The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-04-30

of the hills we had been approaching
for two days and which marked the
southern boundary of this particular
sea. Our animals had been two days
without drink, nor had they had water
for nearly two months, not since
shortly after leaving Thark; but, as
Tars Tarkas explained to me, they re-
quire but little and can live almost in
definitely upon the moss which covers
Barsoom, and which. he told me. holds
in its tiny stems sufficient moisture
to meet the limited demands of the
animals.
After partaking of my evening meal
of cheese-like food and vegetable milk
l sought out Sofa. whom found work
ing by the light of q torch upon some
of Tars Tarkas' trappings. She looked
up at my approach. her face lighting
with pleasure and with welcome.
II am glad you came" she said;
"Dejah Thoris sleeps and I am lonely.
1 promised to tell you my story, or
rather the story of my parents. From
what 1 have learned of you and the
ways of your people | am sure mat
the tale will not seem strange to you.
but among green Martians it has no
parallel within the memory OF the Old
est living Thark, nor do our legends
hold many similar tales
MY mother was rather small, IN
fact too small to. be allowed the re-
sponsibilities Of maternity, as our
chieftains breed principally for size.
She was also less cold and cruel than
most green Marian women, and caring
little for their society, she often
roamed the deserted avenues OF Thark
alone. or went and sat among the wild
flowers that deck the nearby nils,
thinking thoughts and wishing wishes
which | believe l alone among Thark-
tan women today may understand, for
am not the child of my mother!
And there among the hills she met
a Young warrior, whose duty 1t was TO
guard the feeding zitidars and thoats
and see that they roamed not beyond
the hills. She trusted him and told OF
| the awful repugnance she felt for the
cruelties of their kind for the hideous'
loveless lives they must ever lead, ana
then she waited for the storm OF de-
nunciation to break from his cold, hard
lips; but instead he took her In MS
arms and kissed her.
"They kept their love a secret for
six long years. She. my mother. was
| of the retinue of the great Tai Ha1us.
| while her lover was a simple warrior,
| wearing only his own metal. Had
| their detection from the traditions OF
the Thanks been discovered both
would have paid the penalty In the
great arena before Tai Hajus and the
assembled hordes.
1.-The egg from which came was
hidden beneath q great glass vessel
| mon the highest end most inaccessible
/ OF the partially ruined towers OF an
Gent Thank Once each year my moth
4 er visited it for the five long years II
lay there in the process Of incubation
She dared not come Oftener, for In
the mighty guilt of her conscience she
feared that her every move was
watched. During this period my IA
ther gained great distinction as
warrior and had taken the metal from
several chieftains. His advance was
rapid. and he soon stood high In the
councils of Thank. But one day he was
ordered away upon long expedition
to the ice-clad south, to make war up
on the natives there and despoil them
Of their furs.
'sHe was gone for four years. and
when he returned all had been ovel
for three: for about q year after MI
4 departure, and shortly before the time
for the return of an expedition which
had gone forth to fetch the fruits Of
community incubator, the egg haf
Matched. Thereafter my mother con
tinued to keep me in the old tower
visiting me nightly and lavishing upor
me the love the community life would
have robbed MS both Of.
.She taught me rapidly the Language
and customs Of my kind, and one nigh
she told me the story have told to yor
up to this point, inpressing upon M
the necessity for absolute secrecy snt
the great caution must exercise aftel
she had placed me with the othel
young Thanks to permit no one to guess
that l was further advanced In edu
cation than they; and then drawing n,
close to her she whispered In my eal
the name Of my father.
And then light flashed out upoI
the darkness Of the tower chamber
and there stood Sarkoja, her cleaning
baleful eyes fixed in frenzy Of lOath
ing and contempt upon my mother
That she had heard the entire stOr,
was apparent, and that she. had sus
pected something wrong from m!
mothers long nightly absences from
her quarters accounted for her pres
ence there on that Hateful night.
"Sarkoja hastened to Tai Hiatus Z
report her discovery. and while IN
was gone my mother. wrapping me Il
the silks and furs Of her night cover
| ings, 20 that / was scarcely noticeable
descended to the streets and ran wild
| " toward the outskirts Of the city. Il
the direction which led to the IA