The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-05-13
CHAPTER xV-continued.

Helium lies q thousand miles south
west of Zodanga. and with my com
pass intact l should have made the
trip, barring accidents, in between
four and five hours AS 1t 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 1 passed low over a
great dead city Of ancient Mars. and
as 1 skinned out across the plain l
came full upon several thousand green
warriors engaged in a terrific battle.
Scarcely had 1 seen them than a vol
ley of shots was directed at me. and
with the almost unfailing accuracy of
their aim my little craft waD instantly
a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to
the ground.
/ fell almost directly in the center
of the fierce combat, among warriors
who had not seen my approach. so
DusiIy were they engaged in life and
death struggles. As my machine sank
among them I realized that it was fight
or die. with good chances Of dying in
any event, and so I struck the ground
with drawn longswOrd ready to de-
fend myself as 1 could.
i fell beside a huge monster who was
engaged with three antagonists and as
I glanced at his fierce face, filed with
the light Of battle, 1 recognized Tars
Tarkas the Thank. He did not see me,
as l was a trif1e behind him, and just
then the three warriors opposing him,
and whom I recognized as WarhOOns,
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 l 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.
He gave me one look, and a slight
smile touched his grim lips as, touch
ing my shoulder, he said:
II would scarcely recognize you.
John Carter. but there is no other
upon BarsOom who would have done
what you have for me. 1 think have
learned that there is such a thing as
friendship, my friend"
He said no more. nor was there op-
pOrtunity. for the WarhOons were clos
Ing in about us, and together we
fought, shoulder to shoulder, during all
that long, hot afternoon, until the tide
of battle turned and the remnant of
the fierce WarhoOn horde fell back
upon their thoats, and fed into the
gathering darkness.
On our return to the city after the
battle we had gone directly to Tars
Tarkas' quarters, where I was left
alone while the chieftain attended the
customary council which Immediately
follows an engagement.
AS I was awaiting the return of the
green warrior heard something move
In an adjoining apartment. and as 1
glanced up there rushed suddenly upon
me a huge and hideOus creature which
bore me backward upon the pile of
silks and furs upon which had been
reclining. 1t was WOola-faithful, low
Ing WOOla. He had found his way
back TO Thank and, as Tars Tarkas
later told me. had gone Immediately to
my former quarters where he had
taken up his pathetic and seemingly
hopeless watch for my return.
''Tal Hajus knows that you are here,
John Carter" said Tars Tarkas, on his
return from the jeddak's quarters;
''Sarkoia saw and recognized you as
we were returning. Tai Hajus has or
dered me to bring you before him to-
night I have ten thoats, John Car |
ter; you may take your choice from |
among them. and will accompany you !
to the nearest waterway that leads TO |
Helium. Come, we must start"
And when you return, Tars Tar |
kas?" I asked.
THE wild calots. possibly, or
worse" he replied. Unless 1 should |
chance to have the opportunity have |
so long waited of battling with Tai |
Hajus."
1--WE viii stay. Tars Tarkas. and see
Tai Haj jus tonight You shall not sac
rifice yourself. and it may be that to-
night you can have the choice you
wait"
While we were eating repeated TO
Tars Tarkas the story which Sofa had
told me that night upon the sea bottom
during the march TO Thark.
He said but little, but the great
of his face worked in passion
and in agony at recollection of the
horrors which had been heaped upon
the only thing he had ever loved in all
his cold, cruel. terrible existence.
He no longer demurred when I sug-
gested that we go before Tai Hiatus.
only saying that he would like to speak
TO Sarkoja first At his request 1 &C
companied him to her quarters.
''Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas. "forty
years ago you were instrumental in
bringing about the torture and death
OF = woman named Gozava 1 have
just discovered that the warrior who
loved that woman has learned of your
part in the transaction. He may not
kill you. Sarkoja, it is not our custom.
but there is nothing to prevent him
tying one end of a strap about your
neck and the other end to a wild thoat
merely 70 test your fitness to survive
and help perpetuate our race. Having ]