The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-07-01
CHAPTER Kill.

4
| teresting sights arrested my attention,
and at the several farmhouses where
stopped learned a number of new
and instructive things concerning the
methods and manners of Barsoom.
The water which supplies the farms
of Mars is collected In immense under
ground reservoirs at either pole from
the melting ice caps, and pumped
through long conduits to the various
| populated centers. Instead of flooding
| the surface of the fields, and thus
wasting immense quantities OF water
| by evaporation, the precious liquid is
carried underground threugh vast
| network of small pipes directly to the
roots of the vegetation. The crops
upon Mars are always uniform, for
! there are no droughts, no rains, no
! high winds, and no insects, or destroy
! ing birds.
On this trip I tasted the first meat
I had eaten since leaving Earth
| large, juicy steaks and chops from the
well-fed domestic animals of the
farms. Also enjoyed luscious fruits
and vegetables, but not a single ar
ticIe of food which was exactly SINH
lar to anything on Earth.
At second stop met some highly
cultivated people Of the noble class
and while in conversation we CHANGED
! to speak Of Helium- One Of the older
men had been there on a diplomatic
mission several years before and spoke
with regret of the conditions which
seemed destined ever to keep these
two countries at war.
"Helium," he said, rightly boasts
| the most beautiful women of Barsoom.
and of all her treasures the wondrous
daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah Thoris,
is the most exquisite flower
why" he added, ''the people really
worship the ground she walks upon
and since her loss on that ill-starred
expedition all Helium has been draped
/ in mourning
THAT our ruler should have at
tackled the disabled fleet as it was re-
| his awful blunders which I fear will
sooner or later compel Zodanga to ele-
vate wiser man to his place.
| even now, though our victorious
armies are surrounding Helium, the
| people of Zodanga are voicing their
displeasure. for the war is not popu-
lar one, since 1t is not based on right
or justice. Our forces took advantage
of the absence of the principal fleet of
Helium on their search for the prin-
| cess, and we have been able easily to
reduce the city to a sorry plight
"And what, think you, may have
been the fate Of the princess, Dejah
Thoris?" I asked as casually as pos
sible.
"She Is dead" he answered. This
much was learned from a green war
rior recently captured by our forces In
the south. She escaped from the
hordes Of Thark with a strange crea-
ture of another world, only to fall
into the hands of the Warhoons. Their
thoats were found wandering upon the
sea bottom and evidences of a bloody
conflict were discovered nearby"
1
way reassuring, neither was 1t at all
conclusive proof of the death of Dejah
Thoris, and so determined to make
every effort possible TO reach Heliun
| as quickly as / could and carry to
Tardos Mors such news of his grand.
| daughters possible whereabouts as
lay in my power.
Ten days after leaving the three
Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga
From the moment that had come In
contact with the red inhabitants OF
Mars 1 had noticed that Woola drew q
great amount of unwelcome attention
TO me, since the huge brute belonged
to a species which is never domestf.
Gated by the red men. Were one to
stroll down Broadway with a NUM-.
dian lion at his heels the effect would
be somewhat similar to that which ]
should have produced had 1 entered
Zodanga with Woola.
As would willingly have offered
my life in the service of her in search
OF whom was about to challenge the
unknown dangers Of this, to me, mys
terious city, I could not permit even
Woola's life to threaten the success
| of my venture, much less his momen.
| tary happiness, for l doubted not he
soon would forget me. And so babe
the poor beast an affectionate fare
well, promising him, however, that il
1 came through my adventure in safe
" that in some way should find the
means TO search him out.
He seemed to understand me fully
and when I pointed back in the di
rection of Thank he turned sorrow
fully away, nor could bear to watch
him go; but resolutely set my face
toward Zodanga and with a touch OF
heartsickness approached her frown-
ing walls.
date entrance to the vast, walled city
The Ptor brothers had given me ex-
plicit directions for reaching the point
of the city where could find living
accommodations and be near the Offices
of the government agents to whom
they had given me letters. My way
led to the central square or plaza
which is Characteristic Of all Mar
| Can cities.
As l was crossing the great square
lost In wonder and admiration Of the
magnificent architecture and the gor-
geous scarlet vegetation which carpet
ed the broad lawns discovered red
Marian walking briskly toward me
from one Of the avenues. He paid
not the slightest attention to me, but