Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-10
he agility of greyhounds above our

reputed for twenty years the best that
Mars had ever known, for Tars Tarkas
and John Carter were names that the
fighting men of this world of warriors
loved best to speak.
But even the two best swords in a
world Of fighters can avail not for
ever against overwhelming numbers Of
fierce and savage brutes, and so, step
by step, we were forced back.
At length we stood against the giant
tree that we had chosen for our as
cent, and then, as charge after charge
hurled its weight upon us, we gave
back again and again until we had
been forced halfway round the huge
base of the colossal trunk.
Tars Tarkas was in the lead, and
suddenly l. heard little cry Of ex-
ultation from him.
Here is shelter for one at least.
John Carter" he said, and, glancing
down, l saw an opening In the base of
the tree about three feet in diameter.
I'm with you, Tars Tarkas!" I cried,
but he would not go, saying that his
bulk was too great for the little aper-
ture. while might slip. in easily.
I'VE shall both die If we remain
without John Carter. Here is slight
chance for one of us. Take it and you
may live to avenge me. 1t is useless
for me to attempt to worm my way
into so small an opening with this
| horde of demons besetting us on all
Sides"
''Then we shall die together, Tars
Tarkas," / replied, "for l shall not
go first. Let me defend the opening
while you get in. Then my smaller
stature will permit me to slip in With
you before they can prevent"
We still were fighting furiously as
We talked in broken sentences. pune
tuated with vicious cuts and thrusts at
our swarming enemy.
At length he yielded, for it seemed
the only way in which either of us
might be saved from the ever increas-
ing numbers of our assailants, who
were still swarming upon US from all
directions across the broad valley.
1T was ever your way, John Car
ter, to think last of your own life," he
said, "but still more your way to
command the lives and actions of 9th
ers, even. to the greatest of jeddaks
who rule upon Barsoom."
There was a grim smile upon his
face as he, the greatest jeddak of
them all, turned to obey the dictates
of a creature Of another world-of a
man whose stature was less than half
his own.
"If you fail, John Carter" he said,
know that the cruel and heartless
Thark, to whom you taught the mean
ing of friendship. will come out to die
beside you"
"As you will, my friend" l replied.
But quickly now, head first, while
eover your retreat"
He hesitated little at that word,
for never in his whole life of continual
strife had he before turned his back
upon aught than a dead or defeated
enemy.
AS he dropped to the ground to force
his way into the tree the whole howl
ing pack Of hideous devils hurled
themselves upon me. To right and left
few my shimmering blade, now green
with the sticky Juice of a plant man,
now red with the crimson blood of a
great white ape.
And thus l fought as never had
fought before against frightful odds
that l cannot realize even now.
With the fear that we would escape
them, the creatures redoubled their ef-
forts to pull me down, and. though the
ground about me was piled high with
their dead and dying comrades, they
succeeded at last in overwhelming me.
and went down beneath them.
But scarce had I fallen ere felt
powerful hands grip my ankles, and in
another second I was being drawn
within the shelter of the trees interior.
For woment it was tug of war
between Tars Tarkas and a great plant
man who clung tenaciously to my
breast, but presently got the point of
my long sword beneath him and with
mighty thrust pierced his vitals.
Bleeding from many wounds, lay
painting upon the ground within the
hollow of the tree, while Tars Tarkas
defended the opening from the furious
mob without.
For an hour they howled about the
opening, but after a few attempts to
reach us they confined their efforts to
terrorizing shrieks and screams, to hor-
rid growing on the part of the great
white apes and the fearsome and in
describable purring by the plant men.
At length all but a score, who had
apparently been left to prevent our es-
cape, had departed, and our adventure
seemed destined to result in a siege,
the only outcome of which could be
our death by starvation, for even
should Ye be able to slip out after
dark where. in that unknown and hos
tile valley. could we hope to turn our
steps toward possible escape?
AS the attacks of our enemies ceased
! and our eyes became accustomed to
the semidarkness of the interior of our
strange retreat took the opportunity
to explore our shelter.
(To Be Continued.)