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


There was but one slight chance
and that We must take quickly. Rails
Ing my strange Marian rifle TO my
shoulder / sighted and touched the
button which controlled the trigger !;
there was sharp explosion as the
missile reached its goal and the charg-
ing chieftain pitched backward from
his flying mount.
SprlngIng to my feet urged the
thoat TO rise, and directed Sofa TO take
Delah Thoris with her upon him and
make mighty effort 10 reach the hills
before the green warriors were upon
us. | knew that In the ravines and
gullies they might find temporary
hiding place, and even though they
died of hunger and thirst II would be
better so than that they fell into the
hands OF the Thanks. Forcing my two
revolvers upon them as a slight means
OF protection, and, as last resort, as
an escape for themselves from the hor-
rid death which recapture would sure
ly mean, lifted Dejah Thoris In my
arms and placed her upon the thoat be-
hind Sola, who had already mounted
at my command.
"Good-by, my princess" | whispered,
1--WE may meet in Helum yet. ! have
escaped from worse plights than this"
and tried to smile as lied.
"What" she cried, ARE you not COM
irg with us?"
"How may I, Dejah Thorisf Some
one must hold these fellows or for a
while. and ! can better escape them
alone than could the three Of us to-
gether."
She sprsng quickly from the thoat
and. throwing her dear arms about my
neck turned to Sofa, saying with quiet
dignity: "FIy, Sofa Dejah Thorls re-
mains to die with the man she loves"
Those words are engraved upon my
heart. All, gladly would give up my
life a thousand times could only hear
them once more but l could not then
give even second to the rapture OF
her sweet embrace, and pressing my
lips to hers for the first time, ! picked
her up bodily and tossed her TO her
seat behind Soa again, commanding
the latter In peremptory tones to hold
her there by force, and then, slapping
the thoat upon the flank. saw them
borne away; DeJah Thoris struggling
to the last to free herself from Sofas
grasp.
Turning, l beheld the green war
riors mounting the ridge and looking
for their chieftain. In a moment they
saw him, and then me; but scarcely
had they discovered me than | com
menced firing, lying fiat upon my belly
In the moss. kept up continuous
stream Of fire until l saw all OF the
warriors who had been first to return
from behind the ridge either dead or
scurrying to cover.
My respite was shortliyed however,
for soon the entire party, numbering
some thousand men, came charging
into view, racing msdIy toward me. l
fred until my rife WAS empty and
they were almost upon me, and then
a glnnce showing me that Dejah ThOris
and Sofa had disappeared among the
hills, ] sprang up. throwing down my
useless gun, and started away in the
direction opposite to that taken by
Sofa and her charge.
II ever Martians had an exhibition
Of jumping, II was granted those as
tonished warriors on that day long
years ago. but while II led them away
from Dejah Thorls II did not distract
their attention from endeavoring to
capture me.
They raced wildly after me until,
finally, my foot struck projecting
piece OF quartz, and down went
upon the moss. AS looked
up they were upon me, and although l
drew my lohgsword In an attempt to
sell my life as dearly as possible, 1t
was soon over. ! reeled beneath their
blows which fell upon me In perfect
torrents; my head swan; all was
black. and went down beneath them
10 oblivion.