Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-09-30

Hto the audience, and AT eacn emo
had been constructed cages to hold
mem Until their turns came to meet
some horrible death upon the arena.
Kantos Kan and I we're confined to-
gether In one of the cages. In the
others were wild calots, thuats, mad
zitIdars. green warriors and women of
other hOrdes, and many strange and
feroclous wild beasts OF Barsoom.
which had never before seen.
Shortly after we had been Gagged
the amphitheater began to I'LL and
within an hour every available part OF
the seating space was occupied. Oak
Kova, with HIS jeds and chleftains, sat
at the center Of one side OF the arena
upon a large raised platform.
At signal from Oak Kova the
doors Of two cages we're thrown open
and a dozen green Marian females
were driven to the center of the arena.
Each was given a dagger and then, at
the far end, a pack Of twelve calots.
or wild dogs, were loosed upon them.
As these brutes. growing and foam
Ing, rushed upon the almost defense
less women turned my head that !
might not see the horrid sight. The
yells and laughter of the green horde
bore witness to the excellent quality
Of the sport and when I turned back
to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me
II was over, saw three victorious
calots, snarling and growing over the
bodies Of their prey. The women had
given good account Of themselves.
Next mad zitldar was loosed
among the remaining dogs, and so 1t
went throughout the long, hot, hor-
rible day.
During the day I was pitted against
first men and then beasts. but as was
armed with a longsword and always
outclassed my adversary In agility
and generally in strength as well. 1t
proved but child's play TO me. Time
and time again l won the applause Of
the bloodthirsty multitude, and toward
the end there were cries that l be
taken from the arena and be made a
member Of the hordes Of Warhoon.
Finally there were but three Of us
left, a great green warrior Of some far
northern horde, Kantos Kan, and my
self. The other two were to battle
and then I to fight the conqueror for
the liberty which was accorded the
final winner
Kantos Kan had fought several
times during the day and like myself
had always proven victorious, but &C.
rasionally by the smallest Of margins,
'rsspecially when pitted against the
ldsreen warriors. had little hope that
the could best his giant adversary who
!, rad moved down all before him dur
ne the day. The fellow lowered near.
sy sixteen feet In height. while Kantos
~ they advanced to meet one another
-, saw for the FIRST time a trick Of
oiMartian swordsmanship which cen
cred Kantos Kan's every hope Of VIC
afory and life on one cast Of the dice,
FOR, as he came to within about twen-
MY feet Of the huge fellow he threw his
sword arm far behind him over his
shoulder and with a mighty sweep
tpuried his weapon point foremost at
he green warrior. II few true as an
=, lrrow and piercing the poor DEVILS
heart laid him dead upon the arena.
. Ksntos Kan and were now pitted
W gGinst each other but as we ap-
,roached to the encounter whispered
Veo him to prolong the battle until near.
'ry dark In the hope that we might
arind some means Of escape. Just as
oDaw the sudden coming Of dark whis.
upered to Kantos Kan 10 thrust his
leword between my left arm and my
% ,ody. As he did so I staggered back
. .lasping the sword tightly with my
Urn and thus fell to the ground with
MS weapon apparently protruding
from my chest. Kantos Kan perceived
o'ny coup and stepping quickly to my
Nside he placed his foot upon my neck
and withdrawing his sword from my
o0dy gave me the final death blow
through the neck which is supposed TO
sever the ,jugular vein. but In this In.
stance the cold blade slipped harm.
iessly into the sand OF the arena. In
the darkness which had now fallen
none could tell but that he had really
finished me, ] whispered TO him TO
60 and claim his freedom and then