Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-02-03
CHAPTER TX.
We Plan Escape.

The remainder OF our journey to
Thark was uneventful.
Not once did have speech with De
ed Thoris, as she sent no word 10 me
that would be welcome at her chari-
OF, and my foolish pride kept me from
making any advances.
Just thirty days after my advent
upon Barsoom we entered the ancient
city Of Thark, from whose long-forgot-
ten people this horde of green men
have stolen even their name. The
hordes Of Thark number some thirty
thousand souls, and are divided into
twenty-five communities. Each COM
munity has its own Jed and lesser
chleftains, but all are under the rule
of Tai Hajus, Jeddak of Thark. Five
communities make their headquarters
at the city Of Thark and the balance
are scattered among other deserted
cities Of ancient Mars throughout the
district claimed by Tai Haius
We made our entry into the great
central plaza early in the afternoon.
There were no enthusiastic friendly
greetings for the returned expedition.
Those who CHANGED to be I'm sight
spoke the names of warriors or women
with whom they came In direct con-
tact, IN the formal greeting of their
kind, but when II was discovered that
they brought two captiyes a greater
interest was aroused, and Dejah
ThOris and were the centers of In
quiring groups.
We were soon assigned to new quar-
tiers, and the balance Of the day was
devoted to settling ourselves TO the
changed conditions When l had put
my house In order, or rather seen that
II had been done, It was nearing sun
set, and FASTENED out with the inten-
ton of locating Sofa and her charges,
as / had determined upon having
speech with Dejah Thoris and trying
TO impress on her the necessity Of our
at least patching up a truce until
could find some way of aiding her TO
escape. searched In vain until the
upper rim of the great red sun was
just disappearing behind the horizon
and then / spied the ugly head of Woo
la peering from a second-story window
on the opposite side Of the very street
where / was quartered
Without waiting for a further inyi-
tation bolted up the winding runway
which led to the second floor, and en-
tering great chamber at the front Of
the building was greeted by the fren-
zied Woola, who threw his great car
cass upon me, nearly hurting me to the
floor the poor old fellow was so glad
to see me that thought he would de-
your me, his head split from ear to
ear, showing his three rows Of tusxs
In his hobgoblin smile.
Quieting him with a word Of COM
mand and a caress, / looked hurriedly
through the approaching gloom for &
sign of DeJah Thoris, and then, not |
seeing her, ! called her name. There |
was an answering murmur from the /
far corner of the apartment, and with |
a couple of quick strides ! was stand
ing beside her where she crouched /
among the furs and silks upon an an
Client carved wooden seat. As / wait
ed she rose to her full height and
looking me straight in the eye said:
"What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of
Dejah Thorls his captlve7"
"Dejah Thoris, do not know how
have angered you. It was furtherest
from my desire to hurt or offend you,
whom | had hoped to protect and COM
fort. Have none Of me Il It IS your
.E~~--