The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-04-15
CHAPTER lX-Continued.


7 did not saddle or mount the ami
mails there. but instead walked quietly
in the shadows o. the buildings toward
an uufreQuented avenue which led to-
ward the point where had arranged to
meet Dejah Thoris ana Sola With the
uoiselessness of dlsembodied spirits
we moved stealthily along the desserts
ed streets, but not until we We're with
in sight of the plain beyond the city
did ! commence TO breathe freely.
was sure that Sofa and Deja Thoris
would find no difficulty in reaching our
rendezvous undetected, but with my
great thoats I was not so sure for my
self, as it was quite unusual for war
riors to leave the city after dark; in
fact There was no place for them to go
within any but d long ride.
I reached the appointed meeting
place safely. but as Dejah ThOris and
Soda were not there l led my animals
into the entrance hall of one Of the
large buildings. Presenting that one
of the other women of the same house
hold may have come in to speak to
Soda and so delayed their departure.
I lid not feel any undue apprehen-
sion until nearly an hour had passed
without q sign Of them, and by the
time another half hour had crawIeG
away ! was becoming filed with grave
anxiety. Then there broke upon the
stiffness OF the night The sound of an
approaching party. which. from the
noise, 1 knew could tie no fugitives
creeping s-ealJhily toward liberty.
soon the party was near me- and
from the black shadows of my en-
TRANCE way I perceived score of
mounted warriors. who in passing,
dropped dozen words that fetched
my heart clean into the top of my
head
ale would likely have arranged to
meet them just without The city. and
SOL l heard no more they had
passed on but 1T was enough our
plan had been discovered. and the
chances for escape from now or TO the
fearful end would be small indeed.
Fly one hope now was to return unde-
tected TO the quarters Of Deiah Thoris
and learn what fate had overtaken her,
bat how to do it with these great
moaStrous thoats upon my hands. now
thar the CITY probably was aroused b.
the knowledge Of my escape. was
problem of no mean proportions
Suddenly an idea occurred to me and.
acting ON my knowledge of the con-
struction Of the buildings Of these an
cfent 3iartian cities with a hollow
court within the center Of each
square. I CROPPED my way blindly
through the dark chambers. calling the
great rhoats after me. They had diff
Guilty in negotiating some of the door
ways but as the buildings fronting the
city's principal exposures were all de-
signed upon a magnificent scale. they
We're able 10 wriggle through without
sticking fast; and thus we finally
made the inner court where I found,
rs ] had expected the usual carpet of
m0ss-like vegetation which would
prove their food and drink until I
could return them TO their own en-
closure.
Removing the saddle trappings. hid
them just within the rear doorway of
the building through which we had
entered the court and. turning the
beasts loose. quickly made my way
across the court TO the rear Of the
buildings upon the further side. and
thence TO the avenue beyond. With
only the slight chance of detection
which the Necessary crossing of the
avenues entailed. l made my way in
safety to the courtyard in the rear of
Dejah Thoris' quarters.
Here. of course. I found the beasts
of the warriors who auartered in the
adjacent buildings. and the warriors
themselves I might expect to meet
within If l entered; but, fortunately
for me, had another and safer meth
Cd Of reaching the upper story where
Dejah Thoris should be found, and.