Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-15
CHAPTER X-Continued

AS had turned TO receive the dead
"a warriors chattels had noticed that
Tars Tarkas and several others had
pushed forward toward us, and the eyes
of the former rested upon me in most
quizzical manner
Finally he addressed me:
''You sneak the tongue OF Barsoom quite
readily for one who was deaf and dumb
to us a few short days ago. Where did
you learn 1t, John Carter?"
you yourself are responsible. Tars
Tarkas" | replied, "in that you furnished
me with an instructress of remarkable
ability. 1 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 chicftains whose metal
you now wear?'
''I presume that the one whom ! had
failed to kill would have killed me- 1
answered. smiling.
"No. you are wrong. Only In the last
extremity of self.defense would Martian
warrior kill prisoner We like to save
them for other purposes"
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 Tai HajuS as
worthy of his service you may be taken
into the community and become full-
fedRed Tharliian. Until we reach the
Headquarters of Tai Hajus it is the will
of Loruuas Ptomel that you be accorded
the respect your acts have earned you.
''You will be treated by us as n Thark-
ian chieftain but you must not forget that
iof ,,hnf t,lEG
for your safe delivery to our mighty and
most ferocious ruler. ] am done.
'I hear you Tars Tarkas," I answered.
"As YOU know, / am not of Barsoom
NIars) Your ways are not my ways, ana
I can only act in the future as | nave
in the past, in accordance with the dlc'
tates of my conscience and guided py
the standards of mine own people.
'If YOU will leave me alone I will go
I'm peace, but if not let the individual
Barsoomians with whom l must deal
either respect my rights as 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 full ac-
counting to me. l understand that you
belittle all sentiments of generosity and
kindlinesS. l do not, and L 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 | descended
to bombast, but l had guessed at the Key
note which would strike an answering
chord in the breasts of the green Martians,
nor was 1 wrong, for my harangue evil
IDENTIFY made a deep impression on them.
Thereafter their attitude toward me was
still further tinged with respect.
Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased
with my reply, but his only comment
was more or less enigmatical:
"And think know Tai Hajus, Jeddak
of Thark."
l turned my attention to Dejah Thoris,
and, assisting her to her feet, | walked
with her toward the exit, ignoring her
guardian harpies as we'll as the inquiring
glances of the chieftains.
Was 1 not now n chieftaln also! Well
then-I would assume the responsibilities
of one.
They did not molest US. and so Dejah
Thoris, Princess of Helium, and John Car
ter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by
the faithful Woola, passed through utter
silence from the audience.chamber of Lor-
quas Ptomel. jed-among the Tharks of
BarSoOm,