at that crucial moment of the fight, and how -Sarkoja had found a way to kill me without herself delivering the -final thrust. Another thing I saw, too, which almost lost my life -for me then and there, for it took my mind for the fraction of an -instant entirely from my antagonist; for, as Dejah Thoris struck the -tiny mirror from her hand, Sarkoja, her face livid with hatred and -baffled rage, whipped out her dagger and aimed a terrific blow at -Dejah Thoris; and then Sola, our dear and faithful Sola, sprang -between them; the last I saw was the great knife descending upon her -shielding breast. - -My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it extremely -interesting for me, so I reluctantly gave my attention to the work -in hand, but my mind was not upon the battle. - -We rushed each other furiously time after time, 'til suddenly, -feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust -I could neither parry nor escape, I threw myself upon him with -outstretched sword and with all the weight of my body, determined -that I would not die alone if I could prevent it. I felt the -steel tear into my chest, all went black before me, my head -whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees giving beneath me. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY - - - -When consciousness returned, and, as I soon learned, I was down but -a moment, I sprang quickly to my feet searching for my sword, and -there I found it, buried to the hilt in the green breast of Zad, who -lay stone dead upon the ochre moss of the ancient sea bottom. As I -regained my full senses I found his weapon piercing my left breast, -but only through the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs, entering -near the center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder. As I -had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely passed beneath the -muscles, inflicting a painful but not dangerous wound. - -Removing the blade from my body I also regained my own, and turning -my back upon his ugly carcass, I moved, sick, sore, and disgusted, -toward the chariots which bore my retinue and my belongings. A -murmur of Martian applause greeted me, but I cared not for it. - -Bleeding and weak I reached my women, who, accustomed to such -happenings, dressed my wounds, applying the wonderful healing and -remedial agents which make only the most instantaneous of death -blows fatal. Give a Martian woman a chance and death must take a -back seat. They soon had me patched up so that, except for weakness -from loss of blood and a little soreness around the wound, I -suffered no great distress from this thrust which, under earthly -treatment, undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back for days. - -As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the chariot of -Dejah Thoris, where I found my poor Sola with her chest swathed in -bandages, but apparently little the worse for her encounter with -Sarkoja, whose dagger it seemed had struck the edge of one of Sola's -metal breast ornaments and, thus deflected, had inflicted but a -slight flesh wound. - -As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon her silks -and furs, her lithe form wracked with sobs. She did not notice my -presence, nor did she hear me speaking with Sola, who was standing -a short distance from the vehicle. - -"Is she injured?" I asked of Sola, indicating Dejah Thoris by an -inclination of my head. - -"No," she answered, "she thinks that you are dead." - -"And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to polish its -teeth?" I queried, smiling. - -"I think you wrong her, John Carter," said Sola. "I do not -understand either her ways or yours, but I am sure the granddaughter -of ten thousand jeddaks would never grieve like this over any who -held but the highest claim upon her affections. They are a proud -race, but they are just, as are all Barsoomians, and you must have -hurt or wronged her grievously that she will not admit your -existence living, though she mourns you dead. - -"Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom," she continued, "and so it -is difficult for me to interpret them. I have seen but two people -weep in all my life, other than Dejah Thoris; one wept from sorrow, -the other from baffled rage. The first was my mother, years ago -before they killed her; the other was Sarkoja, when they dragged -her from me today." - -"Your mother!" I exclaimed, "but, Sola, you could not have known -your mother, child." - -"But I did. And my father also," she added. "If you would like -to hear the strange and un-Barsoomian story come to the chariot -tonight, John Carter, and I will tell you that of which I have -never spoken in all my life before. And now the signal has been -given to resume the march, you must go." - -"I will come tonight, Sola," I promised. "Be sure to tell Dejah -Thoris I am alive and well. I shall not force myself upon her, -and be sure that you do not let her know I saw her tears. If she -would speak with me I but await her command." - -Sola mounted the chariot, which was swinging into its place -in line, and I hastened to my waiting thoat and galloped -to my station beside Tars Tarkas at the rear of the column. - -We made a most imposing and awe-inspiring spectacle as we strung out -across the yellow landscape; the two hundred and fifty ornate and -brightly colored chariots, preceded by an advance guard of some two -hundred mounted warriors and chieftains riding five abreast and one -hundred yards apart, and followed by a like number in the same -formation, with a score or more of flankers on either side; the -fifty extra mastodons, or heavy draught animals, known as zitidars, -and the five or six hundred extra thoats of the warriors running -loose within the hollow square formed by the surrounding warriors. -The gleaming metal and jewels of the gorgeous ornaments of the men -and women, duplicated in the trappings of the zitidars and thoats, -and interspersed with the flashing colors of magnificent silks and -furs and feathers, lent a barbaric splendor to the caravan which -would have turned an East Indian potentate green with envy. - -The enormous broad tires of the chariots and the padded feet of the -animals brought forth no sound from the moss-covered sea bottom; and -so we moved in utter silence, like some huge phantasmagoria, except -when the stillness was broken by the guttural growling of a goaded -zitidar, or the squealing of fighting thoats. The green Martians -converse but little, and then usually in monosyllables, low and -like the faint rumbling of distant thunder. - -We traversed a trackless waste of moss which, bending to the -pressure of broad tire or padded foot, rose up again behind us, -leaving no sign that we had passed. We might indeed have been the -wraiths of the departed dead upon the dead sea of that dying planet -for all the sound or sign we made in passing. It was the first -march of a large body of men and animals I had ever witnessed which -raised no dust and left no spoor; for there is no dust upon Mars -except in the cultivated districts during the winter months, and -even then the absence of high winds renders it almost unnoticeable. - -We camped that night at the foot of the hills we had been -approaching for two days and which marked the southern boundary of -this particular sea. Our animals had been two days without drink, -nor had they had water for nearly two months, not since shortly -after leaving Thark; but, as Tars Tarkas explained to me, they -require but little and can live almost indefinitely upon the moss -which covers Barsoom, and which, he told me, holds in its tiny stems -sufficient moisture to meet the limited demands of the animals. - -After partaking of my evening meal of cheese-like food and vegetable -milk I sought out Sola, whom I found working by the light of a torch -upon some of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked up at my approach, -her face lighting with pleasure and with welcome. - -"I am glad you came," she said; "Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am -lonely. Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too -unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live my life amongst -them, and I often wish that I were a true green Martian woman, -without love and without hope; but I have known love and so I -am lost. - -"I promised to tell you my story, or rather the story of my parents. -From what I have learned of you and the ways of your people I am -sure that the tale will not seem strange to you, but among green -Martians it has no parallel within the memory of the oldest living -Thark, nor do our legends hold many similar tales. - -"My mother was rather small, in fact too small to be allowed the -responsibilities of maternity, as our chieftains breed principally -for size. She was also less cold and cruel than most green Martian -women, and caring little for their society, she often roamed the -deserted avenues of Thark alone, or went and sat among the wild -flowers that deck the nearby hills, thinking thoughts and wishing -wishes which I believe I alone among Tharkian women today may -understand, for am I not the child of my mother? - -"And there among the hills she met a young warrior, whose duty it -was to guard the feeding zitidars and thoats and see that they -roamed not beyond the hills. They spoke at first only of such -things as interest a community of Tharks, but gradually, as they -came to meet more often, and, as was now quite evident to both, no -longer by chance, they talked about themselves, their likes, their -ambitions and their hopes. She trusted him and told him of the -awful repugnance she felt for the cruelties of their kind, for the -hideous, loveless lives they must ever lead, and then she waited -for the storm of denunciation to break from his cold, hard lips; -but instead he took her in his arms and kissed her. - -"They kept their love a secret for six long years. She, my mother, -was of the retinue of the great Tal Hajus, while her lover was a -simple warrior, wearing only his own metal. Had their defection -from the traditions of the Tharks been discovered both would have -paid the penalty in the great arena before Tal Hajus and the -assembled hordes. - -"The egg from which I came was hidden beneath a great glass vessel -upon the highest and most inaccessible of the partially ruined -towers of ancient Thark. Once each year my mother visited it for -the five long years it lay there in the process of incubation. She -dared not come oftener, for in the mighty guilt of her conscience -she feared that her every move was watched. During this period -my father gained great distinction as a warrior and had taken the -metal from several chieftains. His love for my mother had never -diminished, and his own ambition in life was to reach a point where -he might wrest the metal from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler -of the Tharks, be free to claim her as his own, as well as, by the -might of his power, protect the child which otherwise would be -quickly dispatched should the truth become known. - -"It was a wild dream, that of wresting the metal from Tal Hajus in -five short years, but his advance was rapid, and he soon stood high -in the councils of Thark. But one day the chance was lost forever, -in so far as it could come in time to save his loved ones, for he -was ordered away upon a long expedition to the ice-clad south, to -make war upon the natives there and despoil them of their furs, for -such is the manner of the green Barsoomian; he does not labor for -what he can wrest in battle from others. - -"He was gone for four years, and when he returned all had been over -for three; for about a year after his departure, and shortly before -the time for the return of an expedition which had gone forth to -fetch the fruits of a community incubator, the egg had hatched. -Thereafter my mother continued to keep me in the old tower, visiting -me nightly and lavishing upon me the love the community life -would have robbed us both of. She hoped, upon the return of the -expedition from the incubator, to mix me with the other young -assigned to the quarters of Tal Hajus, and thus escape the fate -which would surely follow discovery of her sin against the ancient -traditions of the green men. - -"She taught me rapidly the language and customs of my kind, and one -night she told me the story I have told to you up to this point, -impressing upon me the necessity for absolute secrecy and the great -caution I must exercise after she had placed me with the other young -Tharks to permit no one to guess that I was further advanced in -education than they, nor by any sign to divulge in the presence of -others my affection for her, or my knowledge of my parentage; and -then drawing me close to her she whispered in my ear the name of -my father. - -"And then a light flashed out upon the darkness of the tower -chamber, and there stood Sarkoja, her gleaming, baleful eyes fixed -in a frenzy of loathing and contempt upon my mother. The torrent of -hatred and abuse she poured out upon her turned my young heart cold -in terror. That she had heard the entire story was apparent, and -that she had suspected something wrong from my mother's long nightly -absences from her quarters accounted for her presence there on that -fateful night. - -"One thing she had not heard, nor did she know, the whispered name -of my father. This was apparent from her repeated demands upon my -mother to disclose the name of her partner in sin, but no amount of -abuse or threats could wring this from her, and to save me from -needless torture she lied, for she told Sarkoja that she alone -knew nor would she even tell her child. - -"With final imprecations, Sarkoja hastened away to Tal Hajus to -report her discovery, and while she was gone my mother, wrapping me -in the silks and furs of her night coverings, so that I was scarcely -noticeable, descended to the streets and ran wildly away toward the -outskirts of the city, in the direction which led to the far south, -out toward the man whose protection she might not claim, but on -whose face she wished to look once more before she died. - -"As we neared the city's southern extremity a sound came to us from -across the mossy flat, from the direction of the only pass through -the hills which led to the gates, the pass by which caravans from -either north or south or east or west would enter the city. The -sounds we heard were the squealing of thoats and the grumbling of -zitidars, with the occasional clank of arms which announced the -approach of a body of warriors. The thought uppermost in her mind -was that it was my father returned from his expedition, but the -cunning of the Thark held her from headlong and precipitate flight -to greet him. - -"Retreating into the shadows of a doorway she awaited the coming -of the cavalcade which shortly entered the avenue, breaking its -formation and thronging the thoroughfare from wall to wall. As the -head of the procession passed us the lesser moon swung clear of the -overhanging roofs and lit up the scene with all the brilliancy of -her wondrous light. My mother shrank further back into the friendly -shadows, and from her hiding place saw that the expedition was not -that of my father, but the returning caravan bearing the young -Tharks. Instantly her plan was formed, and as a great chariot -swung close to our hiding place she slipped stealthily in upon the -trailing tailboard, crouching low in the shadow of the high side, -straining me to her bosom in a frenzy of love. - -"She knew, what I did not, that never again after that night would -she hold me to her breast, nor was it likely we would ever look upon -each other's face again. In the confusion of the plaza she mixed me -with the other children, whose guardians during the journey were now -free to relinquish their responsibility. We were herded together -into a great room, fed by women who had not accompanied the -expedition, and the next day we were parceled out among the -retinues of the chieftains. - -"I never saw my mother after that night. She was imprisoned by Tal -Hajus, and every effort, including the most horrible and shameful -torture, was brought to bear upon her to wring from her lips the -name of my father; but she remained steadfast and loyal, dying at -last amidst the laughter of Tal Hajus and his chieftains during -some awful torture she was undergoing. - -"I learned afterwards that she told them that she had killed me to -save me from a like fate at their hands, and that she had thrown my -body to the white apes. Sarkoja alone disbelieved her, and I feel -to this day that she suspects my true origin, but does not dare -expose me, at the present, at all events, because she also guesses, -I am sure, the identity of my father. - -"When he returned from his expedition and learned the story of my -mother's fate I was present as Tal Hajus told him; but never by the -quiver of a muscle did he betray the slightest emotion; only he did -not laugh as Tal Hajus gleefully described her death struggles. -From that moment on he was the cruelest of the cruel, and I am -awaiting the day when he shall win the goal of his ambition, and -feel the carcass of Tal Hajus beneath his foot, for I am as sure -that he but waits the opportunity to wreak a terrible vengeance, -and that his great love is as strong in his breast as when it first -transfigured him nearly forty years ago, as I am that we sit here -upon the edge of a world-old ocean while sensible people sleep, -John Carter." - -"And your father, Sola, is he with us now?" I asked. - -"Yes," she replied, "but he does not know me for what I am, nor -does he know who betrayed my mother to Tal Hajus. I alone know my -father's name, and only I and Tal Hajus and Sarkoja know that it -was she who carried the tale that brought death and torture upon -her he loved." - -We sat silent for a few moments, she wrapped in the gloomy thoughts -of her terrible past, and I in pity for the poor creatures whom the -heartless, senseless customs of their race had doomed to loveless -lives of cruelty and of hate. Presently she spoke. - -"John Carter, if ever a real man walked the cold, dead bosom of -Barsoom you are one. I know that I can trust you, and because the -knowledge may someday help you or him or Dejah Thoris or myself, -I am going to tell you the name of my father, nor place any -restrictions or conditions upon your tongue. When the time comes, -speak the truth if it seems best to you. I trust you because I -know that you are not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute -and unswerving truthfulness, that you could lie like one of your -own Virginia gentlemen if a lie would save others from sorrow or -suffering. My father's name is Tars Tarkas." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WE PLAN ESCAPE - - - -The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful. We were -twenty days upon the road, crossing two sea bottoms and passing -through or around a number of ruined cities, mostly smaller than -Korad. Twice we crossed the famous Martian waterways, or canals, -so-called by our earthly astronomers. When we approached these -points a warrior would be sent far ahead with a powerful field -glass, and if no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we -would advance as close as possible without chance of being seen and -then camp until dark, when we would slowly approach the cultivated -tract, and, locating one of the numerous, broad highways which cross -these areas at regular intervals, creep silently and stealthily -across to the arid lands upon the other side. It required five -hours to make one of these crossings without a single halt, and the -other consumed the entire night, so that we were just leaving the -confines of the high-walled fields when the sun broke out upon us. - -Crossing in the darkness, as we did, I was unable to see but little, -except as the nearer moon, in her wild and ceaseless hurtling -through the Barsoomian heavens, lit up little patches of the -landscape from time to time, disclosing walled fields and low, -rambling buildings, presenting much the appearance of earthly farms. -There were many trees, methodically arranged, and some of them were -of enormous height; there were animals in some of the enclosures, -and they announced their presence by terrified squealings and -snortings as they scented our queer, wild beasts and wilder human -beings. - -Only once did I perceive a human being, and that was at the -intersection of our crossroad with the wide, white turnpike which -cuts each cultivated district longitudinally at its exact center. -The fellow must have been sleeping beside the road, for, as I came -abreast of him, he raised upon one elbow and after a single glance -at the approaching caravan leaped shrieking to his feet and fled -madly down the road, scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a -scared cat. The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention; they -were not out upon the warpath, and the only sign that I had that -they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of the caravan as we -hastened toward the bordering desert which marked our entrance into -the realm of Tal Hajus. - -Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris, as she sent no word to -me that I would be welcome at her chariot, and my foolish pride kept -me from making any advances. I verily believe that a man's way with -women is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling -and the saphead have often great ability to charm the fair sex, -while the fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers -unafraid, sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child. - -Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient -city of Thark, from whose long-forgotten people this horde of green -men have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some -thirty thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. -Each community has its own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are -under the rule of Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five communities -make their headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are -scattered among other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout -the district claimed by Tal Hajus. - -We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the -afternoon. There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the -returned expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the -names of warriors or women with whom they came in direct contact, -in the formal greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered -that they brought two captives a greater interest was aroused, -and Dejah Thoris and I were the centers of inquiring groups. - -We were soon assigned to new quarters, and the balance of the day -was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. My -home now was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, -the main artery down which we had marched from the gates of the -city. I was at the far end of the square and had an entire -building to myself. The same grandeur of architecture which was -so noticeable a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here, only, -if that were possible, on a larger and richer scale. My quarters -would have been suitable for housing the greatest of earthly -emperors, but to these queer creatures nothing about a building -appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its chambers; the -larger the building, the more desirable; and so Tal Hajus occupied -what must have been an enormous public building, the largest in the -city, but entirely unfitted for residence purposes; the next largest -was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel, the next for the jed of a lesser -rank, and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds. The -warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose -retinues they belonged; or, if they preferred, sought shelter among -any of the thousands of untenanted buildings in their own quarter of -town; each community being assigned a certain section of the city. -The selection of building had to be made in accordance with these -divisions, except in so far as the jeds were concerned, they all -occupying edifices which fronted upon the plaza. - -When I had finally put my house in order, or rather seen that it -had been done, it was nearing sunset, and I hastened out with the -intention of locating Sola and her charges, as I had determined -upon having speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her -the necessity of our at least patching up a truce until I could -find some way of aiding her to escape. I searched in vain until -the upper rim of the great red sun was just disappearing behind -the horizon and then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from -a second-story window on the opposite side of the very street -where I was quartered, but nearer the plaza. - -Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding -runway which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber -at the front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who -threw his great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the -poor old fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour -me, his head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks -in his hobgoblin smile. - -Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly -through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, -not seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur -from the far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick -strides I was standing beside her where she crouched among the furs -and silks upon an ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose -to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said: - -"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?" - -"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was -furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped -to protect and comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but -that you must aid me in effecting your escape, if such a thing be -possible, is not my request, but my command. When you are safe -once more at your father's court you may do with me as you please, -but from now on until that day I am your master, and you must obey -and aid me." - -She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was -softening toward me. - -"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I do -not understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute -and noble. I only wish that I might read your heart." - -"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it -has lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie -beating alone for you until death stills it forever." - -She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched -in a strange, groping gesture. - -"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you -saying to me?" - -"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, -at least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; -what from your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had -thought never to say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am -yours, body and soul, to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for -you. Only one thing I ask of you in return, and that is that you -make no sign, either of condemnation or of approbation of my words -until you are safe among your own people, and that whatever -sentiments you harbor toward me they be not influenced or colored -by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve you will be prompted -solely from selfish motives, since it gives me more pleasure to -serve you than not." - -"I will respect your wishes, John Carter, because I understand -the motives which prompt them, and I accept your service no more -willingly than I bow to your authority; your word shall be my -law. I have twice wronged you in my thoughts and again I ask -your forgiveness." - -Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented by the -entrance of Sola, who was much agitated and wholly unlike her -usual calm and possessed self. - -"That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus," she cried, "and -from what I heard upon the plaza there is little hope for either of -you." - -"What do they say?" inquired Dejah Thoris. - -"That you will be thrown to the wild calots [dogs] in the great -arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for the yearly games." - -"Sola," I said, "you are a Thark, but you hate and loathe the -customs of your people as much as we do. Will you not accompany us -in one supreme effort to escape? I am sure that Dejah Thoris can -offer you a home and protection among her people, and your fate -can be no worse among them than it must ever be here." - -"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come with us, Sola, you will be better -off among the red men of Helium than you are here, and I can promise -you not only a home with us, but the love and affection your nature -craves and which must always be denied you by the customs of your -own race. Come with us, Sola; we might go without you, but your -fate would be terrible if they thought you had connived to aid us. -I know that even that fear would not tempt you to interfere in our -escape, but we want you with us, we want you to come to a land of -sunshine and happiness, amongst a people who know the meaning of -love, of sympathy, and of gratitude. Say that you will, Sola; -tell me that you will." - -"The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty miles to the -south," murmured Sola, half to herself; "a swift thoat might make it -in three hours; and then to Helium it is five hundred miles, most of -the way through thinly settled districts. They would know and they -would follow us. We might hide among the great trees for a time, -but the chances are small indeed for escape. They would follow us -to the very gates of Helium, and they would take toll of life at -every step; you do not know them." - -"Is there no other way we might reach Helium?" I asked. "Can you not -draw me a rough map of the country we must traverse, Dejah Thoris?" - -"Yes," she replied, and taking a great diamond from her hair she -drew upon the marble floor the first map of Barsoomian territory I -had ever seen. It was crisscrossed in every direction with long -straight lines, sometimes running parallel and sometimes converging -toward some great circle. The lines, she said, were waterways; the -circles, cities; and one far to the northwest of us she pointed out -as Helium. There were other cities closer, but she said she feared -to enter many of them, as they were not all friendly toward Helium. - -Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which -now flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of -us which also seemed to lead to Helium. - -"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked. - -"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; -it is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark." - -"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant -waterway," I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the -best route for our escape." - -Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark -this same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and -saddle my thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the -other; each of us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for -two days, since the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so -long a distance. - -I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less -frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I -would overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, -leaving them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, -I slipped quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the -courtyard, where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was -their habit, before settling down for the night. - -In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the -Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the -latter grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally -emitting the sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state -of rage in which these creatures passed their existence. They were -quieter now, owing to the absence of man, but as they scented me -they became more restless and their hideous noise increased. It -was risky business, this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at -night; first, because their increasing noisiness might warn the -nearby warriors that something was amiss, and also because for the -slightest cause, or for no cause at all some great bull thoat might -take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me. - -Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as -this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the -shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap into -the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the -great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, -and as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I -thanked the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win -the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently -from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their -way toward me through the surging mountains of flesh. - -They came quite close to me, rubbing their muzzles against my body -and nosing for the bits of food it was always my practice to reward -them with. Opening the gates I ordered the two great beasts to pass -out, and then slipping quietly after them I closed the portals -behind me. - -I did not saddle or mount the animals there, but instead walked -quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an unfrequented -avenue which led toward the point I had arranged to meet Dejah -Thoris and Sola. With the noiselessness of disembodied spirits -we moved stealthily along the deserted streets, but not until we -were within sight of the plain beyond the city did I commence to -breathe freely. I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find -no difficulty in reaching our rendezvous undetected, but with my -great thoats I was not so sure for myself, as it was quite unusual -for warriors to leave the city after dark; in fact there was no -place for them to go within any but a long ride. - -I reached the appointed meeting place safely, but as Dejah Thoris -and Sola were not there I led my animals into the entrance hall of -one of the large buildings. Presuming that one of the other women -of the same household may have come in to speak to Sola, and so -delayed their departure, I did not feel any undue apprehension until -nearly an hour had passed without a sign of them, and by the time -another half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave -anxiety. Then there broke upon the stillness of the night the sound -of an approaching party, which, from the noise, I knew could be no -fugitives creeping stealthily toward liberty. Soon the party was -near me, and from the black shadows of my entranceway I perceived -a score of mounted warriors, who, in passing, dropped a dozen -words that fetched my heart clean into the top of my head. - -"He would likely have arranged to meet them just without the city, -and so--" I heard no more, they had passed on; but it was enough. -Our plan had been discovered, and the chances for escape from now -on to the fearful end would be small indeed. My one hope now was -to return undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what -fate had overtaken her, but how to do it with these great monstrous -thoats upon my hands, now that the city probably was aroused by the -knowledge of my escape was a problem of no mean proportions. - -Suddenly an idea occurred to me, and acting on my knowledge of the -construction of the buildings of these ancient Martian cities with -a hollow court within the center of each square, I groped my way -blindly through the dark chambers, calling the great thoats after -me. They had difficulty in negotiating some of the doorways, but -as the buildings fronting the city's principal exposures were all -designed upon a magnificent scale, they were able to wriggle through -without sticking fast; and thus we finally made the inner court -where I found, as I had expected, the usual carpet of moss-like -vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I could -return them to their own enclosure. That they would be as quiet -and contented here as elsewhere I was confident, nor was there but -the remotest possibility that they would be discovered, as the -green men had no great desire to enter these outlying buildings, -which were frequented by the only thing, I believe, which caused -them the sensation of fear--the great white apes of Barsoom. - -Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within the rear -doorway of the building through which we had entered the court, and, -turning the beasts loose, quickly made my way across the court to -the rear of the buildings upon the further side, and thence to the -avenue beyond. Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was -assured that no one was approaching, I hurried across to the -opposite side and through the first doorway to the court beyond; -thus, crossing through court after court with only the slight chance -of detection which the necessary crossing of the avenues entailed, -I made my way in safety to the courtyard in the rear of Dejah -Thoris' quarters. - -Here, of course, I found the beasts of the warriors who quartered in -the adjacent buildings, and the warriors themselves I might expect -to meet within if I entered; but, fortunately for me, I had another -and safer method of reaching the upper story where Dejah Thoris -should be found, and, after first determining as nearly as possible -which of the buildings she occupied, for I had never observed them -before from the court side, I took advantage of my relatively great -strength and agility and sprang upward until I grasped the sill of -a second-story window which I thought to be in the rear of her -apartment. Drawing myself inside the room I moved stealthily toward -the front of the building, and not until I had quite reached the -doorway of her room was I made aware by voices that it was occupied. - -I did not rush headlong in, but listened without to assure myself -that it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to venture within. It -was well indeed that I took this precaution, for the conversation I -heard was in the low gutturals of men, and the words which finally -came to me proved a most timely warning. The speaker was a -chieftain and he was giving orders to four of his warriors. - -"And when he returns to this chamber," he was saying, "as he surely -will when he finds she does not meet him at the city's edge, you -four are to spring upon him and disarm him. It will require the -combined strength of all of you to do it if the reports they bring -back from Korad are correct. When you have him fast bound bear him -to the vaults beneath the jeddak's quarters and chain him securely -where he may be found when Tal Hajus wishes him. Allow him to speak -with none, nor permit any other to enter this apartment before he -comes. There will be no danger of the girl returning, for by this -time she is safe in the arms of Tal Hajus, and may all her ancestors -have pity upon her, for Tal Hajus will have none; the great Sarkoja -has done a noble night's work. I go, and if you fail to capture him -when he comes, I commend your carcasses to the cold bosom of Iss." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -A COSTLY RECAPTURE - - - -As the speaker ceased he turned to leave the apartment by the door -where I was standing, but I needed to wait no longer; I had heard -enough to fill my soul with dread, and stealing quietly away I -returned to the courtyard by the way I had come. My plan of action -was formed upon the instant, and crossing the square and the -bordering avenue upon the opposite side I soon stood within the -courtyard of Tal Hajus. - -The brilliantly lighted apartments of the first floor told me where -first to seek, and advancing to the windows I peered within. I -soon discovered that my approach was not to be the easy thing I -had hoped, for the rear rooms bordering the court were filled -with warriors and women. I then glanced up at the stories above, -discovering that the third was apparently unlighted, and so decided -to make my entrance to the building from that point. It was the -work of but a moment for me to reach the windows above, and soon -I had drawn myself within the sheltering shadows of the unlighted -third floor. - -Fortunately the room I had selected was untenanted, and creeping -noiselessly to the corridor beyond I discovered a light in the -apartments ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a doorway I -discovered that it was but an opening upon an immense inner chamber -which towered from the first floor, two stories below me, to the -dome-like roof of the building, high above my head. The floor of -this great circular hall was thronged with chieftains, warriors -and women, and at one end was a great raised platform upon which -squatted the most hideous beast I had ever put my eyes upon. He had -all the cold, hard, cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, -but accentuated and debased by the animal passions to which he had -given himself over for many years. There was not a mark of dignity -or pride upon his bestial countenance, while his enormous bulk -spread itself out upon the platform where he squatted like some huge -devil fish, his six limbs accentuating the similarity in a horrible -and startling manner. - -But the sight that froze me with apprehension was that of Dejah -Thoris and Sola standing there before him, and the fiendish leer of -him as he let his great protruding eyes gloat upon the lines of her -beautiful figure. She was speaking, but I could not hear what she -said, nor could I make out the low grumbling of his reply. She -stood there erect before him, her head high held, and even at the -distance I was from them I could read the scorn and disgust upon her -face as she let her haughty glance rest without sign of fear upon -him. She was indeed the proud daughter of a thousand jeddaks, every -inch of her dear, precious little body; so small, so frail beside -the towering warriors around her, but in her majesty dwarfing them -into insignificance; she was the mightiest figure among them and I -verily believe that they felt it. - -Presently Tal Hajus made a sign that the chamber be cleared, and -that the prisoners be left alone before him. Slowly the chieftains, -the warriors and the women melted away into the shadows of the -surrounding chambers, and Dejah Thoris and Sola stood alone before -the jeddak of the Tharks. - -One chieftain alone had hesitated before departing; I saw him -standing in the shadows of a mighty column, his fingers nervously -toying with the hilt of his great-sword and his cruel eyes bent in -implacable hatred upon Tal Hajus. It was Tars Tarkas, and I could -read his thoughts as they were an open book for the undisguised -loathing upon his face. He was thinking of that other woman who, -forty years ago, had stood before this beast, and could I have -spoken a word into his ear at that moment the reign of Tal Hajus -would have been over; but finally he also strode from the room, -not knowing that he left his own daughter at the mercy of the -creature he most loathed. - -Tal Hajus arose, and I, half fearing, half anticipating his -intentions, hurried to the winding runway which led to the floors -below. No one was near to intercept me, and I reached the main -floor of the chamber unobserved, taking my station in the shadow -of the same column that Tars Tarkas had but just deserted. As I -reached the floor Tal Hajus was speaking. - -"Princess of Helium, I might wring a mighty ransom from your people -would I but return you to them unharmed, but a thousand times rather -would I watch that beautiful face writhe in the agony of torture; it -shall be long drawn out, that I promise you; ten days of pleasure -were all too short to show the love I harbor for your race. The -terrors of your death shall haunt the slumbers of the red men -through all the ages to come; they will shudder in the shadows of -the night as their fathers tell them of the awful vengeance of the -green men; of the power and might and hate and cruelty of Tal Hajus. -But before the torture you shall be mine for one short hour, and -word of that too shall go forth to Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, -your grandfather, that he may grovel upon the ground in the agony of -his sorrow. Tomorrow the torture will commence; tonight thou art Tal -Hajus'; come!" - -He sprang down from the platform and grasped her roughly by the arm, -but scarcely had he touched her than I leaped between them. My -short-sword, sharp and gleaming was in my right hand; I could have -plunged it into his putrid heart before he realized that I was upon -him; but as I raised my arm to strike I thought of Tars Tarkas, and, -with all my rage, with all my hatred, I could not rob him of that -sweet moment for which he had lived and hoped all these long, weary -years, and so, instead, I swung my good right fist full upon the -point of his jaw. Without a sound he slipped to the floor as one -dead. - -In the same deathly silence I grasped Dejah Thoris by the hand, and -motioning Sola to follow we sped noiselessly from the chamber and -to the floor above. Unseen we reached a rear window and with the -straps and leather of my trappings I lowered, first Sola and then -Dejah Thoris to the ground below. Dropping lightly after them I -drew them rapidly around the court in the shadows of the buildings, -and thus we returned over the same course I had so recently -followed from the distant boundary of the city. - -We finally came upon my thoats in the courtyard where I had left -them, and placing the trappings upon them we hastened through the -building to the avenue beyond. Mounting, Sola upon one beast, -and Dejah Thoris behind me upon the other, we rode from the city -of Thark through the hills to the south. - -Instead of circling back around the city to the northwest and toward -the nearest waterway which lay so short a distance from us, we -turned to the northeast and struck out upon the mossy waste across -which, for two hundred dangerous and weary miles, lay another main -artery leading to Helium. - -No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind, but I -could hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she clung to me -with her dear head resting against my shoulder. - -"If we make it, my chieftain, the debt of Helium will be a mighty -one; greater than she can ever pay you; and should we not make it," -she continued, "the debt is no less, though Helium will never know, -for you have saved the last of our line from worse than death." - -I did not answer, but instead reached to my side and pressed the -little fingers of her I loved where they clung to me for support, -and then, in unbroken silence, we sped over the yellow, moonlit -moss; each of us occupied with his own thoughts. For my part I -could not be other than joyful had I tried, with Dejah Thoris' warm -body pressed close to mine, and with all our unpassed danger my -heart was singing as gaily as though we were already entering the -gates of Helium. - -Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found -ourselves without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We -therefore urged our beasts to a speed that must tell on them -sorely before we could hope to sight the ending of the first -stage of our journey. - -We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short -rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely -fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or -six hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All -the following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon we had -sighted no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout -all Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us--we were lost. - -Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, -nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the -moons and stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, -and the entire party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst -and fatigue. Far ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could -distinguish the outlines of low mountains. These we decided to -attempt to reach in the hope that from some ridge we might discern -the missing waterway. Night fell upon us before we reached our goal, -and, almost fainting from weariness and weakness, we lay down and -slept. - -I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body pressing close -to mine, and opening my eyes with a start I beheld my blessed old -Woola snuggling close to me; the faithful brute had followed us -across that trackless waste to share our fate, whatever it might be. -Putting my arms about his neck I pressed my cheek close to his, nor -am I ashamed that I did it, nor of the tears that came to my eyes as -I thought of his love for me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris and -Sola awakened, and it was decided that we push on at once in an -effort to gain the hills. - -We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my thoat was -commencing to stumble and stagger in a most pitiful manner, although -we had not attempted to force them out of a walk since about noon -of the preceding day. Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and -pitched violently to the ground. Dejah Thoris and I were thrown -clear of him and fell upon the soft moss with scarcely a jar; but -the poor beast was in a pitiable condition, not even being able -to rise, although relieved of our weight. Sola told me that the -coolness of the night, when it fell, together with the rest would -doubtless revive him, and so I decided not to kill him, as was my -first intention, as I had thought it cruel to leave him alone there -to die of hunger and thirst. Relieving him of his trappings, which -I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow to his fate, and -pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola and I walked, -making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this way we had -progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring -to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the -thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing -down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I -both looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly -discernible, were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to -be headed in a southwesterly direction, which would take them away -from us. - -They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture -us, and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling -in the opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the -thoat, I commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, -presenting as small an object as possible for fear of attracting -the attention of the warriors toward us. - -We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an -instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to -us a most providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any -great length of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover -us. As what proved to be the last warrior came into view from the -pass, he halted and, to our consternation, threw his small but -powerful fieldglass to his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all -directions. Evidently he was a chieftain, for in certain marching -formations among the green men a chieftain brings up the extreme -rear of the column. As his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped -in our breasts, and I could feel the cold sweat start from every -pore in my body. - -Presently it swung full upon us and--stopped. The tension on -our nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us -breathed for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and -then he lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the -warriors who had passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did -not wait for them to join him, however, instead he wheeled his -thoat and came tearing madly in our direction. - -There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. -Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and -touched the button which controlled the trigger; there was a -sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal, and the -charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying mount. - -Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola -to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to -reach the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that -in the ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, -and even though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be -better so than that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing -my two revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as -a last resort, as an escape for themselves from the horrid death -which recapture would surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms -and placed her upon the thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted -at my command. - -"Good-bye, my princess," I whispered, "we may meet in Helium yet. -I have escaped from worse plights than this," and I tried to smile -as I lied. - -"What," she cried, "are you not coming with us?" - -"How may I, Dejah Thoris? Someone must hold these fellows off for a -while, and I can better escape them alone than could the three of us -together." - -She sprang quickly from the thoat and, throwing her dear arms about -my neck, turned to Sola, saying with quiet dignity: "Fly, Sola! -Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she loves." - -Those words are engraved upon my heart. Ah, gladly would I give -up my life a thousand times could I only hear them once again; but -I could not then give even a second to the rapture of her sweet -embrace, and pressing my lips to hers for the first time, I picked -her up bodily and tossed her to her seat behind Sola again, -commanding the latter in peremptory tones to hold her there by -force, and then, slapping the thoat upon the flank, I saw them -borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself -from Sola's grasp. - -Turning, I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge and looking -for their chieftain. In a moment they saw him, and then me; but -scarcely had they discovered me than I commenced firing, lying flat -upon my belly in the moss. I had an even hundred rounds in the -magazine of my rifle, and another hundred in the belt at my back, -and I kept up a continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the -warriors who had been first to return from behind the ridge either -dead or scurrying to cover. - -My respite was short-lived however, for soon the entire party, -numbering some thousand men, came charging into view, racing madly -toward me. I fired until my rifle was empty and they were almost -upon me, and then a glance showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had -disappeared among the hills, I sprang up, throwing down my useless -gun, and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by -Sola and her charge. - -If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping, it was granted those -astonished warriors on that day long years ago, but while it led -them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract their attention -from endeavoring to capture me. - -They raced wildly after me until, finally, my foot struck a -projecting piece of quartz, and down I went sprawling upon the moss. -As I looked up they were upon me, and although I drew my long-sword -in an attempt to sell my life as dearly as possible, it was soon -over. I reeled beneath their blows which fell upon me in perfect -torrents; my head swam; all was black, and I went down beneath them -to oblivion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CHAINED IN WARHOON - - - -It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness -and I well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me as -I realized that I was not dead. - -I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the corner of -a small room in which were several green warriors, and bending over -me was an ancient and ugly female. - -As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors, saying, - -"He will live, O Jed." - -"'Tis well," replied the one so addressed, rising and approaching my -couch, "he should render rare sport for the great games." - -And now as my eyes fell upon him, I saw that he was no Thark, for -his ornaments and metal were not of that horde. He was a huge -fellow, terribly scarred about the face and chest, and with one -broken tusk and a missing ear. Strapped on either breast were human -skulls and depending from these a number of dried human hands. - -His reference to the great games of which I had heard so much while -among the Tharks convinced me that I had but jumped from purgatory -into gehenna. - -After a few more words with the female, during which she assured him -that I was now fully fit to travel, the jed ordered that we mount -and ride after the main column. - -I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a thoat as I had -ever seen, and, with a mounted warrior on either side to prevent the -beast from bolting, we rode forth at a furious pace in pursuit of -the column. My wounds gave me but little pain, so wonderfully and -rapidly had the applications and injections of the female exercised -their therapeutic powers, and so deftly had she bound and plastered -the injuries. - -Just before dark we reached the main body of troops shortly after -they had made camp for the night. I was immediately taken before -the leader, who proved to be the jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon. - -Like the jed who had brought me, he was frightfully scarred, and -also decorated with the breastplate of human skulls and dried dead -hands which seemed to mark all the greater warriors among the -Warhoons, as well as to indicate their awful ferocity, which -greatly transcends even that of the Tharks. - -The jeddak, Bar Comas, who was comparatively young, was the object -of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old lieutenant, Dak Kova, -the jed who had captured me, and I could not but note the almost -studied efforts which the latter made to affront his superior. - -He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered the -presence of the jeddak, and as he pushed me roughly before the -ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice. - -"I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a Thark -whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild thoat at the -great games." - -"He will die as Bar Comas, your jeddak, sees fit, if at all," -replied the young ruler, with emphasis and dignity. - -"If at all?" roared Dak Kova. "By the dead hands at my throat but -he shall die, Bar Comas. No maudlin weakness on your part shall -save him. O, would that Warhoon were ruled by a real jeddak rather -than by a water-hearted weakling from whom even old Dak Kova could -tear the metal with his bare hands!" - -Bar Comas eyed the defiant and insubordinate chieftain for an -instant, his expression one of haughty, fearless contempt and hate, -and then without drawing a weapon and without uttering a word he -hurled himself at the throat of his defamer. - -I never before had seen two green Martian warriors battle with -nature's weapons and the exhibition of animal ferocity which ensued -was as fearful a thing as the most disordered imagination could -picture. They tore at each others' eyes and ears with their hands -and with their gleaming tusks repeatedly slashed and gored until -both were cut fairly to ribbons from head to foot. - -Bar Comas had much the better of the battle as he was stronger, -quicker and more intelligent. It soon seemed that the encounter was -done saving only the final death thrust when Bar Comas slipped in -breaking away from a clinch. It was the one little opening that Dak -Kova needed, and hurling himself at the body of his adversary he -buried his single mighty tusk in Bar Comas' groin and with a last -powerful effort ripped the young jeddak wide open the full length of -his body, the great tusk finally wedging in the bones of Bar Comas' -jaw. Victor and vanquished rolled limp and lifeless upon the moss, -a huge mass of torn and bloody flesh. - -Bar Comas was stone dead, and only the most herculean efforts on -the part of Dak Kova's females saved him from the fate he deserved. -Three days later he walked without assistance to the body of Bar -Comas which, by custom, had not been moved from where it fell, and -placing his foot upon the neck of his erstwhile ruler he assumed -the title of Jeddak of Warhoon. - -The dead jeddak's hands and head were removed to be added to the -ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what -remained, amid wild and terrible laughter. - -The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it -was decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small -Thark community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, -until after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten -thousand in number, turned back toward Warhoon. - -My introduction to these cruel and bloodthirsty people was but an -index to the scenes I witnessed almost daily while with them. They -are a smaller horde than the Tharks but much more ferocious. Not a -day passed but that some members of the various Warhoon communities -met in deadly combat. I have seen as high as eight mortal duels -within a single day. - -We reached the city of Warhoon after some three days march and I was -immediately cast into a dungeon and heavily chained to the floor -and walls. Food was brought me at intervals but owing to the utter -darkness of the place I do not know whether I lay there days, or -weeks, or months. It was the most horrible experience of all my -life and that my mind did not give way to the terrors of that inky -blackness has been a wonder to me ever since. The place was filled -with creeping, crawling things; cold, sinuous bodies passed over me -when I lay down, and in the darkness I occasionally caught glimpses -of gleaming, fiery eyes, fixed in horrible intentness upon me. No -sound reached me from the world above and no word would my jailer -vouchsafe when my food was brought to me, although I at first -bombarded him with questions. - -Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful -creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was centered -by my tottering reason upon this single emissary who represented -to me the entire horde of Warhoons. - -I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he -could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it -upon the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, -with the cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my -cell when next I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack -of the great chain which held me in my hand I waited his coming, -crouching like some beast of prey. As he stooped to place my food -upon the ground I swung the chain above my head and crashed the -links with all my strength upon his skull. Without a sound he -slipped to the floor, stone dead. - -Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming I fell -upon his prostrate form my fingers feeling for his dead throat. -Presently they came in contact with a small chain at the end of -which dangled a number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these -keys brought back my reason with the suddenness of thought. No -longer was I a jibbering idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with -the means of escape within my very hands. - -As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck -I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes -fixed, unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I -shrank back from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I -crouched holding my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on -came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet. -Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating -sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess -of my dungeon. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -BATTLING IN THE ARENA - - - -Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt -to remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as -I reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror -that it was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of -those gleaming eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be -devoured in their neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for -days, for weeks, for months, through all this awful eternity of -my imprisonment to drag my dead carcass to their feast. - -For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger -appeared and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did -I allow my reason to be submerged by the horror of my position. - -Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and -chained near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red -Martian and I could scarcely await the departure of his guards to -address him. As their retreating footsteps died away in the -distance, I called out softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor. - -"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered - -"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium." - -"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name." - -And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting -only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited -by the news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she -and Sola could easily have reached a point of safety from where they -left me. He said that he knew the place well because the defile -through which the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered -us was the only one ever used by them when marching to the south. - -"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great -waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me. - -My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy -of Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which -had fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' -capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat -of the battleships. - -Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly -toward Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the -capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, -they had been attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but -the craft to which Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or -captured. His vessel was chased for days by three of the Zodangan -war ships but finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless -night. - -Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of -our coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten -survivors of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. -Immediately seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war -ships, had been dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from -these vessels two thousand smaller craft had been kept out -continuously in futile search for the missing princess. - -Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom -by the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. -They had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within -the past few days had they extended their quest to the south. - -Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers -and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while -exploring their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my -greatest respect and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's -boundary and on foot had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the -plaza. For two days and nights he had explored their quarters and -their dungeons in search of his beloved princess only to fall into -the hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave, after -assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there. - -During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well -acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only -elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for -the great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous -amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of -the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled -with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult -to say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand -Warhoons of the assembled hordes. - -The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around -it the Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined -edifices of the ancient city to prevent the animals and the -captives from escaping into the audience, and at each end had been -constructed cages to hold them until their turns came to meet some -horrible death upon the arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the -others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and -women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of -Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, -growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance -of any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave -forebodings. - -Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these -prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about -the arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be -pitted against each other until only two remained alive; the victor -in the last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The -following morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment -of victims, and so on throughout the ten days of the games. - -Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill -and within an hour every available part of the seating space was -occupied. Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the -center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform. - -At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open -and a dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the -arena. Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack -of twelve calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them. - -As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost -defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid -sight. The yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to -the excellent quality of the sport and when I turned back to the -arena, as Kantos Kan told me it was over, I saw three victorious -calots, snarling and growling over the bodies of their prey. -The women had given a good account of themselves. - -Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it -went throughout the long, hot, horrible day. - -During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but -as I was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary -in agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's -play to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the -bloodthirsty multitude, and toward the end there were cries that -I be taken from the arena and be made a member of the hordes of -Warhoon. - -Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of -some far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself. - -The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for -the liberty which was accorded the final winner. - -Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself -had always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of -margins, especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had -little hope that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed -down all before him during the day. The fellow towered nearly -sixteen feet in height, while Kantos Kan was some inches under six -feet. As they advanced to meet one another I saw for the first time -a trick of Martian swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's every -hope of victory and life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to -within about twenty feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm -far behind him over his shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his -weapon point foremost at the green warrior. It flew true as an -arrow and piercing the poor devil's heart laid him dead upon the -arena. - -Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we -approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle -until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of -escape. The horde evidently guessed that we had no hearts to fight -each other and so they howled in rage as neither of us placed a -fatal thrust. Just as I saw the sudden coming of dark I whispered -to Kantos Kan to thrust his sword between my left arm and my body. -As he did so I staggered back clasping the sword tightly with my arm -and thus fell to the ground with his weapon apparently protruding -from my chest. Kantos Kan perceived my coup and stepping quickly to -my side he placed his foot upon my neck and withdrawing his sword -from my body gave me the final death blow through the neck which is -supposed to sever the jugular vein, but in this instance the cold -blade slipped harmlessly into the sand of the arena. In the -darkness which had now fallen none could tell but that he had really -finished me. I whispered to him to go and claim his freedom and -then look for me in the hills east of the city, and so he left me. - -When the amphitheater had cleared I crept stealthily to the top and -as the great excavation lay far from the plaza and in an untenanted -portion of the great dead city I had little trouble in reaching the -hills beyond. