The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-06-17


ed that we push on at once In an effort
to gain the hills.
We had gone scarcely mile when
noticed that my thoat was COM
mencing to stumble and stageer in a
most pitiful manner, although we had
not attempted TO force them out of
walk since about noon of the preced-
ing day. Suddenly he lurched wildly
to one side and pitched violently to
the ground. Dejah Thoris and were
thrown clear of him and fell upon the
soft moss with scarcely a jar; but the
Door beast was in pitiable condition,
not even being able to rise. although
relieved of our weight. Sofa told me
that the GOODNESS of the night, when 1t
fell, together with the rest. would
doubtless revive him, and so decided
not to kill him, as was my first inten-
ton, as had thought 1t cruel to leave
him alone there to die of hunger and
thirst. We left the poor fellow to his
fate and pushed on with the one thoat
as best we could. Sofa and I walked,
making Dejah Thoris ride, much
against her will In this way we had
progressed to within about a mile of
the hills we were endeavoring to reach
when Dejah Thoris, from her point of
vantage upon the thoat, cried out that
she saw a:great party of mounted men
filing down from a pass in the hills
several miles away. Sofa and / both
looked in the direction she indicated,
and there, plainly discernible, were
several hundred mounted warriors.
They seemed to be headed in a south
westerly direction, which would take
them away from US.
They doubtless were Thank war
riors who had been sent out to cap
ture US, and we breathed great sigh
of relief that they were travelling in
the opposite direction. Quickly lifting
Dejah Thoris from the theat, I COM
manded the animal to lie down and we
three did the same, presenting as small
an object as possible for fear of at
tracing the attention of the warriors
toward US.
As what proved to be the last war
rior came into view from the pass, he
halted and, to our CONSERVATION, threw
his small but powerful fieldglass to his
eye and scanned the sea bottom in all
directions. As his glass swung toward
US our hearts stopped in our breasts
| and 1 could feel the cold sweat start
from every pore in my body.
Presently it swung full upon us and
stopped. Then he lowered it and
we could see him shout command to
the warriors who had passed from our
sight behind the ridge. He did not
wait for them to join him, however;
instead he wheeled his thoat and came
tearing madly in our direction.
There was but one slight chance
and that we must take quickly. Rails
ing my strange Marian rife to my
button which controlled the trigger;
there was a sharp explosion as the
missile reached its goal, and the charg-
ing chieftain pitched backward from
his flying mount.
Springing to my feet I urged the
Dejah Thoris with her upon him and
make mighty effort to reach the hills
before the green warriors were upon
US. 1 knew that in the ravines and
gullies they might find a temporary
hiding place, and even though they
died of hunger and thirst it would be
better so than that they fell into the
hands of the Thanks. Forcing my two
revolvers upon them as slight means
Of protection, and, as a last resort, as
an escape for themselves from the hor-
rid death which recapture would sure
ly mean, 1 lifted Dejah Thoris in my
arms and placed her upon the thoat be-
hind Sofa, who had already mounted
at my command
"Good-by, my princess whispered,
1--WE may meet in Helium yet I have
escaped from worse plights than this"
and 1 tried to smile as 1 lied.
what" she cried, "are you not COM
ing with us?"
SLOW may I, Dejah Thoris? Some
one must hold these fellows off for a
while, and l can better escape them
alone than could the three of US to-
gether."
She sprang quickly from the thoat
and, throwing her dear arms about my
neck turned to Sofa, saying with quiet
dignity: Sly, Sofa Dejah Thoris re-
mains to die with the man she loves"
Those words are engraved upon my
heart. All, gladly would I give up my
life thousand times could 1 only hear
them once more; but could not then
give even a second to the rapture of
her sweet embrace, and pressing my
lips to hers for the first time, / picked
her up bodily and tossed her to her
seat behind Sofa again, commanding
the latter in peremptory tones to hold
her there by force, and then, slapping
the thoat upon the flank, saw them
borne away; Dejah Thoris struggling
to the last to free herself from Sola's
grasp.
Turning, I beheld the green war
riors mounting the ridge and looking
for their chieftain. In moment they
saw him, and then me; but scarcely
had they discovered me than 1 COM
menced firing, lying fiat upon my belly
In the moss. I kept up a continuous
stream Of fire until I saw all Of the
warriors who had been first to return
from behind the ridge either dead or
scurrying to cover.
My respite was shortlived however,
for soon the entire party, numbering
some thousand men, came charging
into view, racing madly toward me. /