The Snowflake herald., 1921-04-08
-sssrs sssp-ysa. . leng prv..

night, and the swift thrust of long
dagger and the half-formed words. Il
an strry but it is for the best good Of
Rar0oCm."
What was | to do? How could / es-
cape through these mighty walls?
Easily could | kill him now that I was
warned, but once he was dead | could
no more escape. and with the stop
ping Of the machinery of the great
plant | should die with all the other
inhabitants of the planet-all, even
Dejah Thoris were she not already
dead.
Cautiously opened the door of my
apartment and. followed by Woola,
sought the inner of the great doors.
A wild scheme had come to me; |
would attempt TO force the great locks
by the nine thought waves | had read
in my hosts mind.
Creeping stealthily through corridor
after corridor and down winding run
ways which turned hither and thither
! finally reached the great hall in
which had broken my long fast that
morning.
| was on the point of stepping bold
ly out into the room when slight
noise behind me warned me back into
the shadows of recess in the corri-
dor. Dragging Woola after me /
crouched low in the darkness.
Presently the old man passed close
by me, and rs he entered the dimly
lighted chamber which | had been
about to pass through saw that he
held a long thin dagger in his hand
and that he was sharpening 1t upon
a stone In his mind was the decision
TO inspect the radium pumps. which
would take about thirty minutes. and
tLau return to my bedchamber and fin.
iSh me
AS he passed through the great hall
and disappeared down the runway
which led to tn" pumproom. stole
stealthily from mv hiding place and
crossed 10 the great door. the inner
of the three which stood between me
and liberty.
massive ieck hurled the nine
thought waves against It. In breath
less expectancy | waited when finally
the great door moved softly toward
me and slid quietly to one side. One
after the other the remaining mighty
portals opened at my command and
Wooa and stepped forth into the
darkness. free. but little better ef
than we had been before, other than
that we had full stomachs
Fastening away rom the shadows
of the formidable pile ] made for the
first crossroad. intending 70 strike the
central turnpike as quickly as pos
sible This reached about morning
and entering the frsf enclosure came
to ] searched for some evidence Of
habitation.
There we're low rambling buildings
Of concrete barred with heavy impass-
able doors and no amount OF ham
mering and hallooing brought any re-
Sponse Weary and exhausted from
sleeplessness I threw myself upon the
ground commanding Woola TO stand
guard
Some time later was awakened by
bis frightful growlings and opened my
ewes to see three red Martians stand
ing a shor distance from US and COW
pring me with their rifles.
Il am unarmed and no enemy" /
hastened 10 explain Il have been a
prisoner among rhe green men and
am on my way 10 Iodanga All ask
is food and rest for myself and my
calof and the proper directions for
reaching my destination"
They lowered their rifles and ad-
vanced pleasantly toward me, placing
their right hands upon my left shoul-
der. after the manner Of their custom
Of salute. ard asking me many ques-
tions about myself end NV wasder
Ings. They then toek ne to the
house Of one Of them which vas only
shoIT distssce away.
They we're the personification OF
cordially aaS Aoe.atslily ara ] spent
several aays With 1ham. resting and
recuperaiing from ny iemg and ardu-
Gus expsrieaces
When vas raeAy ~ AePeTs they
furnished ,ss with . smail doanestic
bull thnat, saess Sc f. ured fer saddle
purrO@As ~ eli red Fsrtians The
animal ia about the size or horse and
quite gentle. hut In color and shape
an exact replca ~ his huge and fierce
.0usla ~ the wilds.
The hrothsrs had supplied me with
4 reddish oil with which | aRointed
my snacs eeAy and enc Of them cut
ry hair. whicA lad grown quite long,
il me prevailing fashion Of the time,
square at the back and banged In
front. 80 that could have passed any
where uPon Barsoem as full-nedged
red Marian. My metal and orna-
ments were also renewed in the style
of . 2odanGan gentleman. attached to
the heuss Of Ptor. which was the fam
liz aams ef ny benefaetOr2-