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -IN THE ATMOSPHERE FACTORY - - - -For two days I waited there for Kantos Kan, but as he did not come -I started off on foot in a northwesterly direction toward a point -where he had told me lay the nearest waterway. My only food -consisted of vegetable milk from the plants which gave so -bounteously of this priceless fluid. - -Through two long weeks I wandered, stumbling through the nights -guided only by the stars and hiding during the days behind some -protruding rock or among the occasional hills I traversed. Several -times I was attacked by wild beasts; strange, uncouth monstrosities -that leaped upon me in the dark, so that I had ever to grasp my -long-sword in my hand that I might be ready for them. Usually my -strange, newly acquired telepathic power warned me in ample time, -but once I was down with vicious fangs at my jugular and a hairy -face pressed close to mine before I knew that I was even threatened. - -What manner of thing was upon me I did not know, but that it was -large and heavy and many-legged I could feel. My hands were at its -throat before the fangs had a chance to bury themselves in my neck, -and slowly I forced the hairy face from me and closed my fingers, -vise-like, upon its windpipe. - -Without sound we lay there, the beast exerting every effort to reach -me with those awful fangs, and I straining to maintain my grip and -choke the life from it as I kept it from my throat. Slowly my arms -gave to the unequal struggle, and inch by inch the burning eyes and -gleaming tusks of my antagonist crept toward me, until, as the hairy -face touched mine again, I realized that all was over. And then a -living mass of destruction sprang from the surrounding darkness full -upon the creature that held me pinioned to the ground. The two -rolled growling upon the moss, tearing and rending one another in -a frightful manner, but it was soon over and my preserver stood -with lowered head above the throat of the dead thing which would -have killed me. - -The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting -up the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola, but -from whence he had come, or how found me, I was at a loss to know. -That I was glad of his companionship it is needless to say, but my -pleasure at seeing him was tempered by anxiety as to the reason of -his leaving Dejah Thoris. Only her death I felt sure, could account -for his absence from her, so faithful I knew him to be to my -commands. - -By the light of the now brilliant moons I saw that he was but a -shadow of his former self, and as he turned from my caress and -commenced greedily to devour the dead carcass at my feet I realized -that the poor fellow was more than half starved. I, myself, was in -but little better plight but I could not bring myself to eat the -uncooked flesh and I had no means of making a fire. When Woola had -finished his meal I again took up my weary and seemingly endless -wandering in quest of the elusive waterway. - -At daybreak of the fifteenth day of my search I was overjoyed to -see the high trees that denoted the object of my search. About noon -I dragged myself wearily to the portals of a huge building which -covered perhaps four square miles and towered two hundred feet in -the air. It showed no aperture in the mighty walls other than the -tiny door at which I sank exhausted, nor was there any sign of life -about it. - -I could find no bell or other method of making my presence known to -the inmates of the place, unless a small round role in the wall -near the door was for that purpose. It was of about the bigness -of a lead pencil and thinking that it might be in the nature of a -speaking tube I put my mouth to it and was about to call into it -when a voice issued from it asking me whom I might be, where from, -and the nature of my errand. - -I explained that I had escaped from the Warhoons and was dying of -starvation and exhaustion. - -"You wear the metal of a green warrior and are followed by a calot, -yet you are of the figure of a red man. In color you are neither -green nor red. In the name of the ninth day, what manner of -creature are you?" - -"I am a friend of the red men of Barsoom and I am starving. In the -name of humanity open to us," I replied. - -Presently the door commenced to recede before me until it had sunk -into the wall fifty feet, then it stopped and slid easily to the -left, exposing a short, narrow corridor of concrete, at the further -end of which was another door, similar in every respect to the one I -had just passed. No one was in sight, yet immediately we passed the -first door it slid gently into place behind us and receded rapidly -to its original position in the front wall of the building. As the -door had slipped aside I had noted its great thickness, fully twenty -feet, and as it reached its place once more after closing behind us, -great cylinders of steel had dropped from the ceiling behind it and -fitted their lower ends into apertures countersunk in the floor. - -A second and third door receded before me and slipped to one side as -the first, before I reached a large inner chamber where I found food -and drink set out upon a great stone table. A voice directed me to -satisfy my hunger and to feed my calot, and while I was thus engaged -my invisible host put me through a severe and searching -cross-examination. - -"Your statements are most remarkable," said the voice, on concluding -its questioning, "but you are evidently speaking the truth, and it -is equally evident that you are not of Barsoom. I can tell that by -the conformation of your brain and the strange location of your -internal organs and the shape and size of your heart." - -"Can you see through me?" I exclaimed. - -"Yes, I can see all but your thoughts, and were you a Barsoomian I -could read those." - -Then a door opened at the far side of the chamber and a strange, -dried up, little mummy of a man came toward me. He wore but a -single article of clothing or adornment, a small collar of gold from -which depended upon his chest a great ornament as large as a dinner -plate set solid with huge diamonds, except for the exact center -which was occupied by a strange stone, an inch in diameter, that -scintillated nine different and distinct rays; the seven colors of -our earthly prism and two beautiful rays which, to me, were new and -nameless. I cannot describe them any more than you could describe -red to a blind man. I only know that they were beautiful in the -extreme. - -The old man sat and talked with me for hours, and the strangest part -of our intercourse was that I could read his every thought while he -could not fathom an iota from my mind unless I spoke. - -I did not apprise him of my ability to sense his mental operations, -and thus I learned a great deal which proved of immense value to me -later and which I would never have known had he suspected my strange -power, for the Martians have such perfect control of their mental -machinery that they are able to direct their thoughts with absolute -precision. - -The building in which I found myself contained the machinery which -produces that artificial atmosphere which sustains life on Mars. -The secret of the entire process hinges on the use of the ninth ray, -one of the beautiful scintillations which I had noted emanating from -the great stone in my host's diadem. - -This ray is separated from the other rays of the sun by means -of finely adjusted instruments placed upon the roof of the huge -building, three-quarters of which is used for reservoirs in which -the ninth ray is stored. This product is then treated electrically, -or rather certain proportions of refined electric vibrations are -incorporated with it, and the result is then pumped to the five -principal air centers of the planet where, as it is released, -contact with the ether of space transforms it into atmosphere. - -There is always sufficient reserve of the ninth ray stored in the -great building to maintain the present Martian atmosphere for a -thousand years, and the only fear, as my new friend told me, was -that some accident might befall the pumping apparatus. - -He led me to an inner chamber where I beheld a battery of twenty -radium pumps any one of which was equal to the task of furnishing -all Mars with the atmosphere compound. For eight hundred years, he -told me, he had watched these pumps which are used alternately a day -each at a stretch, or a little over twenty-four and one-half Earth -hours. He has one assistant who divides the watch with him. Half a -Martian year, about three hundred and forty-four of our days, each -of these men spend alone in this huge, isolated plant. - -Every red Martian is taught during earliest childhood the principles -of the manufacture of atmosphere, but only two at one time ever -hold the secret of ingress to the great building, which, built as -it is with walls a hundred and fifty feet thick, is absolutely -unassailable, even the roof being guarded from assault by air craft -by a glass covering five feet thick. - -The only fear they entertain of attack is from the green Martians -or some demented red man, as all Barsoomians realize that the -very existence of every form of life of Mars is dependent upon -the uninterrupted working of this plant. - -One curious fact I discovered as I watched his thoughts was that -the outer doors are manipulated by telepathic means. The locks -are so finely adjusted that the doors are released by the action -of a certain combination of thought waves. To experiment with -my new-found toy I thought to surprise him into revealing this -combination and so I asked him in a casual manner how he had managed -to unlock the massive doors for me from the inner chambers of the -building. As quick as a flash there leaped to his mind nine Martian -sounds, but as quickly faded as he answered that this was a secret -he must not divulge. - -From then on his manner toward me changed as though he feared that -he had been surprised into divulging his great secret, and I read -suspicion and fear in his looks and thoughts, though his words were -still fair. - -Before I retired for the night he promised to give me a letter to a -nearby agricultural officer who would help me on my way to Zodanga, -which he said, was the nearest Martian city. - -"But be sure that you do not let them know you are bound for Helium -as they are at war with that country. My assistant and I are of no -country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear -protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do -not trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added. - -"And so good-night, my friend," he continued, "may you have a long -and restful sleep--yes, a long sleep." - -And though he smiled pleasantly I saw in his thoughts the wish that -he had never admitted me, and then a picture of him standing over me -in the night, and the swift thrust of a long dagger and the half -formed words, "I am sorry, but it is for the best good of Barsoom." - -As he closed the door of my chamber behind him his thoughts were -cut off from me as was the sight of him, which seemed strange to me -in my little knowledge of thought transference. - -What was I to do? How could I escape through these mighty walls? -Easily could I kill him now that I was warned, but once he was dead -I could no more escape, and with the stopping of the machinery of -the great plant I should die with all the other inhabitants of the -planet--all, even Dejah Thoris were she not already dead. For the -others I did not give the snap of my finger, but the thought of -Dejah Thoris drove from my mind all desire to kill my mistaken host. - -Cautiously I opened the door of my apartment and, followed by Woola, -sought the inner of the great doors. A wild scheme had come to me; -I would attempt to force the great locks by the nine thought waves -I had read in my host's mind. - -Creeping stealthily through corridor after corridor and down winding -runways which turned hither and thither I finally reached the great -hall in which I had broken my long fast that morning. Nowhere had -I seen my host, nor did I know where he kept himself by night. - -I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room when a -slight noise behind me warned me back into the shadows of a recess -in the corridor. Dragging Woola after me I crouched low in the -darkness. - -Presently the old man passed close by me, and as he entered the -dimly lighted chamber which I had been about to pass through I -saw that he held a long thin dagger in his hand and that he was -sharpening it upon a stone. In his mind was the decision to inspect -the radium pumps, which would take about thirty minutes, and then -return to my bed chamber and finish me. - -As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down the runway -which led to the pump-room, I stole stealthily from my hiding place -and crossed to the great door, the inner of the three which stood -between me and liberty. - -Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled the nine -thought waves against it. In breathless expectancy I waited, when -finally the great door moved softly toward me and slid quietly to -one side. One after the other the remaining mighty portals opened -at my command and Woola and I stepped forth into the darkness, free, -but little better off than we had been before, other than that we -had full stomachs. - -Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile I made for -the first crossroad, intending to strike the central turnpike as -quickly as possible. This I reached about morning and entering -the first enclosure I came to I searched for some evidences of a -habitation. - -There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred with heavy -impassable doors, and no amount of hammering and hallooing brought -any response. Weary and exhausted from sleeplessness I threw -myself upon the ground commanding Woola to stand guard. - -Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings and opened -my eyes to see three red Martians standing a short distance from us -and covering me with their rifles. - -"I am unarmed and no enemy," I hastened to explain. "I have been a -prisoner among the green men and am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask -is food and rest for myself and my calot and the proper directions -for reaching my destination." - -They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward me placing -their right hands upon my left shoulder, after the manner of their -custom of salute, and asking me many questions about myself and my -wanderings. They then took me to the house of one of them which was -only a short distance away. - -The buildings I had been hammering at in the early morning were -occupied only by stock and farm produce, the house proper standing -among a grove of enormous trees, and, like all red-Martian homes, -had been raised at night some forty or fifty feet from the ground -on a large round metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve -sunk in the ground, and was operated by a tiny radium engine in the -entrance hall of the building. Instead of bothering with bolts and -bars for their dwellings, the red Martians simply run them up out -of harm's way during the night. They also have private means for -lowering or raising them from the ground without if they wish to -go away and leave them. - -These brothers, with their wives and children, occupied three -similar houses on this farm. They did no work themselves, being -government officers in charge. The labor was performed by convicts, -prisoners of war, delinquent debtors and confirmed bachelors who -were too poor to pay the high celibate tax which all red-Martian -governments impose. - -They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality and I -spent several days with them, resting and recuperating from my long -and arduous experiences. - -When they had heard my story--I omitted all reference to Dejah -Thoris and the old man of the atmosphere plant--they advised me -to color my body to more nearly resemble their own race and then -attempt to find employment in Zodanga, either in the army or the -navy. - -"The chances are small that your tale will be believed until after -you have proven your trustworthiness and won friends among the -higher nobles of the court. This you can most easily do through -military service, as we are a warlike people on Barsoom," explained -one of them, "and save our richest favors for the fighting man." - -When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a small domestic -bull thoat, such as is used for saddle purposes by all red Martians. -The animal is about the size of a horse and quite gentle, but in -color and shape an exact replica of his huge and fierce cousin of -the wilds. - -The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which I -anointed my entire body and one of them cut my hair, which had grown -quite long, in the prevailing fashion of the time, square at the -back and banged in front, so that I could have passed anywhere upon -Barsoom as a full-fledged red Martian. My metal and ornaments were -also renewed in the style of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to the -house of Ptor, which was the family name of my benefactors. - -They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money. The -medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from our own except -that the coins are oval. Paper money is issued by individuals as -they require it and redeemed twice yearly. If a man issues more -than he can redeem, the government pays his creditors in full and -the debtor works out the amount upon the farms or in mines, which -are all owned by the government. This suits everybody except the -debtor as it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient -voluntary labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars, -stretching as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole, -through wild stretches peopled by wild animals and wilder men. - -When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness to me -they assured me that I would have ample opportunity if I lived long -upon Barsoom, and bidding me farewell they watched me until I was -out of sight upon the broad white turnpike. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA - - - -As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and -interesting sights arrested my attention, and at the several farm -houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and instructive -things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom. - -The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected in immense -underground reservoirs at either pole from the melting ice caps, -and pumped through long conduits to the various populated centers. -Along either side of these conduits, and extending their entire -length, lie the cultivated districts. These are divided into tracts -of about the same size, each tract being under the supervision of -one or more government officers. - -Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wasting -immense quantities of water by evaporation, the precious liquid is -carried underground through a vast network of small pipes directly -to the roots of the vegetation. The crops upon Mars are always -uniform, for there are no droughts, no rains, no high winds, and -no insects, or destroying birds. - -On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten since leaving -Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-fed domestic -animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits and -vegetables, but not a single article of food which was exactly -similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and flower and vegetable -and animal has been so refined by ages of careful, scientific -cultivation and breeding that the like of them on Earth dwindled -into pale, gray, characterless nothingness by comparison. - -At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people of the noble -class and while in conversation we chanced to speak of Helium. One -of the older men had been there on a diplomatic mission several -years before and spoke with regret of the conditions which seemed -destined ever to keep these two countries at war. - -"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautiful women of -Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrous daughter of Mors -Kajak, Dejah Thoris, is the most exquisite flower. - -"Why," he added, "the people really worship the ground she walks -upon and since her loss on that ill-starred expedition all Helium -has been draped in mourning. - -"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleet as it was -returning to Helium was but another of his awful blunders which I -fear will sooner or later compel Zodanga to elevate a wiser man to -his place." - -"Even now, though our victorious armies are surrounding Helium, the -people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure, for the war is -not a popular one, since it is not based on right or justice. Our -forces took advantage of the absence of the principal fleet of -Helium on their search for the princess, and so we have been able -easily to reduce the city to a sorry plight. It is said she will -fall within the next few passages of the further moon." - -"And what, think you, may have been the fate of the princess, Dejah -Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible. - -"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learned from a green -warrior recently captured by our forces in the south. She escaped -from the hordes of Thark with a strange creature of another world, -only to fall into the hands of the Warhoons. Their thoats were -found wandering upon the sea bottom and evidences of a bloody -conflict were discovered nearby." - -While this information was in no way reassuring, neither was it -at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris, and so I -determined to make every effort possible to reach Helium as quickly -as I could and carry to Tardos Mors such news of his granddaughter's -possible whereabouts as lay in my power. - -Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga. -From the moment that I had come in contact with the red inhabitants -of Mars I had noticed that Woola drew a great amount of unwelcome -attention to me, since the huge brute belonged to a species which is -never domesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll down Broadway -with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect would be somewhat -similar to that which I should have produced had I entered Zodanga -with Woola. - -The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow caused me so -great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off until just before -we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally, it became -imperative that we separate. Had nothing further than my own safety -or pleasure been at stake no argument could have prevailed upon me -to turn away the one creature upon Barsoom that had never failed in -a demonstration of affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly -have offered my life in the service of her in search of whom I was -about to challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, mysterious -city, I could not permit even Woola's life to threaten the success -of my venture, much less his momentary happiness, for I doubted -not he soon would forget me. And so I bade the poor beast an -affectionate farewell, promising him, however, that if I came -through my adventure in safety that in some way I should find -the means to search him out. - -He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointed back in the -direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away, nor could I bear to -watch him go; but resolutely set my face toward Zodanga and with -a touch of heartsickness approached her frowning walls. - -The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entrance to the -vast, walled city. It was still very early in the morning and the -streets were practically deserted. The residences, raised high -upon their metal columns, resembled huge rookeries, while the -uprights themselves presented the appearance of steel tree trunks. -The shops as a rule were not raised from the ground nor were their -doors bolted or barred, since thievery is practically unknown upon -Barsoom. Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians, -and for this reason alone their homes are raised high above the -ground at night, or in times of danger. - -The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions for reaching the -point of the city where I could find living accommodations and be -near the offices of the government agents to whom they had given me -letters. My way led to the central square or plaza, which is a -characteristic of all Martian cities. - -The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is bounded by the -palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other members of the royalty -and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by the principal public -buildings, cafes, and shops. - -As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of -the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation -which carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking -briskly toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the -slightest attention to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, -and turning I placed my hand upon his shoulder, calling out: - -"Kaor, Kantos Kan!" - -Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my -hand the point of his long-sword was at my breast. - -"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me -fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and -exclaimed, laughing, - -"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom -who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the -further moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become -a Darseen that you can change your color at will?" - -"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued, after I had -briefly outlined my adventures since parting with him in the arena -at Warhoon. "Were my name and city known to the Zodangans I would -shortly be sitting on the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my -revered and departed ancestors. I am here in the interest of Tardos -Mors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris, -our princess. Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has her hidden in the -city and has fallen madly in love with her. His father, Than Kosis, -Jeddak of Zodanga, has made her voluntary marriage to his son the -price of peace between our countries, but Tardos Mors will not -accede to the demands and has sent word that he and his people would -rather look upon the dead face of their princess than see her wed to -any than her own choice, and that personally he would prefer being -engulfed in the ashes of a lost and burning Helium to joining the -metal of his house with that of Than Kosis. His reply was the -deadliest affront he could have put upon Than Kosis and the -Zodangans, but his people love him the more for it and his strength -in Helium is greater today than ever. - -"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan, "but I have -not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned. Today I join the -Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hope in this way to win the -confidence of Sab Than, the prince, who is commander of this -division of the navy, and thus learn the whereabouts of Dejah -Thoris. I am glad that you are here, John Carter, for I know your -loyalty to my princess and two of us working together should be -able to accomplish much." - -The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming -upon the daily activities of their duties. The shops were opening -and the cafes filling with early morning patrons. Kantos Kan led me -to one of these gorgeous eating places where we were served entirely -by mechanical apparatus. No hand touched the food from the time it -entered the building in its raw state until it emerged hot and -delicious upon the tables before the guests, in response to the -touching of tiny buttons to indicate their desires. - -After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to the headquarters of -the air-scout squadron and introducing me to his superior asked that -I be enrolled as a member of the corps. In accordance with custom -an examination was necessary, but Kantos Kan had told me to have no -fear on this score as he would attend to that part of the matter. -He accomplished this by taking my order for examination to the -examining officer and representing himself as John Carter. - -"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfully explained, -"when they check up my weights, measurements, and other personal -identification data, but it will be several months before this is -done and our mission should be accomplished or have failed long -before that time." - -The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teaching me -the intricacies of flying and of repairing the dainty little -contrivances which the Martians use for this purpose. The body -of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide -and three inches thick, tapering to a point at each end. The driver -sits on top of this plane upon a seat constructed over the small, -noiseless radium engine which propels it. The medium of buoyancy is -contained within the thin metal walls of the body and consists of -the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as it may be termed -in view of its properties. - -This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, but the Martians -have discovered that it is an inherent property of all light no -matter from what source it emanates. They have learned that it -is the solar eighth ray which propels the light of the sun to the -various planets, and that it is the individual eighth ray of each -planet which "reflects," or propels the light thus obtained out -into space once more. The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the -surface of Barsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends to -propel light from Mars into space, is constantly streaming out from -the planet constituting a force of repulsion of gravity which when -confined is able to lift enormous weights from the surface of the -ground. - -It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviation that -battle ships far outweighing anything known upon Earth sail as -gracefully and lightly through the thin air of Barsoom as a toy -balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth. - -During the early years of the discovery of this ray many strange -accidents occurred before the Martians learned to measure and -control the wonderful power they had found. In one instance, some -nine hundred years before, the first great battle ship to be built -with eighth ray reservoirs was stored with too great a quantity -of the rays and she had sailed up from Helium with five hundred -officers and men, never to return. - -Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great that it had -carried her far into space, where she can be seen today, by the aid -of powerful telescopes, hurtling through the heavens ten thousand -miles from Mars; a tiny satellite that will thus encircle Barsoom -to the end of time. - -The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made my first flight, -and as a result of it I won a promotion which included quarters in -the palace of Than Kosis. - -As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I had seen -Kantos Kan do, and then throwing my engine into top speed I raced -at terrific velocity toward the south, following one of the great -waterways which enter Zodanga from that direction. - -I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little less than an -hour when I descried far below me a party of three green warriors -racing madly toward a small figure on foot which seemed to be trying -to reach the confines of one of the walled fields. - -Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circling to the rear -of the warriors, I soon saw that the object of their pursuit was a -red Martian wearing the metal of the scout squadron to which I was -attached. A short distance away lay his tiny flier, surrounded by -the tools with which he had evidently been occupied in repairing -some damage when surprised by the green warriors. - -They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts charging down on -the relatively puny figure at terrific speed, while the warriors -leaned low to the right, with their great metal-shod spears. Each -seemed striving to be the first to impale the poor Zodangan and in -another moment his fate would have been sealed had it not been for -my timely arrival. - -Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind the -warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishing my speed I -rammed the prow of my little flier between the shoulders of the -nearest. The impact sufficient to have torn through inches of -solid steel, hurled the fellow's headless body into the air over the -head of his thoat, where it fell sprawling upon the moss. The mounts -of the other two warriors turned squealing in terror, and bolted in -opposite directions. - -Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of -the astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely -aid and promised that my day's work would bring the reward it -merited, for it was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of -Zodanga whose life I had saved. - -We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would -surely return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. -Hastening to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to -finish the needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw -the two green monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of -us. When they had approached within a hundred yards their thoats -again became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further -toward the air craft which had frightened them. - -The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced -toward us on foot with drawn long-swords. - -I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best -he could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as -had now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to -return to my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate -straits. - -He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon -his throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. -With a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and -with outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body -of the green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and -he sank limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan. - -A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries -and after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the -return voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as -these frail vessels are not intended to convey but a single person. - -Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still, -cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap -returned to Zodanga. - -As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians -and troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was -black with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, -flying long streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags -of odd and picturesque design. - -My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine -close beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, -which, he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on -individual officers and men for bravery and other distinguished -service. He then unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his -craft bore a member of the royal family of Zodanga, and together we -made our way through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung -directly over the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted -upon the small domestic bull thoats of the red Martians, and their -trappings and ornamentation bore such a quantity of gorgeously -colored feathers that I could not but be struck with the startling -resemblance the concourse bore to a band of the red Indians of my -own Earth. - -One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to the presence -of my companion above them and the ruler motioned for him to -descend. As they waited for the troops to move into position facing -the jeddak the two talked earnestly together, the jeddak and his -staff occasionally glancing up at me. I could not hear their -conversation and presently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last -body of troops had wheeled into position before their emperor. A -member of the staff advanced toward the troops, and calling the name -of a soldier commanded him to advance. The officer then recited the -nature of the heroic act which had won the approval of the jeddak, -and the latter advanced and placed a metal ornament upon the left -arm of the lucky man. - -Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out, - -"John Carter, air scout!" - -Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habit of military -discipline is strong within me, and I dropped my little machine -lightly to the ground and advanced on foot as I had seen the others -do. As I halted before the officer, he addressed me in a voice -audible to the entire assemblage of troops and spectators. - -"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkable courage -and skill in defending the person of the cousin of the jeddak Than -Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishing three green warriors, it is the -pleasure of our jeddak to confer on you the mark of his esteem." - -Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing an ornament upon me, -said: - -"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, -which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well -defend a cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the -person of the jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar -of The Guards and will be quartered in my palace hereafter." - -I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. -After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof -of the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from -the palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the -palace. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -I FIND DEJAH - - - -The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to -station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is -always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is -fair in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian -conflict. - -He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than -Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, -Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not -perceive my entrance. - -The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid -tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced -them. The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held -between the ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass -false ceiling a few inches below. - -My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage -which encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the -chamber. Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as -Than Kosis was in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. -My only duty was to guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much -as possible. I would be relieved after a period of four hours. -The major-domo then left me. - -The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance -of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could -perceive all that took place within the room as readily as though -there had been no curtain intervening. - -Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end -of the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, -surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the -soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak -and not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, -was Dejah Thoris. - -Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand -they approached close to the jeddak. Than Kosis looked up in -surprise, and, rising, saluted her. - -"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of -Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, -assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my -son?" - -Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples -playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer: - -"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative -of woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in -matters concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as -has your son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but -now I am, and I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and -to accept the assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time -comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga." - -"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It is -far from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, -and, your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people -issued forthwith." - -"It were better, Than Kosis," interrupted Dejah Thoris, "that the -proclamation wait the ending of this war. It would look strange -indeed to my people and to yours were the Princess of Helium to -give herself to her country's enemy in the midst of hostilities." - -"Cannot the war be ended at once?" spoke Sab Than. "It requires but -the word of Than Kosis to bring peace. Say it, my father, say the -word that will hasten my happiness, and end this unpopular strife." - -"We shall see," replied Than Kosis, "how the people of Helium take -to peace. I shall at least offer it to them." - -Dejah Thoris, after a few words, turned and left the apartment, -still followed by her guards. - -Thus was the edifice of my brief dream of happiness dashed, broken, -to the ground of reality. The woman for whom I had offered my life, -and from whose lips I had so recently heard a declaration of love -for me, had lightly forgotten my very existence and smilingly given -herself to the son of her people's most hated enemy. - -Although I had heard it with my own ears I could not believe it. -I must search out her apartments and force her to repeat the cruel -truth to me alone before I would be convinced, and so I deserted my -post and hastened through the passage behind the tapestries toward -the door by which she had left the chamber. Slipping quietly -through this opening I discovered a maze of winding corridors, -branching and turning in every direction. - -Running rapidly down first one and then another of them I soon -became hopelessly lost and was standing panting against a side wall -when I heard voices near me. Apparently they were coming from the -opposite side of the partition against which I leaned and presently -I made out the tones of Dejah Thoris. I could not hear the words -but I knew that I could not possibly be mistaken in the voice. - -Moving on a few steps I discovered another passageway at the end of -which lay a door. Walking boldly forward I pushed into the room -only to find myself in a small antechamber in which were the four -guards who had accompanied her. One of them instantly arose and -accosted me, asking the nature of my business. - -"I am from Than Kosis," I replied, "and wish to speak privately with -Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium." - -"And your order?" asked the fellow. - -I did not know what he meant, but replied that I was a member of The -Guard, and without waiting for a reply from him I strode toward the -opposite door of the antechamber, behind which I could hear Dejah -Thoris conversing. - -But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman -stepped before me, saying, - -"No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the -password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass." - -"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs -at my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me -pass in peace or no?" - -For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to -join him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my -further progress. - -"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one who had -first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the apartments -of the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under -guard to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; -you cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim smile. - -My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and -I can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me -backed against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I -worked my way to a corner of the room where I could force them to -come at me only one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty -minutes; the clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam -in the little room. - -The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, -and there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back -peering over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and -I knew that she did not recognize me, nor did Sola. - -Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with -only two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down -after the fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. -The third fell within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay -dead upon the bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men -and noble fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill -them, but I would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I -have reached the side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way. - -Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, -who still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition. - -"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me -in my misery?" - -"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend." - -"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, -"and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot -be--no, for he is dead." - -"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," -I said. "Do you not recognize, even through paint and strange -metal, the heart of your chieftain?" - -As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, -but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder -and a little moan of misery. - -"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, -and whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour -before--but now it is too late, too late." - -"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not have -promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I -lived?" - -"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday -and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes -in the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to -another to save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan -army." - -"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all -Zodanga cannot prevent it." - -"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom -that is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but -meaningless formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more -certain than does the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the -seal of death upon him. I am as good as married, John Carter. -No longer may you call me your princess. No longer are you my -chieftain." - -"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, -but I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you -spoke to me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down -upon us, no other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant -them then, my princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is -true." - -"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them -now for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known -our ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise -would have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed -me before all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but -I would have given my empire for my Tharkian chief." - -Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended -me? You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, -and then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, -and I should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was -no one to tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two -kinds of women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for -that they may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for -also, but never ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may -address her as his princess, or in any of the several terms which -signify possession. You had fought for me, but had never asked me -in marriage, and so when you called me your princess, you see," she -faltered, "I was hurt, but even then, John Carter, I did not repulse -you, as I should have done, until you made it doubly worse by -taunting me with having won me through combat." - -"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. -"You must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian -customs. What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my -petition would be presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah -Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, and by all the Virginian fighting -blood that flows in my veins you shall be." - -"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, -"I may never be yours while Sab Than lives." - -"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess--Sab Than dies." - -"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the man -who slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are -ruled by custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must -bear the sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. -That, and the memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must -go now, nor ever see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was." - -Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not -entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost -to me until the ceremony had actually been performed. - -As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the -mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah -Thoris' apartments. - -I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for -the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, -and as I could never reach my original post without a guide, -suspicion would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered -wandering aimlessly through the palace. - -Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and -this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the -doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. -The walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind -which I secreted myself without being apprehended. - -The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no -interest in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four -of the men to relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of -Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and -indeed they were upon me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad -had scarcely left the guardroom before one of their number burst in -again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four comrades -butchered in the antechamber. - -In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, -officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter -through the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, -and searching for signs of the assassin. - -This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as -a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in -behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in -passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming -in through a series of larger windows. - -Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought -for an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony -which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground -was about thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the -building was a wall fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished -glass about a foot in thickness. To a red Martian escape by this -path would have appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly -strength and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear -was in being detected before darkness fell, for I could not make the -leap in broad daylight while the court below and the avenue beyond -were crowded with Zodangans. - -Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one -by accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the -ceiling of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the -capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I -settled down within it than I heard a number of people enter the -apartment. The group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could -plainly overhear their every word. - -"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men. - -"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could -believe that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single -enemy might reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or -eight fighting men could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We -shall soon know, however, for here comes the royal psychologist." - -Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal -greetings to his ruler, said: - -"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds -of your faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number -of fighting men, but by a single opponent." - -He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his -hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced -by the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips -of Than Kosis. - -"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried. - -"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact -the impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the -four guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the -metal of one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was -little short of marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four -and vanquished them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength -and endurance. Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such -a man was never seen before in this or any other country upon -Barsoom. - -"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and -questioned was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could -not read one iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of -the encounter, and that when she looked there was but one man -engaged with the guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as -ever having seen." - -"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I -recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued -from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he -went on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially as -to his fighting ability." - -"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at -once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now -that I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man -in Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And -his name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon -Barsoom!" - -Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the -palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout -squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew -nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he -knew as little, since he had but recently met me during our -captivity among the Warhoons. - -"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He also -is a stranger and likely as not they both hail from Helium, and -where one is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple -the air patrol, and let every man who leaves the city by air or -ground be subjected to the closest scrutiny." - -Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the -palace walls. - -"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace -grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, -"and not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the -guards, other than that which was recorded of him at the time he -entered." - -"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, -"and in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the -Princess of Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She -may know more than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come." - -They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped -lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were -in sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang -quickly to the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue -beyond the palace grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -LOST IN THE SKY - - - -Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our -quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared -the building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that -the place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered -near the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means -of reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were -situated was through an adjoining building, and after considerable -maneuvering I managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors -away. - -Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the -building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment -I stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise -at my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of -duty must have ended some time since. - -I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, -and when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that -Dejah Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with -dismay. - -"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all -Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess -to the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have -assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we -of Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate -the horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance." - -"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a -resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from -this disgrace?" - -"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I can -solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for -personal reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that -frees Dejah Thoris." - -Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke. - -"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?" - -"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is -promised to Sab Than." - -The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the -shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming: - -"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more -fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand -upon your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go -out at the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for -Dejah Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his -quarters in the palace." - -"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force -patrols the sky." - -He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of -confidence. - -"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at last. -"I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the -highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing -above the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that -we investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face -peering from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to -me, most unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the -possessor of the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was -slightly put out at being detected and commanded me to keep the -matter to myself, explaining that the passage from the tower led -directly to his apartments, and was known only to him. If I can -reach the roof of the barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab -Than's quarters in five minutes; but how am I to escape from this -building, guarded as you say it is?" - -"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked. - -"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof." - -"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there." - -Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street -and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, -filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in -common with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me. - -The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a -thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were -higher than these barracks, though several topped it by a few -hundred feet; the docks of the great battleships of the line -standing some fifteen hundred feet from the ground, while the -freight and passenger stations of the merchant squadrons rose nearly -as high. - -It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught -with much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the -task. The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate -made the feat much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found -ornamental ledges and projections which fairly formed a perfect -ladder for me all the way to the eaves of the building. Here I met -my first real obstacle. The eaves projected nearly twenty feet from -the wall to which I clung, and though I encircled the great building -I could find no opening through them. - -The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the -pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof -through the building. - -There was one slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I must -take--it was for Dejah Thoris, and no man has lived who would not -risk a thousand deaths for such as she. - -Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand, I unloosened one of -the long leather straps of my trappings at the end of which dangled -a great hook by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms -of their craft for various purposes of repair, and by means of which -landing parties are lowered to the ground from the battleships. - -I swung this hook cautiously to the roof several times before it -finally found lodgment; gently I pulled on it to strengthen its -hold, but whether it would bear the weight of my body I did not -know. It might be barely caught upon the very outer verge of the -roof, so that as my body swung out at the end of the strap it would -slip off and launch me to the pavement a thousand feet below. - -An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing my grasp upon the -supporting ornament, I swung out into space at the end of the -strap. Far below me lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hard -pavements, and death. There was a little jerk at the top of the -supporting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating sound which turned -me cold with apprehension; then the hook caught and I was safe. - -Clambering quickly aloft I grasped the edge of the eaves and drew -myself to the surface of the roof above. As I gained my feet I was -confronted by the sentry on duty, into the muzzle of whose revolver -I found myself looking. - -"Who are you and whence came you?" he cried. - -"I am an air scout, friend, and very near a dead one, for just by -the merest chance I escaped falling to the avenue below," I replied. - -"But how came you upon the roof, man? No one has landed or come up -from the building for the past hour. Quick, explain yourself, or I -call the guard." - -"Look you here, sentry, and you shall see how I came and how close a -shave I had to not coming at all," I answered, turning toward the -edge of the roof, where, twenty feet below, at the end of my strap, -hung all my weapons. - -The fellow, acting on impulse of curiosity, stepped to my side and -to his undoing, for as he leaned to peer over the eaves I grasped -him by his throat and his pistol arm and threw him heavily to the -roof. The weapon dropped from his grasp, and my fingers choked off -his attempted cry for assistance. I gagged and bound him and then -hung him over the edge of the roof as I myself had hung a few -moments before. I knew it would be morning before he would be -discovered, and I needed all the time that I could gain. - -Donning my trappings and weapons I hastened to the sheds, and soon -had out both my machine and Kantos Kan's. Making his fast behind -mine I started my engine, and skimming over the edge of the roof I -dove down into the streets of the city far below the plane usually -occupied by the air patrol. In less than a minute I was settling -safely upon the roof of our apartment beside the astonished Kantos -Kan. - -I lost no time in explanation, but plunged immediately into a -discussion of our plans for the immediate future. It was decided -that I was to try to make Helium while Kantos Kan was to enter the -palace and dispatch Sab Than. If successful he was then to follow -me. He set my compass for me, a clever little device which will -remain steadfastly fixed upon any given point on the surface of -Barsoom, and bidding each other farewell we rose together and sped -in the direction of the palace which lay in the route which I must -take to reach Helium. - -As we neared the high tower a patrol shot down from above, throwing -its piercing searchlight full upon my craft, and a voice roared out -a command to halt, following with a shot as I paid no attention to -his hail. Kantos Kan dropped quickly into the darkness, while I -rose steadily and at terrific speed raced through the Martian sky -followed by a dozen of the air-scout craft which had joined the -pursuit, and later by a swift cruiser carrying a hundred men and -a battery of rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turning my little -machine, now rising and now falling, I managed to elude their -search-lights most of the time, but I was also losing ground by -these tactics, and so I decided to hazard everything on a -straight-away course and leave the result to fate and the speed -of my machine. - -Kantos Kan had shown me a trick of gearing, which is known only -to the navy of Helium, that greatly increased the speed of our -machines, so that I felt sure I could distance my pursuers if -I could dodge their projectiles for a few moments. - -As I sped through the air the screeching of the bullets around me -convinced me that only by a miracle could I escape, but the die was -cast, and throwing on full speed I raced a straight course toward -Helium. Gradually I left my pursuers further and further behind, -and I was just congratulating myself on my lucky escape, when a -well-directed shot from the cruiser exploded at the prow of my -little craft. The concussion nearly capsized her, and with a -sickening plunge she hurtled downward through the dark night. - -How far I fell before I regained control of the plane I do not know, -but I must have been very close to the ground when I started to rise -again, as I plainly heard the squealing of animals below me. Rising -again I scanned the heavens for my pursuers, and finally making out -their lights far behind me, saw that they were landing, evidently -in search of me. - -Not until their lights were no longer discernible did I venture -to flash my little lamp upon my compass, and then I found to my -consternation that a fragment of the projectile had utterly -destroyed my only guide, as well as my speedometer. It was true -I could follow the stars in the general direction of Helium, but -without knowing the exact location of the city or the speed at -which I was traveling my chances for finding it were slim. - -Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga, and with my -compass intact I should have made the trip, barring accidents, in -between four and five hours. As it turned out, however, morning -found me speeding over a vast expanse of dead sea bottom after -nearly six hours of continuous flight at high speed. Presently a -great city showed below me, but it was not Helium, as that alone of -all Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular walled -cities about seventy-five miles apart and would have been easily -distinguishable from the altitude at which I was flying. - -Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned -back in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon -several other large cities, but none resembling the description -which Kantos Kan had given me of Helium. In addition to the -twin-city formation of Helium, another distinguishing feature is the -two immense towers, one of vivid scarlet rising nearly a mile into -the air from the center of one of the cities, while the other, of -bright yellow and of the same height, marks her sister. