The Connecticut labor news., 1921-10-14
CHAPTER XIV-(Continued)

me, put that you are you Is enough to make me doubt my sanity as ASK you, my princess. to be mine"
 He does not need to be abaShed who so well knew the answer to his plea before the plea were made" she replied, rising and placing her dear hands upon my shoulders, and so took her in my arms and kissed her.
 And thus in the midst of City of wild conflict, filled with the alarms of war; with death and destruction reap ing their terrible harvest around her, did Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium, true daughter of Mars, the god of war, promise herself in marriage to John Carter, Gentleman of Virginia.
 Some time later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to report that Zodanga had been completely reduced. Her forces were entirely destroyed or captured, and no further resistance was to be expected from within. Sev- eral battleships had escaped, but there were thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard of Thark war riors.
 The lesser hordes had commenced footing and quarreling among them selves, so it was decided that we col lect what warriors we could. man as many vessels as possible with Zodan- gan prisoners and make for Helium without further loss of time.
 Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock buildings with fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships, carrying nearly one hundred thousand green warriors, followed by a fleet of transports with our thoats.
 In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city and advanced to meet us.
 The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each Of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that we were enemies, for our green Mar tian warriors had opened fire upon them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny craftsmanship
  ley after volley.
 The twin cities of Helium, perceiv- ing that we were friends, sent out hun dreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle l had ever witnessed.
 At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside after brOadSide into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp with lurch she turned completely over. the little fig ures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; then with sickening ve- locity she tore after them, almost completely burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom.
 A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with re- doubled ferocity they fell upon the Zo- dangan fleet. By pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs.
 Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious Zodan- gan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Heli- um under prize crews.
 We now signaled the flagship of Helhlm's navy to approach and when she was within hailing distance l called out that we had the Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be taken immediately to the city.
 As the full import of my announce ment bore in upon them a great cry arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the cOlors of the princess of Helium broke from a hun dred points upon her upper works. When the other vessels of the squad ron caught the meaning of the signals flashed them they took up the wild ac- claim and unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight
 The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and touched our side dozen officers sprang upon our decks. AS their as t0nished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them they came forward, crowding about him.
 Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than her. She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew them well.
 Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter" she said to them, turning toward me, "the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as her victory today.'
 They were very courteous to me and said many kind and complim entary things, but what seemed 10 impress fbaTn most tbat ho6 yOD ho oi