Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-05-20
CHAPTER TX.


4
| Thank was uneyentful-
| Not once did have speech with De
| jah Thoris, as she sent no word to me
that would be welcome at her chari-
OF, and my foolish pride kept me from
making any advances.
| Just thirty days after my advent
upon Barsoom we entered the ancient
city of Thank, from whose long forgot
ten people this horde of green men
have stolen even their name. The
hordes of Thank number some thirty
thousand souls, aud are divided into
twenty-five communities. Each COM
munity has its own jed and lesser
chieftains, but all are under the rule
of Tai Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five
| communities make their headquarters
at the city of Thank. and the balance
are scattered among other deserted
cities of ancient Mars throughout the
district claimed by Tai Hajus
We made our entry into the great
| central plaza early in the afternoon.
There were no enthusiastic friendly
| greetings for the returned expedition.
Those who CHANGED to be in sight
| spoke the names of warriors or women
with whom they came in direct con-
tact, In the formal greeting of their
| kind, but when 1t was discovered that
they brought two captives a greater
interest was aroused, and Dejah
Thoris and I were the centers of in
| quiring groups.
We were soon assigned to new quar-
tiers, and the balance of the day was
devoted to settling ourselves to the
changed conditions. When / had put
my house in order, or rather seen that
1t had been done, it was nearing sun
set, and fastened out with the inten-
ton of locating Sofa and her charges,
as / had determined upon having
speech with Dejah Thoris and trying
to impress on her the necessity Of our
at least patching up a truce until l
could fino some way of aiding her to
escape. l searched in vain until the
upper rim of the great red sun was
just disappearing behind the horizon
and then l spied the ugly head of Woo
la peering from a second-story window
on the opposite side of the very street
where l was quartered.
Without waiting for a further invi-
tation bolted up the winding runway
which led to the second floor, and en-
tering great chamber at the front of
the building was greeted by the fren-
zied Woola, who threw his great car
cass upon me, nearly hurting me to the
floor the poor old fellow was so glad
to see me that thought he would de-
YOUR me, his head split from ear to
ear, showing his three rows of tusks
in his hobgoblin0mile.
Quieting him with word of COM
mand and a caress, looked hurriedly
through the approaching gloom for a
sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not
seeing her, I called her name. There
was an answering murmur from the
far corner OF the apartment, and with
couple of quick strides l was stand
ing beside her where she crouched
among the furs and silks upon an an
Client carved wooden seat. As wait
ed she rose to her full height and
looking me straight In the eye said:
"What would Dotar Sojat, Thank, Of
Dejah Thoris his captiveT
"Dejah Thoris. do not know how
have angered you. 1t was furtherest
from my desire to hurt or offend you.
whom l had hoped to protect and COM
fort. Have none of me II it is your
will but that you must aid me in eff
fecting your escape, II such thing be
possible, is not my request, but my
command. When you are safe once
more at your fathers court you may
do with me as you please, but from
now on until that day 1 am your mas
ter, and you must obey and aid me-"
She looked at me long and earnest
ly and thought that she was soften
ing toward me.
II understand your words, Dotar So
jat," she replied. but you l do not I'M
derstand. You are queer mixture of
child and man, of brute and noble l
only wish that / might read your
heart"
Look down at your feet, Dejah
Thoris; 1t lies there now where 1t has
lain since that other night at Korad,
and where 1t will ever lie beating
alone for you until death stills it for
ever"
She took little step toward me, her
beautiful hands outstretched in a
strange, cropping gesture.
"what do you mean, John Carter ~
she whispered. What are you saying
to me7'
81 am saying what / had promised
myself that would not say to you, at
least until you were no longer cap
tive among the green men; what from
your attitude toward me for the past
| / n