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND - - - -About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and -as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several -thousand green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had -I seen them than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the -almost unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly -a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to the ground. - -I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among -warriors who had not seen my approach so busily were they engaged -in life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with -long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the -outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might -for an instant separate himself from the entangled mass. - -As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, -with good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground -with drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could. - -I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, -and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of -battle, I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I -was a trifle behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing -him, and whom I recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The -mighty fellow made quick work of one of them, but in stepping back -for another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and was down -and at the mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they -were upon him, and Tars Tarkas would have been gathered to his -fathers in short order had I not sprung before his prostrate form -and engaged his adversaries. I had accounted for one of them when -the mighty Thark regained his feet and quickly settled the other. - -He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, -touching my shoulder, he said, - -"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other -mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I -think I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my -friend." - -He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were -closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, -during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned -and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their -thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness. - -Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon -the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or -gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners. - -On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to -Tars Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain -attended the customary council which immediately follows an -engagement. - -As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard something -move in an adjoining apartment, and as I glanced up there rushed -suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature which bore me backward -upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining. It -was Woola--faithful, loving Woola. He had found his way back to -Thark and, as Tars Tarkas later told me, had gone immediately to my -former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly -hopeless watch for my return. - -"Tal Hajus knows that you are here, John Carter," said Tars Tarkas, -on his return from the jeddak's quarters; "Sarkoja saw and -recognized you as we were returning. Tal Hajus has ordered me to -bring you before him tonight. I have ten thoats, John Carter; you -may take your choice from among them, and I will accompany you to -the nearest waterway that leads to Helium. Tars Tarkas may be a -cruel green warrior, but he can be a friend as well. Come, we -must start." - -"And when you return, Tars Tarkas?" I asked. - -"The wild calots, possibly, or worse," he replied. "Unless I should -chance to have the opportunity I have so long waited of battling -with Tal Hajus." - -"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see Tal Hajus tonight. You shall -not sacrifice yourself, and it may be that tonight you can have the -chance you wait." - -He objected strenuously, saying that Tal Hajus often flew into wild -fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I had dealt him, and -that if ever he laid his hands upon me I would be subjected to the -most horrible tortures. - -While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story which Sola -had told me that night upon the sea bottom during the march to -Thark. - -He said but little, but the great muscles of his face worked in -passion and in agony at recollection of the horrors which had been -heaped upon the only thing he had ever loved in all his cold, cruel, -terrible existence. - -He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before Tal Hajus, -only saying that he would like to speak to Sarkoja first. At his -request I accompanied him to her quarters, and the look of venomous -hatred she cast upon me was almost adequate recompense for any -future misfortunes this accidental return to Thark might bring me. - -"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty years ago you were instrumental -in bringing about the torture and death of a woman named Gozava. -I have just discovered that the warrior who loved that woman has -learned of your part in the transaction. He may not kill you, -Sarkoja, it is not our custom, but there is nothing to prevent him -tying one end of a strap about your neck and the other end to a wild -thoat, merely to test your fitness to survive and help perpetuate -our race. Having heard that he would do this on the morrow, I -thought it only right to warn you, for I am a just man. The river -Iss is but a short pilgrimage, Sarkoja. Come, John Carter." - -The next morning Sarkoja was gone, nor was she ever seen after. - -In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace, where we were -immediately admitted to his presence; in fact, he could scarcely -wait to see me and was standing erect upon his platform glowering -at the entrance as I came in. - -"Strap him to that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see who it is -dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus. Heat the irons; with my own -hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he may not pollute -my person with his vile gaze." - -"Chieftains of Thark," I cried, turning to the assembled council and -ignoring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief among you, and today I have -fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder with her greatest warrior. -You owe me, at least, a hearing. I have won that much today. You -claim to be just people--" - -"Silence," roared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind him as I -command." - -"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel. "Who are you to set -aside the customs of ages among the Tharks." - -"Yes, justice!" echoed a dozen voices, and so, while Tal Hajus fumed -and frothed, I continued. - -"You are a brave people and you love bravery, but where was your -mighty jeddak during the fighting today? I did not see him in the -thick of battle; he was not there. He rends defenseless women and -little children in his lair, but how recently has one of you seen -him fight with men? Why, even I, a midget beside him, felled him -with a single blow of my fist. Is it of such that the Tharks -fashion their jeddaks? There stands beside me now a great Thark, -a mighty warrior and a noble man. Chieftains, how sounds, Tars -Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark?" - -A roar of deep-toned applause greeted this suggestion. - -"It but remains for this council to command, and Tal Hajus must -prove his fitness to rule. Were he a brave man he would invite Tars -Tarkas to combat, for he does not love him, but Tal Hajus is afraid; -Tal Hajus, your jeddak, is a coward. With my bare hands I could -kill him, and he knows it." - -After I ceased there was tense silence, as all eyes were riveted -upon Tal Hajus. He did not speak or move, but the blotchy green of -his countenance turned livid, and the froth froze upon his lips. - -"Tal Hajus," said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold, hard voice, "never in my -long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks so humiliated. There -could be but one answer to this arraignment. We wait it." And -still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified. - -"Chieftains," continued Lorquas Ptomel, "shall the jeddak, Tal -Hajus, prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?" - -There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum, and twenty swords -flashed high in assent. - -There was no alternative. That decree was final, and so Tal Hajus -drew his long-sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas. - -The combat was soon over, and, with his foot upon the neck of the -dead monster, Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks. - -His first act was to make me a full-fledged chieftain with the rank -I had won by my combats the first few weeks of my captivity among -them. - -Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, -as well as toward me, I grasped the opportunity to enlist them in -my cause against Zodanga. I told Tars Tarkas the story of my -adventures, and in a few words had explained to him the thought -I had in mind. - -"John Carter has made a proposal," he said, addressing the council, -"which meets with my sanction. I shall put it to you briefly. -Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium, who was our prisoner, is now -held by the jeddak of Zodanga, whose son she must wed to save her -country from devastation at the hands of the Zodangan forces. - -"John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her to Helium. -The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent, and I have often thought -that had we an alliance with the people of Helium we could obtain -sufficient assurance of sustenance to permit us to increase the size -and frequency of our hatchings, and thus become unquestionably -supreme among the green men of all Barsoom. What say you?" - -It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to -the bait as a speckled trout to a fly. - -For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic, and before another half -hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across dead -sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition. - -In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga, one hundred -thousand strong, as Tars Tarkas had been able to enlist the services -of three smaller hordes on the promise of the great loot of Zodanga. - -At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark while at the -heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola. - -We traveled entirely by night, timing our marches so that we camped -during the day at deserted cities where, even to the beasts, we -were all kept indoors during the daylight hours. On the march Tars -Tarkas, through his remarkable ability and statesmanship, enlisted -fifty thousand more warriors from various hordes, so that, ten days -after we set out we halted at midnight outside the great walled city -of Zodanga, one hundred and fifty thousand strong. - -The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of ferocious -green monsters was equivalent to ten times their number of red men. -Never in the history of Barsoom, Tars Tarkas told me, had such a -force of green warriors marched to battle together. It was a -monstrous task to keep even a semblance of harmony among them, and -it was a marvel to me that he got them to the city without a mighty -battle among themselves. - -But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were submerged -by their greater hatred for the red men, and especially for -the Zodangans, who had for years waged a ruthless campaign of -extermination against the green men, directing special attention -toward despoiling their incubators. - -Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining entry to the -city devolved upon me, and directing Tars Tarkas to hold his forces -in two divisions out of earshot of the city, with each division -opposite a large gateway, I took twenty dismounted warriors and -approached one of the small gates that pierced the walls at short -intervals. These gates have no regular guard, but are covered by -sentries, who patrol the avenue that encircles the city just -within the walls as our metropolitan police patrol their beats. - -The walls of Zodanga are seventy-five feet in height and fifty feet -thick. They are built of enormous blocks of carborundum, and the -task of entering the city seemed, to my escort of green warriors, an -impossibility. The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me -were of one of the smaller hordes, and therefore did not know me. - -Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked, -I commanded two more to mount to their shoulders, and a sixth I -ordered to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two. The head -of the topmost warrior towered over forty feet from the ground. - -In this way, with ten warriors, I built a series of three steps from -the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man. Then starting from -a short distance behind them I ran swiftly up from one tier to the -next, and with a final bound from the broad shoulders of the highest -I clutched the top of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its -broad expanse. After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an -equal number of my warriors. These lengths we had previously -fastened together, and passing one end to the topmost warrior I -lowered the other end cautiously over the opposite side of the wall -toward the avenue below. No one was in sight, so, lowering myself -to the end of my leather strap, I dropped the remaining thirty feet -to the pavement below. - -I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening these gates, -and in another moment my twenty great fighting men stood within -the doomed city of Zodanga. - -I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower boundary of -the enormous palace grounds. The building itself showed in the -distance a blaze of glorious light, and on the instant I determined -to lead a detachment of warriors directly within the palace itself, -while the balance of the great horde was attacking the barracks of -the soldiery. - -Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail of fifty -Tharks, with word of my intentions, I ordered ten warriors to -capture and open one of the great gates while with the nine -remaining I took the other. We were to do our work quietly, no -shots were to be fired and no general advance made until I had -reached the palace with my fifty Tharks. Our plans worked to -perfection. The two sentries we met were dispatched to their -fathers upon the banks of the lost sea of Korus, and the guards -at both gates followed them in silence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA - - - -As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks, headed -by Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon their mighty thoats. I led -them to the palace walls, which I negotiated easily without -assistance. Once inside, however, the gate gave me considerable -trouble, but I finally was rewarded by seeing it swing upon its -huge hinges, and soon my fierce escort was riding across the -gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga. - -As we approached the palace I could see through the great windows of -the first floor into the brilliantly illuminated audience chamber -of Than Kosis. The immense hall was crowded with nobles and their -women, as though some important function was in progress. There was -not a guard in sight without the palace, due, I presume, to the fact -that the city and palace walls were considered impregnable, and so -I came close and peered within. - -At one end of the chamber, upon massive golden thrones encrusted -with diamonds, sat Than Kosis and his consort, surrounded by -officers and dignitaries of state. Before them stretched a broad -aisle lined on either side with soldiery, and as I looked there -entered this aisle at the far end of the hall, the head of a -procession which advanced to the foot of the throne. - -First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard bearing a -huge salver on which reposed, upon a cushion of scarlet silk, a -great golden chain with a collar and padlock at each end. Directly -behind these officers came four others carrying a similar salver -which supported the magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess -of the reigning house of Zodanga. - -At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, -facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more -dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and -finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not -a feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the -foot of the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the -procession had entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis -addressed the couple standing before him. I could not hear his -words, but presently two officers advanced and removed the scarlet -robe from one of the figures, and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed -in his mission, for it was Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood -revealed before me. - -Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers -and placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, -springing the padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to -Sab Than he turned to the other figure, from which the officers -now removed the enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now -comprehending view Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. - -The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah -Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an -impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed -the most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments -were adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung -open in the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my -head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great -window and sprang into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With -a bound I was on the steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as -he stood riveted with surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the -golden chain that would have bound Dejah Thoris to another. - -In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me -from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled -dagger he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed -him as easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom -stayed my hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my -heart I held him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed -to the far end of the hall. - -"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!" - -All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging -through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his -fifty warriors on their great thoats. - -A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word -of fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were -hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks. - -Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris -to my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than -Kosis now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we -were engaged, and I found no mean antagonist. - -As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the -steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah -Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made -Sab Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the -floor the new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, -and again we faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of -officers, and, with my back against a golden throne, I fought once -again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet -not strike down Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the -woman I loved. My blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning -as I sought to parry the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I -had disarmed, and one was down, when several more rushed to the aid -of their new ruler, and to avenge the death of the old. - -As they advanced there were cries of "The woman! The woman! -Strike her down; it is her plot. Kill her! Kill her!" - -Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me I worked my way toward the -little doorway back of the throne, but the officers realized my -intentions, and three of them sprang in behind me and blocked my -chances for gaining a position where I could have defended Dejah -Thoris against any army of swordsmen. - -The Tharks were having their hands full in the center of the room, -and I began to realize that nothing short of a miracle could save -Dejah Thoris and myself, when I saw Tars Tarkas surging through the -crowd of pygmies that swarmed about him. With one swing of his -mighty longsword he laid a dozen corpses at his feet, and so he -hewed a pathway before him until in another moment he stood upon the -platform beside me, dealing death and destruction right and left. - -The bravery of the Zodangans was awe-inspiring, not one attempted -to escape, and when the fighting ceased it was because only Tharks -remained alive in the great hall, other than Dejah Thoris and -myself. - -Sab Than lay dead beside his father, and the corpses of the flower -of Zodangan nobility and chivalry covered the floor of the bloody -shambles. - -My first thought when the battle was over was for Kantos Kan, -and leaving Dejah Thoris in charge of Tars Tarkas I took a dozen -warriors and hastened to the dungeons beneath the palace. The -jailers had all left to join the fighters in the throne room, so -we searched the labyrinthine prison without opposition. - -I called Kantos Kan's name aloud in each new corridor and -compartment, and finally I was rewarded by hearing a faint response. -Guided by the sound, we soon found him helpless in a dark recess. - -He was overjoyed at seeing me, and to know the meaning of the fight, -faint echoes of which had reached his prison cell. He told me that -the air patrol had captured him before he reached the high tower of -the palace, so that he had not even seen Sab Than. - -We discovered that it would be futile to attempt to cut away the -bars and chains which held him prisoner, so, at his suggestion I -returned to search the bodies on the floor above for keys to open -the padlocks of his cell and of his chains. - -Fortunately among the first I examined I found his jailer, and soon -we had Kantos Kan with us in the throne room. - -The sounds of heavy firing, mingled with shouts and cries, came to -us from the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas hastened away to direct -the fighting without. Kantos Kan accompanied him to act as guide, -the green warriors commencing a thorough search of the palace for -other Zodangans and for loot, and Dejah Thoris and I were left -alone. - -She had sunk into one of the golden thrones, and as I turned to her -she greeted me with a wan smile. - -"Was there ever such a man!" she exclaimed. "I know that Barsoom -has never before seen your like. Can it be that all Earth men are -as you? Alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened, persecuted, you have -done in a few short months what in all the past ages of Barsoom no -man has ever done: joined together the wild hordes of the sea -bottoms and brought them to fight as allies of a red Martian -people." - -"The answer is easy, Dejah Thoris," I replied smiling. "It was not -I who did it, it was love, love for Dejah Thoris, a power that would -work greater miracles than this you have seen." - -A pretty flush overspread her face and she answered, - -"You may say that now, John Carter, and I may listen, for I -am free." - -"And more still I have to say, ere it is again too late," I -returned. "I have done many strange things in my life, many things -that wiser men would not have dared, but never in my wildest fancies -have I dreamed of winning a Dejah Thoris for myself--for never had I -dreamed that in all the universe dwelt such a woman as the Princess -of Helium. That you are a princess does not abash me, but that you -are you is enough to make me doubt my sanity as I ask you, my -princess, to be mine." - -"He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the answer to his -plea before the plea were made," she replied, rising and placing her -dear hands upon my shoulders, and so I took her in my arms and -kissed her. - -And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict, filled with the -alarms of war; with death and destruction reaping their terrible -harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, true -daughter of Mars, the God of War, promise herself in marriage to -John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY - - - -Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that -Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely -destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected -from within. Several battleships had escaped, but there were -thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark warriors. - -The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling among -themselves, so it was decided that we collect what warriors we -could, man as many vessels as possible with Zodangan prisoners -and make for Helium without further loss of time. - -Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with -a fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one -hundred thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports -with our thoats. - -Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal -clutches of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser hordes. -They were looting, murdering, and fighting amongst themselves. In -a hundred places they had applied the torch, and columns of dense -smoke were rising above the city as though to blot out from the -eye of heaven the horrid sights beneath. - -In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow -towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan -battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, -and advanced to meet us. - -The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each -of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to -realize that we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had -opened fire upon them almost as they left the ground. With their -uncanny marksmanship they raked the on-coming fleet with volley -after volley. - -The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out -hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air -battle I had ever witnessed. - -The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above -the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries -were useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have -no skill in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was -most effective, and the final outcome of the engagement was -strongly influenced, if not wholly determined, by their presence. - -At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring -broadside after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole -was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the -Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely over, the little -figures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting