Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-24
TIE GODS y; OF MARS
Sequel to Under the Moons of Mars"

therns before, but can you wonder that
feel no great love for them now? 1 have
spoken"
She looked at me lntently for several
minutes before she replied. 1t was as
though she were attempting to read my
inmost soul to Judge my character and my
standards Of chivalry in that long-drawn,
searching gaze.
Apparently the inventory satisfied her.
II am Phaidor, daughter of Natal Shang,
holy hekkader of the holy therns, father
of therns, master of life and death upon
Barsoom, brother of Issus, princess of life
eternal"
At that moment noticed that the black
had dropped with my fist was commencing
to show signs of returning consciousness.
sprang to his side. Stripping his harness
from him. l securely bound his hands be-
hind his back and, after similarly fastening
his feet, tied him to a heavy gun-carriage,
why not the simpler way?" asked
Phaidor
IL do not understand. What simpler
way'7' 1 replied.
with slight shrug Of her lovely shoul-
ders she made gesture with her hands,
personating the casting Of something over
the crafts side.
IT am no murderer" I said. "T kill
in self-defense only"
She looked at me narrowly Then she
puckered those divine brows of hers and
shook her head She could not comprehend.
been able to understand what to her had
seemed foolish and dangerous policy to-
ward enemies. Upon Barsoom quarter Is
neither asked nor given, and each dead
man means so much more of the waning
resources Of this dying planet to be divided
among those that survive.
But there seemed subtle difference
here between the manner in which this
girl contemplated the dispatching of an en-
emy and the tender-hearted regret of my
own princess for the stern necessity which
demanded 1t.
think that Phaidor regretted the thrill
that the spectacle would have afforded her
rather than the fact that my decision left
another enemy alive to threaten u.s.
The man had now regained full possess
sion of his faculties, and was regarding
us intently from where he lay bound upon
the deck. He was a handsome fellow, clean
limbed and powerful with an intelligent
face and features of such exquisite chiseling
that Adonis himself might have envied him.
The vessel, unguided, had been moving
slowly across the valley but now thought
1t time to take the helm and direct her
course Only in very general way could
1 guess the location of the Valley Dor.
That 1t was far south of the equator
was evident from the consultations, but
l was not sufficiently a Martian astrono-
guess without the splendid charts and deli
cate instruments with which an officer
Of the Heliumite navy l had formerly reck-
oned the positions of the vessels on which
1 sailed.
That n northerly course would quickest
lead me toward the more settled portions
of the planet Immediately decided the
direction that should steer. Beneath my
hand the cruiser swung gracefully about.
Then the button which controlled the re-
pulsive rays sent US soaring far out into
space. With speed lever pulled to the last
notch we raced toward the north as we rose
ever farther and farther above that terrible
valley of death.
AS we passed at a dizzy height over the
narrow domains of the therns the flash OF
powder far below bore mute witness to the
ferocity of the battle that still ragged along
that cruel frontier. No sound of conflict
reached our ears, for in the rarified atmos-
phere of our great altitude sound waves
could penetrate; they were dlssipated in
thin air far below us.
CONTINUED MONDAY