The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-05-07
the house of PtOr, which was the fam
lily name of my benefactors.
CHAPTER XIII,
An Air Scout for Zodano;

and at the several farmhouses where
l stopped / learned a number of new
and instructive things concerning the
methods and manners of BarsOOm.
The water which supplies the farms
of Mars is collected in immense under
ground reservoirs at either pole from
the melting ice caps, and pumped
through long cOnduits to the various
populated centers. Instead of flooding
the surface of the fields, and thus
wasting immense quantities of water
by evaporation, the precious liquid is
carried underground through a vast
network of small pipes directly to the
roots of the vegetation. The crops
upon Mars are always uniform, for
there are no drOughts, no rains, no
high winds, and no insects, or destroy
ing birds.
On this trip tasted the first meat
l had eaten since leaving Earth
large, juicy steaks and chops from the
well-fed domestic animals of the
farms. Also l enjoyed luscious fruits
and vegetables, but not a single ar
ticle of food which was exactly SINH
lar to anything on Earth.
At second stop 1 met some highly
cultivated people of the noble class
and while in conversation we Glanced
TO speak Of Helium. One of the older
men had beens there on a diplomatic
mission several years before and spoke
with regret of the. conditions which
seemed destined ever to keep these
| two countries at war.
| "Helium,' he said, rightly boasts
| the most beautiful women of BarsOOm,
| and Of all her treasures the wOndrous
daughter of MOrs Kajak, Dejah Thoris.
is the most exquisite flower.
why" he added, ''the people really
worship the ground she, walks upon
and since her loss on that ill-starred
expedition all Helium has been draped
in mourning.
THAT our ruler should have at
tackled the disabled fleet as it was re-
turning to Helium was but another Of
his awful blunders which 1 fear will
sooner or later compel Zodanga to ele-
vate wiser man to his place.
Even now. though our victorious
armies are surrounding Helium. the
people of ZOdanga are vOicing their
displeasure, for the war is not a pOpu-
lar one, since 1t Is not based on right
or justice. Our forces took advantage
of the absence of the principal fleet of
Helium on their search for the prin-
cess, and we have been able easily to
reduce the city to a sorry plight"
"And what. think you, may have
been the fate Of the princess, Dejah
ThOris?" l asked as casually as pos
sible.
"She is Dead" he answered. This
much was learned from a green war
riOr recently captured by our forces in
the south. She escaped from the
hOrdes of Thark with a strange crea-
ture of another world. only to fall
into the hands of the Warhoons. Their
thoats were found wandering upon the
sea bottom and evidences of a bloody
conflict were discovered nearby"
While this information was in no
way reassuring, neither was it at all
conclusive proof of the death of Deiah
Thoris, and SO determined to make
every effort possible TO reach Helium
as quickly as could and carry TO
Tardos Mors such news of his grand
daughters possible whereabouts as
lay in my power.
Ton davc alton A.
Ptor brothers 1 arrived at ZOdanga.
From the moment that l had come in |
contact with the red inhabitants of |
Mars had noticed that Woola drew a |
great amount of unwelcome attention
TO me, since the huge brute belonged
TO species which is never domesti- |
Gated by the red men. Were one to
stroll down Broadway with a Numi-
dian lion at his heels the effect would
be somewhat similar to that which I
should have produced had entered
Zodanga with Woola.
As / would willingly have offered
my life in the service of her in search
Of whom l was about to challenge the
unknown dangers of this, to me, mys-
FERROUS city, l could not permit even
Woola's life to threaten the success
Of my venture, much less his mOmen-
tary happiness, for l doubted not he
soon would forget me. And so babe
the poor beast an affectionate fare
we'll, promising him, however, that if
came through my adventure in safe
y that in some way should find the
neans to search hAn out.
He seemed to understand me fully,
Ind when / pointed back in the di-
ection of Thank he turned sorrow
ully away, nor could / bear to watch
lin go; but resolutely set my face
oward Zodanga and with a touch of
approached her frown-
ng walls.
The letter / bore gained me imme-
late entrance to the vast, walled city.
he PtOr brothers had given me. ex-
licit directions for reaching the point
f the city where / could find living
ccommodations and be near the Offices
{ the government agents to whom
hey had given me letters. My way /
I'd to the central square or plaza, 1
'hich is a Characteristic of all Mar
an cities.
AS l was crossing the great square {
,st in wonder and admiration of the {
Iagnificent architecture and the gor- (
eous scarlet vegetation which carpet 5
! Y \ /