Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-06-10
CHAPTER xII-continued.

me ninth ray stored In the great
building to maintain the present Mar
han atmosphere for thousand years,
and the only fear. as my new friend
told me. was that some accident might
befall the pumping apparatus.
Before retired for the night he
promised to give me a letter to near
by agricultural officer who would help
me on my way to Zodanga, which he
aid was the nearest Martian city.
But be sure that you do not let
them know you are bound for Helium,
ss tbev are at war with that country.
Ny ASSISTANT and are of no country
we belong to all Barsoom and this tai.
lsman which we wear projects us in
all lands, even among the green men
though we do not truy. ourselves to
their hands II we can avoid It" he
added.
And so goodnight my friend" he
continued, may you have long and
restful sleep-yes long sleep"
And though he smiled pleasantly
saw In his thoughts the wish that he
had never admitted me. and then pic
ture Of him standing over me in the
right. and the swift thrust of long
dagger and the half-formed words, 81
nm st rry, but II is for the best good Of
Bar~oom."
What was i to dor How could j es-
cape through these mighty wallsf
Easily could / kill him now that was
warned. but once he was dead ! could
no more escape, and with the stop
ping of the machinery of the great
plant should die with all the other
Inhabitants of the pianet-all, even
Dejah Thoris were she not already
dead.
Cautiously opened the door Of my
apartment and, followed by Woola,
sought the inner Of the great doors
A wild scheme had come to me; /
would attempt to force the great locks
by the nine thought waves I had read
IN my hosts mind.
Creeping stealthily through corridor
after corridor and down winding run
ways which turned hither and thither
i finally reached the great hall In
which had broken my long fast that
morning.
was on the point of stepping bold
In out into the room when a slight
noise behind me warned me back into
the shadows Of recess in the corri-
dor. Dragging Woola after me
crouched low in the darkness.
Presently the old man passed close
by mt, and as he entered the dimly
lighted chamber which l had been
about to pass through I saw that he
held long thin dagger in his hand
and that he was sharpening 1t upon
a stone. In his mind was the decision
to inspect the radium pumps. which
would take about thirty minutes, and
then return to my bedchamber and fin
ish me f-4-r-,4-As-i,.----..
As he passed through the great hall
and disappeared down the runway
which led TO the pumproom, I stole
stealthily from my hiding place and
crossed to the great door, the inner.
of the three which stood between me
and liberty.
Concentrating my mind upon the
massive lock hurled the nine
thought waves against 1t. In breath
less expectancy ! waited, when finally
the great door moved softly toward
me and slid quietly to one side. One
after the other the remaining mighty
portals opened at my command and
woola and stepped forth into the
darkness, free, but little better off
than we had been before, other than
that we had full stomachs.
Fastening away from the shadows
of the formidable pile I made for the
first crossroad. intending to strike the
central turnpike as quickly as pos
sible. This i reached about morning
and entering the first enclosure I came
to ! searched for some evidence of a
habitation.
There were low rambling buildings
of concrete barred with heavy impass-
able doors, and no amount of ham,
mering and hallooing brought any re-
sponse. Weary and exhausted from
sleeplessness j threw myself upon the
ground commanding Woola to stand
guard
Some time later I was awakened by
his frightful growlings and opened my
eyes to see three red Martians stand
ing short distance from us and COW
ering me with their rifles.
'T am unarmed and no enemy"
hastened to explain. 81 have been n
prisoner among the green men and
an on my way to zodanga. All ask
is food and rest for myself and my
calot and the proper directions for
reaching my destination"
They lowered their rifles and ad-
vanced pleasantly toward me, placing
their right hands upon my left shoul-
der. after the manner OF their custom
of salute, and asking me many ques-
tfons about myself and my wander
ings. They then took me to the
house of one of them which was only
a short distance away.