The Lamar register., 1921-02-23

upper HuOr- where our Il.li teIs Nt''
located. she had met Sarkoja descend
ing. We decided thar she must have
been savesdropplng, hat as we rouiu
recall noihiuE OF importance that ha''
passed hetween It's We dismissed the
natter us of lille consequence.
Driah Thurls and tht II fell TO ex-
mining rhe architecture and decora-
lions or rh- Lenuriful ..hnlnhers of the
building We were occupying She told
me fliai the~e p-npl" had presumably
tnur shed uSrr II htn4red thousand
years before. They were the early
proe-niiors of her rac'. hut had mixed
with the "th"r great races of early
Mnriinn-. who we're very lark. almost
hlack and al~" Win ihe reddish yei.
lnw race wliich hnd tnurished Al the
same Tine.
These three great divisions Of the
higher MartianS had been forced In
to a mighty alliance the drying up
Df the Mariinn s,.as had compelled
Them to seek the comparatively few
and always diminishing fertile areas
and to defend themselves. under nr"
conditions Of life. against the wild
hprlcS al green men
The ancient Mnrtians had heen u
highly cultivated and literary race.
hui during the vi,issiIudcs OF those
ryin. centuries OF reimbursement 10
new conditions. noi only did their ad-
yanceIneni and production cease Ell
lirely. buf practically all their archives.
records and literature were lost.
We had been 81 rnrrossed in eAplor-
.tiinn nf the building and in our con
versafion that II was late in the afiri.
noOn before We realized II. We were
brought back to realization of our
present conditions by messenN'r
hearing a summons from I.orquas
Ptomel directing me To- appear before
him forthwith Bidding priah Thor
is and Sola farewee. ami command
ing Wooia to remain on guard, I hast
ened TO the audience chamber. where
found Lor1,nS TtomeI aud Tsrs Tar
kas seated upon the rostruui.
As ! enrrreu ana -aiuIeG. i..,rquhs
PtoInel sigiiried me 4" advance. aud.
liking his great. hidrous eyes upon
me, addressed me thus:
"You have been with ns q few days.
yet during that time you have by
your prowess won high position
among us Be that rs il may, yuu are
not one of us: you owe us no aliegi-
ance.
Your position In n peculiar one. "
he continued; 1you are a prisoner
and yet you give commands which
must be obeyed; you are an allen and
yet you are u Tharkian chieftain :
you are a midget and yet you can kill
a mighty warrior with one blow of
your fist. And now you are reported
to have been piottlns to escape with
another prisoner Of another race: Q
prisoner who, from her own admission.
half believes you are returned from
the valley Of Dor. Either one Of these
accusations. II proved. would be sum-
Client grounds for your execution, but
we are just people and you shall
have a trial on our return to Thark.
if Tai Hajus so commands.
But" he continued. In his fierce
cultural tones. ''if you run on with
the red girl It is | who shall have TO
account TO Tai Hajus It Is ] who shall
have TO face Tars Tarkas. and either
demonstrate my right TO command.
or the metal from my dead carcass
Will go TO a better man. for such Is
the custom Of the Thanks.
II have no quarrel with Tars Tar
kas; together We rule supreme the
greatest OF the lesser communities
among the green men we do nor wish
to fight between ourselves; and 40
II you were dead. John Carter. ! should
be glad. Under two conditions only,
however. may you be killed by us with
OUT orders from Tai HaJus: In person
al combat In self-defense. should you
attack one of Us. or were you nppre-
hcnded In an attempt to escape.
"As q matter OF Justice must warn
you that we only await one OF these
two excuses for Kidding ourselves of
so great responsibility. The safe
delivery OF the red girl to Tai Hajus
is of the greatest Importance. Not
in a thousand years have the Tharks
made such captdre: she Is the grand
daughter OF the greatest OF red jed
daks, who is also our bitterest en-
emy. have spoken. The red girl