Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-08


been Tars Tarkas' had just started to
ascend the runway as the Thark came In
view.
why so long, Tam Gama7 cried one
Of the men.
IL had trouble with a lock-" replied Tars
Tarkas And now I find that have
left my short sword in the Thanks CELL
Go you on; I'll return and fetch IT,
"As you will, Tan CANA" replied he
who had before spoken. we shall see you
above directly"
Yes" replied Tars Tarlsas, and turned
as though TO retrace his steps to the cell,
but he only waited until the two had dis
appeared at the floor above. Then Joined
him: we extinguished the torch, and to-
gether we crept toward the spiral incline
that led to the upper floors Of the building.
Together we threaded the long hall and
reached the balcony overlooking the court
yard without being detected.
At our right was the window letting Into
the room in which l had seen Tan Cana
and the other warriors as they started to
Tars Tarkas cell earlier in the evening,
His companions had returned here, and
we now overheard a portion OF their CONVEX
satlon.
what can be detaining Tan Gama7''
asked one
"He certainly could not be all this time
fetching his short sword from the Thark's
CELL" spoke another.
Ills short swordT" asked woman.
what mean your"
Tan CANA left his short sword in the
Tharks CELL" explained the first speaker,
"and left us at the runway to return and
get It."
Tan CANA wore no short sword this
night" said the woman. ut was broken
in today'B battle with the Tharlt and Tan
Cana gave it to me to repair. See, have
It here" and as she spoke she drew Tan
Gama's short sword from beneath her sleep
Ing silks and furs.
The warriors sprang TO their feet.
There is something amiss herel" cried
one WL
"'Tis even what 1 myself tft' eht when
Tan Cana left us at the runway" said
another. "Methought then that his voice
sounded strangely"
Come Let us hasten to the plts!'
There are five now in the party, Tars
Tarkas." said - "Thuvia, Xodar, Car
thorls, and ourselves We shall need five
thoats to bear us"
"Carthoris he cried in amazement.
Your sonT'
Yes found him in the prison of
Shador, on the Sea of Omean, In the land
of the First Born"
II know not any of these places, John
Carter Be they upon Barsoom?"
Upon and below, my friend; but walt
until we shall have made good our escape
and you shall hear the strangest narrative
that ever a Barsoomian of the outer world
gave ear to- Now we must steal our thoats
and be we'll away to the north before these
fellows discover how we have tricked
them"
At length I was successful in reaching
the side Of one great brute, and ere he
knew what l was about | was firmly
seated astride his glossy back. A moment
later. Tars Tarkas had caught and mounted
another, and then between us we herded
three or four more toward the great gates.
Tars Tarl5as rode ahead, and, leaning
down TO the latch threw the barriers open
while l held the loose thoats from break
ing back to the herd. Them together we
rode through into the avenue with our
stolen mounts. and, without waiting to close
the gates, hurried of toward the southern
boundary of the city.
Thus far our escape had been little short
of marvellous nor did our good fortune de-
sert us, for we passed the outer purlieus of
the dead city and came TO our camp without
hearing even the faintest sound of pursuit.
Here n low whistle, the prearranged sig
nal. apprIsed the remainder of our party
that was returning. and we were met by
the three with every manifestation of en-
thusiastlc rejoicing.
But little time was wasted In narration
of our adventure. Tars Tarkas and Car
thoris exchanged the dignifed and informal
greetings common upon Barsoom, but 1
my boy and that Carthoris reciprocated his
affection.
Toward noon of the following day we
halted to rest our mounts and ourselves.
The beasts we hobbled that they might
move slowly about, cropping the ocher moss
like vegetation which constitutes both food
and drink for them on the march. Thuvia
volunteered TO remain and watch while the
remainder of the party slept for an hour.
1t seemed to me that had but closed my
A. -. 4
Rise, o prince" she whispered. There
is that behind us which has the appear
ance of a great body OF pursuers"
The girl stood pointing In the direction
from where we had come, and as arose
and looked. l. too. thought that could
detect a thin, dark line on the far horizon.
l awoke the others.
Tars Tarkas. whose giant stature tow
cred high above the rest OF US, could see
the farthest
TT is a great body OF mounted men,"
he said, "and they are travelling at high
speed"
There was no time 10 be lost. We
sprang to our hobbled thoats. freed them
and mounted. Then We turned our faces
once more toward the north and took up
our flight again at the highest speed of
our slowest beast
AS the sun rose on the second day of
our flight it disclosed the pursuing horde
not a half mile in our rear, AS they saw
u.s. fendlsh shout OF triumph rose from
their ranks
Several miles In advance lay range OF
hills-the farther shore OF the dead sea we
had been crossing. Could we but reach
these hills our chances of escape would be
greatly enhanced; but Thuvia's mount, al
though carrying the lightest burden, already
was showing signs OF exhaustion.
was riding beside her, when suddenly
her animal staggered and Iurched against
mine. / saw that he was going down, but
ere he fell l snatched the girl from his
back and swung her TO a place upon my
own thoat behind me, where she elung with
her arms about me,
This double burden soon proved too much
for nv already overtAxed beast, and thus
our speed was terribly diminished, for the
others would proceed no faster than the
sloWest of us could go.
In that little party there was not one
who would desert another; yet We were OF
different countries different colors, different
races, different religions-and one OF us
was of a different world
We were quite close to the hills but the
Warhoons were gaining so rapidly that we
had given up all hope OF reaching them In
time. ThuVia and / were in the rear, for |
our beast was tagging more and more
Suddenly felt the girls warm lips press |