The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-04-29
CHAPTER XVI.


The Lootlns u zodsnpa.
As the great gate where ! stood
swung open my afty Thanks. headed
by Tars Tarkas himself. rode in upor
their mighty thoats. led them "a
the palace walls. which negotiated
easily without assistance. Once In
side, however. the gate gave me- con,
siderable trouble. but finally vas re,
warded by seeing Il swing upon IS
huge hinges. and sooa my fierce cs,
cort was riding across the gardens OF
the jeddak OF Zodanga.
As we approached the palace could
see through the great windows OF the
first floor into the brilliantly iiluminar-
ed audience chamber Of Than Kosls.
The immense hall waB crowded with
mobiles ond their women, us though some
important function WAS In progress. Al
one end Of the chamber, upon massive
golden thrones encrusted with dia.
monds. sat Than Kosls and his con
sort, surrounded by oficers and dlgni-
tarles Of state. Before them stretched
broad aisle lined on either side with
soldiery, and as looked there entered
this aisle at the far end Of the hail, the
head OF procession which acy'nced
to the foot Of the throne.
First there marched four officers Of
the jeddak's guard bearing q huge sal
var on which repOsed, upon q cushion
OF scarlet silk, great golden chain
with . collar and paddock at each end.
Then came more dignitnries, ano The
Officers Of the palace and OF the army,
and finally two figures entirely muf-
fled In scarlet silk, so ..sat not a fea-
ture Of either was discernlble. These
two stopped AZ the foot OF the throne,
facing Than Kosls. When the balance
Of the procession had entered and az
sumed their stations Than KOsis adj
dressed The couple standing before
him. could not hear his words. but
presently two officers advanced and
removed the scarlet robe from one Of
the figures. saw that Knwtos Kan
had failed in his mission, for il was
Sab Than, prince Of ZodaDra who
stood revealed before me.
Than koSls now took SET ~ thc
ornaments from one Of the salYers aud
placed one OF The collars OF gold about
his sons neck, sprlnging the paddock
fast, After a few more words nc
dressed 10 San Than he turned to the
other hgure. from which the officers
now removed the enshrouding silks.
disclosing 20 MY now compromising
view Deiah Thoris. princess Of Rel
um.
As the ornaments were adjusted up
on her beautiful figure and her collar
OF gold swung open in the hands Of
Than Eosls raised my longsword
above my head and, with the heavy
hilt. ! shattered the glass u the great
window and sprang into The midst OF
the astOnished assemblage. with q
bound ] IVES on the steps ~ he p,a,-
form beside Than KOsis, and os bee
stood riVeted with surprise, brought
my longsworJ down upon the golden
chain thag would have bound pejah
ThorlS 90 another.
In an instant Oh wss confusion =.
thousand drawn swords monsced m"
from every quarter, and Sab Than
sprang upon ne with n jewelod dRgser
he had drawn from his nupual orna
meuts ] could have killed him IS cas-
ny as ! might q ~, bat The lse-0'G
custom os Barsoom stayed my haud
aud. graspinr bis wrist as the dagger
Few toward MY heart, ] held BIN as
though iu v,sc and with my long
sword pointed 90 Jhe fur enc ~ ihe
hai
"Zodar-a has mncr" c-ier.
- o0l !'
al eyes urrcH DOL me direction 8
had r1icatcl ard there forgire