The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-04-09

conducted to the great audience cham
Der where I had had my first meeting
with Lorquas Ptomel.
had observed on the two occasions
when l had seen her that the prisoner
exchanged words with her guards, ana
this convinced me that they spoke, or
at least could make themselves I'M
derstood by a common language. with
this added incentive l nearly drove
Sola distracted by my importun'tles'
to hasten on my education, and with
in i few more days I had mastered the
Marian tongue sufficiently we'll to en-
able me to carry on passaDie con-
yersation and to fully understand
practically all that / heard
At this time our sleeping quarters
were occupied by three or four females
and couple Of the recently Matched
young, beside Sofa and her youthful
ward, myself, and WOOla the hound.
After they had retired for the night
it was customary for the adults TO
carry on a desultory conversation for
a short time before lapsing into sleep,
and now that I could understand their
language was always keen listener,
although 1 never proffered any re-
marks myself.
On the night following the prisoners
visit to the audience chamber the con-
'versation finally fell upon this subject,
and I was all ears on the instant.
Sarkoia, one of the older women
who shared our d0micile, had been
present at the audience as one OF
the captive's guards, and 1t was to-
ward her the auestioners 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 ransomT
"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 Sola. "She is
very small and very beautiful; l had
hoped that they would hold her for
ransom"
One thing this episode accomplished
was to assure me of Sola's friendli-
ness toward the poor girl, and also to
convince me that / 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
I 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
l 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
SecOnQ Qay dufcutuTc.
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 grea,
1 tusks or utter his fearful cultural
/ warnings. Denied the friendship arF
companionship of my kind, ! had de
| veloped considerable affection fol-
| Woola and Sofa. for the normal earth
| ly man must have some outlet for his
! natural affections, and so l decided
upon an appeal to like instinct II
this great brute. sure that ISwoulc
not be disappointed.
/ had never petted nor fondled him
but now / sat upon the ground an6
putting my arms around his heav!
neck / stroked and coaXed him, talk
ing in my newly acquired Martiar
| tongue as I would have to my hound
| at home, as I would have talked II
! any other friend among the lower an
/ imals Ills response to my nantes
| tation Of affection was remarkable t.
a degree; he stretched his great moutl
to its full width, barring the entir'
expanse of his upper rows of tusk
and wrinkling his folds of flesh. |
you have ever seen collie smile vol
may have some idea of Woola's facia
distortion.
There was no further question o
authority Iktween us; Woola was m
devoted 81 kve from that momen
hence, and his only and undispute
master. Nh walk to the hills occu
pied but lfew minutes. and I foun
nothing Of particular interest to re
ward me. But the walk had bee
large with Importance to me, for
had resulted in perfect understand
ing with Voola. upon whom Tar
Tarkas relied for my safe keeping.
now knew chat while theoretically
prisoner / was virtually free. and
/ | hocfopod fo 1rovaiu fhe civ limits b(