Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-06-10
CHAPTER XIII.
An Air Scout for zodanq..

m $IF oCout 5of [oodnAA.
As ! proceeded on my journey to-
ward Zodanga many strange and in
teresting sights arrested my attention
and at the several farmhouses where
/ stopped / learned a number OF new
and instructive things concerning the
methods and manners of Barsoom.
The water which supplies the farms
of Mars Is collected in immense under
ground reservoirs at either pole from
the melting Ice caps, and pumped
through long conduits to the various
populated centers. Instead of flooding
the surface OF the fields, and thus
wasting immense quantities of water
by evaporation, the precious liquid Is
carried underground through vast
network Of small pipes directly to the
roots Of the vegetation. The crops
upon Mars are always uniform. for
there are no droughts, no rains, no
high winds, and no insects, or destroy
ing birds.
On this trip I tasted the first meat
/ had eaten since leaving Earth
large, juicy steaks and chops from the
well-fed domestic animals OF the
farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits
and vegetables, but not single ar
ticle of food which was exactly simi-
lar to anything on Earth.
At a second stop I met some highly
cultivated people Of the noble class
and while in conversation we chanced
to speak of Helium. One of the older
men had been there on a diplomatic
mission several years before and spoke
with regret of the conditions which
seemed destined ever to keep these
two countries at war.
"Helium," he said, rightly boasts
the most beautiful women of Barsoom
and Of all her treasures the wondrous
daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah Thoris,
is the most exquisite flower.
why" he added, "the people really
worship the ground she walks upon
and since her loss on that ill-starred
expedition all Helium has been draped
in mourning.
"That our ruler should have at
tackled the disabled feet as 1t was re-
turning to Helium was but another of
his awful blunders which l fear will
sooner or later compel Zodanga to ele-
vate a wiser man to his place.
"Even now, though our victorious
armies are surrounding Helium, the
people of Zodanga are voicing their
displeasure. for the war is not popu-
| lar one, since 1t is not based on right
| or justice. Our forces took advantage
of the absence of the principal fleet of
Helium on their search for the prin-
| cess. and we have been able easily to
reduce the city to a sorry plight"
"And what. think you, may have
been the fate of the princess, Dejah'
| Thors7" / asked as casually as pos
sible.
"She is dead" he answered. This
much was learned from green war
rior recently captured by our forces in
the south. She escaped from the
hordes of Thark with strange crea-
ture of another world. only to fall
into the hands OF the Warhoons. Their
thoats were found wandering upon the
sea. bottom and evidences of bloody
conflict were discovered nearby"
While this Information was in no
way reassuring, neither was 1t at all
conclusive proof OF the death of Dejah
Thoris, and so 1 determined to make
every effort possible to reach Helium
as quickly as 1 could and carry to
Tardos Mors such news of his grand
daughters possible whereabouts as
lay In my power.
Ten days after leaving the three
Ptor brothers / arrived at Zodanga.
From the moment that I had come in
contact with the red inhabitants of
Mars had noticed that Woola drew a
great amount of unwelcome attention
to me, since the huge brute belonged
to a species which is never domesti-
Gated by the red men. Were one to
stroll down Broadway with a Numi-
dian lion at his heels the effect would
be somewhat similar to that which i
should have produced had l entered
Zodanga with Woola.
As l would willingly have offered
my life in the service of her In search
Of whom was about to challenge the
unknown dangers of this. to me. mys-
terious city. could not permit even
Woola's life to threaten the success
Of my venture. much less his momen-
tary happiness, for I doubted not he
soon would forget me. And so bade
the poor beast an affectionate fare
well. promising him, however, that If
/ came through my adventure In safe
| ty that In come way I should find the