The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-05-20

Al Princess of
Mars
By Edgar Rice Burroughs
Author of
Tarzan of the Apes
Illustrations by Irwin Myers
CHAPTER xVI-contInued.
7IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEITTITTIII
Copyright. 1920, A @. McClurR Il Coz

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 a 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 We
Iocity she tore after them, almost
completely burying herself in the soft
loan Of the ancient sea bottom.
A wild cry of exultation arose from
the Heliumite squadron, and with re-
doubled ferocity they fell upon the 10
dangan fleet. By a 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 He'll
UNI under prize crews.
We now signaled the flagship of
HelIum's navy to approach, and when
she was within hailing distance /
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
- ,, =.
and a moment later the cOlOrs Of the
princess of Helium broke from 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
cleaning sunlight.
The flagship bore down upon US, and
as she swung gracefully to and
touched our side a dozen officers
sprang upon our decks. AS their as
tonished 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.
Deiah Thoris and 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, 1.-THE man to whom
hn-
her victory today
They were very courteous TO me and
said many kind and complimentary
things, but what seemed TO impress
them most was that had won the aid
OF the fierce Thanks in my campaign
for the liberation of Dejah Thoris, and
the relief of Helium.
Dejah Thoris went aboard the flag
ship, and was much put out that I
would not follow, but, as I explained
to her, the battle was but partly won;
we still had the land forces of the be-
sieging Zodangans TO account for, and !
I would not leave Tars Tarkas until |
that had been accomplished.
The commander of the naval forces |
of Helium promised TO arrange to have |
the armies of Helium attack from the |
city in conjunction with our land at |
tack, and so the vessels separated and |
Dejah Thoris was borne in triumph |
back to the court of her grandfather,
TardOs Mors, jeddak of Helium
In the distance lay our fleet of /
transports. with the thoats of the |
green warriors, where they had re-
manned during the battle. Without |
landing stages II was to be difficult |
matter TO unload these beasts upon the
open plain, but there was nothing else
for 1t, and so we put out for point
about ten miles from the city and be-
gan the task.
AS soon as the last thoat was I'M
loaded Tars Tarkas gave the command
TO advance, and in three parties we
crept upon the Zedangan camp from
the north, the south and the east.
About a mile from the main camp
we encountered their outposts and, as
had been prearranged, accepted this
as the signal TO charge. With wild,
ferocious cries and amidst the nasty
squealing of battle-enraged thoats we
bore down upon the Zodangans.
We did not catch them mapping, but
found a well-entrenched battle line
$OuIIOnunS us. lime AFTER time we
were repulsed until, toward noon, I
began TO fear for the result of the bat
tie. The forces from Helium had not
arrived, nor could we receive any word
from them.
Just at noon we heard heavy firing ,
all along the line between the Zodan- ,
gans and the cities. and we knew then
that our much-needed re-enforcements
had come.
Again Tars Tarkas ordered the ,
charge. and once more the mighty ,
thOats bore their terrible riders against
the ramparts of the enemy. At the ,
same moment the battle line of Helium
surged over the opposite breastworks !
Of the ZOdangans and In another mo- !
ment they were being crushed as be- {
tween two millstones. Nobly they Z
fought, but In vain.
The plain before the city became a !
veritable shambles ere the last Zodan- !
gan surrendered, but finally the car :
mage ceased, the prisoners were /
back to Helium. and we en- a