Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-02-14


Sarkoja was at this time Tars Tar
kas' Oldest and most trusted female.
AS such she was mighty power be-
hind the throne, for no warrior had
the confidence of Lorquas Ptomel TO
such an extent as did his ablest lieu
tenant, Tars Tarkas.
However, instead of putting thoughts
of possible escape from my mind, my
audience with LOrquas Ptomel only
served to center my every faculty on
this subject. Now. more than before,
the absolute necessity for escape. in
so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned,
was impressed upon me. for l was
convinced that some horrible fate
awaited her at the headquarters of
Tai Hajus
AS described by Sofa, this monster
was the exaggerated personification
of all the ages of cruelty. ferOcity,
and brutality from which he had de-
scended. Cold, cunning, calculating I;
he was, also, in marked contrast to
most of his fellows. slave to that
brute passion which the waning de-
mands for procreation upon their dy-
ing planet had almost stilled in the
Marian breast.
AS | wandered about the plaza lost
in my gloomy forebodings Tars Tar
kas approached me on his way from
the audience chamber.
"Where are your quarters, John Car
teri" he asked.
81 have selected none," replied.
ut seemed best that quartered either
by myself or among the other war
riors, and l was awaiting an Oppor-
tunity to ask your advice"
Come with me-" he directed, and to-
gether we moved off across the plaza
to building which was glad to see
adjoined that occupied by Sofa and
her charges.
MY quarters are on the first floor
of this building he said, "and the
second floor also is fully occupied by
warriors, but the third floor and the
floors above are vacant; you may take
your choice of these.
81 understand" he continued, that
you have given up your woman to
the red prisoner. Well, IL you wish
TO give your woman to captive, 1t
is your own affair; but as chieftain
you should have those to serve you.
and in accordance with our customs
you may select any or all the females
from the retinues of the chieftains
whose metal you now wear"
| thanked him, but assured him that
could get along very nicely without
assistance except in the matter Of pre-
pairing food. and so he promised to
send women to me for this purpose
and also for the care of my arms and
the manufacture of my ammunition,
which he said would be necessary.
| finally chose front room on the
third floor, because this brought me
nearer to Dejah Thoris. whose apart
ment was on the second floor of the
adjoining building, and 1t flashed up
on me that could rig up some means
of communication whereby she might
signal me in case she needed either
my services or my protection.
My thoughts were cut short by the
advent of several young females bear
ing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jew
els, cooking utensils. and casks Of feed
and drink including considerable loot
from the air craft. All this, it seemed,
had been the property of the two
chieftains | had slain, and now, by
the customs Of the Thanks, 1t had be-
come mine. At my direction they
placed the stuff in one of the back
rooms, and then departed, only to re-
turn with q second load, which they
advised me constituted the balance
Of my goods.
Finding that must assume reSpons-
ibility for these creatures, whether
would or not, l made the best Of 1t
and directed them to find quarters on
the upper floors, leaving the third
floor to me. One of the girls charged
with the duties of my simple cuisine.
and directed the others to take up the
various activities which had formerly
constituted their vocations. There
after I saw little of them, nor did /
care to-