Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-22
CHAPTER NIX
Cast Into a Dungeon

y
ness to, locate it 1 found to my horror that
II was gone.
Then the truth flashed on me the own
ers Of those cleaning eyes had dragged
nv prize away from me to be devoureu
in their neighboring lair. as they had neen
waiting for days, for weeks. Tor Wohths'
through all this awful eternity OF my I'M
prisonment to drag my dead carcass 10
their feast.
For two DAYS no food was brought me,
but then, a new messenger appeared anu
my incarceration went on as before put
not again did allow my reason TO ne suo->
merged by the horror of my position
Shortly after this episode another pris-
oner was brought in and chained near me.
BY the dim torchlight saw that ne was
red Marian and I could scarcely await
,hs denart,lre of his guards to address
him.
AS their retreating footsteps died away
In the distance / called out soitiy the
Martian word of greeting-kaor.
.swho are you who speak?' he an
swered. .,o .od mon
of Helium' ,,, ao
81 am of Helium," he said. but do
not recall your name
And then told him my story. as have
written II here, omitting only any lelei
ence to my love for Dejah Thoris' He was
much excited by the news Oh iehu,i M
princess. and seemed quite positive tnal
she and Sola could easily have reacheu
point of safety from where they left me. :,
He said that he knew the place We'll
because the defile through when tne "aI
hoon warriors had passed when they us
covered us was the only one ever useu ny
them when marching TO the south
"Deiah Thoris and Soia entered the NUS
not five miles from a great waterway anu
are now probably quite safe, ne assureu
me-
NV fellow prisoner was kantos Kan,
padwar OieutenanD in the navy Oh ne ne
Iium He had been member OF tne NJ
fated expedition which had fallen into the
hands of the Tharks at the time OF De-
iah Thoris' capture and he briefly related
the events which followed the defeat OF
the battleships.
Badly injured and only partly manned,
they had limped slowly toward Hellum'
hut while passing near the city OF 10
danga. the capital of Helium's hereditary
enemies among the red men OF BarsooIl,
they had been attacked by great pouy Oh
war vessels and all but the cratt TO "hlch
Kantos Kan belonged were either de-
stroyed or captured His vessel was chased
FOR days by three of the Zodangan war
ahips. but finally escaped during the dark
ness of moonless night.
Thirty days after the capture OF DEAN
Thoris or about the time Of our coming
TX,
with aboutAten survivors OF the original
crew of 200 officers and men.
Immediately seven great fieets each OF
100 mighty warships, had been dispatched
20 search for Dejah Thorls, and from these
vessels 1000 smaller craft had been Kept
out continuously in futile search for the
missing princess.
Two green Martian communities had
been wiped of the face of Barsoom by the
avenglng fleets, but no trace or DeJah
Thorls had been found. They had been
searching among the northern hordes, and
only within the last few days had they
extended their quest to the south.
Kantos Kan had been detailed to one
of the small one-man fliers, and had had
the misfortune to be discovered by the
warhoons while exploring their city
The bravery and daring of the man
won my greatest respect and admiration
Alone he had landed at the city's bound
airy. and on foot had penetrated to the
buildings surrounding the plaza For two
days and nights he had explored their
quarters and their dungeons In search of
his beloved princess, only to fall into the
hands OF a party of Warhoons as he was
about TO leave, after assuring himself that
Dejah Thoris was not a captive there.
During the period of our incarceration
Kantos Kan and became we'll acquainted
A few days only elapsed, however, before
we were dragged forth from our dungeon
for the great games.
We were conducted early one morning
to an enormous amphitheatre, which, in
stead of having been built upon the sur
face OF the ground, was excavated below
the surface. 1t had partially filled with
debris. so that how large 1t had originally
been was difficult to say. In its present
condition 1t held the entire 10000 War
hoons of the assembled hordes.
The arena was immense, but extremely
uneven and unkempt Round 1t the War
h0ons had piled building stone from the
ruined edifices OF the ancient city, 10 pre-
vent the animals and the captives from
escaping into the audience, and at each
end had been constructed cages TO hold
them until their turns came to meet some
horrible death upon the arena.
Kantos Kan and 1 were confined to-
Esther in one of the cages. In the others
were wild ealots, thoats. mad zitidars, |
green warriors and women OF other hOrdes |
and many strange and feroelous wild
beasts of Barsoom which had never be- |
fore seen. The din of their roaring.
growing and sauealing was deafening.
and the formidable appearance OF any one |
Of them was enough TO make the stoutest !
heart feel grave forebodings.
Kantos Kan explained, TO me that at the
end Of the day one of these prisoners |
would gain freedom and the others would |
lie dead about the arena. The winners
In the various contests OF the day would |
be pitted against each other until only |
two remained alive; the victor in the last
encounter being set free, whether animal
or man.
The following morning the cages would |
be filled with new consignment OF vic |
TINS. ana 50 on throughout the 10 days Of |
The games.
shortly after we had been Gagged the |
amphitheafre began TO I'LL and within |
an hour every available part Of the seat |
Ing space Was occupied.
Oak H<ova. with his jeds and ehleftalns. I
zal 1t the centre OF one side of the arena /
upon large, raised platform
At . signal from Oak Koya the doors /
af fwo cages we're thrown open and dozen +
Efezn Hartian females were driven 10 the i
eentre Of the arena. Each vas given a
aaEEee. ana then. At the FAR end pack I
81 9 eafefs o. wild dogs. Nefe ioosed.
As Ihe hEu1ss growing and faamiag
Hszaea upon TIE almost aefenseIsss women
EaHnza NJ had 1ha1 THaIeAl na1 80 lAz