The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-05-07

! speed, while the warriors leaned low
to the right, with their great metal.
shod spears. Each seemed striving
to be the first to impale the poor To-
| dangan and in another moment his
fate would have been sealed had il
not been for my timely arrival.
Driving my fleet air craft at high
speed directly behind the warriors !
soon overlook them and without d.
minishing my speed l rammed the
prov of my little flier between the
shoulders of the nearest. The impact,
sufficient to have torn through inches
Of solid steel, hurled the fellows head
less body into the air over the head
of his thoat, where it fell sprawling
upon the moss. The mounts of the
other two warriors turned squealing
in terror, and bOlted in opposite d.
rectiOns.
Reducing my speed 1 circled and
came to the ground at the feet Of the
astOnished ZOdangan. He was warm
in his thanks for my timely aid and
promised that my days work would
bring the reward it merited, for it
was none other than a cousin of the
jeddak of ZOdanga whose life l had
saved.
Fastening to his damaged machine
we were bending every effort to fin
ish the needed repairs and had almost
completed them when we saw the
two green monsters returning a; top
speed from opposite sides of us. When
they had approached within hun
dred yards their thOats again became
unmanageable and absolutely refused
to advance further toward the air
craft which had frightened them.
The warriors finally dismounted and
hObbling their animals advanced to-
ward us on foot with SlraWn long
swords. | advanced to meet the lqrg-
er, telling the Zodangan to do the
best he could with the other. Finish
ing my man with almost no effort,
as had now from much practice be-
come habitual with me, l fastened
10 return to my new acquaintance
whom ] found indeed in desperate
straits.
He was wounded and down with
the huge foot of his antagonist upon
his throat and the great Iongsword
raised to deal the final thrust. With
a bound l cleared the fifty feet inter-
vening between us, and with out
point drove my sword COM
pletely through the body of the green
warrior. His sword fell. harmless. to
the ground and he sank Imply upon
the PROSTATE form of the Zodangan.
Quickly completing the repairs we
rose together into the still, clOudleSs
sky, and at great speed and
further mishap returned to
ZOdanga.
As we neared the city we discov-
cred a mighty cOncOurSe of civilians
and troops assembled upon the plain
before the city. My companion sig
nailed that l slow down, and running
his machine close beside mine sug-
gested that we approach and watch
the ceremony, which, he said, was
for the purpose of comforting hOnOrs
on individual officers and men for
bravery and other distinguished
service. He then unfurled a little en-
sign which denoted that his craft bore
4 member of the royal family of 10
langa, and together we made our
way through the maze of lOw-lying
lir vessels until we hung directly over
he jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. |
One Of the staff called the attention
If Than KOsis to the presence of my
above them and the ruler |
nOtiOned for him to descend. l could |
lot hear their conversation and pres |
,ntly il ceased and all dismOunted, |
Is the last body of troops had wheeled |
ntO position before their emperor. A |
member of the staff advanced toward |
he troops, and calling the name of
soldier commanded him to advance. !
The officer then recited the nature of
he heroic act which had wol the
approval of the jeddak, and the lat
err advanced and placed a metal or
lament upon the left arm of the lucky
nan.
Ten men had been so decorated when
he aid called out,
John Carter, air scout"
Never in my life had 1 been so sur
rised, but the habit of military dis
ipline is strong within me. and I
rOpped my little machine lightly to
he ground and advanced on foot as
had seen the others do. AS halted
efore the officer, he addressed me
4 a voice audible to the entire as
of troops and spectators.
''In recognition, John Carter" he
aid, '"Of your remarkable courage and
kill in defending the person of the
Ousin of the jeddak Than KOsis and.
vanquishing three green
arriOrs, it is the pleasure of our jed
ak to confer on you the mark of his
steem."
Than Kosis then advanced toward
lie and placing an ornament upon
e, said:
My cousin has narrated the details
your wonderful achievement,
hich seems little short of miracu-
us, and if you can so well defend a |
)usin of the jeddak how much better
'uld you defend the person of the
'ddak himself. You are therefore ap-