The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-03-18

mighty battle with self, with herediry,
with age-Old custom, and as he opened
his mouth to speak. a look almost of
benignity, of kindness, mOmentarily
lighted up his fierce and terrible coun-
tenance.
What words of moment were to have
fallen from his lips We're never spoken,
as just then a young warrior. evident
" sensing the trend of thought among
the older men, leaped down from the
steps of the rostrum, and striking the
frail captive a powerful blow across
the face which felled her to the floor,
placed his foot upon her PROSTATE
form, and turning toward the assem-
bled council. broke into peals of hor-
rid. mirthless laughter
That 1 have taken moments to write
down a part of what occurred as that
blow fell does rot signify that I re-
NAMED inactive for any such length
of time Scarcely had his hideous
laugh rang out but once, when 1 was
upon him. The brute was twelve feet
in height and armed to the teeth. but
l believe that 1 could have accounted
intensity of my rage Springing up
ward, 1 struck him full in the face as
he turned at my warning cry, and then
as he drew his short sword / drew
mine and sprang up again upon his
breast, hooking one leg over the butt
of his pistol and grasping one of his
huge tusks with my left hand while
I delivered blow after blow upon his
enormous chest. With all his immense
bulk he was little if any stronger than
]. and it was but the matter of a mo-
ment or two before he sank. bleeding
and lifeless. to the floor.
Dejah Thoris had raised herself up
on one elbow and was watching the
battle with wide. staring eyes. When
had regained my feet L raised her
in my arms and bore her to one of the
benches at the side of the room.
Again no Marian interfered with
me, and when she could speak she
placed her hand upon my arm. and
looking into my eyes, said:
"Why did you it? You. who re
fused me even friendly recognition in
the first hour of my peril And now
you risk your life and kill one of your
companions for my sake. 1 cannot I'M
derstand. What strange manner Of
man are you, that you consort with
the green men. though your form is
that of my race, while your color is
little darker than that of the white
ape? Tell me. are you human, or are
you more than humanF'
1T is a strange tale" I replied, too
long to attempt to tell you now. Suf-
fee it. for the present. that am your
friend. aud. so far as our captors will
permit, your protector and your ser
want"
'sThen you. too. are prisoner?
What is your name? Why your re-
gala as a chieftain?"
Eyes, Dejah Thoris, too am a pris-
oner; my name is John Carter, and
claim Virginia, one of the United
States of American Earth, as my
home; but why I am permitted TO
wear arms I do not know. nor was
aware that my regalia was that of
chieftain.r
We were interrupted at this juncture
by the approach of one of the war
riors. bearing arms. accouterments and
ornaments, and in fash one of her
questions was answered and puzzle
cleared up for me. 1 saw that the
body of my dead antagonist had been
stripped. and 1 read in the menacing
yet respectful attitude of the warrior
who had brought me these trophies
of the kill the same demeanor as that
evinced by the other who had brought
me my original equipment, and now