The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-05-07
CHAPTER XII-continued.

tlan atmosphere for a thousand years,
ana the only fear, as my new friend
told ME, was that some accident might
befali the pumping apparatus.
Before / retired for the night he
promised to give me a letter to a near
by agricultural officer who would help
me on my way to ZOdanga, which he
said was the nearest Marian city.
But be sure that you do not let
them know you are bound for Helinm,
as thev are at war with that country.
My assistant and are of no country
we belong to all BarsOOm and this tai.
lsman which we wear protects us in
all lands, even among the green men
though we do not trus- ourselves to
tEeir hands if we can avoid it," he
added.
"And so goodnight. my friend" he
;, continued, may you have long and
restful sleep-yes, long Sleep"
And though he smiled pleasantly I
saw in his thoughts the wish that he
had never admitted me, and then a pic
ture of him standing over me in the
hAShA3 anu SN 1T III uSl VI lOllS
dagger and the half-fOrmed words, Il
an. sc rry, Lut it is for the best good Of
BarScom."
What was to do? How could es-
cape through these mighty walls?
Easily could kill him now that was
warned, but once he was dead l could
no more escape, and with the stop
ping of the machinery of the great
plant 1 should die with all the other
inhabitants of the planet-all, even
Dejah ThOris were she not already
dead.
Cautiously I opened the door Of my
apartment and, followed by WOola,
sought the inner of the great doors.
A wild scheme had come to me; l
would attempt to force the great locks
by the nine thought waves l 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 or the point Of stepping hold
ly out into the room when a slight
noise behind me warned me back into
the shadows Of q recess in the corri-
dor. Dragging WOola after me
crOuched low in the darkness
Presently the old man passed close |
by me, and as he entered the dimly |
lighted chamber which 1 had been |
.h1 % Z l.
held a long thin dagger in his hand |
and that he was sharpening 1t upon |
q stone. In his mind was the decision
to inspect the radium pumps, which |
would take about thirty minutes, and |
then return to my bedchamber and fin |
ish me.
AS he passed through the great hall
and disappeared down the runway |
which, led to the pumproOm, / stole |
stealthily from my hiding place and
crossed to the great door, the inner
Of the three which stood between me
and liberty.
Concentrating my mind upon the
massive lock 1 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
Woola and l stepped forth into the
darkness, free, but little better off
than we had been before, other than
that we had full stOmachs.
|
of the formidable pile l made for the
first crossroad, intending to strike the
central turnpike as quickly as pos
sible. This l reached about morning
and entering the first enclosure came
to searched for some evidence of
habitation.
There were low rambling buildings
of concrete barred with heavy impass-
able doors. and no amount of ham,
mering and halloOing brought any re-
Spouse. Weary and exhausted from
sleepIessness threw myself upon the
ground commanding Woola to stand
guard.
Some time later was awakened by
his frightful growlings and opened my
eyes TO see three red Martians stand
Ing short distance from us and COW
ering me with their rifles.
81 am unarmed and no enemy"
FASTENED to explain. 81 have been
prisoner among the green men and
am on my way to Zodanga. All l ask
is food and rest for myself and my ,
calot and the proper directions for !
my destination"
They lowered their rifles and adj
vanced pleasantly toward me, placing
their right hands upon my left Shout
der, after the manner of their custom :
Of salute. and asking me many ques- :
lions about myself and my wander ;
ngs. They then took me to the :
house Of one of them which was only !,
/ short distance away. !,
They were the personification of
,ordiality and hospitality and spent
several days with them, resting and ).
cooperating from my long and ardu-
1us experiences. y
Wien was ready to depart they =
Iusnished me with a small domestic a
eph thoat. such as is used for saddle =
p9fp9e ~ all red Martians. The q
~ y about the size of a horse and L
'1lte Gentle, but in color and shape
"a exact reDlipa 0f his hugo and fierce II