Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-07-22
CHAPTER TX.
We Plan Escapa.

The remainder OF our journey to
'lurk was uneventful.
once did | have speech with De-
ms she sent no word to mo
that ] would be welcome at her chart
OF. 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 Its own Jed and lesser
chieftalns, but all are under the rule
Of Tai Hiatus, Jeddak Of Thank. 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 Tai 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 CHANGED 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 II was discovered that
they brought two captives q greater
Interest was aroused, and Dejah
II IN - t..
quiring groups.
We were soon assigned to new quar-
tiers. and the balance Of the day was
devoted to settling ourselves to the
changed conditions. When I had put
my house In order, or rather seen that
It had been done, It was nearing sun
set, and FASTENED out with the inten.
tion Of locating Sofa and her charges,
as 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 l
could find some way Of aiding her to
escape. searched IN vain until the
upper rim of the great red sun was
just disappearing behind the horizon
and then l spied the ugly head of Woo
la peering from second-story window
on the opposite side of the very street
where l was quartered.
Without waiting for further invi-
tation bolted up the winding runway
which led to the second floor, and en-
tering great chamber at the front of
the building was greeted by the fren-
zied Woola, who threw his great car
cass upon me, nearly hurting me to the
floor; the poor old fellow was so glad
YOUR me, his head split from ear to
ear, showing his three rows of tusks
In his hobgoblin smile.
Quietng him with word of COM
mand and caress, l looked hurriedly
through the approaching gloom for q
sign of Dejah Thorls, and then, not
seeing her, called her name. There
was an answering murmur from the
far corner of the apartment, and with
a couple of quick strides / was stand
ing beside her where she crouched
among the furs and silks upon an an.
clent carved wooden seat. AS | wait.
ed she rose to her full height and
looking me straight In the eye said:
"What would Dotar Sojat, Thank, of
Dejah ThOrls his captive?"
'Dejah Thoris. do not know how
have angered you. 1t was furtherest
from my desire to hurt or offend you
whom had hoped to protect and COM
fort. Have none of me If II is your
will, but that you must aid me In eff
fecting your escape, II 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 am your mas
ter, and you must obey and aid me-"
She looked at me long and earnest
ly and thought that she was soften
ing toward me.
81 understand your words, Dotar So
jat," she replied, "but you | do not un'