The Ely miner., 1921-05-27
CHAPTER vi.
With Dejah Thoris.

male guards who had been detailed to
bnd made as though to assume custody
of her once more. The poor child
shrank against me and I felt her two
alttle hands fold tightly over my arm.
Waving the women away, l informed
them that Sola would attend the cap
tive hereafter. Sarkoja merely gave
us an ugly look and departed to hatch
mp deviltrieS against US.
soon found Sola and explained to
her that 1 wished her to guard Dejah
rhoris as she had guarded me; that I
wished her to find other quarters
where they would not be molested by
Sarkoja, and I finally Informed her
that myself would take up my quar-
tiers among the men.
"You are a great chieftain now, John
Garter" she said, "and must do your
bidding, though indeed I am glad to do
1T under any circumstances. The man
whose metal you carry was young, but
he was a great warrior, and had by his
promotions and kills won his way close
to the rank of Tars Tarkas, who, as
you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel
only. You are eleventh, there are but
ten chieftains in this community who
rank you in prowess."
"And If 1 should kill Lorquas Pto-
mel?" 1 asked. ..... y
"You would be first, John Carter !;
but you may only win that honor by
LII - 4ho fhof
quas Ptomel meet you In combat, or
should he attack you, you may kill him
In self-defense, and thus win first
place"
I laughed, and changed the subject.
4 had no particular desire to kill Lor-
Auas Ptomel, and less to be jed
among the Thanks.
accompanied Sola and Dejah Thor
IS in a search for new quarters, which
we found in a building near the audi
ence chamber and Of far more preten-
tious architecture than our former
habitation. We also found in this
building real sleeping apartments with
ancient beds of highly wrought metal
Swinging from enormous gold chains
depending from, the marble ceilings.
The decoration of the walls was most
elaborate and, unlike the frescoes in
the other buildings / had examined,
portrayed many human figures in the
compositions. These were of people
like myself, and of much lighter col
or than Dejah Thoris. They were clad
in graceful, flowing robes, highly orna-
mented with metal and jewels, and
their luxuriant hair was of beautiful
golden and reddish bronze. The men
were beardless and only a few wore
arms. The scenes depicted for the
most part a fair-skinned, fair-haired
people at play. |
Dejah Thoris clasped her hands
with an exclamation Of rapture as she
gazed upon these magnificent works of
art, wrought by people long extinct;
while Sola, on the other hand, appar-
emily did not see them.
We decided to use this room. on the
second floor and overlooking the plaza,
for Dejah Thoris and Sola, and an
other room adjoining and in the rear
for cooking and supplies, then dis
patched Sola to bring the bedding and
such food and utensils as she might
need, telling her that 1 would guard
Dejah Thoris until her return.
AS Sola departed Dejah Thoris
turned to me with a faint smile.
And to where, then, would your pris-
oner escape should you leave her, un-
less it was to follow you and crave
your protection, and ask your pardon
for the cruel thoughts she has har-
bored against you these past few
days?"
"You are right" answered, "there
is no escape for either of us unless we
go together"
Il heard your challenge to the crea-
ture you call Tars Tarkas, and 1 think
understand your position among
these people, but what cannot fathom
is your statement that you are not of
Barsoom.
"In the name Of my first ancestor,
then" she continued, where may you
be 'FRONT.' You are like unto my peo-
pie. and yet so unlike. You speak my
language, and yet heard you ten
Tars Tarkas that you had but learned
1t recently. All Barsoomians speak the
same tongue from the ice-clad south to
the ice-clad north, though their written
languages differ. Only in the valley