Cheyenne Wells record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1???-1969, 1921-07-21


nuce tusks with my left hand while
delivered blow after blow upon nls
enormous chest. With all his immense
hulk he was little If any stronger than
7 and it was but the matter OF a mo
ment or two before he sank' pieeo'ns
and lifeless, to the floor.
Deiah ThorIs had raised herself up
on one elbow and was watching tne
hattie with wide, staring eyes. When
I had regained my feet l raised nef
in nv arms and bore her to one OF the
benches at the side Of the room.
Again no Marian interfered WIN
me. and when she could speak she
placed her hand upon my arn' ana
looking into my eyes. said:
"Why did you it? You. who ~
fused me even friendly recognition ID
the first hour Of my peril And now
YOU risk your life and kill one OF your
companions for my sake. I cannot un.
derstand. What strange manner OF
man are you. that you consort with
the green men. though your form ID
that of my race, while your color ID
little darker than that Of the white
ape? Tell me, are you human, or are
you more than humanF
ut is a strange tale" replied. too
long to attempt to tell you now. Suf-
fce II, for the present, that l am your
friend. and, so far as our captoTs Will
permit, your protector and your ser
want"
'"Then you. too. are prisonerr
What is your name? Why your re-
gala as a chteftain?"
"Yes, Dejah Thoris. too am pris-
oner; my name is John Carter, and I
claim Virginia, one of the United
States of American Earth. as my
home; but why l am permitted to
wear arms I do not know, nor was I
aware that my regalia was that Of Q
chieftain."
We were interrupted at this juncture
by the approach Of one Of the war
riors, bearing arms, accouterments and
ornaments, and In q flash one of her
questions was answered and puzzle
cleared up for me. saw that the
| body of my dead antagonist had been
stripped, and read In the menaclns
| vet respectful attitude Of the warrior
who had brought me these trophies
| of the kill the same demeanor as that
evinced by the other who had brought
me my original equipment. and now
| for the first time I realized that my
blow, on the occasion Of my first bat.
tie in the audience chamber had 70
suited In the death of my adversary.
I was accorded the honors due q
conqueror; the trappings and the po
sition of the man killed. In truth
I was Martian chieftain, and thii
learned later was the cause Of MI
great freedom and my liberation II
the audience chamber.
As had turned to receive the deA,
warriors chattels had not! ced tha
Tars Tarkas and several others ha
pushed forward toward US. The chile
addressed me:
DO you know what your un
precedented temertty would have cos
you had you failed to kill either Of tn
two chieftains whose metal you nov
wear7" he asked.
II presume that that one whom
had failed to kill. would have killed
me-" I answered, smiling.
mo. you are wrong. Only in the
last extremity Of self-defense would
MartIan warrior kill prisoner; We
like to save them for other purposes.
and his face bespoke possibilities that
were not pleasant to dwell upon.
but one thing can save you now."
he continued. "Should you, In recogni.
tion Of your remarkable valor, ferocity
and prowess, be considered by Tai Ha-
JUS as worthy of his service you may
be taken into the community and be-
come full-fledged Tharkian. Until we
reach the headquarters of Tnl Hajus
you will be treated by us a. TharkIan
chieftain. but you must not forget that
every chief who ranks you Is respon-
slble for your safe delivery to our
mighty and most ferocious ruler. I
am DONE"
Il hear you, Tars Tarkas," I an
~ Sou Will icdN4 lue dIUUt /
VIII 60 In peace, but II NOT, let the In.
dividual Barsoomians with whom I
must deal either respect my rights as
stranger among you. or take whatever
consequences may befall. OF one
thing let lis be sure. whatever may be
your ultimate intentions toward this
unfortunate young woman, whoever
would offer her Injury or insult In the
future must figure on full accounting
to me-" :
had guessed at the keynote which
would strike an answering chord in the
breasts Of the green Mnrtians, nor was
| wrong. for my harangue evidently
deeply impressed them, and their at.
tltude toward me thereafter was still
further respectful.
I now turned my attention to De,ah
Thoris, and assisting her to her feet I
turned with her toward the exit, ip.
noring her hovcring guardian harpies