The Lamar register., 1921-02-09
SYNOPSIS.

oNFNSF ofo.
FoREWoRD.-The author tells of his
acquaintance with the hero OF one Of the
most remarkable adventures ever record
eo. From a manuscript left by his friend
ne has Vvidly set out the strange hap
Penninss which brought together a brave
Virginia gentleman and Princess OF
Mars
CHAPTER LIN the Arizona hills. John
Carter. mining prospector and ex-confed-
crate soldier. fleeing from war party
OF Apaches. takes refuge In cave the
atmosphere OF which has a remarkable
effect on him. Yielding TO Its influence.
he sinks into Inconsistencies, his last
thoughts centered on the glow from the
planet Mars
CHAPTER U.-AwakinE. Carter real
ises that he has In some incomprehensi-
BILE manner. been transported 10 Mars.
BE is surprised by a party Of armed Mar
dan warriors, who seek his life. He con-
harrnlessness and is conveyed, a prisoner.
to the Aartian city.
CHATTER uL-A creature holding
much the position Of dog on earth Is
set to guard him.
pinioned to the ground with one huge
foot, while IL jabbered and gesticu-
lated at some answering creature be
hind me. This other, which was evil
IDENTIFY its mate, soon came toward us,
bearing a mighty stone cudgel with
which II evidently Intended to brain
me.
The creatures were about ten or
fifteen feet tall. standing erect. and
had, like the green Martians. an inter
mediary set OF arms or legs. midway
between their upper and lower limbs.
Their eyes were close together and
non-protrudlng; their ears were high
set, but more laterally located than
those of the Martians. while their
snouts and teeth were strikingiy like
those of our African gorilla
The cudgel was swinging In the are
which ended upon my upturned face
when a bolt of myriad-legged horror
hurled itself through the doorway full
upon the breast OF my erecutioner.
With shrek Of fear the ape which
held me leaped through the open win
dow, but In mate closed In a terrific
death struggle with my preserver.
which was nothing less than my faith
ful watch-thing; cannot bring myself
TO call so hldeous u creature dog
AS quickly as possible ] gained my
feet and backing against the wall |
witnessed such battle as IT Is vouch-
safed few beings TO see. Ny beast
had All advantage 10 his first hold.
having sunk his mighty fangs far into
the breast OF his adversary; but the
great arms and paws OF the ape, back
ed by muscles far transcending those
Of the Marian men had seen, had
locked the throat Of my guardian and
slowly were choking out his life, and
bending back his head and neck upon
his body. where l momentnriiy er-
end OF broken neck.
Back and forth upon the floor they
rolled, neither one emitting sound
of fear or pain. Presently / saw the
great eyes of my beast bulging com
pletely from their sockets and blood
flowing from Its nostrils That he
was weakening perceptibly was evi-
dent but so also was the ape. whose
struggles were growing momentarily
less.
Suddenly | came TO myself and, with
that strange instinct which seems ever
TO prompt me TO my duty. ! seized the
cudgel. which had fallen to the floor
at the commencement OF the battle.
and swinging II with all the power of
my earthly arms ] crashed IL full upon
the head OF the ape, crushing his skull
as though IL had been an egg shell.
Scarcely had the blow descended
when | was confronted with a new
danger. The apes mate, recovered
from its first shock OF terror. had re.
turned TO the scene of the encounter
by way of the Interior OF the building
was standing near the window
and ! knew that once In the street
l might gain the plaza and safatv
before the creature could overtake me;
at least there was chance for safety
In flight, against almost certain death
should / remain and 6ght, however
desperately
had turned to make for the win
dew. but my eyes alighting on the form
of my erstwhile guardian threw all
thoughts Of Night to the four winds.
He lay gasping upon the door of the
chamber, his great eyes fastened upon
me In what seemed q pitiful appeal
for protection. 7 could not Withstand
that look. nor could I. on second
thought, have deserted my rescuer
without giving as good an account In