The Lamar register., 1921-03-09

ana learn what fate mad overtsKen ner.
but how to do it with these great
monstrous thoats upon my hands. now
that the city probably was aroused by
the knowledge of my escape. was Il
problem of no mean proportions.
Suddenly an idea occurred TO me and,
acting on my knowledge of the con
struction OF the buildings of these an
cient Marian cities with hollow
court within the center of each
square. | groped my way blindly
through the dark chambers, calling the
great thoats after me. They had diff
Guilty in negotiating some of the door
ways, but as the buildings fronting the
city's principal exposures Were all de-
signed upon a magnificent scale. they
We're able TO wriggle through without
sticking fast; and thus we finally
made the inner court where found.
as | had expected, the usual carpet of
moss-like vegetation which would
prove their food and drink until
could return them to their own en-
closure.
Removing the saddle trappings, hid
them just within the rear doorway of
the building through which We had
entered the court and, turning the
beasts loose. quickly made my way
across the court TO the rear OF the
buildings upon the further side, and
thence to the avenue beyond. With
only the slight chance of detection
which the necessary crossing of the
avenues entailed. made my way In
-afety to the courtyard Ia the rear OF
DeJah Thoris' quarters.
Here. Of course. | found the beasts
# the warriors who quartered In the
adjacent buildings, and the warriors
themselves | might expect to meet
within II entered; but, fortunately
for me, | had another and safer meth
cd of reaching the upper story where
Dejah ThOris should be found, and,
after first determining as nearly as
possible which Of the buildings she oc-
cupied. for l had never observed them
before from the court side. | took ad-
vantage OF my relatively great
strength and agility and sprang up
ward until | grasped the sill OF u sec
1nd-story window which / thought to
be In the rear Of her apartment. Draw
ing myself inside the room | moved
stealthly toward the front Of the
building. and not until | had quite
reached the doorway of her room was
I made aware by voices that II was oc-
cupIed.
did not rush headlong in, but lis
tened without to assure myself that II
was Dejah Thoris and that II was safe
10 venture within. II WAS WELL indeed,
that ! took this precaution, for the
conversation I heard was in the low
gutturals Of men. and the words which
finally came TO me proved most time
ly warning. The speaker was chief
tain and he was giving orders TO four
of his warriors.
"And when he returns to this cham
ber." he was saying. "as he surely will
when he finds she does not meet him
at the city's edge. you four are TO
spring upon him and disarm him.
When you have him fast bound bear
him TO the vaults beneath the Jeddak's
quarters and chain him securely where
he may be found when Tai Hatus
wishes him. There Will be no danger
OF the girl returning, for by this time
she Is safe in the arms OF Tai Hatus.
and may all her ancestors have pity
upon her, for Tai HaJus will have
none; the great Sarkoja has done u
noble nights work. | go, and II you
fail to capture him when lie comes.
commend your carcasses TO the cold
bosom OF Iss.''