Cheyenne Wells record., 1921-09-15

0n0fnoS
platform beside me. dealing oealA "11
destruction right and left
The bravery of the Zodangans wa
awe-inspiring; not one attempteo "
oscane and when the fighting ceaseu
II was because only Thanks remaineu
alive in the great hall, other tnan ~
1ah Thoris and myself.
Sab Than lay dead beside ME ia
ther. and the corpses Of the flower Oh
Zodancan nobility and chivalry COW
cred the floor of the bloody shamoies'
NV first thought when the hattie
was over was for Kantos Kan. anu
leaving Dejah Thoris in charge OF IAN
Tarkas I took dozen warriors snu
hastened to the dungeons beneath tns
nolace. The jailers had all left to 1oin
the fighters In the throne room, SO we
searched the labyrinthine prison ~itn'
out opposition.
called Kantos kan's name aloud III
each new corridor and compartment
and finally was rewarded by hearing
faint response. Guided by tne
sound. we soon found him helpless IN
dark recess.
He was overjoyed at seeing me sno
to know the meaning Of the fight, rant
echoes of which had reached his prs
on cell. He told me that the air pa
troll had captured him before No
reached the high tower Of the palace
so that he had not even Aeen SAP
Than.
The sounds of heavy firing, mingled
with shouts and cries, came to US froH
the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas
hastened away to direct the lighting
without. kantos Kan accompanied
him to act as guide. the green warriors
commencing a thorough search OF the
palace for other Zodangans and Tor
loot; and Dejah Thoris and l were len
alone.
She had sunk into one Of the goldeE.
thrones, and as turned to her she
greeted me with a wan smile.
WAS there ever such q man.! she
exclaimed. -"Alone, stranger, hunt
ed, threatened, prosecuted. you have
done In a few short months what In
all the past ages Of Barsoom no man
has ever done: Joined together the
wild hordes Of the sea bottoms and
brought them to fight as allies Of red
Martian people"
1.-THE answer Is easy, Dejah 1horis,"
I replied, smiling. 1T was not ! who
did it, it was love, love for Dejah
Thoris, power that would work
greater miracles than this you have
seen. l have done many strange
things in my life, many things that
wiser men would not have dared, but
never in my widest fancies have
dreamed Of winning Dejah Thoris
for myself-for never had dreamed
that in all the universe dwelt such a
woman as the princess Of Helium
That you are a princess does not abasf
me, but that you are you is enough
to make me doubt my sanity as I asi
you, my princess. to be NINE"
HE does not need to be abashe'
who SO well knew the answer to hi
plea before the plea were made" sh
replied. rising and placing her dea
hands upon my shoulders. and so
. |
And thus in the midst Of a city O
wild conflict. filed with the alarms o
war: with death and destruction reap
Ing their terrible harvest around hel
did Dejah Thoris, princess Of Helium
true daughter of Mars. the god of wal
promise herself in marriage to JohI
Carter, Gentleman Of Virginia.
I1xn r. II, .v.s
kantos Kan returned to report tina
Zodanga had been completely reduced
Her forces were entirely destroyed Of
captured. and no further resistanc,
was to be expected from within. Sew
eral battleships had escaped. but ther,
were thousands Of war and merchant
vessels under guard Of Thark war
riors.
The lesser hordes had commenced
looting and quarreling among them
selves. so 1t was decided that we col
lect what warriors we could. man al
many vessels as possible with Zodan
gan prisoners and make for Heliun
without further loss of time.
Five hours later we sailed from the
roofs of the dock buildings with flee,
Of two hundred and fifty battleships
carrying nearly one hundred thousand
green warriors. followed by fleet OF
transports with our thoats.
In the middle of the afternoon we
sighted the scarlet and yellow towers
of Helium. and short time later a
great fleet Of Zodansan battleships
rose from the camps of the besiegera
without the city and advanced to meet
US.
The banners Of Helium had been
strung from stem to stern Of each of
our mighty craft. but the Zodangans
did not need this sign to realize that
we were enemies, for our green Mar
tian warriors had opened fire upon
them almost as they left the ground.
With their uncanny craftsmanship
they raked the oncoming fleet with vol.
ley after volley.
The twin cities Of Helium. perceiv.