The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-06-10

escape. searched in vain until the
upper rim of the great red sun was
just disappearing behind the horizon
and then spied the ugly head of Woo
la peering from second-story window
on the opposite side of the very street
where was quartered.
Without waiting for further invi-
tation / bolted up the winding runway
which led to the second floor. and en-
tering a great chamber at the front of
the building was greeted by the fren-
zied Woola, who threw his great car
cass upon me, nearly hurting me to the
floor; the poor old fellow was so glad
to see me that / thought he would de-
YOUR me, his head split from ear to
ear, showing his three rows of tusks
in his hobgoblin smile.
Quieting him with word of COM
mand and caress, ! looked hurriedly
through the approaching gloom for a
sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not
seeing her, called her name. There
was an answering murmur from the
far corner of the apartment, and with
couple Of quick strides was stand
ing beside her where she crouched
among the furs and silks upon an an
cient carved wooden seat. AS I wait
ed she rose to her full height and
looking me straight in the eye said:
"What would Dotar Sojat, Thank. of
Dejah Thoris his captive"
'Dejah Thoris, do not know how
have angered you. 1t was furtherest
from my desire to hurt or offend you,
whom had hoped to protect and COM
fort. Have none of me if it is your
will, but that you must aid me in eff
fecting your escape, if such a thing be
possible, is not my request, but my
command. When you are safe once
more at your fathers court you may
do with me as you please, but from
now on until that day am your mas
ter, and you must obey and aid me-"
She looked at me long and earnest
ly and I thought that she was soften
ing toward me.
II understand your words, Dotar So
jat," she replied, ''but you 1 do not I'M
derstand. You are queer mixture of
child and man, of brute and noble. ]
only wish that / might read your
heart"
Look down at your feet, Dejah
Thoris; it lies there now where it has
lain since that other night at Korad,
and where it will ever lie beating
alone for you until death stills it for
ever"
She took little step toward me. her
beautiful hands outstretched in
strange. cropping gesture.
"What do you mean, John Carter"
she whispered. "What are you saying
to me?'
II am saying what had promised
myself that would not say to you, at
least until you were no longer cap
tive among the green men; what from
your attitude toward me for the past
twenty days I had thought never to
say TO you; am saying, Dejah Thoris,
that am yours, body and soul, to serve
you, to fight for you, and to die for
you. Only one thing l ask of you in
return, and that Is that you make no
sign, either of condemnation or of ap-
probation Of my words until you are
safe among your own people, and that
whatever sentiments you harbor to-
ward me they be not influenced or col
ored by gratitude"
II will respect your wishes, John
| Carter, because understand the mo-
tives which prompt them, and accept
your service no more willingly than
bow to your authority; your word
shall be my law. have twice wronged
you in my thoughts and again I ask
your forgiveness"
Further conversation of personal
nature was prevented by the entrance
of Sofa, who was much agitated and
1 wholly unlike her usual calm and pos
sessed SELF
THAT horrible Sarkoja has been be-
fore Tai Hajus," she cried, "and from
what I hear upon the plaza there is
little hope for either of you"
what do they say?' inquired Dejah
Thoris.
'That you will be thrown to the wild
calots (dogs) In the great arena as
soon as the hordes have assembled for
the yearly games"
"Sola," I said, you are Thank,
but you hate and loathe the customs Of
your people as much as we do. win
you not accompany us in one supreme
| effort to escape?"
"Yes," cried Dejah Thoris, "come
with US, Sofa, you will be better off
among the red men of Helium than
you are here, and can promise you
not only home with US, but the love
and affection your nature Graves and
which must always be denied you by
the customs of your own race Come
with us, Sofa; we might go without
you, but your fate would be terrible If
they thought you had connived to aid
us. know that even that fear would
| not tempt you to interfere in our es-
cape, but we want you with us. we
want you to come to land of sunshine
and happiness, amongst people who
know the meaning Of love, of sym
pathy and of gratitude. Say that you
will, Sofa; tell me that you will"
The great waterway which leads to
Helium is but fifty miles to the
SOUTH" murmured Sofa. half to her
self; ga swift thoat might make 1t in
three hours; and then to Helium it is
five hundred miles, most of the way
through thinly settled districts. They
would know and they would follow us.
We might hide among the great trees