The Lamar register., 1921-04-13

"You are n brave people and you
love bravery. hut where was your
mighty Jeddak during the fighting to
dnyf | did not see him In the thick
OF battle: he was not there. lie rends
defenseless women and little children
IN his lair but how recently has one
Of you seen him fight with menf Why.
even |. midget beside him. felled him
with single blow Of my fist. Is II of
such that the Thnrks fashion their
jeddaksi There stands beside me now
great Thark. mighty warrior and
noble man. Chieftains. how sounds.
Tars Tnrkas, Jedlak of TharkT'
A roar Of ofdeep-toned applause greet
ed this suggestion.
at but remains for this council to
command. and Til Hajus must prove
his fitness to rule Were he a brave
man he would invite Tars Tarkas to
conbat. for he does not love him, but
Tai HaJus is afraid; Tai Hajus, your
Jeddak. is coward. with my bare
hands could Kill him. and he knows
It."
After ! ceased there was tense ST.
lence, as all eyes were riveted upon
Tnl Hajus. He did not speak or move.
but the hlotchy green OF his coun-
tenance turned llvid. and the froth
froze upon his lips.
"Tal Haius." said Lorquas Ptomel In
a cold. hard voice. never In my long
life have ] seen a Ieddnk Of the Tharks
so humIliated. There could he but one
answer to this arraignment. We wait
It" And still Tai HaJus stood as
though petrihed.
"Chleftnins" continued Lorquas
Ptomel. shall the jeddak. Tai HaJus,
prove his fitness to rule over Tnrs Tar
kasT'
There were twenty chieftains about
the rostrum, and twenty swords
flashed high In assent.
There was no alternative. That de-
cree was final. and so Tai Hajus drew
his longsword and advanced to meet
rars Tarkas.
The combat was soon over. and, with
his foot upon the neck OF the dead
monster. Tars Tarkas became jeddak
among the Tharks
His first act was TO make me q full
fiedged chleftain with the rank l had
won by my combats the first few weeks
Of my captivity among them.
Seeing the favorable disposition OF
the warriors toward Tars Tarkas, as
well as toward me, ! grasped the OPP
portunity to enlist them in my cause
against Zodanga. told Tars Tarkas
the story OF my adventures, and in a
few words had explained to him the
thought had in mind.
John Carter has made a proposal"
he said. addressing the council, (which
meets with my sanction. | shall put 1t
to you briefly. Dejah Thoris. the
princess Of Helium, who was our pris-
oner, is now held by the Jeddak of 70
danga. whose son she must wed to
save her country from devastation at
the hands OF the Zodangan forces.
"John Carter suggests that we res
cue her and return her to Helium. The
loot OF Zodanga would be magnificent,
and have often thought that had we
an alliance with the people of Helium
we could obtain sufficient assurance Of
sustenance to permit us to increase
the size and frequency of our hatch
ings. and thus become unquestionably
supreme among the green men OF all
Barsoom. What say you?"
1t was a chance to fight, an oppor-
tunity to loot, and they rose to the
bait as a speckled trout to fly.
In three days we were on the march
toward Zodanga. one hundred thou
sand strong. as Tars Tarkas had been
able to enlist the services OF three
smaller hordes on the promise of the