Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

might nave eAcuSeu vastly greater
demonstration on the part of the
Thark.
laid my hands upon his shoulder.
II am sorry l said, nor did there
seem anything else to say.
Think, John Carter of the count
less billions of Barsoomians who have
taken the voluntary pilgrimage down
this cruel river since the beginning OF
time. only to fall into the ferocious
clutches of the terrible creatures that
today assailed us.
'There is an ancient legend that
once red man returned from the
banks OF the lost sea of Korus, re-
turned from the valley Dor, back
through the mysterious river 1ss. The
legend has 1t that he narrated fear
full blasphemy of horrid brutes that in.
habited valley of wondrous lowell.
ness, brutes that pounced upon each
Barsoomian as he terminated his pill.
grimage and devoured him upon the
banks of the lost sea, where he had
looked to find love and peace and hap
piness.
"But the anclents killed the bias.
phemer, as tradition has ordained that
any shall be killed Nano return from
the bosom of the river Of mystery.
But now we know that 1t was no
blasphemy, that the legend is q true
one and that the man told only Of what
he saw. What does it profit us, John
Carter, since even should we escape we
also would be treated as blasphemers
We are between the wild thoat of GER
tainty and the mad zitidar of fact. We
can escape neither"
"As earth men say, we are between
the devil and the deep sea, Tars Tar
kas," I replied, nor could I help but
smile at our dilemma.
There Is nothing we can do but take
things as they come and at least have
the satisfaction of knowing that what
ever race or horde slays us eventually
will have great numbers Of dead to
count.
"But about yourself, John Carter"
he cried at last. "If you have not been
here all these years, where indeed have
you been, and how is 1t that find you
here today?"
II have been back to EARTH" 1 re-
piled. "For ten long earth years have
been praying and hoping for the day
that would carry me once more to this
grim old planet of yours, for which.
with all its cruel and terrible customs,
I feel bond of sympathy and love
even greater than for the world that
gave me birth.
"For ten years have been enduring
living death of uncertainty and doubt
as to whether Dejah Thoris lived.
Now, for the first time in all these
years, my prayers have been answered
and my doubt relieved.
"Yet I find myself. through = cruel
fate. in the one tiny spot OF, all Bar
SOON from which there is apparently
no escape and If there is at a price
which would put out forever the last
fickering hope which I may cling to Of
seeing my princess again.
"Only bare half hour before I saw
you battling with the plant men l was
standing in the moonlight upon the
banks Of a broad river that taps the
eastern shore of earth's most blessed
land. ! have answered you. my friend.
Do you believer"
81 believe" replied Tars Tarkas,
Though ! cannot understand
AS we talked | had been searching
the interior of the chamber with my
eyes. 1t was perhaps 200 feet in length
and half as broad, with what appeared
to be doorway in the center OF the
wall directly opposite that through
which we had entered.
AS I extended my hand to search for
the controlling button that cruel and
mocking laugh rang out once more so
close to me this time that l involunta-
rily shrank back, tightening my grip
upon the hilt of my great sword.
And then from the far corner of the
great chamber hollow voice chanted:
There is no hope, there is no hope; the
dead return not, the dead return not;
nor Is there any resurrection. Hope
not, for there is no hope"
Though our eyes instantly turned to.
ward the spot from which the voice
seemed to emanate, there was no one
in sight, and | must admit that cold
shivers played along my spine and the
short hairs at tho base of my head
stiffened and rose up, as do those upon
a hounds neck when ingthe night his
eyes see those uncanny things which
are hidden from the sight Of man.
Quickly walked toward the mourn.
full voice. but it had ceased ere reach
ed the farther wall, and then from the
other end of the chamber came another
voice shrill and piercing.
Fools. fools!" 1t shrieked. "Think
ye to defeat the eternal laws of life
and death? Would cheat the mysteri-
Gus Issus, goddess of death, of her
just dues? Did not her mighty mes
senger, the ancient Iss, bear ye upon
her leaden bosom at your own behest
to the valley Dor? Think ye, o fools,
that Issus will give up her own?
Think We to escape whence in all the
countless ages but single soul hast
aed?
(To Be continued.)