The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-28


but they were soon overcome and
slain.
when she realized that she was in
the clutches of the Black Pirates she
attempted to take her own life, but
one Of the blacks. tore her dagger
from her, and then they bound us both
SO that we could not use our hands.
"The fleet continued north after cap
turing us. There were about twenty
large battleships in all, besides a num-
Der of small cruisers.
'That evening one of the smaller
cruisers, that had been far in advance
of the feet, returned with prisoner.
a young red woman, whom they had
picked up in range of hills under the
very noses, they said, of feet of three
red Marian battleships.
From scraps of conversation which
we overheard it was evident that the
Black Pirates were searching for par
several days prior.
"That they considered the capture of
the young woman important was evil
dent from the long interview the COM
mander of the fleet held with her when
she was brought to him. Later she
was bound and placed in the compart-
ment with Dejah Thoris and myself
''The new captive was a very beau
tifuk girl She told Dejah Thoris that
many years ago she had taken the vol
untary pilgrimage from. the court of
her father, the jeddak Of Ptarth. She
was Thuvia, the princess of Ptarth.
and then she asked Dejah Thoris
whom she might be, and when She
heard she fell upon her knees and kiss
ed Dejah Thoris' fettered hands, and
told her that just recently she had been
with John Carter, prince of Helium
and Carthoris, her son.
"Dejah Thoris could not believe her
at first, but finally, when the girl had
narrated all the strange adventures
that had befallen her since she had
met John Carter and told her Of the
things John, Carter and Carthoris had
valley Dor, Dejah Thoris knew that
it could be none other than the Prince
of Helium, for whom she said,
upon all Barsoom, other than John
Carter could have done the deeds you
tell Of
"And when Thuvia told Dejah Tho
ris of her love for John Carter and his
loyalty and devotion to the princess Of
his choice Dejah Thoris broke down and
wept, cursing Eat Arras and the cruel
fate that had driven her from Helium
but few brief days before the return
of her beloved lord,
"'I do not blame you for loving
him, Thuvia,' she said. And that your
affection for him is pure and sincere
can well believe from the /canGor OF
your avowal of it to me-
1.-THE feet continued north nearly to
Helium, but last night they evidently
realized that John Carter had indeed
escaped them, and SO. they turned to-
ward the south once more. Shortly
thereafter a guard entered our COM
partment and dragged me to the deck.
"There is no place in the land Of
the Black Pirates for green one he
said. and, with that he gave me a ter
rife shove that carried me topping
from the deck of the, battleship. Evi-
IDENTIFY this seemed to him the easiest
way of Kidding the vessel Of my pres
ence and killing me at the same time.
'But kind fate interviewed, and by
a miracle I escaped with but slight
bruises The ship was moving slowly
at the time, and as lunged overheard
into the darkness beneath / shuddered
at the-awful plunge thought awaited
me, for all day the feet had sailed
thousands Of feet above the ground,
but to my utter surprise struck upon
a soft mass Of vegetation not twenty
feet from the deck Of the ship.
I'm fact, the keel of the vessel must
have been grazing the surface of the
ground at the time.
II lay all night where I had fallen,
and the next morning brought an ex-
PLANTATION of the fortunate coincidence
that had saved me from terrible
death. AS the sun rose saw vast
panorama Of sea bottom and distant
hills lying far below me.
II was upon the highest peak OF
lofty range The fleet in the darkness
Of the preceding night had barely
grazed the crest Of the hills. and in the
brief span that they lowered close to
the surface the black guard had pitch
ed me, as he supposed, to my death.
"a few miles west of me was great
waterway When reached it found
that it belonged to Helium.
Here a boat was procured for me.
The rest you know"
For many minutes none spoke.
Dejah Thoris in the clutches OF the
Black Pirates! I shuddered at the
thought. but of sudden the, old fire
Of an unconquerable self confidence
surged through me.
sprang to my feet and, with back
thrown shoulders and appraised sword,
took solemn vow to reach. rescue
and revenge my princess.
A hundred swords leaped from
hundred scabbards, and hundred
lighting men sprang to the table top
and pledged me their lives and for
tunes to the expedition. Already my
plans were formulated.
thanked each loyal friend and,
leaving Carthoris to entertain them,
withdrew to my own audience cham
Der with Kantos Kan, Tars Tarkas,
yoJor o,J uor VocR,,S