Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-05

as Xodar said he probably would do, then
| sprang to the grated window and surveyed
the nearby waters. At a little distance
from the island, a quarter OF mile perhaps,
lay a monster battleship, while between
her and the shore were a number Of smaller
cruisers and one-man scouts.
Upon the battleship alone was there a
watch. ! could see him plainly In the upper
works Of the ship. and as I watched I saw
him spread his sleeping silks upon the tiny
platform on which he was stationed. Soon
he threw himself at full length upon his
couch.
The discipline on Omean was lax indeed.
But II is not to be wondered at, since no
enemy guessed the existence upon Barsoom
Of such a fleet. or even Of the First Born,
or the Sea Of Omean. Why. indeed, should
they maintain a watch
Presently [ dropped to the floor again
and talked with Xodar, describing the vari-
Gus craft I had seen.
There is one there" he said, my per-
sonal property, built to carry five men, that
Is the swiftest Of the swift. If we can board
her we can at least make a memorable run
for liberty" and then he went on to de-
scribe TO me the equipment Of the boat her
engines and all that went to make her the
fiier that she was.
In his explanation recognized a trick
Of gearing That Kantos Kan had taught
me that tine we sailed under false names
IN the navy Of zodanga beneath Sab Than
the prince. And | knew then that the
First Born had stolen 1t from the ships Of
Helium, for only they are thus geared.
| knew. too. that Xodar spoke the truth
when he lauded the speed of his little craft,
for nothing that cleaves the thin air Of Mars
can approximate the speed of the ships of
Hel,um.
We decided to wait for an hour at least
until all the stragglers had sought their
silks. In the meantime was TO fetch the
red youth to our cell so that we would be
in readiness to make our rash break for
freedom together.
sprang to the top of our partition wall
and pulled myself up on IL. There found
fiat surface about a foot in width, and
along this l walked until I came to the
cell in which l saw the boy sitting upon
his bench
He had been leaning back against the
wall looking up at the glowing dome above
Omean, and when he splcd me balancing
upon the partition wall above him his eyes
opened wide in astonishment Then a wide
grin of appreciative understanding spread
across his countenance.
AS I stopped to drop to the floor beside
him he motoned me to wait. and coming
close below me whispered: Catch my
hand | can almost leap to the top of that
wall myself. | have tried 1t many times
and each day | come n little closer. Some
day | should have been able to make it,
l lay across the wall and reached my
hand far down toward him. with a little
run from the center of the cell he sprang
UP until l grasped the outstretched hand
and thus | pulled him to the wallis top
beside me.
You are the first jumper | ever saw
among the red men of Barsoom," 1 said
He smiled
at is not strange. I will tell you why
when we have more time"
Then led the youth back the way in
which | came to the cell where Xodar sat
descending to talk with him until the hour
had passed.
CONTINUED TOMORROW