Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-02-11

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~ Delivered Blow After Blow Upon
I4is Enormous Chest"
enormous chest. With all his immense
bulk he was little II any stronger than
!, and 1t was but the matter of a mo-
ment or two before he sank, bleeding
and lifeless, to the floor.
Dejah Thoris had raised herself up
on one elbow anu was watching the
battle with wide, staring eyes. When
had regained my feet l raised her
in my arms and bore her to one of the
benches at the side of the room.
Again no Marian interfered with
me, and when she could speak she
placed her hand upon my arm, and
looking into my eyes, said:
"Why did you it? You. who re-
fused me even friendly recognition in
the first hour of my peril And now
you risk your life and kill one of your
companions for my sake. cannot I'M
derstand. What strange manner of
man are you, that you consort with
the green men, though your form is
that of my race, while your color is
little darker than that of the white
ape? Tell me, are you human, or are
you more than HUMANE
at is a strange tale" replied, too
long to attempt to tell you now. Suf-
fee it, for the present, that am your
friend, and, so far as our captors viii
permit, your protector and your ser
want"
'"Then you. too. are a prisoneri
What is your name? Why your re-
gala as a ehieftain?"
"Yes, Dejah Thoris, too am q pris-
oner; my name is John Carter, and /
claim Virginia, one Of the United
States of American Earth, as my
home; but why am permitted to
wear arms ] do not know, nor was l
aware that my regalia was that Of a
chieftain."
We were interrupted at this juncture
by the approach Of one of the war
riors. bearing arms, accouterments and
ornaments. and In q fash one of her
questions was answered and q puzzle
cleared up for me. ! saw that the
body of my dead antagonist had been
stripped. and | read in the menacing
yet respectful attitude of the warrior
who had brought me these trophies
Of the kill the same demeanor as that
evinced by the other who had brought
me my original equipment, and now
for the first time I realized that my
blow, on the occasion of my first bat
tie in the audience chamber had re-
suited in the death of my adversary.
I was accorded the honors due q
conqueror; the trapplngs and the po-
sition of the man | killed. In truth.
| was a Marian chieftain, and this
l learned later was the cause of my
great freedom and my liberation In
the audience chamber.
AS l had turned to receive the dead
warriors chattels | had noticed that
Tars Tarkas and several others had
pushed forward toward us. The chief
addressed me:
do you know what your IN
precedented temerity would have cost
you had you failed to kill either Of the
two chieftains whose metal you now
wear?" he asked.
~ presume that that one whom /
had failed to kill. would have killed
me-" l answered, smiling.
"No, you are wrong, Only in the
last extremity of self-defense would
a Marian warrior kill a prisoner; we
like to save them for other purposes"
and his face bespoke possibilities that
were not pleasant to dwell upon.
But one thing can save you now"
he continued. SHOULD you. in recogni-
ton of your remarkable valor, feroeity
and prowess, be considered by Tai Ha-
jus as worthy of his service you may
be taken into the community and be-
come full-fedged Tharkian. Until we
reach the headquarters Of Tai Hajus
you wiz be treated by US as Tharkian
chieftain, but you must not forget that
every chief who ranks you Is respon-
sible for your safe delivery to our
mighty and most ferocious ruler. !
am DONE"
II hear you, Tars Tarkas," an
swered. "If you win leave me alone /
viii go In peace, but II not, let the In
diyidual Barsoomians with whom
must deal either respect my rights as a
stranger among you. or. take whatever
consequences may befall. or one