Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-07
THE CODSOF MARS
Sequel to Under the Moons Of Mars

greater opportunity for ooncealment from
the pursuers we were confident might stum-
BILE In this direction.
An hour later found us In the time
rounded gullies OF the hills, amid the beau
tlful Towering plants that abound In the
arid waste places Of Barsoom.
There we found numbers OF huge milk
giving shrubs-that strange plant whlch
serves In great part as food and drink Tor
the Wild hordes OF green men II was
indeed boon TO u.s. for we all were nearly
famlshed.
Beneath a cluster of these, which Afforded
perfect concealment from wandering ar
scouts, we lay down TO sleep-for me the
first time In many hours.
This was the beginning OF my hfth day
upon Barsoom since had found myself
suddenly translated from my cottage on the
Hudson to Dor-the valley beautiful, the
valley hideous.
In all this time I had slept but twice.
though once the clock around within the
storehouse of the therns.
II was midafternoon when / was awak-
ened by some one SELLING my hand and COW
erlng It with kisses. with start opened
my eyes to look into the beautiful race OF
Thuvia,
MY prince My prince I" she cried, in an
ecstasy of happiness. "'Tls you whom
had mourned as dead. My ancestors have
been good TO me. l have not lived In vain
The girls voice awoke Xodar and Car
thoris. The boy gazed upon the woman In
surprise, but she did not seem to realize
the presence of another than I. She would
have thrown her arms about my neck and
smothered me with caresses had not gently
but firmly dlsengaged myself
Come, come Thuvia," said soothlngly
you are overwrought by the danger and
hardships you have passed through. You
forget yourself, as you forget that I am
the husband of the Princess of Helium."
81 forget nothing. my prince" she re-
piled. You have spoken no word of love
to me. nor do 1 expect that you ever shall
but nothing can prevent me loving you.
II would not take tho place of Dejah
Thoris. My greatest ambition is to serve
you, my prince. forever as your slave. No
greater boon could I ask, no greater honor
could crave, no greater happiness could
hope"
AS 1 have before said, I am no ladies'
man, and must admit that seldom have
felt SO uncomfortable and embarrassed as
I did that moment. While was quite fa-
miliar with the Martian custom which al
lows female slaves to Marian men, whose
high and chvalrous honor is always ample
protection for every woman in his house,
hold, yet had never myself chosen other
than men as my body-servants.
"If 1 ever return to Heltum, Thuva," I
said, you shall go with me, but as an
honored equal and not a slave. There
you shall find plenty of handsome young
mobiles who would face Issus herself to win
a smile from you. and we shall have you
married In short order to one of the best
of them. Forget your foolish gratitude
begotten infatuation which your innocence
has mistaken for love. 1 like your friend
ship better, Thuvia."
you are my master; It shall be as you
say" she replied simply, but there was
a note of sadness in her voice.
How came you here, Thuvia?" 1 asked
"And where is Tars Tarkas?"
"The great TharlS, I fear, is dead" she
replied sadly. He was a nightly fighter
but a multitude of green warriors of an
other horde than his overwhelmed him. The
last that 1 saw of him they were bearing
him, wounded and bleeding. to the deserted
city from which they had sailed to at
tack u.s."
You are not sure that he is dead"
then?' asked. And where is this city
of which you speak?"
1T is just beyond this range of hills