The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-06-17
CHAPTER IX-continued

l did not saddle or mount the ami
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 Sofa. With the
noiselessness Of disembodied spirits
we moved stealthily along the desert
ed streets, but not until we were with
in sight Of the plain beyond the city
did I commence to breathe freely. /
was sure that Sofa and Deja Thoris
would find no difficulty in reaching our
rendezvous undetected, but with my
great thoats was not so sure for my
self, as it was quite unusual for war
riors to leave the city after dark; in
fact there was no place for them to go
within any but long ride.
l reached the appointed meeting
place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and
Sofa were not there 1 led my animals
into the entrance hall of one of the
large buildings. Presenting that one
of the other women of the same house
hold may have come in to speak to
Sofa, and so delayed their departure,
I 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, 1 knew could be no fugitives
creeping stealthily toward liberty
Soon the party was near me, and
from the black shadows of my en-
trance way perceived a score of
mounted warriors, who, in passing.
dropped q dozen words that fetched
my heart clean into the top Of my
head.
He would likely have arranged to
meet them just without the city, and
so" 1 heard no more, they had
passed on; but it was enough. Our
plan had been discovered, and the
chances for escape from now on to the
fearful end would be small indeed.
My one hope now was TO return unde-
tected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris
and learn what fate had overtaken her,
but how to do it with these great
mOnstrous thoats upon my hands, now
that the city probably was aroused by
the knowledge of my escape, was
problem Of no mean proportions.
Suddenly an idea occurred to me and,
acting on my knowledge of the con-
struction Of the buildings of these an
cient Marian cities with a hollow
court within the center of each
square, I CROPPED my way blindly
through the dark chambers, calling the
great thoats after me. They had diff
Guilty In negotiating some Of the door
ways, but as the buildings fronting the
city'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 I found,
as had expected, the usual carpet of
moss-like vegetation which would
prove their food and drink until
could return them to their own en-
closure.
AACAO'AAS lnS SdUuIc lTdppiuSS, Dlu
them just within the rear doorway of
the building through which we had
entered the court and, turning the
beasts loose, quickly made my way
across the court to the rear of the
buildings upon the further side, and
thence to the avenue beyond. With
only the slight chance of detection
which the necessary crossing of the
avenues entailed, made my way in
safety to the courtyard in the rear of
Dejah Thoris' quarters.
Here, Of course, found the beasts
Of the warriors who quartered in the
adjacent buildings, and the warriors
themselves I might expect to meet
within If I entered; but, fortunately
for me, I had another and safer meth
cd of reaching the upper story where
DejaE Thoris should be found, and,