The Lamar register., 1921-04-13

mand to halt. following with shot as
l paid no attention to the hail. kantos
Kan dropped quickly into the dark
ness. while rose steadily and at ter
rife speed raced through the Martian
sky followed by a dozen Of the air
scout craft which had Joined the pur-
suit. and later by a swift cruiser car
rying a hundred men and a battery OF
rapid-fire guns. By twisting and turn
ing my little machine. now rising and
now falling. ] managed to elude their
searchlights most Of the time. but
was also losing ground by these tao
tics, and so ! decided to hazard every
thing on a straight-away course and
leave the result to fate and the speed
of my machine.
Kantos Kan had shown me trick
of gearing. which Is known only TO the
navy of Helium, that greatly Increased
the speed of our machines, so that
felt sure / could distance my pursuers
II could dodge their projectiles for
a few moments.
Gradually left my pursuers further
and further behind. and I was just con-
graduating myself on my lucky escape.
when well-directed shot from the
cruiser exploded at the prov of my
little craft. The concussion nearly
capsized her. and with sickening
plunge she hurtled downward through
the dark night.
How far fell lsfore ! regained CON
troll Of the plane ! do not know, but ]
must have been very close to the
ground when | started to rise again.
as plainly heard the squealing Of ami
mails below me. Rising again, ]
scanned the heavens for my pursuers,
ard finally making out their lights far
behind me, saw that they were land
ing, evidently In search Of me.
Not until their lights were no longer
discernible did | venture TO flash my
little lamp upon my compass. and then
l found to my CONSERVATION that
fragment of the projectile had utterly
destroyed my only guide, as well as
my speedometer. II was true | could
follow the stars In the general direc-
ton of Helium, but without knowing
the exact location of the city or the
speed at which | was travelling my
chances for finding II were slim.
Helium lies thousand miles south
west of Zodanga. and with my com
pass Intact l should have made the
trip, barring accidents, in between
four and fve hours As It turned out.
however, morning found me speeding
over a vast expanse OF dead sea bot
tom after nearly six hours of continu-
Gus flight at high speed.
About noon I passed low over
great dead city of ancient Mars. and
MS l SKINNED out across the plain
came full upon several thousand green
warriors engaged In q terrific battle.
Scarcely had ! seen them than vol
ley of shots was directed at me. and
with the almost unfailing accuracy of
their aim my little craft was instantly
a ruined wreck, sinking erraticaliy 10
the ground.
fell almost directly In the center
OF the fierce combat, among warriors
who had not seen my approach. So
busily were they engaged In life and
death struggles. As my machine sank
among them realized that 1t was rghi
or die. with good chances Of dying In
any event, ana 80 struch tHe sTouhu
with drawn longsword ready to de-
tend myself as I could.
fell beside n huge monster who was
Engaged with three antagonists, and as
glanced at his fierce face. filled with
the light of battle. I recognized Tsrs
Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me.
as was trife behind him. and just
then the three warriors opposing him.
and whom recognized as wsrhoons.
charged simultaneously. The mighty
fellow made quick work OF one Of
them. but In stepping back for an
other thrust he fell over a dead body
behind him and was down and at the
mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick
as lightning they were upon him. and
Tars Tarkas would have been gathered
to his fathers in short order had ! not
sprung before his PROSTATE form and
engaged his adversaries. had ac-
counted for one of them when the
mighty Thark regained his feet and
quickly settled the other.