Cheyenne Wells record., 1921-09-08
CHAPTER XIV.
Lost In the Sky.


bostened to the vicinity Of our quar-
ters, where l felt sure l shou'u nn
Kantos Kan. He was alone anu
showed no surprise at my cohins'
saving he had expected me mucn
earlier, as my tour Of duty must no'e
ended some time since.
saw that he knew nothing OF the
events Of the day at the palace anu
when ! had enlightened him he was al
excitement, The news that Dejah Ihoris
had promised her hand to Sab Ihan
filled him with dismay.
1T cannot be-" he exclaimed. II u
impossible! Why. no man In all He'll
um but would prefer death to the sell
ing Of our loved princess to the ruling
house of Zodanga. She must have iost
her mind to have assented to sucn an
atroclous bargain. What can be done,
John Carter? You are q resource1ui
man. Can you not think Of some way
to save HelIum from this disgracef
1T / can come within swords reach
of Sab Than" I answered. Il can soive
the difficulty In so far as helium ID
concerned, but for personal reasons
would prefer that another struck the
blow that frees Dejah Thoris."
Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly be-
fore he spoke.
"You love her!" he said. Does she
know itf''
"She knows 1t. Kantos Kan, and re-
pulses me only because she 10 prom
ised to Sab Than"
The splendid fellow sprang to his
feet and. grasping me BY the shoul'
der, raised his sword on high. ex-
claiming:
"And had the choice been left to me
I could not have chosen a more hitting
mate for the flrst princess Of Barsoom.
Here il my hand upon your shoulder
John Carter. and my word that Sab
Than shall 60 out at the point Of my
sword for the sake Of my love for
Helium. for Dejah Thoris. and for you.
This very night shall try to reach his
quarters In the palace
II only need to pass these guards
and can do It. know 4 secret en-
trance to the palace through the pin
nacle Of the highest tower. fell upon
| 1t BY chance one day as was passing
above the palace on patrol duty. II I
can reach the roof Of the barracks and
get my machine can be In Sab Than's
quarters in Eve minutes: but how am
I to escape from this building. guard.
Cd ~ you say II Isl"
~Go to the roof Of this building.
Kantos Kan. and wait me there"
Without stopping to explain my
plans retraeed my way to the street
and hastened to the barracks. l did
not dare to enter the building. nlled as
1t was with members Of the air-scout
squadron. who. In common with all
zodanga, were on the lookout for me.
The building was an enormous one,
rearing Its lofty head fully thousand
feet into the air. It was . long climb
up the face Of the building. but there
was no other way. and 20 I essayed
the task. The fact that Barsoomian
architecture Is extremely ornate made
the feat much simpler than ! had an
cipated. since found ornamental
lodges and projections which fairly
formed q perfect ladder for me all the
way to the caves Of the building. Here
I met my first real obstacle. The caves
projected nearly twenty feet from the
wall to which clune, and though I
encircled the great building could
ind no opening through them.
There was one slight, desperate
chance. and that I decided l must take
1t was for Dejah Thoris, and no man
has lived who would not risk thou
sand deaths for such as she.
Clinging to the wall with my feet
and one hand unloosened one Of the
long leather straps OF my trappings
at the end Of which dangled a great
hook BY which air sailors are hung TO
the SIDES and bottoms Of their craft
for various purposes Of repair. and by
means Of which landing parties arc
lowered to the ground from the battle
ships.
l swung this hook cautiously to the
roof several times before II finally
found lodgment: gently pulled on 1t
to strengthen Its hold. but whether 1t
would bear the weight Of my body !
did not know. II might be barely
caught upon the very outer verge Of
the roof. SO that as my body swung out
at the end Of the strap 1t would slip
or and launch me to the pavement a
thousand feet below.
An instant hesitated. and then. re-
leasing my grasp upon the supporting
ornament. ! swung out into space at
the end Of the strap. Far below me
lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the
hard pavements. and death. There was
q little jerk At the top Of the support.
ing caves, and q nasty slipping, erat.
ing sound which turned me cold with
apprehension; then the hook caueh,
and was safe
Cambering quickly aloft l Rrasped
the edge Of the caves and drew myself
to the surface Of the room above. Al
gained my feet I was confronted by
the sentry on duty, into the muxxle Of
| whoee revolver I found myself looking