The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-06-04


hewed a pathway before him until 10
another moment he stood upon the
platform beside me, dealing death anu
destruction right and left.
The bravery of the Zodangans was
awe-inspiring; not one attempted "
escape, and when the fighting ceaseu
it was because only Thanks renamed
alive in the great hall, other than De-
jah Thoris and myself.
Sab Than lay dead beside his Ia
ther, and the corpses Of the flower u
Zodangan nobility and chlvalry COW
cred the floor of the bloody shamDles'
NV first thought when the Dattie
was over was for Kantos Kan, anu
leaving Dejah Thoris in charge OF Tars
| Tarkas I took a dozen warriors anu
fastened to the dungeons beneath the
palace. The jailers had all left to join
the fighters in the throne room. so we
searched the labyrinthine prison WIN
out opposition.
called Kantos Kan's name aloud IN
| each new corridor and compartment
I\and finally was rewarded by hearing
faint response. Guided by the
| sound, we soon found him helpless In
q dark recess.
He was overjoyed at seeing me ana
to know the meaning Of the fight. faint
| echoes of which had reached his prls-
on cell. He told me that the air pa
troll had captured him before ne
reached the high tower Of the palace,
so that he had not even seen SAP
Than.
The sounds of heavy firing, mingled
with shouts and cries, came to us from
the city's streets, and Tars Tarkas
fastened away to direct the fighting
without. Kantos Kan accompanied
him to act as guide, the green warriors
commencing thorough search OF the
| palace for other Zodangans and Tor
loot, and Dejah Thoris and were left
alone.
She had sunk into one Of the golden
thrones, and as I turned to her she
greeted me with q wan smile.
"Was there ever such a man" she
exclaimed. "Alone, a stranger, hunt
ed, threatened, prosecuted, you have
done in q few short months what In
all the past ages Of Barsoom no man
has ever done: Joined together the
wild hordes of the sea bottoms and
brought them to fight as allies of red
Marian people,"
"The answer is easy. Dejah Thoris,"
replied, smiling. ut was not / who
did it, it was love, love for Dejah
Thoris, q power that would work
greater miracles than this you have
seen. I have done many strange
things in my life, many things that
wiser men would not have dared. but
never in my widest fancies have l
dreamed of winning a Dejah Thoris
for myseIf-for never had I dreamed
that in all the universe dwelt such
woman as the princess of Heiium.
That you are princess does not abash
me, but that you are you is enough
to make me doubt my sanity as ask
you, my princess, to be mine."
HE does not need to be abashed
who so we'll knew the answer to his
plea before the plea were made" she
replied, rising and placing her dear
hands upon my shoulders, and so
took her in my arms and kissed her.
And thus in the midst of city OF
wild conflict, filed with the alarms OF
war; with death and destruction reap
ing their terrible harvest around her.
did Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium'
true daughter Of Mars, the god of war,
promise herself in marriage to john
Carter, Gentleman Of Virginia.
Some time later Tars Tarkas and
Kantos Kan returned to report that
Zodanga had been completely reduced
Her forces were entirely destroyed OF
captured, and no further resistance
was to be expected from within. Sew
eral battleships had escaped, but there
; were thousands of war and merchant
vessels under guard Of Thank war
riors.
The lesser hordes had commenced
footing and quarreling among them
selves. so 1t was decided that we col
lect what warriors we could, man al
many vessels as possible with ZOdan
gan prisoners and make for Heliun
without further loss of time.
Five hours later we sailed from TN
roofs of the dock buildings with fee
Of two hundred and fifty battleships
carrying nearly one hundred thonsan'
, green warriors. followed by feet o
! transports with our thoats.
In the middle of the afternoon w
sighted the scarlet and yellow towers
/ of Helium, and short time later
. great fleet of Zodangan battleship
rose from the camps of the besieger
without the city and advanced to NEE
us.
The banners Of Helium had beef
strung from stem to stern of each 0
our mighty craft, but the Zodangan
did not need this sign to realize tina
we were enemies, for our green Mar
). tian warriors had opened fire upo
them almost as they left the ground
!, With their uncanny marksmanshi
they raked the oncoming fleet with vol
ley after volley.
n The twin cities Of Helium. perceiy