The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-05-20

marks myself.
On the night following the prisoners
visit to the audience chamber the con-
versation finally fell upon this subject,
and was all ears on the instant.
Sarkoja, one of the, older women
who shared our domicile, had been
present at the audience as one Of
the captive's guards, and 1t was to-
ward her the ouestioners turned.
| "When," asked one of the women,
"will we enjoy the death throes of the
red one, or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed.
intend holding her for ransom?"
"They have decided to carry her
with us back to Thark, and exhibit
her last agonies at the great games
before Tai Hajus," replied Sarkoja.
what will be the manner Of her
| going out?" inquired Sofa. "She is
very small and very beautiful; had
hoped that they would hold her for
ransom"
One thing this episode accomplished
was to assure me of Sela's friendli-
ness toward the poor girl, and also to
convince me that I had been extreme
/ ly fortunate in falling into her hands
rather than those Of some of the other
females. knew that she was fond of
me, and now that her remarks showed
that. she hated cruelty and barbarity
/ was confident that could depend
upon her to aid me and the girl cap
tive to escape, provided Of course that
such thing was within the range of
| possibilities.
Early the next morning / was astir.
Considerable freedom was allowed me,
as Sofa had Informed me that so long
| as l did not attempt to leave the city
! was free to go and come as pleased.
| She had warned me, however, against
venturing forth unarmed, as this city,
like all other deserted metropolises OF
an ancient Marian civilization, was
peopled by the great white apes of my
second days adventure.
On this morning / had chosen new
street to explore when suddenly
found myself at the limits Of the city.
I longed to explore the country before
me, and, like the pioneer stock from
which sprang, to view what the land
scape beyond the encircling hills might
disclose from the SUBMITS which shut
out my view.
| AS I approached the boundary line
| Woola ran anxiously before me, and
thrust his body against my legs. His
expression was pleading rather than
| ferocious, nor did he bare his great
tusks or utter his fearful cultural
warnings. Denied the friendship and
companionship of my kind, had de-
veloped considerable affection for
Woola and Sofa, for the normal earth
ly man must have some outlet for his
natural affections, and so I decided
upon an appeal to a like instinct in
this great brute, sure that / would
not be disappointed.
I had never petted nor fondled him,
but now l sat upon the ground and
putting my arms around his heavy
neck stroked and coaxed him, talk
ing in my newly acquired Marian
tongue as would have to my hound
at home, as / would have talked to
any other friend among the lower an
imals. His response to my nantes
tation of affection was remarkable to
a degree; he stretched his great mouth
to it's full width, barring the, entire
expanse of his upper rows of tusks
and wrinkling his folds of flesh. If
you have ever seen collie smile you
may have some idea of Woola's facial
! distortion.
There was no further question of
authority between us; Woola was my
devoted slave from that moment
hence, and /, his only and undisputed
master. Ny walk to the hills occu-
! pied but a few minutes, and I found
nothing Of particular interest to re-
/ ward me. But the walk had been
large with Importance to me, for it
| had resulted in a perfect understand
| ing with Woola, upon whom Tars
Tarkas relied for my safe keeping. I
now knew that while theoretically a
prisoner I was virtually free, and I
fastened to regain the city limits be-
fore the detection of WOOla could be
discovered by his erstwhile masters.
On regaining the plaza 1 had my
/ third glimpse of the captive girl. She
was standing with her guards before
| the entrance to the audience chamber,
and as I approached she gave me one
/ naughty glance and turned her back
full upon me, The act was so wom-
anly, so earthly womanly, that though
/ it stung my pride 1t also warmed my
heart with feeling of companionship
/ it was good to know that some one
/ else on Mars beside myself had hui
4 man instincts of civilized order, even
though the manifestation of them was
so painful and Notifying.
Seeing that the prisoner seemed the
center Of attraction I halted to view
i the proceedings. The council squatted
upon the steps of the rostrum, while
below them stood the prisoner and her
! two guards. I saw that one of the
/ women was Sarkoja, and thus under
stood how she had been present at the
hearing Of the preceding day, the re-
| suits Of which she had reported to
the occupants of our dormitory last
night. Her attitude toward the cap
tive was most harsh and brutal. She
seemed to be venting upon this poor
defenseless creature all the hatred,
cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine
hundred years, backed by unguessable
ages of fierce and brutal ancestors.
AS Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes
to address the prisoner they fell on me