toward the -ground a thousand feet below; then with sickening velocity she tore -after them, almost completely burying herself in the soft loam of -the ancient sea bottom. - -A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with -redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty -maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their -adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb -batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs. - -Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising -above the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the -beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the -high scarlet tower of greater Helium. Several others attempted -to escape, but they were soon surrounded by thousands of tiny -individual fliers, and above each hung a monster battleship of -Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon their decks. - -Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious -Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the -besiegers the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the -conquered Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under -prize crews. - -There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these -mighty fliers, the result of an age-old custom which demanded that -surrender should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of -the commander of the vanquished vessel. One after another the brave -fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from -the towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. - -Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, -thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the -fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an -end. - -We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach, and -when she was within hailing distance I called out that we had the -Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her -to the flagship that she might be taken immediately to the city. - -As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry -arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors -of the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper -works. When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of -the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled -her colors in the gleaming sunlight. - -The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and -touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks. As their -astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now -came forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at -sight of Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, -crowding about him. - -Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other -than her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for -they were men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, -and she knew them well. - -"Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter," she said to them, -turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well -as her victory today." - -They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complimentary -things, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won the -aid of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of Dejah -Thoris, and the relief of Helium. - -"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "and -here he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen, -Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark." - -With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner toward -me they extended their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to my -surprise, was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtly -speech. Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremely -formal, and their ways lend themselves amazingly well to dignified -and courtly manners. - -Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that I -would not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was but -partly won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangans -to account for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that had -been accomplished. - -The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange to -have the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction with -our land attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris was -borne in triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors, -Jeddak of Helium. - -In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of the -green warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Without -landing stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload these -beasts upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, and -so we put out for a point about ten miles from the city and began -the task. - -It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in slings and -this work occupied the remainder of the day and half the night. -Twice we were attacked by parties of Zodangan cavalry, but with -little loss, however, and after darkness shut down they withdrew. - -As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave the command -to advance, and in three parties we crept upon the Zodangan camp -from the north, the south and the east. - -About a mile from the main camp we encountered their outposts and, -as had been prearranged, accepted this as the signal to charge. -With wild, ferocious cries and amidst the nasty squealing of -battle-enraged thoats we bore down upon the Zodangans. - -We did not catch them napping, but found a well-entrenched battle -line confronting us. Time after time we were repulsed until, toward -noon, I began to fear for the result of the battle. - -The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men, gathered -from pole to pole, wherever stretched their ribbon-like waterways, -while pitted against them were less than a hundred thousand green -warriors. The forces from Helium had not arrived, nor could we -receive any word from them. - -Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between the -Zodangans and the cities, and we knew then that our much-needed -reinforcements had come. - -Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge, and once more the mighty -thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts of the enemy. -At the same moment the battle line of Helium surged over the -opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and in another moment they -were being crushed as between two millstones. Nobly they fought, -but in vain. - -The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere the last -Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased, the prisoners -were marched back to Helium, and we entered the greater city's -gates, a huge triumphal procession of conquering heroes. - -The broad avenues were lined with women and children, among which -were the few men whose duties necessitated that they remain within -the city during the battle. We were greeted with an endless round -of applause and showered with ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, -and precious jewels. The city had gone mad with joy. - -My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm. -Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the gates -of Helium, and that they came now as friends and allies filled the -red men with rejoicing. - -That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known to the -Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my name, and by the -loads of ornaments that were fastened upon me and my huge thoat as -we passed up the avenues to the palace, for even in the face of the -ferocious appearance of Woola the populace pressed close about me. - -As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a party of -officers who greeted us warmly and requested that Tars Tarkas and -his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his wild allies, together with -myself, dismount and accompany them to receive from Tardos Mors an -expression of his gratitude for our services. - -At the top of the great steps leading up to the main portals of the -palace stood the royal party, and as we reached the lower steps one -of their number descended to meet us. - -He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall, straight as an -arrow, superbly muscled and with the carriage and bearing of a ruler -of men. I did not need to be told that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddak -of Helium. - -The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his first -words sealed forever the new friendship between the races. - -"That Tardos Mors," he said, earnestly, "may meet the greatest -living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor, but that he -may lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and ally is a far -greater boon." - -"Jeddak of Helium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a man -of another world to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaning -of friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark can -understand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate the -sentiments so graciously expressed." - -Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and to -each spoke words of friendship and appreciation. - -As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders. - -"Welcome, my son," he said; "that you are granted, gladly, and -without one word of opposition, the most precious jewel in all -Helium, yes, on all Barsoom, is sufficient earnest of my esteem." - -We were then presented to Mors Kajak, Jed of lesser Helium, and -father of Dejah Thoris. He had followed close behind Tardos Mors -and seemed even more affected by the meeting than had his father. - -He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me, but his voice -choked with emotion and he could not speak, and yet he had, as I was -to later learn, a reputation for ferocity and fearlessness as a -fighter that was remarkable even upon warlike Barsoom. In common -with all Helium he worshiped his daughter, nor could he think of -what she had escaped without deep emotion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -FROM JOY TO DEATH - - - -For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were feasted -and entertained, and, then, loaded with costly presents and escorted -by ten thousand soldiers of Helium commanded by Mors Kajak, they -started on the return journey to their own lands. The jed of lesser -Helium with a small party of nobles accompanied them all the way to -Thark to cement more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship. - -Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas, her father, who before all his -chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter. - -Three weeks later, Mors Kajak and his officers, accompanied by Tars -Tarkas and Sola, returned upon a battleship that had been dispatched -to Thark to fetch them in time for the ceremony which made Dejah -Thoris and John Carter one. - -For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the armies of -Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors. The people seemed -never to tire of heaping honors upon me, and no day passed that -did not bring some new proof of their love for my princess, the -incomparable Dejah Thoris. - -In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a snow-white -egg. For nearly five years ten soldiers of the jeddak's Guard had -constantly stood over it, and not a day passed when I was in the -city that Dejah Thoris and I did not stand hand in hand before our -little shrine planning for the future, when the delicate shell -should break. - -Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we sat there -talking in low tones of the strange romance which had woven our -lives together and of this wonder which was coming to augment our -happiness and fulfill our hopes. - -In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching -airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a -sight. Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its -very speed bespoke the unusual. - -Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the -jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which -must convoy it to the palace docks. - -Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to -the council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that -body. - -On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back -and forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he -turned toward us. - -"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of -Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless -report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a -score of capitals elicited a sign of response. - -"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter -in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a -thousand cruisers have been searching for him until just now one -of them returns bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits -beneath his house horribly mutilated by some assassin. - -"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would -take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has -already commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine -of the pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for -hundreds of years now; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The -instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of -Barsoom--the engine has stopped." - -"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live." - -There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young -noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head -addressed Tardos Mors. - -"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown -Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity -to show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as -though a thousand useful years still lay before us." - -The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to -do than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our -ways with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts. - -When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had -reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard. - -"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank -whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together." - -The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, -but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at -the higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of -Helium were filled with people. All business had ceased. For -the most part the people looked bravely into the face of their -unalterable doom. Here and there, however, men and women gave -way to quiet grief. - -Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb -and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands -into the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation. - -Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had -collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the -palace. We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as -the awe of the grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola -seemed to feel the weight of the impending calamity, for he -pressed close to Dejah Thoris and to me, whining pitifully. - -The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace -at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing longingly upon -the unknown little life that now she would never know. - -As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors -arose, saying, - -"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of -Barsoom are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world -which through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens -peopled not even by memories. It is the end." - -He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong -hand upon the shoulders of the men. - -As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head -was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. -With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms. - -Her eyes opened and looked into mine. - -"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! -It is cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon -a life of love and happiness." - -As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable -power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia -sprang to life in my veins. - -"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be -some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange -world for love of you, will find it." - -And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious -mind a series of nine long forgotten sounds. Like a flash of -lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned upon me--the -key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant! - -Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my dying love -to my breast I cried. - -"A flier, Jeddak! Quick! Order your swiftest flier to the palace -top. I can save Barsoom yet." - -He did not wait to question, but in an instant a guard was racing -to the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone at -the rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one-man, air-scout -machine that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced. - -Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola, who would -have followed me, to remain and guard her, I bounded with my old -agility and strength to the high ramparts of the palace, and in -another moment I was headed toward the goal of the hopes of all -Barsoom. - -I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe, but I took a -straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise only -a few feet above the ground. - -I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race against time -with death. The face of Dejah Thoris hung always before me. As I -turned for a last look as I left the palace garden I had seen her -stagger and sink upon the ground beside the little incubator. That -she had dropped into the last coma which would end in death, if the -air supply remained unreplenished, I well knew, and so, throwing -caution to the winds, I flung overboard everything but the engine -and compass, even to my ornaments, and lying on my belly along the -deck with one hand on the steering wheel and the other pushing the -speed lever to its last notch I split the thin air of dying Mars -with the speed of a meteor. - -An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere plant loomed -suddenly before me, and with a sickening thud I plunged to the -ground before the small door which was withholding the spark of -life from the inhabitants of an entire planet. - -Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring to pierce the -wall, but they had scarcely scratched the flint-like surface, and -now most of them lay in the last sleep from which not even air would -awaken them. - -Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium, and it was with -difficulty that I breathed at all. There were a few men still -conscious, and to one of these I spoke. - -"If I can open these doors is there a man who can start the -engines?" I asked. - -"I can," he replied, "if you open quickly. I can last but a few -moments more. But it is useless, they are both dead and no one else -upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful locks. For three days -men crazed with fear have surged about this portal in vain attempts -to solve its mystery." - -I had no time to talk, I was becoming very weak and it was with -difficulty that I controlled my mind at all. - -But, with a final effort, as I sank weakly to my knees I hurled the -nine thought waves at that awful thing before me. The Martian had -crawled to my side and with staring eyes fixed on the single panel -before us we waited in the silence of death. - -Slowly the mighty door receded before us. I attempted to rise and -follow it but I was too weak. - -"After it," I cried to my companion, "and if you reach the pump room -turn loose all the pumps. It is the only chance Barsoom has to -exist tomorrow!" - -From where I lay I opened the second door, and then the third, and -as I saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on hands and knees -through the last doorway I sank unconscious upon the ground. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -AT THE ARIZONA CAVE - - - -It was dark when I opened my eyes again. Strange, stiff garments -were upon my body; garments that cracked and powdered away from me -as I rose to a sitting posture. - -I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to foot I was -clothed, though when I fell unconscious at the little doorway I had -been naked. Before me was a small patch of moonlit sky which showed -through a ragged aperture. - -As my hands passed over my body they came in contact with pockets -and in one of these a small parcel of matches wrapped in oiled -paper. One of these matches I struck, and its dim flame lighted -up what appeared to be a huge cave, toward the back of which I -discovered a strange, still figure huddled over a tiny bench. As -I approached it I saw that it was the dead and mummified remains -of a little old woman with long black hair, and the thing it -leaned over was a small charcoal burner upon which rested a round -copper vessel containing a small quantity of greenish powder. - -Behind her, depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs, and -stretching entirely across the cave, was a row of human skeletons. -From the thong which held them stretched another to the dead hand -of the little old woman; as I touched the cord the skeletons swung -to the motion with a noise as of the rustling of dry leaves. - -It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened out -into the fresh air; glad to escape from so gruesome a place. - -The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small ledge which -ran before the entrance of the cave filled me with consternation. - -A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze. The silvered -mountains in the distance, the almost stationary moon hanging in -the sky, the cacti-studded valley below me were not of Mars. I -could scarcely believe my eyes, but the truth slowly forced itself -upon me--I was looking upon Arizona from the same ledge from which -ten years before I had gazed with longing upon Mars. - -Burying my head in my arms I turned, broken, and sorrowful, down the -trail from the cave. - -Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful secret, -forty-eight million miles away. - -Did the Martian reach the pump room? Did the vitalizing air reach -the people of that distant planet in time to save them? Was my -Dejah Thoris alive, or did her beautiful body lie cold in death -beside the tiny golden incubator in the sunken garden of the inner -courtyard of the palace of Tardos Mors, the jeddak of Helium? - -For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to my -questions. For ten years I have waited and prayed to be taken -back to the world of my lost love. I would rather lie dead beside -her there than live on Earth all those millions of terrible miles -from her. - -The old mine, which I found untouched, has made me fabulously -wealthy; but what care I for wealth! - -As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the Hudson, -just twenty years have elapsed since I first opened my eyes upon -Mars. - -I can see her shining in the sky through the little window by my -desk, and tonight she seems calling to me again as she has not -called before since that long dead night, and I think I can see, -across that awful abyss of space, a beautiful black-haired woman -standing in the garden of a palace, and at her side is a little boy -who puts his arm around her as she points into the sky toward the -planet Earth, while at their feet is a huge and hideous creature -with a heart of gold. - -I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me -that I shall soon know. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS *** - -This file should be named pmars13.txt or pmars13.zip -Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, pmars14.txt -VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, pmars13a.txt - -Corrections supplied in November 2001 by Andrew Sly. -Illustrations for the HTML format provided by Tim Holmes. - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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