The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-04-01
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I Thark l sought out Dejah Thoris In
the throng of departing chariots. but
she turned her shoulder 10 me. and /
could see the red blood mount 10 her
cheek. With the foolish Inconsistency
of love I held my peace when l might
have pleaded ignorance of the nature
Of my Offense or at least the gravity
Of it. and so have effected, at worst,
a half Cancellation.
My duty dictated that 1 must see
that she was comfortable, and so
! glanced into her chariot and re-
/ arranged her silks and furs In doing
50 | noted with horror that she was
heavily chained by one ankle to the
/ side Of the vehicle
What does this meany'| cried.
/ turning 10 Soda
"Sarkoja thought ii best" she an
! swered. her face betokening her dis
| approval of the procedure
| turned and sought out Tars Tar
kas, to whom / vehementFy objected TO
the unnecessary humiliations and
| cruelties. as they seemed to my lovers
eyes. that were being heaped upon
Dejah Thoris
John Carter" he answered. eff ever
YOU and Dejah ThOris escape the
Thanks it viii be upon this journey.
We know that you will not 90 with
out her. You have shown yourself
a mighty fighter, and we do not wish
to manacle you, so we hold you both
Ia the easiest way that will yet ensure
security. I have spoken"
saw the strength of his reason
ing at n flash. and knew that 1t were
futile to appeal from his decision.
This much, Tars Tarkas, you may
do for me in return for the friend
ship that l must confess. l feel for
you"
"Friendship?" he replied. There
is no such thing. John Carter; but
have your Will. I shall direct that
Sarkoja cease TO annoy the girl, and
| myself will take the custody of the
key"
That night as we were making camp
l saw him unfasten Dejah Thoris'
letters himself
AS | was approaching Dejah ThOris'
chariot I passed Sarkoja, and the
black, venomOus look she accorded
me was the sweetest balm I had felt
for many hours.
\ few moments later l saw her deep
in conversation with a warrior named
Zad a big, hull5ing powerful brute /
but one who had never made a kill I
among his own chieftainS. and so was
still an 20 mad" or man with one
name; he could win a second name
only with the metal of some chief I
tain. 1t was this custom which en-
titled me to the names of either of (
the chieftains / had killed; in fact, /
some of the warriors addressed me I
as DOtar SOjat, a combination of the .
surnameS of the two warrior chieftains \
whose metal / had taken, or. iR other .
words, whom l had slain in fair fight. .
AS Sarkoja talked with FAD he cast (
occasional chances 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 I had good reason TO re-
call the circumstances. and Mt 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
single halt until just before dark. Two
incidents broke the tediouSness of the
march. About noon we espied far TO
our right what was evidently an incu-
hatOr, and Lorquas PtOmel directed
Tars Tarkas to investigate it, The
latter took dozen warriors. includ-
ing myself, and we raced across the
velvety carpeting of moss 10 the little
enclosure.
Tars Tarkas dismounted and exam
ined the Enclosure infinitely, finally an
nouncing that it belonged to the green