The Connecticut labor news. (New Haven, Conn.) 1921-1925, 1921-06-24
CHAPTER VII.
LoVe-Makino on Mars

Love-Makinq on Mars.
Following the battle with the air
ships, the community remained within
the city for several days, abandoning
the homeward march until they could
feel reasonably assured that the ships
would not return; for to be caught
on the open plains with a cavalcade
Of chariots and children was far from
the desire of even so warlike a people
as the green Martians.
During our period of inactivity, Tars
Tarkas had instructed me in many of
the customs and arts of war familiar
to the Thanks, including lessons in
riding and guiding the great beasts
which bore the warriors. These crea-
lures, which are known as thOats, are
as dangerous and vicious as their mas
tiers, but when once subdued are suffi-
GENTLY tractable for the purposes of
the green Martians.
Two of these animals had fallen
to me from the warriors whose metal
l wore, and in a short time I could
handle them quite as we'll as the ma
tive warriors.
My experience with WoOla deter
mined me to attempt the experiment
of kindness IN my treatment of my
thoats. First I taught them that they
could not unSeat me, and even raped
them sharply between the ears to i'm
press upon them my authority and
mastery. Then, by degrees, I won
their confidence in much the same
manner as I had adopted countless
times with many mundane mounts.
In the course of a few days my
thoats were the wonder of the entire
community. They would follow me
like dogs, rubbing their great shouts
against my body in awkward evidence
Of affection, and respond to my every
command with an alacrity and docili-
ty which caused the Marian warriors
to ascribe to me the possession Of
some earthly power unknown on Mars.
On the seventh day following the
battle with the air craft we again
took up the march toward Thank, all
probability of another attack being
deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel.
During the days just preceding oul
departure I had seen but little of De-
busy by Tars Tarkas with my lessons
in the art of Marian warfare, as we'll
as in the training of my thoats. The
few times I had visited her quarters
she had been absent, walking upon
the streets with Sofa, or investigating
the buildings in the near vicinity OF
the plaza.
On the evening before our departure
I saw them approaching along one Of
the great avenues which lead into the
plaza from the east. l advanced to
meet them, and telling Sofa that I
would take the responsibility for De-
jah Thoris' safe keeping, I directed
her to return to her quarters on some
trivial errand. l liked and trusted
Sofa, but for some reason I desired
to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who
represented to me all that I had left
behind upon Earth in agreeable and
congenial companionship.
That she shared my sentiments in
this respect was positive, for on my
approach the look of pitiful hopeless
ness left her sweet countenance to be
replaced by a smile of joyful welcome
as she placed her little right hand up
on my left shoulder in true red Mar
tian salute.
81 think they have been trying to
keep us apart" she said, "for when
ever you have been off duty one of
the older women of Tars Tarkas' ret
inue has always arranged to trump
up some excuse to get Sofa and me
out of sight. They have had me down
in the pits below the buildings help
ing them mix their awful radium pow
der, and make their terrible projectiles.
You know that these have to be man
ufactured by artificial light, as expos
ure to sunlight always results in an
explosion. You have noticed that their
bullets explode when they strike an
object? Well, the opaque, outer coat
ing is broken by the impact, exposing
a glass cylinder, almost solid, in the
forward end of which is minute par
tfcle Of radium powder. The moment
the sunlight. even though diffused,
strikes this powder it explodes with
a violence which nothing can with
stand"
While I was much interested in
Dejah Thoris' explanation of this won
derful adjunct to Marian warfare, I
was more concerned by the immediate
problem OF their treatment of her.
That they were keeping her away from
me was not a matter for surprise, but
that they snould subject her to dan
gerous and arduous labor filled me
with T.ge.
"Isave they ever subjected you to
cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?"
I asked, feeling the hot blood Of my
fighting ancestors leap in my veins
as l awaited her reply.
"Only In little ways, John Carter"
she answered. Nothing that can
harm me outside my pride. At heart
they hate heir horrid fates, and so
Continued next issue.)