Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-29

xodar Joined me, and together we slowly
retraced our steps toward the gardens,
'You spared my life when you might
easily have taken IT," he said after we
had proceeded some little way in silence
"and 1 would aid you II l might. can
help to make your life here more bearable,
but your fate ia Inevitable. You may never
hope to return TO the outer world
what will be my fatei" 1 asked.
THAT will depend largely upon 1ssus. SO
long she does not send for you and re-
veal her face to you you may live on for
years in as mild form OF bondage as L
can arrange for you"
why should she send for me7" asked
''The men of the lower orders she often
uses for various purposes of amusement
Such a fighter as you, for example, would
render fine sport in the monthly rites OF
the temple. Then are men pitted against
men and against beasts for the edihcatton
of Issus and the replenishment OF her
larder."
"she eats human flesh7" asked
Not in horror however, for since my
recently acquired knowledge of the molly
therns I was prepared for anything IN TINS
still less accessible heaven, where all was
evidently dictated by n single omnipotence
where ages OF narrow fanaticism ana
self-worship had eradicated all the broader
humanitarian instincts that the race might
once have possessed.
They were n people drunk with power
and success, looking upon the other inhab-
itants of Mars as we look upon the beasts
of the field and the forest.
WHY then, should they not eat OF the
flesh of the lower orders whose lives ana
characters they no more understood tnan
do we the inmost thoughts and sensibillties
of the cattle we slaughter for our earthly
tables?
"she eats only the flesh of the best bred
of the holy therns and the red Barsoom-
ians The flesh of the others goes to our
boards The animals are eaten by the
slaves She also eats other dainties."
did not understand then that there lay
any special Significance in his reference to
other daintes. l thought the limit or
ghoulishne,s IS already had been reached In
the recitation of Issus' menu. l still had
much to learn as to the depths of cruelty
and bestiality to which omnipotence may
drag Its possessor.
we had about reached the last of the
many chambers and corridors which led
to the gardens when an officer overlook us.
''Issus would look again upon this man."
he said. '"The girl has told her that he Is
of wondrous beauty and of such prowess
that alone he slew seven of the First Born
and with his bare hands took Xodar cap
tive binding him with his own harness"
Xodar looked uncomfortable. Evidently
he did not relish the thought that Issus
had learned of his inglorious defeat.
without word he turned, and we fol-
lowed the OillCer once again 10 inc CloSeu
doors before the audience chamber of 1ssus,
goddess of Life Eternal.
Here the ceremony of entrance was re-
peated.
Again Issus bade me rise.
For several minutes all was silent as
the tomb.
The eyes of deity were appraising me.
Presently the thin, waverlng voice broke
the stiffness, repeating in sing-song drone
the words which for countless ages had
sealed the doom of numberless victims.
LET the man turn and look upon Issus
knowing that those of the lower orders
who gaze upon the holy vision of her
radiant face survive the binding glory but
a single year"
l turned as I was bade, expecting such
treat as only the revealment of divine
glory to mortal eyes might produce
What saYs,was solid phalanx of armed
men betweert~Snyself and dais supporting
great bench of carved sorapus wood. on
this bench, throne, squatted a female
black.
She was evidently very old. Not hair
remained upon her wrinkled skull With
the exception of two yellow fangs, she was
entirely toothless. ON either side NJ her
thin, hawklike nose her eyes burned from
the depths Of horribly sunken sockets, The