The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-09

blasphemy, that the legend is a true ono 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? F We are between the wild thoat of cer-t 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. o.
 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 stays us eventually will have great numbers of dead to count. ...
 "But about yourself, John Carter,"s. here all these years, where indeed have you been, and how is it that find you here today?"
 ''I have been back to earth" I 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. .5
 "For ten years have been enduring a 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 find myself, through a cruel fate, in the one tiny spot of all Bar soom from which there is apparently no escape and if there is at a price which would put out forever the last fickering hope which may cling to of seeirg my princess again.
 "Only bare half hour before saw you battling with the plant men I was standing in the moonlight upon the banks of broad river that taps the eastern shore of earth's most blessed land. have answered you, my friend. Do you believer?
 q believe" replied Tars Tarkas, though cannot understand"
 As we talked | had been searching the interior of the chamber with my eyes. It was perhaps 200 feet in length to be doorway in the center of the wall directly opposite that through which we had entered.
 As 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 I .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 I must admit that cold shivers played along my spine and the short hairs at the base of my head stiffened and rose up, as do those upon a hounds neck when in the 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" it shrieked. ''Think ye to defeat the eternal laws of life oID <ha yc<< ous 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 own2 Think ye to escape whence in all the countless ages but single soul hast fled?
 "Go back the way ye came, to the merciful maws of the children of the tree of life or the gleaming fangs of the great white apes. There lies speedy surcease from suffering. But insist in your rash purpose to thread the gold en cliffs of the mountains of Otz, past the ramparts of the impregnable fortresses of the holy therns, and upon your way death ill it's most frightful form will overtake you"
 And then the awful laugh broke out from another part of the chamber.
 Most uncanny," I remarked, turn. ing to Tars Tarkas.
 What shall we dor" he asked. we cannot fight empty air. l would, al- most rather return and face foes into whose flesh Il may feel my blade bite, and know that I am selling my life dearly, than go down to that oblivion which is evidently the fairest and most desirable eternity that mortal man has the right to hope for"
 "If, as you say. we cannot fight empty. air, Tars ,Tarkas,'' I replied, neither, on the other hand, can empty air fight us. I shall not be turned back by wind, who have faced and con. quered in my time thousands of sinewy warriors and tempered blades, nor shall you, Thark."
 "But unseen voices may emanate from unseen and unseeable creatures who wield invisible blades" answered the green warrior.
 "Rot, Tars Tarkasv' I cried. "Those voices come from beings as real as you or I. In their veins flows blood that may be let as easily as ours. The fact that they remain invisible to us is the