The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-05-28
CHAPTER XIV.
Lost in the Sky

showed no surprise III luy SoiiihS'
saying he had expected me much
earlier, as my tour of duty must have
ended some time since.
l 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 Thorls
had promised her hand to Sab Than
filled him with dismay.
1T cannot be-" he exclaimed. 1T 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 Zodanga. She must have lost
her mind to have assented to such an
atrociOus bargain. What can be done,
John Carter? You are a resourceful
man. Can you not think of some way
to save Helium from this disgrace?'
/ eff l can come within swords reach
of Sab Than" / answered, Il can solve
the difficulty in so far as Helium Is
concerned, but for personal reasons 1
would prefer that another struck the
blow that frees Dejah ThOris."
Kantcs Kan eyed me narrowly be-
fore he spoke.
"You love her!' he said. Does she
know it?'
"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 first princess of Barsoom.
Here is my hand upon your shoulder,
John Carter, and my word that Sab
Than shall go out at the point OF my
sword for the sake of my love for
Helium, for Dejah Thoris, and for you.
This very night l shall try to reach his
quarters In the palace.
II only need to pass these guards
and 1 can do 1t. / know secret en-
trance to the palace through the PIN
nacle of the highest tower. l fell upon
it by chance one day as l was passing
above the palace on patrol duty. Ii |
can reach the roof of the barracks and
get nv machine can be in Sab Than's
quarters in five minutes; but how am
to escape from this building, guard
ed as you say it is?"
go to the roof of this building
Kantos Kan, and wait me there"
| Without stopping to explain my
plans 1 retraced my way to the street
and fastened to the barracks. did
not dare to enter the building, filled as
it was with members of the air-scoul
squadron, who, in common with all
Zodanga, were on the lookout for me
The building was an enormous one
rearing it's lofty head fully thousand
feet into the air. 1t was long clint
up the face Of the building, but there
was no other way, and so l essayet
the task. The fact that Barsoomiai
architecture is extremely ornate made
the feat much simpler than l had an
cipated, since l found ornamental
lodges and projections which falri!
formed perfect ladder for me all tn
l
met my first real obstacle. The caves
projected nearly twenty feet from thu
wall to which / chung, and though
encircled the great building coult
find no opening through them.
There was one slight, desperate
chance, and that / decided | must TAX
it was for Dejah Thoris, ard no mai
has lived who would not risk thou
sand deaths for such as she.
Clinging to the wall with my fee
and one hand I unloosened one Of tn
long leather straps of my trapping
at the end of which ,dangled a grea
hook by which air sailors are hung t
the sides and bottoms of their Graf
[ for various purposes of repair, and b
| means of which landing parties ar
: lowered to the ground from the battle
/ ships.
I swung this hook cautiously to tn
roof several times before 1t f1nall
, found Judgment; gently pulled on
t to strengthen its hold. but whether
would bear the weight of my body
B QlU HOT kuUW. ~ might W 0e~AS'
E caught upon the very outer verge
a the roof. SO that as my body swung OF
i. at the end of the strap it would Sill
: Off and launch me to the pavement
' thousand feet below.
e An instant hesitated, and then, r.
e leasing my grasp upon the supportin
2 ornament, swung out into space
the end of the strap. Far below m
" lay the brilliantly lighted streets. tn
s hard payements. and death. There We
h a little jerk at the top OF the supper
S ing caves, and nasty slipping, gra
l. ing sound which turned me cold wit
apprehension . then the hook caugl
d and was safe.
e Clambering quickly a;oft ! graspe
the edge Of the caves and drew myse
% to the surface of the room above. 4
Is / gained my feet I was confronted
r the sentry on duty. into the muzzle
D. whose revolver found myself lookin
J. .Who are you and whence can
1t your" he cried.
le 81 am an air scout, friend. and vel
near dead one. for just by the mere