Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-12
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.


luo cave LHNl L luCeu WIS Apl Oue
Of those that | had seen from the
ground, and which lay much higher,
possibly q thousand feet. But, so far
as might know, it was as good for
our purpose as another, and so l re
turned to the tree for Tars TarEas.
Together we wormed our way along
the waving pathway, but when we
reached the end Of the branch we
found that our combined weight so de
pressed the limb that the caves mouth
was now too far above us to be
reached
We finally agreed that Tars Tarkas
should return along the branch, leav.
ing his longest leather harness strap
with me, and that when the limb had
risen to height that would permit me
to enter the cave l was to do so, and
upon Tars Tarkas' return | could then
lower the strap and haul him up tc
the safety of the ledge.
This we did without mishaps and
soon found ourselves together upon the
verge OF a dizzy little balcony, with a
magnificent view of the valley spread
ing out below us.
Below us upon the rivers bank the
great white apes were devouring the
last remnants of Tars Tarllas' former
companions, while great herds of plant
men grazed in ever widening circles
about the sward, which they kept as
close clipped as the smoothest oil
lawns.
Knowing that attack from the tree
was now improbable, we determined
to explore the cave, which we had ey.
cry reason to believe was but a continu
alton of the path we had already trav.
ersed, leading the gods knew where
but clearly away from this valley OF
ferocity.
AS we advanced we found a vel
proportional tunnel cut from the solid
cliff. It's walls rose some twenty feet
above the floor, which was about five
feet in width. The roof was arched.
We had no means of making a light
and so CROPPED our way slowly into the
ever increasing darkness, Tars Tarkas
keeping in touch with one wall while
l felt along the other. To prevent oul
wandering into diverging branches
! and becoming separated or lost in some
intricate and labyrinthic maze we
clasped hands.
How far we trayersed the tunnel in
this manner do not know, but pres.
emily we came to an obstruction which
blocked our further progress.
1t seemed more like a partition than
a sudden ending OF the cave, for it was
! constructed not of the material of the
cliff, but OF something which felt like
very hard wood
Silently I groped over its surface
with my hands and presently was re.
warded by the feel of the button,
which as commonly denotes a door on
Mars as does a doorknob on earth.
Gently pressing it, had the salts.
faction of feeling the door slowly give
before me, and in another instant we
were looking into dimly lighted apart
ment which, so far as we could see
was unoccupied
Without more ado swung the dooi
wide open and, followed by the huge
Thark, stepped into the chamber.
AS we stood for a moment in silence
gazing about the room a slight noise
behind caused me to turn quickly.
TO my astonishment. l saw the dool
close with sharp click as though
moved by an unseen hand.
Instantly l sprang toward it tt
wrench it open again, for something
in the uncanny movement of the thing
and the almost palpable silence of the
chamber seemed to portend an evi
hidden in this rock bound chamber.
My fingers clawej futilely at the un
yielding portal while my eyes soughi
in vain for duplicate of the buttor
which had given us ingress.
And then from unseen lips a crue
and moclling peal of laughter rang
through the desolate place.
For moments after that awful laugh
had CEASED reverberating through the
room Tars Tarkas and l stood in tense
and expectant silence. But no further
sound broke the stiffness, nor within
the range OF our vision did anything
move.
At length Tars Tarkas laughed softly
after the manner OF his strange kind
when in the presence of the horrible or
terrifying. 1t is not hysterical laugh,
but rather the genuine expression OF
tho pleasure they derive from the things
that move earth and men to loathing
or to tears.
1 looked up at the Thark, a smile
upon my own lips, for here, in truth,
was greater need for a smiling face
than a trembling chin.
what do you make of 1t all?'
asked. "Where in the deuce are weT"
He looked at me in surprise.
"Where are we?" he repeated. "Do
you tell me, John Carter, that you
know not where you bei'
THAT 1 am upon Barsoom is I'll that
] can guess, and but for you and the
great white apes l should not even
guess that. for the sights have seen
this day are % unlike the things of my
beloved Barsoom as | knew it ten long
years ago as they are unlike the world
of my birth. No. Tars Tarkas: know
not where l,a'