Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-06-24

Ptomel, shall the jeddak, Tai Hiatus,
prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tar
kasT
There were twenty chieftains about
the rostrum, and twenty swords
flashed high In assent
There was no alternative. That de-
cree was final, and SO Tai Hajus drew
bis longsword and advanced to meet
Tars Tarkas.
The combat was soon over. and, with
his foot upon the neck of the dead
monster. Tars Tarkas became jeddak
among the Tharks.
His first act was to make me full
fedged chieftain with the rank 1 had
won by my combats the first few weeks
Of my captivity among them.
Seeing the favorable disposition of
the warriors toward Tars Tarkas. as
well as toward me, grasped the op-
portuDity to enlist them in my cause
against Zodanga. told Tars Tarkas
the story of my adventures, and in a
few words had explained to him the
thought had in mind.
"John Carter has made a proposal"
he said. addressing the council. (which
meets with my sanction. shall put 1t
to you briefly. Dejah Thoris, the
princess of Helium, who was our pris-
oner. is now held by the jeddak of 70
danga, whose son she must wed to
save her country from devastation at
the hands of the Zodangan forces.
"John Carter suggests that we res
cue her and return her to Helium. The
loot of Zodanga would be magnificent,
and have often thought that had we
an alliance with the people of Helium
we could obtain sufficient assurance of
sustenance to permit us to increase
the size and frequency of our hatch
ings, and thus become unquestionably
supreme among the green men Of all
Barsoom. What say your"
II was a chance to fight, an oppor-
runity to loot, and they rose to the
bait as speckled trout to fly.
In three days we were on the march
toward Zodanga, one hundred thou
sand strong, as Tars Tarkas had been
able to enlist the services of three
smaller hordes on the promise of the
great loot of Zodanga.
We travelled entirely by night, timing
our marches SO that we camped dur
ing the day at deserted cities where.
even to the beasts, we we're all kept
Indoors during the daylight hours. On
the march Tars Tarkas. through his
remarkable ability and craftsmanship,
enlisted fifty thousand more warriors
from various hordes, so that. ten days
off Nov mt hal ot mid fex1,
outside the great walled city of 20
danga. one hundred and fifty thousand
strong.
The task Of obtaining entry to the
city devolved upon me. took twenty
dismounted warriors and approached
one Of the small gates that pierced
the walls at short intervals.
Placing three Of my warriors with
their faces to the wall and arms
locked, / commanded two more to
mount to their shoulders, and sixth
ordered to climb upon the shoulders
Of the upper two. The head of the top
most warrior lowered over forty feet
from the ground.
In this way, with ten warriors, 1
built a series of three steps from the
ground to the shoulders of the topmost
man. Then starting from short dis
tance behind them I ran swiftly up
from one tier to the next, and with
final bound from the broad shoulders
of the highest clutched the top of the
great wall and quietly drew myself to
its broad expanse. After me dragged
six lengths of leather from an equal
number of my warriors. These lengths
we had previously fastened together
and passing one end to the topmost
warrior I lowered the other end eau
tiously over the opposite side of the
wall toward the avenue below No one
was In sight, SO lowering myself to
the end of my leather strap, dropped
the remaining thirty feet to the pave
ment below.
had learned from Kantos Kan the
secret of opening these gates. and In
another moment my twenty great fight
ing men stood within the doomed city
of Zodanga.
found to my delight that had en-
tered at the lower boundary of the
enormous palace grounds. Dispatching
one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a
detail of fifty Tharks. with word of my
Intentions. ! ordered ten warriors to
capture and open one of the great
gates while with the nine remaining l
took the other. We were to do our work
quietly, no shots were to be fred and
no general advance made until had
reached the palace with my fifty
Tharks. Our plans worked to perfec-
ton. The two sentries we met were
dispatched to their fathers upon the
banks of the lost sea of Korus, and the
guards at both gates followed them In
silence