Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-17

7 had reached the ears OF Lorquas Ptomel
| so quickly. and now ] recalled those por-
| tions Of our conversation which had touch
ed upon escape and upon my origin.
! Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tarkas's
| oldest and most trusted female AS such
| she was n mighty power behind the throne
| for no warrior had the confidence Of Lor-
| uuas Ptomel to such an extent as did his
ablest lieutenant, Tara Tarkas.
Instead, however. or putting thoughts OF
4 possible escape from my mind. my audi
ence with Boruuas Ptomel only served to
centre my every faculty on this subject.
| Now, more than before, the absolute neces-
sity 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
/ Tai Haius.
As described by sola this monster was
the exaggerated personiication 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,
n slave to brute passion
The thought that the divine Dejah Thor
is might fail into the clutches of such
an abysmal atavsm started the cold sweat
upon me. Far better that we save friend
~ bullet for ourselves for 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 forebodlngs Tars Tarkas ap-
preached 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 Car
ter?' he asked.
"I have selected none" | replied. at
seemed best that quartercd either by my
self or among the other warriors, and |
was awaiting an opportunity to ask your
advice. AS you know" and | smiled 81
am not yet familiar with all the customs
of the Tharlks."
Come with me-" he directed. and to-
gether we moved off across the plaza to a
building which adjoined that occupied by
Sola and her charges.
MY quarters are on the first floor of
this building" he said. "Thc 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 pris-
oncr. Well, as you have said. your ways
are not our ways, but you can fight well
enough to do about as you please. Thus,
if you wish to give your woman to a
captive, 1t is your own affair.
AS a chieftain however. you should
have those to serve you, and in accordance
with our customs you may select any or
all the females from the rctinues Of the
chieftains whose metal you now wear"
l thanked him. but assured him that l
could get along very nicely without assist
ance, 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 had none of
my own.
He promised to do so, and departed.
Left alone, / ascended the winding cOrri-
dor to the upper floors in search of suit
able quarters. The beauties of the other
buildings were repeated in this, and. as
usual. was soon lost in tour of investi-
cation and discovery.