The Lamar register., 1921-02-09

turned TO meet the charge Of the in
furiated bull ape. He was now too
close upon me for the cudgel to prove
of any effective assistance, so ] mere
ly threw 1t as heavily as ! could at
his advancing bulk. II struck him
Just below the knees eliclting a howl
OF pain and rage, and so throwing him
on his balance that he lunged full up
on me with arms wide stretched to
ease his fall.
Again, as on the preceding day,
had recourse to earthly tactics, and
swinging my right fist full upon the
point of his chin | followed II with
a smashing left to the pit of his
stomach. The effect was marvellous.
for, as I lightly side-stepped. after de-
liverlng the second blow. he reeled
and fell upon the floor doubled up
with pain and gasping for wind. Leap
ing over his PROSTATE body seized
the cudgei and finished the monster
before he could regain his feet.
As delivered the blow low laugh
rang out behind me. and, turning. !
beheld Tars Tarkas. Sola and three
or four warriors standing in the door
way of the chamber. As my eyes met
theirs I was, for the second time. the
recipient of their zealously guarded
applause.
MY absence had been noted by Soln
on her awakening and she had quickly
Informed Tars Tsrkas. who had set
out Immediately with handful Of
warriors 10 search for me. As they
had approached the limits Of the city
they had witnessed the actions OF the
bull ape as he bolted into the building.
frothing with rage
They had followed Immediately be
hind him. thinking 1t barely possible
that his actions might prove clew to
my whereabouts, and had witnessed
my short but decisive battle with him.
This encounter. together with my set
to with the Martian warrior on the
previous day and my feats of jumping
placed me upon a high pinnacle In
their regard
Sola. who had accompanied the
searching party OF her own volltion,
was the only one OF the Martlans
whose face had not been twisted in
laughter as battled for my life She,
on the contrary. was sober with sp-
parent solicltude and. as soon as
had finished the monster rushed 10 me
and carefully examined my body for
possible wounds or injuries Salts
flying herself that had come on un
scathed she smiled quietly. and. tax.
In So OF -d ha
of the chamber
Tars Tarkas and the other warriors
had entered and were standing over
the now rupldly revIvlng brute which
hnd saved my life. and whose life I
In turn. had rescued. There seemed
something menacing In their attitude
toward my beast and | hesitated To
leave until had learned the outcome
II was well I did so, for a warrior
drew an evil-looking pistol from its
holster and was on the point of put
ting an end to the creature when
sprang forward and struck up his
arm. The bullet striking the wooden
casing OF the window exploded. blow
ing hole completely through the
wood and masonry.
then knelt down beside the fear
some looking thing and raising II to
its feet. motioned for It TO follow me.
The warrior whose gun | had struck
up looked inquiringly at Tars Tarkas
but the later signed that be left to
my own devices and so we returned
to the plaza with my great beast fol-
lowing close at heel and Sola grasp
ing me tightly by the arm.
/ had at least two friends on Mars:
a young woman who watched over me
with motherly solIcltude, and dumb
brute which. as ! later came to know.
held in Its poor ugly carcass more
love. more loyalty. more gratitude
than could have been found in the
entire five million green Martians who
rove the deserted cities and dead ser
bottoms OF Mars.