Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-15
UNDER THE MOONS OF MARS
By EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS


prised when we answered in the negative.
1t seemed that as she had mounted the APP
proach to the upper floors, where our
quarters were located, she had met
Sarltoja descending.
We decided that she must have been
eavesdropping but as we could recall moth
ing 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 1 then fell TO examin-
ing the architecture and decorations of the
beautiful chambers of the building we
were occupying
She told me that these people had pre-
sumaby flourshed more than 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 flourshed at the same
time
These three great divisions of the higher
Martians had been forced into mighty
alliance as the drying up of the Marian
seas had compelled them to seek the com
paratively few and always diminishins
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 re-
suited in the race of red men, of which
Dejah Thoris was fair and beautiful
daughter
During, the centuries of hardshps and
incessant warning between the various
races themselves, as well as with the
green men. aud 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 be.
come lost. But the red race of today
had reached point where 1t feels that 1t
has made up in new discoveries and in
more practical civilization for all that
lies irretrievably buried with the ancient
Barsoomians beneath the countless inter.
vening ages
The extinct Martians had been a highly
cultivated and literary race, but during
the vicissitudes of the trying centuries of
reimbursement. not only did their advance
ment and production cease entirely, but
virtually all their archives, records and
literature were lost
Dcjah Thoris related many interesting
facts and legends concerning this lost race
of noble and kindly people
She said that the city in which we we're
camping was supposed to have been a
centre of commerce and culture known as
Korad. 1t had been built upon a beautiful
natural harbor, landlocl<ed by magnificent
hills
The little valley on the west front of
mained of the harbOr, while the pass
through the hills to the old sea bottom had
been the channel through which the ship
ping passed up to the City's gates.
The shores of the ancient seas were dot
ted with just such cities and lesser ones.
III diminishing numbers, we're to be found
converging toward the centre of the
oceans as the people had found 1t neces-
Sary to follow the rcCeding waters until
necessity had forced upon them their
ultimate salvation, the so.calle" Martian
canals.
We had been so engrossed in the en-
ploration of the building and in our CON
versation 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 summons from Lorquas Ptomel
directing me to appear before him forth.
with.
Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell,
and commanding WoOla to remain on
guard | hastened to the audience chamber,
where l found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars
Tarkas seated upon the rostrum.
CONTINUED MONDAY.)