The Connecticut labor news., 1921-10-07
CHAPTER XVI.
The Lootino Of Zodano<

NVf.
The Looting Of Zodanga.
AS the great gate where stood
swung open my fifty Thanks, headed
by Tars Tarkas himself, rode in upon
their mighty thoats. led them to
the palace walls, which I negotiated
easily without assistance Once in
side, however, the gate gave me con-
siderable trouble, but | finally was re-
Warded by seeing it swing upon its
huge hinges, and soon my fierce es-
cOrt was riding across the gardens of
the jeddak Of Zodanga.
AS we approached the palace I could
see through the great windows of the
first floor into the brilliantly 1llum1nar-
ed audience chamber Of Than Kosis
The immense hall was crowded with
mobiles and their women, as though some
important function was in progress. At
one end OF the chamber, upon massive
golden thrones encrusted with dfa-
monds, sat Than Kosis and his con-
sort, surrounded by officers and digni-
tar1es of state Before them stretched
broad aisle lined on either side with
sOldlery, and AS I looked there entered
this aisle at the far end of the hall, the
head of a procession which advanced
to the foot Of the throne.
First there marched four officers of
the jeddaks guard bearing a huge SAL
var on which reposed, upon a cushion
OF scarlet silk, a great golden chain
with a collar and paddock at each end.
linen came more dignitaries, and the
Ohcers of the palace and of the army,
and finally two figures entirely muf-
fed in scarlet silk, so that not a fea.
ture Of either was discernible These
two stopped at the foot Of the throne,
facing Than Kosis. When the balance
of the procession had entered and as
sumed their stations Than Kosis ad-
dressed the couple standing before
him. | could not hear his words, but
presently two officers advanced and
removed the scarlet robe from one of
the hgures- I saw that Kantos Kan
had failed in his mission, for it was
Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, who
stood revealed before me.
Than Kosis now took a set of the
| ornaments from one of the salvers and
| placed one Of the collars of gold about
Ills sui HOCh, Cno
| fast. After a few more words ad-
dressed to San Than he turned to the
other figure, from which the officers
| now removed the enshrouding silks
| disclosing my now comprehendins
| view Dejah Thoris, princess of He'll
| UNI.
| AS the ornaments were adjusted up
on her beautiful figure and her collar
Of gold swung open in the hands OF
Than Kosis I raised my longsword
| above my head and. with the heavy
h1lt, 1 shattered the glass of the great
window and sprang into the midst OF
the astonished assemblage. With
bound I was on the steps Of the plat
form beside Than Kosis, and as he
stood riveted with surprise, I brough
my longsword down upon the COLDER
chain that would have bound Dejai
Thoris to another.
In an instant all was confusion;
thousand drawn swords menaced me
from every quarter, and Sab Thar
sprang upon me with jeWeled dagger
he had drawn from his nuptial orna
ments / could have killed him as cas-
lily as / might a fly, but the age-ol(
custom of BarsoOm stayed my hand
and, grasping his wrist as the dagge1
flew toward my heart, | held him a.
though in wise and with my long
sword pointed to the far end of tn
hall.
"Zodanga has fallen" cried
"Look !"
All eyes turned in the direction
no ip6iooto6 thoro fOroin