The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-04-23
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

I did not saddle or mount the ami
mails there, but instead walked quietly
In the shadows o. the buildings toward
an unfrequented avenue which led to-
ward the point where had arranged TO
meet Dejah Thoris and Sola. With the
noiselessness of dlsembOdied spirits
we moved stealthf1y along the desert
ed streets, but not until we were with
In sight of the plain beyond the city
did | commence to breathe freely.
was sure that Sofa and Deja Thoris
would find no difficulty In reaching our
rendezvous undetected, but with my
great thoats l was not so sure for my
self, as 1t was quite unusual for war
riors to leave the city after dark; in
fact there was no place for them to go
within any but long ride.
1 reached the appointed meeting
place safely, but as Dejah Thoris and
Sofa were not there led my animals
Into the entrance hall of one Of the
large buildings. Presenting that one
OF the other women of the same house.
hold may have come In to speak to
Sofa, and so delayed their departure,
! did not feel any undue apprehen-
sion until nearly an hour had passed
without sign of them, and by the
time another half hour had crawled
away / was becoming filed with grave
anxiety. Then there broke upon the
stiffness Of the night the sound of al
approaching party, which. from the
noise, knew could be no fugitives
creeping stealthiiy toward liberty.
Soon the party was near me, and
from the black shadows of my en-
trance way ] perceived score of
mounted warriors, who, in passing,
dropped dozen words that fetched
my heart clean into the top of my
head.
HE would likely have arranged to
meet them just without the city. and
So" heard no more, they had
passed on; but 1t was enough Our
plan had been discovered. and the
chances for escape from now on to the
fearful end would be small indeed.
My one hope now was TO return unde-
tected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris
and learn what fate had overtaken her.
but how to do 1t with these great
monstrous thoats upon my hands, now
that the city probably was aroused By
the knowledge Of my escape, was a
problem Of no mean proportions
Suddenly an idea occurred to me and,
acting on my knowledge Of the con-
strhction Of the buildings of these an
cient Marian cities with hollow
court within the center Of each,
square, CROPPED my way bIindly
through the dark chambers. calling the
great thoats after me. They had diff
Guilty In negotiating some of the door
ways, hut as the buildings fronting the
city's principal exposures were all de-
signed upon magnificent scale, they
were able to wriggIe through without
sticking fast: and thus We finally
made the inner court where I found,
as had expected, the usual carpet OF
moss-like vegetation which would
prove their food and drink until L
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
safety to the courtyard in the real OF
Dejah Thorls' quarters
Here, Of course. / found the beasts
Of the warriors who CHARTERED In the
adjacent buildings, and the warriors
themselves I might expect to meet
within 4 / entered but, fortunately
s1f t|e had aeei|er and safer Meth
- * ffeh'ns i||1 nl.,eI story where