Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-07-22

NOiuH, WHoiu nhu siam III lhh hbb|
As Sarkoja talked with Fad he cast
occasional glances in my direction,
while she seemed to be urging him
very strongly to some action. paid
little attention to II at the time. but
the next day had good reason to re-
call the circumstances, and at the
same time gain a slight insight into
the depths Of Sarkoja's hatred and the
lengths to which she was capable Of
going to wreak her horrid vengeance
on me.
We broke camp the next day at an
early hour and marched with only a
single halt until just before dark. Two
incidents broke the tediousness Of the
march. About noon we espied far 70
our right what was evidently an incu-
bator, and Lorquas ptomel directed
Tars Tarkas to investigate It. The
latter took q dozen warriors, includ-
ing myself, and we raced across the
velvety carpeting Of moss to the. little
enclosure.
Tars Tarkas dismounted and exam
ined the Enclosure minutely, finally an
nouncing that II belonged TO the green
men Of Warhoon and that the cement
was scarcely dry where II had been
walled up.
"They cannot be days march
ahead Of u.s." he exclaimed, the light
Of battle leaping to his fierce face.
The work at the Incubator was short
indeed. The warriors tore open the
entrance and couple Of them, crawl
ing In, soon demolished all the eggs
with their short-swords. Then re-
mounting we dashed back to Join the
cavalcade. During the ride ! took
occasion to ask Tars Tarkas II these
Warhoons whose eggs we had de-
stfoyed were a smaller people than
| his Thanks.
81 noticed that their eggs were so
much smaller than those saw hatch
ing In your incubator" added.
He explained that the eggs had just
been placed there; but, like all green
Marian eggs, they would grow dur
ing the fve-year period of incubation
until they obtained the size of those
had seen Matching on the day of my
arrival on Barsoom. This was indeed
an interesting piece of information,
for It had always seemed remarkable
to me that the green Marian women.
large as they were, could bring forth
/ such enormous eggs as | bad seen
| the four-foot infants emerging from.
AS a-matter of fact, the new-laid egg
is but little larger than an ordinary
goose egg, and as It does not com
mence to grow until subjected to the
light OF the sun the chleftalns have
little difficulty in transporting sew.
from the storage vault to the incubat-
ors.
Shortly after the incident of the
Warhoon eggs we halted to rest the
animals, and II was during this halt
that the second of the days interest
ing episodes occurred. was engaged
In changing my riding cloths from
one OF my thUats to the other, for
divided the days work between them
when Fad approached me, and with
out word struck the animal ter
rife blow with his long-sword.
did not need a manual of greer
Marian etiquette to know what reply
to make, for, in fact, was so wild
with anger that | could scarcely re
frain from drawing my pistol anC
shooting down the brute he was; bu
he stood waiting with drawn long
sword, and my only choice was Il
draw my own and meet him In fai
fight with his choice of weapons o.
lesser one.
, 1 chose the same weapon he hat
drawn because he prided himself upoI
his ability with II. and l wished. II
=, so | noted with horror tnat she wa
heavily chained by one ankle to tn
side of the vehicle.
"What does this mean2" I cried
turning to Sola.
"Sarkoja thought It best" she ar
; swered, her face betokening her dis
approval of the procedure.
turned and sought out Tars Tai
; kas, TO whom yehemently objected (
:, the unnecessary humiliations an
cruelties, as they seemed to my lover
eyes. that were being heaped upo
Dejah Thoris.
!, "John Carter" he answered, "if eve
, you and DeJah Thoris escape tn
, Thanks II will be upon this journe!
We know that you Will not 90 witt
I, out her. You have shown yoursel
: mighty fighter, and we do not wis
to manacle you, so we hold you bot
in the easiest way that will yet ensur
; security. have spoken"
: saw the strength of his reason
a ing at a flash, and kAew that II wer
a futile to appeal from his decision.
9 This much, Tars Tarkas, you ma
do for me in return for the frlenC
ship that | must confess, feel fC
$ you"
|. Friendship" he replied "Ther
+ is no such thing, John Carter; bT
Il have your will. shall direct this
!. Sarkoja cease to annoy the girl, an
g I myself will take the custody OF III
e key"
/. That night as we were making cam
n | saw him unfasten Dejah Thori
NnNtare hIpncalf