The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-07-01

to be the first to impale the poor Zo-
dangan and in another moment his
fate would have been sealed had 1t
not been for my timely arrival.
Driving my fleet air craft at high
speed directly behind the warriors I
soon overlook them and without di-
minishing 1ay speed l rammed the
PROV of MY little fiier between the
shoulders OF the nearest. The impact.
sufficient to have torn through inches
of solid steel, hurled the fellows head
less body into the air over the head
of his thoat, where 1t fell sprawling
upon the moss. The mounts of the
other two warriors turned squealing
in terror, and bolted in opposite di-
rections.
Reducing my speed / circled and
came to the ground at the feet of the
astonished Zodangan. He was warm
in his thanks for my timely aid and
promised that my days work would
bring the reward it merited, for it
was none other than a cousin of the
jeddak Of Zodanga whose life 1 had
saved.
Fastening to his damaged machine
we were bending every effort to fin
ish the needed repairs and had almost
completed them when we saw the
two green monsters returning al top
speed from opposite sides of us. When
they had approached within hum
dred yards their thoats again became
unmanageable and absolutely refused
to advance further toward the air
craft which had frightened them.
The warriors finally dismounted and
hobbling their animals advanced to-
ward US on foot with drawn long
swords. / advanced to meet the lsrg-
er, telling the Zodangan to do the
best he could with the other Finish
ing my man with almost no effort,
as had now from much practice be-
come habitual with me, 1 FASTENED
to return to my new acquaintance
whom / found indeed in desperate
straits.
He was wounded and down with
the huge foot of his antagonist upon
his throat and the great longsword
raised to deal the final thrust With
a bound I cleared the fifty feet inter
vening between US, and with out
stretched point drove my sword COM
pIetely through the body of the green
warrior His sword fell, harmless, to
the ground and he sank Imply upon
the PROSTATE form of the Zodangan
Quickly completing the repairs we
rose together into the still, cloudless
Marian sky, and at great speed and
without further mishap returned to
Zodanga.
As we neared the city we discov'
cred q mighty concourse of civilians
and troops assembled upon the plain
before the city. My companion sig
nailed that I slow down, and running
his machine close beside mine sug
gested that we approach and watch
the ceremony, which, he said, was
for the purpose of comforting honorS
on individual officers and men fol
bravery and other distinguished
service. He then unfurled little en-
sign which denoted that his craft bore
member Of the royal family of 70
danga, and together we made ouI
way through the maze Of low-lyine
air vessels until we hung directly over
the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff
One of the staff called the attention
of Than Kosis to the presence of my
companion above them and the ruler
motioned for him to descend. / could
not hear their conversation and pres
emily 1t ceased and all dismounted
as the last body of troops had wheeled
into position before their emperor. A
member Of the staff advanced toward
the troops, and calling the name OF
a soldier commanded him to advance
The officer then recited the nature OF
the heroic act which had won the
approval Of the jeddak, and the lat
ter advanced and placed metal or.
nament upon the left arm of the lucky
man.
Ten men had been so decorated when
the aid called out,
"John Carter. air scout"
Never in my life had been so sur
prised, but the habit Of military dis
cipline is strong within me, and
dropped my little machine lightly tC
the ground and advanced on foot as
I had seen the others do. As halted
before the officer, he addressed me
4 IN. IN ha a
semblage Of troops and spectators.
'Tn recognition, John Carter" he
said, "of your remarkable courage and
skill in defending the person Of the
cousin of the jeddak Than Kosis and
single-handed. vanquishing three green
warriors, it is the pleasure of our jed
dak to confer on you the mark Of his
esteem"
Than Kosis then advanced toward
me and placing an ornament upon
me, said:
my cousin has narrated the details
Of your wonderful achievement,
which seems little short Of miracu-
lous, and if you can so well defend a
cousin Of the jeddak how much better
could you defend the person of the
jeddak himself. You are therefore ap-
pointed a padwar Of the Guard and
win be quartered In my palace here
after"
thanked him, and with an order
~ from the palace to guide me re-
ported to the officer in charge of the
palace.
CHAPTER XIV.