The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-16

(Continuedl
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

I led her to the door through
which I had entered the chamber
from below. There I pressed the
dear form to me, and then, though
it tore my heart to do it and hlled
me only with the blacklist shadows
of terrible forebodIngs, I guided her
across the threshold, kissed her once
again and closed the door upon her.
Without hesitating longer I hurried
from the chamber in the direction OF
the greatest tumult. Scarce half a
dozen chambers had traversed be-
fore I came upon the theater of a
fierce struggle.
The blacks were massed at the en-
trance to a great chamber, where
they were attempting to block the
further progress of body Of red
men toward the inner s.s&red precincts
of the temple.
AS 1 struck the first blow I cried
aloud, "For Helium!" And then
rained cut after cut upon the surprised
| warriors, while the reds without took
heart at the sound of my voice and
| with shouts OF John Carter! John
| Carter!" redoubled their efforts so ef-
| fectually tina tbefore the blacks
/ II shall not leave you, then, my prin-
cess" replied.
could recover from their temporary
Decentralization their ranks were brok-
! en- and the red men had burst into the
chamber.
| Five hundred men fought there that
day, the black man against the red.
No man asked quarter or gave it. AS
though by common consent they
| fought as though to determine once
and for all their right to live in ac-
cordance with the law of the survival
of the fittest.
I think we all knew that upon the
outcome of this battle would hinge
forever the relative positions Of these
two races upon Basoom. It was a
battle between the old and the new,
but not for once did question the
outcome Of it.
With Carthoris at my side I fought
for the red men of Barsoom and from
their total emancipation from the
throttling bondage of a hideous super
gaze which sent a wave Of exultation
over me.
Look cried. ''Men of the Black
Pirates, look"
For an instant the fighting ceased,
and with one accord every eye turned
In the direction I had indicated, and
the sight they saw was one no man of
the Black Pirates had ever imagined
could be.
Across the gardens, from side to side,
stood a wavering line of black war
riors, while beyond them and forcing
them ever back was great horde of
green warriors astride their mighty
thoats. And as we watched one fiercer
and more grimly terrible than his fell
/ lows rode forward from tho rear, and
as he came he shouted some fierce
[; command to his terrible legion.
It was Tars Tarkas, jeddak of
Thark, and as he couched his great
forty foot metal shod lance we saw
his warriors do likewise. Then it was
that we interpreted his command.
Twenty yards now separated the
green, men from the black line. An
other word from the great Thank, and
with wild and terrifying battlecry
the green warriors charged.
For a moment the black line held
but only for moment; then the fear
some beasts that bore equally terrible
riders passed completely through it.
! After them came utan upon utan OF
red men. The green horde broke ia
surround the temple. The red men
| charged for the interior, and then we
! turned to continue our interrupted bat
tie, but our foes had vanished.
My first thought was of Dejah Tho
ris. Calling to Carthoris that 1 had
found his mother, started on run
toward the chamber where 1 had left
her, with my boy close beside me
/ After US came those Of our little force
who had survived the bloody conflict.
/ The moment l entered the room ]
saw that some one had been there since
! had left. A silk lay upon the floor
1t had not been there before.
| There were also 4 dagger and sew
eral metal ornaments strewn about, as
! though torn from their wearer in q
struggle; but, worst Of all, the door
way leading to the pits where / ha6
hidden my princess was ajar.
With bound was before It and
thrusting 1t open, rushed within. De
| jah Thoris had vanished! 1 called hel
name aloud again and again, but there
was no response. I think in that In
slant lowered upon the verge of in
sanity. do not recall what 1 said OF
did, but know that for an instant
was seized with the rage Of maniac.
''Issusr' cried. "Issus! Where Ii
Issus? Search the temple for her, but
let no man harm her but John Carter
Carthoris. where are the apartment!
of IssusT'
This wayw cried the boy, and with
out waiting to know that had heart
him he dashed off at breakneck speed
farther into the bowels of the temple.
AS fast as he went, however I was
still beside him, urging him on II
greater speed
At last we came to great carved
! dcar oud thro,,ch %hic Corthorfs do oh