Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER XIV.
Lost In the Sky.

earlier, as my tour OF duty must have
ended some time since.
saw that he knew nothing of the
events Of the day at the palace, and
when had enlightened him he was all
excitement The news that Dejah Thoris
k,fpromlapd her hand to Sab Than
- him with dismay.
vt cannot be-" he exclaimed. ut Is
impossible Why. no man In all He'll.
um but would prefer death to the sell.
ing Of our loved princess to the ruling
house of ZodaDga. She must have lost
her mind to have assented to such an
atrocious bargain. What can be done.
John Carterf You are a resourceful
man. Can you not think OF some way
to save Helium from this disgracer
"If ! can come within swords reach
of Sab Than" answered, ~ can solve
the difficulty In so far as Helium 10
concerned, but for personal reasons
would prefer that another struck the
blow that frees Dejah Thorls."
Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly be-
fore he spoke.
you love herr he said. Does she
know TT"
"She knows It. Kantos Kan, and re-
pulses me only because she Is prom
ised to Sab Than"
The splendid fellow sprang to his
feet and, grasping me by the shoul.
der, raised his sword on high, ex-
claiming:
"And had the choice been left to me
could not have chosen more fitting
mate for the 1rst princess Of Barsoom.
Here Is my hand upon your shoulder,
John Carter. and my word that Sab
Than shall 60 out at the point Of my
sword for the sake Of my love for
Helium. for Dejah Thoris, and for you.
This very night shall try to reach his
quarters In the palace.
II only need to pass these guards
end can do II. know q secret en-
trance to the palace through the pin.
nacle Of the highest tower. fell upon
It by chance one day as I was passing
above the palace on patrol duty. II I
can reach the roof OF the barracks and
get my machine can be In Sab Than's
quarters in Eve minutes; but how am
to escape from this building. guard.
ed a. you say II isf"
Go to the roof Of this building.
Kantos Kan, and wait me there"
Without stopping to explain my
plans ! rstraced my way to the street
and FASTENED to the barracks. did
not dare to enter the building. oiled a.
Il was with members OF the air-scout
squadron, who. In common with all
zodanga, were on the lookout for me.
The building was an enormous one.
rearing its lofty head fully Q thousand
feet into the air. Il was q long climb
up the face Of the building. but there
was no other way, and 10 ! essayed
the task. The fact that Barsoomian
architecture is extremely ornate made
tho feat much simpler than ] had an
.cipated. since I found ornamental
lodges ana projections which fairly
formed a perfect ladder for me all the
way to the caves Of the building. Here
I met my first real obstacle. The caves
projected nearly twenty feet from the
wall to which I chung. and though
encircled the great building could
ind no opening through them.
There was one slight desperate
chance. and that decided must take
1T was for Dejah Thoris. and no man
has lived who would not risk thou
sand deaths for such as she.
Uinging to the wall with my feet
and one hand ! unloosened one Of the
long leather straps Of my trappings
at the end Of which dangied a great
hook by which air sailors are hung to
the sides and bottoms Of their craft
for various purposes Of repair. and BY
means of which landing parties arc
lowered to the ground from the battle
ships.
swung this hook cautiously to the
roof several times before 1t finally
found Judgment; gently pulled on Il
TO strengthen its hold, but whether u
would bear the weight Of my body
did not know. It might be barely
caught upon the very outer verge Of
the roof, so that as my body swung ou
at the end of the strap II would Sill
of and launch me to the pavement
thousand feet below.
An instant / hesitated, and then. re
leasing my grasp upon the supporting
ornament, swung out into space
the end Of the strap. Far below mi
lay the brilliantly lighted streets, tn
hard pavements, and death. There wa
O little jerk at the top Of the support
ing caves, and q nasty slipping. graf
ing sound which turned me cold witt
apprehension; then the hook caugh
and was safe.
Clambering quickly aloft l graspe'
the edge Of the caves and drew mysel
TO the surface Of the room above. A
] gained my feet was confronted b.
the sentry on duty, into the muzzle o
Nhose revolver found myself looking
"who are you and whence cam
yoGP he cried.
Il am an air scout. friend. and YER
near dead one, for Just by the merea
chance escaped falling TO the avenu
below" ! replied.
But how came you upon the roo
Wsa