The Connecticut labor news., 1921-07-22
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

mat I would be welcome at her ehaEss ot, and my foolish pride kept me from making any advances.
 Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered the ancient city of Thark, from whose long forgot ten people this horde of green men have stolen even their name. The hordes of Thark number some thirty thousand souls, and are divided into twenty-five communities. Each cOm- munity has it's own jed and lesser chieftains, but all are under the rule of Tal Hajus. Jeddak of Thark. Five communities make their headquarters at the city of Thark, and the balance are scattered among other deserted cities of ancient Mars throughout the district claimed by Tal( Hajus.
 We made our entry into the great central plaza early in the afternoon. There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings for the returned expedition. Those who chanced to be in sight spoke the names of warriors or women with whom they came in direct con- tact, in the formal greeting of their kind, but when it was discovered that they brought two captives a greater interest was aroused, and Dejah Thoris and I were the centers of in- quiring groups.
 We were soon assigned to new quar- ters, and the balance of the day was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed conditions. When l had put my house in order, or rather seen that 1t had been done, it was nearing sum- set, and 1 hastened out with the inten- tiOn of locating SOla and her charges, as I had determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris and trying to impress on her the necessity of our at least patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding her to escape. I searched in vain until the upper rim of the great red sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and then I spied the ugly head of Woo- Ia peering from a second-story window on the opposite side of the very street where I was quartered.
 Without waiting for a further invi- tation bolted up the winding runway which led to the second floor, and en- tering a great chamber at the front of the building was greeted by the fren- zied WoOla, who threw his great car cass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would de- vour me, his head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his hobgoblin smile.
 Quieting him with a word of com- io6l " through the approaching gloom for sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not seeing her, 1 called her name. There was an answering murmur from the far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides 1 was stand ing beside her where she crOuched among the furs and silks upon an an- cient carved wooden seat. As I wait ed she rose to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said:
 "What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?"
 "Dejah Thoris, I do not know how have angered you. It was furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and con- fort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me ill ef- fecting your escape, if such thing be possible, is not my request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your fathers court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day I am your mas ter, and you must obey and aid me-"
 She looked at me long and earnest ly and I thought that she was soften ing toward me.
 q understand your words, Dotar So- jat," she replied, "but you do not un-