The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-05-21
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
An Air Scout for Zodanga.
As proceeded on my journey to-
ward Zodanga many strange and IN
teresting sights arrested my attention,
and at the several farmhouses where
I stopped learned 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 through a 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 tasted the first meat
had eaten since leaving Earth
large, juicy steaks and chops from the
well.fed domestic animals OF the
farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits
and vegetables, but not single ar
ticle Of food which was exactly SINH
lar to anything on Earth.
At q second stop met some highly
cultivated people OF the noble class
and while In conversation we CHANGED
to sneak Of Helium. One Of the older
men had been there on q 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 feet as It was re-
turning to Helium was but another OF
his awful blunders which fear win
sooner or later compel Zodanga to ele-
vate 4 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 feet OF
Helium on their search for the prin.
cess. and we have been able easily to
reduce the city to sorry plight"
/ "And what, think you, may have
been the fate Of the princess, Dejaf
Thoris?" 1 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 ir
the south. She escaped from thu
hordes Of Thank with strange crea
tire OF another world. only to fal
into the hands OF the Warhoons. Theil
thoats were found wandering upon thu
| sea bottom and evidences Of blood,
conflict were discovered nearby"
| While this information was in NJ
| way measuring, neither was 1t at al
conclusive proof Of the death Of Dejal
Thoris, and so I determined to maxi
every effort possible to reach Heliun
a quickly - I could and carry 3
/ Tsrios Mors such news Of his grand
| daughter's possible Whereabouts .
lay In my power.
Ten days after leaving the tire
Ptor brothers ! arrived at Zodangs
From the moment that had come 4
contact with the rcd Inhabitants Q
Mars had noticed that Woola drew
great amount Of unwelcome attention
70 me, since the huge brute belongs
to q species which il never domest1
Gated by the red men. Were one I
stroll down Broadway with q NUM-
dian lion 1t his heels the effect woul
be somewhat similar to that which
should have produced had entere
Zodanga with Woola.
As would willingly have offere
my life In the service Of her In scare
| Of whom / was about to- challenge tn
unknown dangers Of this, to me. my,
terious city, / could not permit eve