Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-20

/ reached the appointed meeting place
safely, but as Dejah Thoris and Soa we're
not there led my animals into the en-
! trance hall Of one of the large buildings
! Presuming that one Of the other women
/ Of the same household might have come in
| to speak to Sola. and so delayed their de-
\ parturc. ] did not feel any undue appre-
henslon until nearly an hour had passed
4 without a sign of them. and by the time
| another half-hour had crawled away |
was becoming filled with grave anxiety.
Then there, broke upon the stiffness Of
I the night the sound of an approaching
party. which from the noise I knew could
be no fugitlves creeping stealthily toward
I liberty.
Soon the party was near me, and from
the black shadows of my entranceway I
perceived score of mounted warriors.
who in passing dropped dozen words
that fetched my heart clean into the top OF
my head,
"IIe would likely have arranged to meet
them just without the city, and So
heard no more-they had passed on ;
but It was enough. our plan had been
discovered, and the chances for escape
from now on to the fearful end would
be small indeed.
My one hope was to return undetected to
the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn
what fate had overtaken her but how to
do II with these great monstrous thoats
upon my hand. now that the city probably
was aroused by the knowledge of my
escape was n problem of no mean proper
tious.
Suddenly an idea occurred 20 me, and
acting on my knowledge of the construc-
tion of the buildings of these ancien'
Martlan cities with hollow court within
the centre of each square. ! CROPPED my
way blindly through the dark chambers
calling the great thoats after me.
They had difficulty In negotiating some
h,tN I,,.ftf "A Inn
fronting the cty's principal exposure were
all designed upon a magnificent scale. they
found none but that they could wriggle
through without sticking fast and thus
we finally made the inner court, where
found. as I had expected. the usual carpet
of moss-lke vegetation which would prove
their food and drink until | could return
them to their own inclosure.
That they would be as quiet and con-
tented here as elsewhere I was confident,
nor was there hut the remotest possibility
that they would be discovered. as the
green men had no great desire to enter
these outlying buildings, which were fire.
Qucnted by the only thing. believe, which
caused them the sensation of fear--the
great white apes OF Barsoom.
Removing the saddlc-trappings. | hid
them Just within the rear doorway OF the
building through which we had entered the
court. and. turning the beasts loose, quickly
OF the buildings upon the further side.
and thence to the avenue beyond. WLitinG
in the doorway of the building until was
assured that no one was approaching, |
hurried across to the opposite side and
through the first doorway to the court be-
vDnd thus. crossing through court after
court with only the slight chance of detec-
tion which the necessary crossing of the
avenues entaiied. | made my way m safety
to the courtyard in the rear Of Dejah
Thoris' quarters.
Here, of course | found the beasts of
the warriors who quartered in the adjacent
buildings and the warriors themselves I
might expect to meet within If entered
Fortunately, however, ! had another and
safer method of reaching the upper story
where Deiah Thors should be found. and.
after first determining as nearly as pos
sible which OF the buildings she occupied,
for had never observed them before from
the court side, | took advantage of my