The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-03-04
may have some idea of woola's facial

| master. My walk to the hills occu'
pied but few minutes, and ! found
nothing of particular interest to re
ward me. But the walk had been
large with Importance to me, for !,
had resulted In perfect understand
ing with Woola upon whom Tars
Tarkas relied for my safe keeping.
now knew that while theoretically q
prisoner / was virtually free, and
FASTENED to regain the city limits be
fore the detection of Woola could be
discovered by his erstwhlle masters.
on regalning the plaza had my
third glimpse Of the captive girl. She
was standing with her guards before
the entrance TO the audience chamber
and as approached she gave me one
naughty glance and turned her bach
full upon me. The act was so WON
anly, so earthly womanly. that though
II stung my pride II also warmed my
heart with feeling OF companionship
II was good TO know that some one
else on Mars beside myself had hu
man instincts OF a civilized order, ever
though the manifestation of them was
so painful and Notifying.
Seeing that the prisoner seemed the
center Of attraction / halted 10 view
the proceedings. The council squattet
upon the steps OF the rostrum, while
below them stood the prisoner and hei
two guards. | saw that one of the
women was Sarkoja, and thus under
stood how she had been present at the
hearing OF the preceding day, the re
suits OF which she had reported "a
the occupants of our dormitory last
night Her attitude toward the cap
tive was most harsh and brutal. She
seemed to be venting upon this poor
defenseless creature all the hatred
cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine
hundred years, backed by unguessable
ages Of fierce and brutal ancestors.
AS Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes
to address the prisoner they fell on me
and he turned to Tars Tarkas with
a word, and gesture OF Impotence.
Tars Tarkas made some reply which
could not catch, but which caused
Lorquas Ptomel TO smile; after which
they paid no further attention to me
"What is your manner" asked Lor.
quas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner,
"Dejah Thoris, daughter OF Mors
Kajak of Hellum."
"And the nature of your expedi.
tion?" he continued.
ut was a purely scientific research
party sent out by my fathers father,
the Jeddak Of Helum. TO rechart the
lair currents, and TO take atmospheric
density tests" replied the fair pris-
oner, iG a low, well-modulated voice.
we were unprepared for battle"
she continued, las we were on peace.
full mission, as our banners and the
colors of our craft denoted. The work
we were doing was as much In your
interests as In ours, for you know full
well that were II not for our labors
and the fruits of our scientific oper-
atoms there would not be enough air
or water on Mars to support a single
human life. For ages we have main.
luiHNu anu Ndltl supply ~
practically the same point without an
appreciable loss, and we have done
this In the face OF the brutal and
ignorant interference of you green
men.
7 "Why, oh, why will you not learn
TO live In amity with your fellowsi
Must you ever go on down the ages to
your final extinction but little above
the plane of the dumb brutes that
serve you'll Come back 10 the ways
of our common ancestors, come back
to the light OF kindness and fellow
ship. The way Is open To YOU, you
will find the hands OF the red men
stretched out to aid you. The grand.
daughter of the grepiest ana wightirsi
OF the red jeddnks has asked you.
viii you Gomez"
Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors
sat looking silently and intently at the
young woman for several moments
after she had ceased speaking. That
they were moved | truly believe, and
II one man high among them had been
strong enough to rise above custom,
that moment would have marked
new and mighty era for Mars.
saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak,
and on his face was such an express
sion as | had never seen upon the
countenance of green Marian war.
rior. 1t bespoke an inward and
mighty battle with self, with heredity,
with age-old custom, and as he opened
his mouth to speak, q look almost Of
benignity. Of kindness, momentarily
lighted up his fierce and terrible coun'
tenance.
What words Of moment were TO have
fallen from his lips were never spoken,
as just then a young warrior, evident
ly sensing the trend Of thought among
the older men, leaped down from the
steps Of the rostrum, and striking the
frail captive a powerful blow across
the face, which felled her to the floor,
placed his foot upon her PROSTATE