Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-10

dtiS tShhliC'
AS we were on the point of descend.
ing we heard deep toned roar burst
from the temple of Issus, which we
had but just quilted, and then red
man, Dior, Kantas, padwar of the
fifth utan, broke from nearby gate.
crying to us to return.
'"The blacks have fired the temple, "
he cried. "In a thousand places it is
burning now. Haste to the outer gar.
den or you are lost"
AS he spoke we saw smoke pouring
from a dozen windows looking out
upon the courtyard of the temple of
the Sun, and far above the highest
minaret of Issus hung an ever growing
pail of smoke.
Go back, go back.' 1 cried to those
who had accompanied me. THE way.
Carthoris; point the way and leave
me! l shall reach my princess yet"
Follow me, John Carter" replied
Carthoris, and without waiting, for my
reply he dashed down into the tunnel
at our feet,
AT his heels I ran down through 6
half dozen tiers of galleries until al
last he led me along a level floor at the
end of which | discerned lighted
chamber.
Massive bars blocked our furthe,
progress, but beyond I saw her-my in.
comparable princess, and with her was
Thuvia. When she saw me she rushed
toward the bars that separated US. AL
ready the chamber had turned upon its
slow way so far that but a portion of
the opening in the temple wall was op-
posite the barred end of the corridor
Slowly the interval was closing. In a
short time there would be but a tiny
crack, and then that even would be
closed, and for long BarSoomian year
the chamber would slowly revolve un-
til once more for brief day the aper-
ture in its walls would pass the corri.
doris end.
But in the meantime what horrible
things would go on within that cham
Der!
stood and talked with Dejah Thoris,
and she stretched her dear hand
through those cruel bars, that might
hold it until the last moment.
Thuvia came close also, but when she
saw that we would be alone she with
drew to the farther side of the cham
ber.
For few minutes we stood thus,
talking In low tones. Ever smaller and
smaller grew the opening. In q short
time now it would be too small even
to permit me to see the slender form of
my princess.
Above we could hear tie faint echoes
of a great tumuh. 1t was the multi
tude of blacks and reds and green men
fighting their way through the fire
from the burning temple of Issus. A
draft from above brought the fumes
of smoke to our nostrils.
Presently we heard shouting at the
far end of the corridor and hurrying
feet. f.
Come back, John Carter; come
backr cried voice. Gwen the pits
are burning"
In q moment dozen men broke
through the now binding smoke to my
side. There were Carthorls and Kantos
Kan and Hor Vastus, with a few more
who had followed me to the temple
court.
~ shall remain here beside my prin-
cess until a perciful death releases
me from my anguish" declared 81
care not to live
Dejah Thoris stood as closely to the
crack as she could, whispering words
of hope and courage to me and urging
me to save myself.
The smoke cleared away, and we
stood gazing upon a blank wall. The
last crevice had closed
They urged me to leave.
"In moment it will be too late"
cried Kantos Kan. There is, an fact,
but bare chance that we can get
through to the outer garden alive,
even now. I have ordered the pumps
started, and in five minutes the pits
will be flooded. If we would not drown
like rats in trap we must hasten
above and make a dash for safety
through the burning temple"
"Go," I urged them. "Let me die
here beside my princess. There is no
hope or happiness elsewhere for me.
When they carry her dead body from
that terrible place q year hence let
them find the body of her lord await
ing her."
OF what happened after that I have
only confused recollection. It seems
as though I struggled with many men
and then that 1 was picked bodily
from the ground and borne away.
l do not know.
TUE END.