Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-07

NlhAN bHu hNIenpt TO mako OUT way on IOON
to the nearest waterway.
yesterday we crossed these hills and
came upon the dead city beyond. We had
passed within its streets and were walking
toward the central portion when, at an
lntersectinR avenue we saw n body OF green
warriors approaching.
"Tars Tarkas was in advance, and they
saw him, but me they did not see. The
Thark sprang back to my side and forced
me into an adjacent doorway, where he told
me TO remain in hiding until could
escape, making my way to Helium IL pos
sible.
There will be no escape for me now
he said for these be the warhoons OF
the south. When they have seen my metal,
It will be to the death
Then he stepped out to meet them All,
my prince, such fighting For an hour
they swarmed about him, until the War
hoon dead formed a hill where he had
stood; but at last they overwhelmed him,
those behind pushing the foremost upon
him until there remained no space to swing
his great sword.
Then he stumbled and went down. and
they rolled over him like huge wave.
When they carried him away toward the
heart of the city he was dead think, for
I did not sec him move"
Before we go farther we must be sure"
said II cannot leave Tars Tarkas alive
among the Warhoons Tonight shall enter
the city and make sure"
EhiiN Si"h 81 WIN SOut Hpohv CeAN
thoris.
And l." said xodar.
Neither one of you shall CO." re-
piled. 1T is work that requires stealth
and strategy, not force.- One man alone
may succeed where more would Invite dis
aster. shall go alone. If need your
help I will return for you."
They did not like It, but both were good
soldiers, and II had been agreed that
should command The sun already was
tpty hat Il nnt ha IN tvat ha-
fore the sudden darkness of Barsoon en-
quilted us.
with parting word of instruction TO
Carthoris and Xodar, in case should not
return, 1 bade them all farewell and set
forth at rapid dog-trot toward the city.
As l emerged from the hills the nearer
moon was swinging its wild flight through
the heavens, its bright beams turning to
FURNISHED silver the barbaric splendor of
the ancient metropolis.
Tho city had been built upon the gently
rolling foot hills that. in the dim and dis
tant past, had sloped down to meet the sea.
It was due to this fact that had no diff
Guilty in entering the streets unobserved.
The green hordes that use these deserted
cities seldom occupy more than n few
squares about the central plaza, and as they
come and go, always across the dead sea-
bottoms that the cities face, It is usually
matter Of comparative ease to enter from
the hillside.
once within the streets kept close In
the dense shadows of the walls. At inter-
sections L halted n moment to make sure
that none was in sight before 1 spranB
quickly to the shadows of the opposite
side.
Thus made the Journey to the vicinity
of the plaza without detection. AS ap-
preached the purlieus of the inhabited por-
ton of the city was made aware Of the
proximity of warriors quarters by the
squealing of the thoats and zitidars cor
rallied within the hollow courtyards formed
by the buildings surrounding each square.
These old familiar sounds that are so
distinctive of green Martian life sent n
thrill of pleasure surging through me. 1t
was as one might feel on coming home after
n long absence.
1t was amid such sounds that had first
courted the Incompatible Dejah Thoris In
the age-old marble halls or the dead city
of Korad.
AS stood In the shadows at the far cor
ner of the first square which housed MEM
bers of the horde, I saw warriors emerging
from several of the buildings. They all
went in the same direction, toward a great
building which stood in the centre Of the
plaza.
My knowledge OF green Martan customs
convinced me that this was either the quar-
ters of the principal cheftain or contained
the audience chamber wherein the Jeddak
met his ieds and lesser chieftains. In either
event. 1t was evident that something was
afoot which might have a bearing on the
recent capture of Tars Tarkas.
To reach this building. which I now felt
II imperative that do, must need traverse
the entire length of one square and cross
n broad avenue and a portion of the plaza.
From the noises of the animals which
came from every courtyard about me, l
knew that there were many people in the
surrounding bulldings-probably several
communities of the great horde of the War
hoons of the south.
To pass undetected among all these peo-
pie was in itself n difficult task, but IL I
was to find and rescue the great Thark I
must expect even more formidable obstacles
before success could be mine.
/ had entered the city from the south,
and now stood on the corner of the avenue
through which I had passed and the first
intersectingA avenue south of the plaza.
The buildings on tho south side of this
square did not appear to be inhabited, as
I could see no lights, and so I decided to
gain the inner courtyard through one of
them.
Nothing occurred to interrupt my prog
ress through the deserted pile chose, and
came into the inner court close to the
rear walls of the east buildings without
detection.
Within the court a great herd of thoats
and zitidars moved restlessly about, cropping
the mOssliSe ocher vegetation which over
grows virtually the entire uncultivated area
OF Mars.
What breeze there was came from the
northwest. so there was little danger that
the beasts would scent me.
Had they, their squeallng and grunting
would have grown to such volume as tn
attract the attention of the warriors with
In the buildings
Close to the east wall, beneath the over
hanging balconies OF ths second floors,
crept In dense shadows the full length of
the courtyard until I came to the buildings
at the north end These were lighted for
about three floors up. but above the third
floor all was dark
To pass through the lighted rooms was,
OF course, out Of the question, since they
swarmed with green Martian men and
women My only path lay through the up
per floors and to gain these II was neces-
sary to scale the face of the wall.
The reaching OF the balcony OF the sec
Ond floor was matter of easy accomplish
ment-an agile leap gave my hands a
grasp upon the stone handrail above. In
another instant I had drawn myself upon
the balcony
Here through the open windows I saw
the green folk squattihg upon their sleep
ing silks and furs, grunting an occasional
monOsyllable which, in Connection with their
wondrous telepathic powers. is ample for
their conversational requirements.
As drew closer 10 listen to their words
warrior entered the room from the hall
haUOud