The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-03-25
CHAPTER vi.
With Deiah Thoris-

As we reached the open the two fe-
male guards who had been detailed to
watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up
and made as though to assume custody
| Of her once more The poor child
shrank against me and I felt her two
little hands fold tightly over my arm.
! Waving the women away, l informed
them that Sofa would attend the cap
tive hereafter. Sarkoja merely gave
Us an ugly look and departed to hatch
up deviltries against us.
/ soon found Sofa and explained TO
her that I wished her to guard Dejah
ThOris as she had guarded me; that
wished her to find other quarters
where they would not be molested by
SarkOja. and I finally Informed her
that I myself would take up my quar-
tiers among the men.
"You are a great chiefsain now, John
Carter" she said, land I must do your
bidding, though indeed am glad to do
1t under any circumstances. The man
whose metal you carry was young, but
he was great warrior and had by his
promotions and kills won his way close
TO the rank of Tars Tarkas. who. as
you know. is second to LOrquas Ptomel
only. You are eleventh. there are but
ten chieftains in this community who
rank you in prOwess."
'And if / should kill LOrquas Pto-
meI?" I asked.
you would be first, John Carter;
but you may only win that honor by
the will Of the entire council that LOr-
quas Ptomel meet You in combat, or
should he attack you, you may kill him
in self-defense, and thus win first
place"
/ laughed. and changed the subject.
I had no particular desire to kill Lor-
quas Ptomel, and less to be a jed
among the Thanks.
accompanied Sofa and Dejah Thor
is in a search for new quarters, which
we found in a building near the audi
ence chamber and of far more preten-
tious architecture than our former
hardtation We also found in this
building real sleeping apartments with
ancient beds of highly wrought metal
swinging from enormous gold chains
depending from the marble ceilings.
The decoration of the walls was most
elaborate and, unlike the frescoes in
the other buildings 1 had examined,
portrayed many human figures in the
compositions. These were of people
like myself. and of a much lighter col
or than Dejah Thoris They were clad
in graceful, flowing robes, highly orna-
mented with metal and jewels and
their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful
golden and reddish bronze. The men
were beardless and only a few wore
arms. The scenes depicted for the
most part a fair-skinned, fair-haired |
people at play.
Dejah Thoris clasped her hands |
with an exclamation of rapture as she
gazed upon these magnificent works of I
art. wrought by a people long extinct; |
while Sofa, on the other hand. appar /
emily did not see them.
We decided to use this room. on the I
second floor and overlooking the plaza.
for Dejah Thoris and Sofa. and an
other room adjoining and in the rear
for cooking and supplies. l then dis
patched Sofa 70 bring the bedding and
such food and utensils as she might !
need, telling her that l would guard
Dejah Thoris until her return.
As Sofa departed Dejah Thoris
turned TO me with a faint smile.
And to where, then, would your pris-
)ner escape should you leave her, I'M
ess it was TO follow you and crave
your protection, and ask your pardon
or the cruel thoughts she has har-
'ored against you these past few
iays?"
''You are right" I answered. "there
5 no escape for either OF us unless we
20 together"
II heard your challenge TO the crea-
ure you call Tars Tarkas, and think
understand your position among
hese people. but what cannot fathOm
; your statement that you are not of
Sarsoom
in the name of my first ancestor.
hen," she continued, where may you
'e from? You are like unto my peo-
lie. and yet so unlike. You speak my
language. and yet I heard you tell
rars Tarkas that you had but learned
recently. All Barsoomians speak the
anne tongue from the ice-cIad south to
he ice-clad north. though their written !