Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-02-10

KS NNASaSlS -
In the Same oeathly Silence orssped
DeJah Thoris by the Hand
ly before we could hope to sight the
ending of the first stage of our journey.
We rode all night and all the follow
ing day with only few short rests.
On the second night both we and our
animals were completely tagged, and
so we lay down upon the moss and
slept for some five or six hours. taking
up the Journey once more before day
light. All the following day we rode,
and when, late in the afternoon. we
had sighted no distant trees. the mark
Of the great waterways throughout all
BarsOom, the terrible truth flashed
upon us-we were lost.
Evidently we had circled, but which
way It was difficult to say, nor did IL
seem possible with the sun to guide
us by day and the moons and stars by
night At any rate no waterway was
in sight, and the entire party was al
most ready to drop from hunger, thirst
and fatigue. Far ahead Of us and a
trifle TO the right we could distinguish
the outlines of low mountains. These
we decided TO attempt to reach in the
hope that from some ridge we might
discern the missing waterway. Night
fell upon us before we reached our
goal and almost faintlng from weari-
ness and weakness, we lay down and
slept
/ was awakened early I'm the morn
ing by some huge body pressing close
to mine, and opening my eyes with
start beheld my blessed old Woola
smuggling close to me; the faithful
brute had followed us across that
trackless waste to share our fate,
whatever it might be. Putting my arms
about his neck, I pressed my cheek
close to his. nor am / ashamed that
did it, nor of the tears that came to
my eyes as l thought Of his love for
me. Shortly after this Dejah Thoris
and Sofa awakened, and II was decid-
ed that we push on at once in an effort
to gain the hills.
We had gone scarcely a mile when
noticed that my thoat was com
mencing to stumble and stagger in
most pitiful manner, although we had
not attempted TO force them out of
walk since about noon of the preced-
ing day Suddenly he lurched wildly
10 one side and pitched violently to
the ground Dejah Thorls and | were
thrown clear of him and fell upon the
soft moss with scarcely jar; but the
poor beast was In pitiable condition,
not even being able TO rise, although
relieved of our weight. Sofa told me
that the GOODNESS Of the night, when II
fell, together with the rest, would
doubtless revive him, and so I decided |
not TO kill him, as was my first inten- !
ton, as / had thought 1t cruel to leave
him alone there to die of hunger and |
thirst. We left the poor fellow TO his
fate and pushed on with the one thoat /
as best we could. Sofa and | walked,
making Dejah Thoris ride, much
against her Will In this way we had
to within about a mile of
the hills we were endeayoring TO reach /
when Dejah Thoris, from her point Of
upon the thOat, cried out that
she saw a great party of mounted men
iling down from a pass In the hills
several miles away. Sofa and / both
ooked In the direction she indicated,
and there, plainly discernible, were
several hundred mounted warriors.
they seemed 10 be headed In south
westerly direction, which would take
hem away from US.
They doubtless were Thark war
-iors who had been sent out to cap
.ure us, and we breathed great sigh
# relief that they were travelling In
he opposite direction. Quickly lifting
)ejah Thoris from the thoat, com
handed the animal to lie down and we
hree did the same, presenting as small
m object as possible for fear Of at
racting the attention Of the warriors
oward us.
As what proved to be the last war I
Tor came into view from the pass, he
allied and. to our CONSERVATION, threw
is small but powerful fieldglass to his
We and scanned the sea bottom In all
ireetions. AS his glass swung toward
s our hearts stopped In our breasts
nd / could feel the cold sweat start
rom every pore IN my body. 4
Presently 1t swung full upon us and
Then he lowered il and
e could see him shout q command to
ie warriors who had passed from our
ght behind the ridge. He did not
ait for them to join him. however;
stead he wheeled his thoat and came
caring madly In our directloins
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