The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-04-29
CHAPTER xII-continued.

~ u me. was that some accident might
RelaH the pumping apparatus.
Before 7 retired for the night he
promised to give me a letter to near
by agricultural officer who would help
me on my way to Zodanga, which he
said was the nearest Marian city.
"But be sure that YOU do not let
them know YOU are bound for Helium.
as they are at war with that country.
My assistant and I are of no country
we belpEr to all BarsOOm and this tat
isman which we wear protects US in
all lands. even among the green men
though we do not trug- ourselves to
their hands if we can avoid it." he
added.
"And SO goodnight, my friend" he
continued. may you have long and
restful sleep-yes, a long sleep"
And though he smiled pleasantly I
saw In his thoughts the wish that he
had never admitted me, and then a pic
ture of him standing over me in the
night. and the swift thrust of long
dagger and the half-formed words. Il
an. s., Try. Tut it is for the best good Of
BarecOm."
What was to do? How could es-
cape through these mighty walls?
Easily could I kill him now that l was
warned, but once he was dead I could
no more escape and with the stop
ping of the machinery of the great
plant I should die with all the other
Inhabitants Of the planet-aII, even
Dejah Thoris were she not already
dead.
Cautiously I opened the door Of my
apartment and, followed by Woola,
sought the inner of the great doors.
A wild scheme had come to me; I
would attempt to force the great locks
by the nine thought waves I had read
in my hosts mind.
Creeping steaIthIly through corridor
after corridor and down winding run
ways which turned hither and thither
I finally reached the great hall in
which I had broken my long fast that
morning.
was on the point Of stepping bold
" out into the room when a slight
noise behind me warned me back into
the shadows Of n recess in the CORR
dor Dragging WOola after me 1
crouched low in the darkness.
Presently the old man passed close
by me, and as he entered the dimly
lighted chamber which I had been
about to pass through l saw that he
held a long thin dagger in his hand
and that he was sharpening it upon
a stone. In his mind was the decision
to inspect the radium pumps, which
would take about thirty minutes, and
then return to my bedchamber and fin
ish me.
As ne passed through the great hall
and disappeared down the runway
which led to the pumproom. I stole
Stealthily from my hiding place and
crossed to the great door. the inner
of the three which stood between me
and liberty
Concentrating my mind upon the
massive lock I hurled the nine
thought waves against it, In breath
less expectancy I waited. when finally
the great door moved softly toward
me and slid quietly TO one side. one
after the other the remaining mighty
portals opened at my command and
Woola and l stepped forth into the |
darkness, free, but little better off |
than we had been before. other than |
that we had full stomachs.
fastening away from the shadows I
of the formidable pile I made for the /
first crossroad, intending to strike the /
central turnpike as quickly as pos
sible. This / reached about morning 4
and entering the first enclosure came
to I searched for some evidence of a /
habitation.
There were low rambling buildings
of concrete barred with heavy impass-
able doors. and no amount of ham
mering and hallOOing brought any re-
Spouse. Weary and exhausted from
sleeplessness I threw myself upon the
ground commanding Woola To stand
guard.
Some time later I was awakened by
his frightful growlings and opened my
eyes TO see three red Martians stand
ing a short distance from us and COW,
ering me with their rifles.
Il am unarmed and no enemy" I
FASTENED TO explain. 'T have been a
prisoner among the green men and
am on my way to Zodanga. All L ask
Is food and rest for myself and my
caIot and the proper directions for
reaching my destination"
They lowered their rifles and adj
vanced pleasantly toward me, placing
their right hands upon my left shout
der, after the manner of their custom
of salute. and asking me many ques-
lions about myself and my wander
ings- They then took me to the
house of one Of them which was only
a short distance away.
They We're the personification of
and hospitality and l spent
several days with them, resting and
recuperating from my long and ardu-
Gus experiences.
When I was ready to depart they
me with small domestic a
bun thOat. such as is used for saddle {
purposes by all red Martians. The
animal is about the size of horse and ]
quite gentle, but in color and shape '
an exact replica of his huge and fierce
cousin Of the wilds.
The brothers had supplied Inc with |
a reddish oil with which 1 anointed 1
ny entire body and one of them cut c
ny hair, which had grown quite long. e
n the prevailing fashion of the time. J
square al the back and banged in
'front.', so that could have passed any, n