Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-23

In all directions as far as sound carried, and
| Thuvla told me that the attacks of the
black pirates we're unusually made si-
multaneously along the entire ribbonlike
domain of the therns, which circles the
valley Dor on the outer slopes OF the
mountains OF Otz
As the fighting receded from our position
for moment. Thuva turned toward me
with.a question
DO you understand now, O prince" she
said, why million warriors guard the dos
mains of the holy therns by day and by
night?
The scene you are witnessing now is
but repetition OF what I have seen en-
acted score of times during the fifteen
years | have been n prisoner here, From
time ntnemoral the black pirates Of Bar
SOON have preyed upon the holy therns
yet they never carry their expeditions
TO a point, as one might readily believe II
was in their power to do, where the eNtermi-
nation Of the ,yaCe of therns is threatened.
It Is as though they but utilized the race
as playthings, with which they satisfy their
ferocous lust for nghtng and from whom
they collect toll Ia arms and ammunition
and in prisoners
"why don't they jump in and destroy
these niers?" I asked. THAT would soon
put n stop to the attacks or at least the
blacks would scarce be so bold. why see
how perfectly unguarded they leave their
craft, as though they were lying safe In
their own hangers at home"
"rhe therns do not dare. They tried 1t
once. ages ago but the next n'gnt, and Tor
u whole moon thereafter thousand great
black battleships crcled the Mountains OF
Otz pouring tons Of projectiles upon the
temples gardens and courts until every
thern who was not killed was driven for
safety into the subterranean galleries
"The therns know that they i've at all
only by the sulferance OF the Dlhck men,
They were near to determination that once,
and they will not venture rslSing 1t again.
As she ceased talking a new element was
instilled into the conflict. IL came from Il
source equally unlocked for by either tnern
or pirate The great banths which we had
liberated in the garden had evidently been
awed at first by the sound of the battle the
yelling of the warriors, and. the loud report
of rifle and sbomb.
But now they must have become angered
by the continuous noise and excited by the
smell OF new blood for all of n sudden
great form shot from a clump of low shrub
berry into the midst of q struggling mass or
humanity. A scream of bestial rage broke
from the banth as he felt warm flesh be-
meath his powerful talons.
AS though his cry was but signal to the
others, the entire great pack hurled then-
selves among the fighters.
Panic reigned in an instant. Them and
black man turned alike against the common
enemy, for the banths showed no partiallty
toward either.
The awful beasts bore down hundred
men by the mere weight of their great bod
les as they hurled themselves into the thick
of the fight Leaping and clawing they
moved down tho warriors with their power
full paws. turning for an instant to rend
their victims with frightful fangs.
The scene was fascinating in its terrible
ness but suddenly 1t came to me that we
were wasting valuable time watching this
conflict which in itself might prove means
to our escape.
The therns were so engaged with their
terrible assailants that now, If ever, escape
should be comparatively easy.
I turned to search for an opening through
the contending hordes If we could but
reach the ramparts, we might find that the
pirates somewhere had thinned the guard
ing forces and left way open to us to the
world without
As my eyes wandered about the garden
the sight of the hundreds of air craft lying
unguarded round us suggested the simplest
avenue to freedom. Why had 1t not occurred
to me before?
was thoroughly familiar with the
mechanism of every known make Of flier
on Barsoom. For nine years l had sailed
and fought with the navy of Helium. 1
had raced through space on the tiny one
man air-scout and 1 had commanded the
greatest battleship that ever had hoated
the thin air of dying Mars.
To think, with me, is to act. Grasping
Thuvia by the arm, I whispered to Tars
Tarkas to follow. Quickly we glided toward
n small fier which lay farthest from the
battling warriors
Another instant found us huddled on the
tiny deck My hand was on the starting
lever. pressed my thumb upon the button
which controls the ray of repulsion, that
splendid discovery of the Martians which
permits them to navigate the thin atmos-
y,Ia Of
dwarf the dreadnoughts of our earthly
navies into pitiful insignlhcance.
(CONTINUED TOMORROW