The Snowflake herald., 1921-04-29
CHAPTER xv-cOntlnued.

west of Zodanga, and with my COM
pass intact / should have made the
trip, barring accidents, in between
four and five hours. AS it turned out,
however, morning found me speeding
over a vast expanse Of dead sea bot
tom after nearly six hours Of continu-
GUS flight at high speed.
About noon 1 passed low over a
great dead city of ancient Mars, and
as / SKINNED out across the plain /
came full upon several thousand green
warriors engaged in a terrific battle.
Scarcely had seen them than vol
ley of shots was directed at me, and
with the almost unfailing accuracy or
their aim my little craft was instantly
a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to
the ground.
/ fell almost directly in the center
of the fierce combat, among warriors
who had not seen my approach, so
busily were they engaged in life and
death struggles AS my machine sank
among them 1 realized that it was fight
or die, with good chances Of dying in
any event, and so struck the ground
with drawn longsword ready to de-
fend myself as could.
I fell beside a huge monster who was
engaged with three antagonists, and as
] glanced ut his fierce face, filed with
the light of battle, recognized Tars
Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me,
as / was trifle behind him, and just
then the three warriors opposing him,
and whom / recognized as Warhoons,
charged simultaneously. The mighty
fellow made quick work of one of
them, but in stepping back for an
other thrust he fell over a dead body
behind him and was down and at the
mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick
as lightning they were upon him, and
Tars Tarkas would have been gathered
to his fathers in short order had not
sprung before his PROSTATE form and
engaged his adversaries. had ac-
counted for one Of them when the
mighty Thark regained his feet and
quickly settled the other.
He gave me one look, and slight
smile touched his grim lips as, touch
ing my shoulder, he said:
II would scarcely recognize you,
John Carter. but there is no other
upon Barsoom who would have done
what you have for me. think have
learned that there is such a thing as
NV 4vsond -
He said no more, nor was there OPP
portunity, for the Warhoons were clos
ing in about us, and together we
fought, shoulder to shoulder, during all
that long, hot afternoon, until the tide
Of battle turned and the remnant of
the fierce Warhoon horde fell back
upon their thoats, and fed into the
gathering darkness.
On our return to the city after the
battle we had gone directly to Tars
Tarkas' quarters, where / was left
alone while the chieftain attended the
customary council which Immediately
follows an engagement.
AS / was awaiting the return Of the
green warrior / heard something move
in an adjoining apartment, and as
glanced up there rushed suddenly upon
me a huge and hideous creature which
bore me backward upon the pile OF
silks and furs upon which had been
reclining. It was Woola-faithful, lov-
ing Woola. He had found his way
back to Thark and, as Tars Tarkas
later told me, had gone Immediately to
my former quarters where he had
taken up his pathetic and seemingly
hopeless watch for my return.
"Tal Hajus knows that you are here,
John Carter" said Tars Tarkas, on his
! return from the jeddak's quarters
"SarkOja saw and recognized you as
we were returning. Tai Hajus has or
dered me to bring you before him to-
: night. have ten thoats, John Car
ter: you may take your choice from
among them, and viii accompany you
to the nearest waterway that leads to
Helium. Come, we must start"
And when you return, Tars Tar
kas2'' asked.
''The wild calots, possibly, OF
worse" he replied "Unless / should
chance to have the opportunity have
SO long waited of battling with Tai
Hajus."
eve will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see
Tai Hajus tonight. You shall not sac
rifice yourself, and 1t may be that to,
night you can have the choice you
wait"
While we were eating repeated to
Tars Tarkas the story which SOla had
told me that night upon the sea bottom
during the march to Thark.
He said but little, but the great
muscles Of his face worked in passion
and in agony at recollection Of the
horrors which had been heaped upon
the only thing he had ever loved in all
his cold, cruel, terrible existence.
He no longer demurred when sug
gested that we go before Tai Hajus
only saying that he would like to SPEAK
to Sarkoja first. AT his request / &C
companied him to her quarters.
"Sarkoja." said Tars Tarkas, fort,