Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-01-27
CHAPTER WI.
Love.Maklnn on Mars.

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ships, the community remained within
the city for several days, abandoning
the homeward march until they could
feel reasonably assured that the ships
would not return; for to be caught
on the open plains with cayalcade
of chariots and children was far from
the desire of even so wariike a people
as the green Martians
During our period of inactivity, Tars
Tarkas had Instructed me in many of
the customs and arts of war familiar
to the Thanks, including lessons In
riding and guiding the great beasts
which bore the warriors. These crea-
lures, which are known as thoats, are
as dangerous and vicious as their mas
tiers, but when once subdued are suffi-
GENTLY tractable for the purposes Of
the green Martians
Two of these animals had fallen
to me from the warriors whose metal
] wore, and in a short time l could
handle them quite as well as the ma
tive warriors
mined me to attempt the experiment
of kindness IN my treatment of my
thoats. First l taught them that they
could not unseat me, and even raped
them sharply between the ears to inn
press upon them my authority and
mastery, Then, by degrees, I won
their confidence in much the same
manner as / had adopted countless
times with many mundane mounts.
In the course of a few days my
thoats were the wonder of the entire
community. They would follow me
like dogs, rubbing their great shouts
against my body in awkward evidence
of affection, and respond to my every
command with an alacrity and docili-
ty which caused the Marian warriors
to ascribe to nee the possession Of
some earthly power unknown on Mars.
On the seventh day following the
battle with the air craft we again
took up the march toward Thark, all
of another attack being
deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel.
During the days just preceding oui
departure / had seen but little of De
jah Thoris, as I had been kept very
busy by Tars Tarkas with my lessons
IN the art Of Marian warfare. as well
rs in the training of my thoats. The
few times I had visited her quarters
she had been absent, walking upon
he streets with Sofa, or investigating
he buildings in the near vicinity Of
he plaza.
On the evening before our departure
saw them approaching along one of |
he great avenues which lead into the
)laza from the east. l advanced to
meet them, and telling Sofa that I
would take the responsibility for De
ah Thoris' safe keeping, / directed
Ter to return to her quarters on some
rival Grand. 1 liked and trusted
lola, but for some reason l desired
o be alone with Dejah Thorls, who
epresented to me all that l had left
ehind upon Earth in agreeable and
Ongenial companionship.
That she shared my sentiments in
his respect l was positive, for on my
pproach the look of pitiful hopeless
ess left her sweet countenance to be
eplaced by a smile of joyful welcome,
s she placed her little right hand up
n my left shoulder in true red Mar
an salute.
81 think they have been trying to
eep us apart" she said, "for when
yer you have been off duty one Of
lie older women Of Tars Tarkas' ret
lue has always arranged to trump
p some excuse to get Sofa and me
1t of sight. They have had me down
the pits below the buildings help
q them mix their awful radium pow
sr, and make their terrible projectiles
on know that these have to be man
iactured by artificial light as expos
e to sunlight always results in an
,plosion. You have noticed that their
lllets explode when they strike an
,ject? Well, the opaque, outer coat
g is broken by the impact, exposing
glass cylinder, almost solid, in the
rward end of which is a minute par
lie Of radium powder The moment
e sunlight, even though diffused,
rikes this powder it explodes with
violence which nothing can With {
and"
While I was much interested in 1
sjah Thoris' explanation Of this won
rful adjunct to Marian warfare, / J
Is more concerned by the immediate Z
oblem of their treatment of her. 2
lat they were keeping her away from
! was not matter for surprise, but s
at they should subject her to dan p
rous and arduous labor filled me +
tn rage
.Haye they ever subjected you to a
lelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?" 4
asked, feeling the hot blood Of my
hting ancestors leap in my veins e
I awaited her reply.
'Only in little ways, John Carter
e answered. Nothing that can
rm NE outside my pride At heart II
~ hate heir horrid fates, ard so