Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER XVI.
The Iootlng OF xodanea.

The Iootlng Of xodanea.
As the great gate where stood
swung open my fifty Thanks. headed
by Tars Tarkas himself, rode 10 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 I finally was re.
warded BY seeing II swing upon It's
huge hinges and soon my fierce es.
cort was riding across the gardens OF
the jeddak Of Zodsnga.
40 We approached the palace could
zee through the great windows Of the
nrst moor Into the brilliantly iiiumsnat.
Cd audience chamber Of Than Kosis
The immense bsli was crowded with
MOBILES ana their women. N though some
Important function was In progress. Al
one end OF the chamber. upon massive
golden thrones encrusted with dla.
monds. sat Than Kosis and his con.
sort, surrounded by officers and digni.
tarfes OF state. Before them stretched
q broad aisle lined on either side with
soidiery, and as 7 looked there entered
this aisle at the far end Of the hall, the
head Of q procession which advanced
to the foot OF the throne.
First there marched four officers ~
the jeddak's guard bearing a huge sal.
var on which reposed, upon q cushion
or scarlet silk. a great golden chain
with a collar and paddock at each end.
Then came more disnitaries. and the
onicers OF the palace and OF the army.
and finally two figures entirely muf.
ned In scarlet silk. so that not a fen
ture OF either was discernibie. 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. l could not hear his words. but
presently two officers advanced and
removed the scarlet robe from one OF
the figures 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
his sons neck, springing the paddock
fast After few more words ad
dressed to San Than he turned to the
other figure, from which the officer;
now removed the enshroudinE silks
disclosing TO my now comprehendinI
view DeJah Thorls, princess OF He'll
um.
As the ornaments we're adjusted up
on her beautiful figure and her collar
OF gold swung open In the hands OF
Than KOsis ! raised my longswOrC
above my head and, with the heavy
hilt, ! shattered the glass Of the great
window and sprang into the midst Of
the astonished assemblage. With {
bound / was on the steps OF the plat
form beside Than Kosis. and az HI
stood riveted with surprise, brough
my longsword down upon the COLDER
chain that would have bound Dejal
Thoris to another.
In an instant all was confusion;
thousand drawn swords menaced M
from every quarter, and Sab THAI
sprang upon me with q Jsweled dagge
he had drawn from his nuptisl ornA
ments. could have killed him as cas-
lily az might a ny. but the age-ol
custom Of Barsoom stayed my hand
and, grasping his wrist AZ the daggs
Jew toward my heart. ! held him q
though In a wise and with my Ions
sword pointed to thu far end Of tn
hall.
' "zQdanga has fstlsa." erisa