Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-30

mlliar about his face, and yet could not
place him
His features were very regular and, like
the proportions of his graceful limbs and
body. beautiful In the extreme. He was
very light In color for a red man, but In
other respects he seemed typical specimen
of this handsome race.
did not awaken him, for sleep in prison
rs such a priceless boon that I have seen
men transformed into raging brutes when
robbed by one of their fellow prisoners of a
few priceless moments of II.
Returning to my own CELL | found Xodar
stil sitting In the same position In which
I had left him.
Man" cried "it will profit you nothing
to NOPE thus. II were no disgrace to be
bested by John Carter. You have seen that
In the ease with which l accounted for
Thurid. You knew II before when, on the
cruisers deck you saw me ruthlessly slay
three of your comrades"
II would that you had dispatched me
at the same time" he said
Come. come 20 | cried There Is hope
yet. Neither of us is dead. we are great
fighters. Why not win to freedom?"
He looked at me in amazement
You know not of what you speak,"
he replied "Tssus Is omnipotent. Issus
is omniscient. She hears now the words
you speak. She knows the thoughts you
think. 1t is sacrege even to dream Of
breaking her commands"
Rot, Xodar! =! / exclaimed impatlently.
He sprang to his feet in horror.
The curse of Issus will fall upon you 20
he cried. I'm another instant you will
be smitten down, writhing to your death
in horrible agony"
DO you believe that, Xodar2" l asked
'Of course who would dare doubt?"
II doubt; yes. and further, I deny" I
said. why, Xodar you tell me that she
even knows my thoughts. The red men
have all had that power for ages--and
another wonderful power They can shut
their minds so that none may read their
thoughts. / learned the first secret years
ago; the other I never had to learn since
upon all Barsoom Is none who can read
what passes in the secret chambers of my
brain.
Your goddess cannot read my thoughts
nor can she read yours when you are out
OF her sight unless you will It. Had she
been able to read mine | am afraid that
her pride would have suffered n rather
severe shock when turned at her COM
@ mand to gaze upon the holy vision of
her radiant face"
What do you mean?" he whispered in
an afrighted voice, so low that could
scarcely hear him.
mean that l thought her the most re-
pulsive and vllely hideous creature my eyes
ever had rested upon.
For moment he eyed me in horror
stricken amazement, and then, with cry
of "Blasphemer - he sprang upon me-
I did not wish tc strike him again; nor
was 1t necessary, since he was unarmed
and therefore, quite harmless to me.
AS he came I grasped his left wrist with
my left hand and swinging my right arm
above his left shoulder, caught him be-
meath the chin with my elbow, and bore
him backward across my thigh,
There he hung helpless for a moment,
glaring up at me in impotent rage
'Xodar," | said, "let us be friends. For
n year, possibly, we may be forced to live
together in the narrow confines of this tiny
room. / am sorry to have offended you.
but / could not dream that one who had
suffered from the cruel injustice of Issus
still could believe her divine
II will say a few more words, Xodar,
with no intent to wound your feelings fur
ther. but rather that you may give thought
to the fact that while we live we are still
more the arbiters of our own fate than Is
any god.
"Issus. you see, has not struck me dead
nor is she rescung her faithful Xodar from