The Connecticut labor news., 1921-09-30
CHAPTER XIV-(Continued)

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 I
glanced up there rushed suddenly upon
me 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 Thark 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;
"Sarkoja Saw and recognized you as
we were returning. Tai Hajus has or
dered me to bring you before him to-
night. l 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?" asked.
'"The wild calots, possibly, or
worse" he replied. "Unless I should
chance to have the opportunity l have
so long waited of battling with Tai
Hajus."
"We will stay, Tars Tarkas, and see
Tai Hajus tonight. You shall not sac
rtfice 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 Thank.
He said but little, but the great
muscles of his face worked in passion
anu al dSOuy 1CCOIlCIlIOL VI lAiC
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 Hajus,
only saying that he would like to speak
to Sarkoja first. At his request &C.
companied him to her quarters.
"Sarkoja," said Tars Tarkas, "forty
years ago you were instrumental in
bringing about the torture and death
Of a 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, 1t 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 to test your fitness to survive
and help perpetuate our race. Having
heard that he would do this on the
morrow, I thought it only right to
warn you, for I am just man. The
river Iss is but a short pilgrimage,
Sarkoja. Come, John Carter"
The next morning Sarkoja was gone.
nor was she ever seen after.
In silence we fastened to the jed
daks palace, where we were immedi-
ately admitted to his presence; in fact,
he could scarcely wait to see me and
was standing erect upon his platform
glowering at the entrance as l came in.
"Strap him to that pillar" he
shrieked. 1--WE shall see who it is
dares strike the mighty Tai Hajus.
Heat the irons; with my own hands