The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-04-01

pointed out a waterway far to he
north OF rs which also seemed to lead
to HelIum.
Does not this pierce your GRANDPA
TIERS territory" | asked.
Yes" she answered, "but II is two
hundred miles north OF u.s."
"They would never suspect that we
would try for that distant waterway"
| answered, land that is why think
Il is the best route for our escape"
Sofa agreed with me, and II was de-
clded that we should leave Thark this
same night; Just as quickly, In fact, as
| could find and saddle my thoats. Sofa
was TO ride one and Dejah Thorls and
| the other; each of MS carrying sum-
Client food and drink TO last us for
two days, since the animals could not
be urged too rapidly for so long dis
lance.
l directed Sofa to proceed with Dr..
jah Thoris along one OF the less fire.
quented avenues 10 the southern boun-
dairy OF the city, where | would over
take them with the thoats as quickly
as possible; then, leaving them 10
gather what food silks and furs We
were to need, | slipped qul us 10 the
rear Of the first door, and entered the
courtyard. where our animals were.
l called softly to my two beasts.
How ! thanked the kind providence
which had given me the foresight TO
win the love and confidence OF these
wild dumb brutes, for presently from
the far side of the court | saw two
huge bulks forcing their way toward
me through the surglRg mountains OF
flesh. Opening the gates ordered the
two great beasts 10 pass out, and then
slipping quietly after them closed the
portals behind me.
did not saddle or mount the anil
mails there, but Instead walked quietly
In the shadows Of the buildings toward
an unfreQuented avenue which led to-
ward the point where | had arranged to
meet Dejah Thoris and Soa. With the
noiselessness OF disembodled spirits
we moved stealthny along the desert
ed streets, but not until Ne were with
IN sight OF the plain beyond the city
did | commence TO breathe freely. ]
was sure that Sola and Dejs ThorIs
would find no difficulty In reaching our
rendezvous undetected, but with my
great thoats | was not so sure for my
self as II was quite unusual for war
riors to leave the city after dark; in
fact there was no place FOR them to 90
within any but a long ride.
| reached the appointed meeting
place safely. but as Dejah Thoris and
Sofa were not there led my animals
into the entrance hall OF one Of the
large buildings. presuming that one
OF the other women OF the same house
hold may have come In to speak TO
Sola. and so delayed their departure
did not feel any undue apprehen-
sion until nearly an hour had passed
without sign OF them, and by the
time another half hour had crawled
away ! was becoming filed with grave
anxiety. Then there broke upon the
stiffness OF the night the sound OF an
approaching party, which from the
noise. knew could be no fugitlves
creeping stealthlly toward liberty.
Soon the party was near me, and
from the black shadows Of my en-
trance way perceived score OF
mounted warriors who, In passing
dropped a dozen words that fetched
my heart clean into the top OF my
head.
He would likely have arranged To
meet them just without Ne city, and
So" | heard no more, they had
passed on but Il was enough. Our
plan had been discovered. and the
chances for escape from now on 10 the
fearful end would be small indeed
My one hope now was TO return unde-
tected 10 the quarters OF Dejah Thorls
and learn what fate had overtaken her,
but how 10 do II with these great
monstrous thoats upon my hands, now
that the city probably wss aroused by
the knowledge OF my escape, was a
problem OF no mean proportions.
Suddenly an idea occurred 10 the and.
acting on my knowledge Of the con.
structlon OF the buildings OF these an.
Client Marian cities with hollow
court within the center OF each
square, | CROPPED my way blIndly
through the dark chambers calling the
great thoats after me. They had ain.
Guilty in negotiating some OF the door.
ways but as the buildings fronting the
clty's principal exposures were all de-
signed upon a magnificent scale, they
were able TO wriggle through without
sticking fast; and thus we finally
made the inner court where | found.
as had expected, the usual carpet Of
mosslike vegetation which would
prove their food and drink until |
could return them TO their own en-
closure.
Removing the saddle trappings, hid
them Just within the rear doorway OF
the building through which we had