Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-01-20

going out?" inquired Sofa. "She is
very small and very beautiful; | had
hoped that they would hold her for
ransom"
One thing this episode accomplished
was to assure me of Sola's friendli-
ness toward the poor girl, and also to
convince me that l had been extreme
ly fortunate in falling into her hands
rather than those of some of the other
females. 1 knew that she was fond of
me. and now that her remarks showed
that she hated cruelty and barbarity
was confident that l could depend
upon her to aid me and the girl cap
tive to escape, provided of course that
such thing was within the range Of
possibilities.
Early the next morning | was astir.
| Considerable freedom was allowed me.
as Sofa had Informed me that so long
: as | did not attempt to leave the city
/ was free to 90 and come as pleased.
She had warned me, however, against
venturing forth unarmed as this city,
! like all other deserted metropolises of
an ancient Marian civilization was
peoped by the great white apes of my
second days adventure.
On this morning had chosen a new
street to explore when suddenly l
found myself at the limits of the city.
longed to explore the country before
me, and. like the pioneer stock from
which sprang, to view what the land
scape beyond the encircling hills might
disclose from the SUBMITS which shut
out my view.
AS / approached the boundary line
Woola ran anxiOusly before me, and
thrust his body against my legs. His
expression was pleading rather than
ferocious, nor did he bare his great
tusks or utter his fearful cultural
warnings Denied the friendship and
companionship of my kind had de-
veloped considerable affection for
Woola and Sofa, for the normal earth
ly man must have some outlet for his
natural affections, and so | decided
upon an appeal to like instinct in
this great brute, sure that l would !
not be disappointed.
l had never petted nor fondled him,
but now l sat upon the ground and |
putting my arms around his heavy |
neck | strokcd and coaxed him, talk
ing in my newly acquired Marian I
tongue as / would have to my hound |
at home. as | would have talked TO |
any other friend among the lower an
imals. His response to my manifes-
tation of affection was remarkable to
a degree he stretched his great mouth
to its full width, barring the entire
expanse of his upper rows of tusks
and wrinkling his folds of flesh. If
you have ever seen a collie smile you
may have some idea of Woola's facial
distortion.
There was no further question of
authority between us; Wooa was my
devoted slave from that moment
hence, and l, his only and undisputed
master My walk to the hills occu-
pied but a few minutes, and | found
nothing of particular interest to re-
ward me- But the walk had been
large with Importance to me, for it
had resulted in a perfect understand
ing with Woola, upon whom Tars
Tarkas relied for my safe keeping. l
now knew that while theoretically a
prisoner I was virtually free, and |
hastened to regain the city limits be-
fore the detection of Woola could be
discovered by his erstwhile masters.
On regaining the plaza ! had my
third glimpse of the captive girl. She
was standing with her guards before
the entrance to the audience chamber
and as approached she gave me one
naughty glance and turned her back
full upon me. The act was so wom-
anIy, so earthly womanly, that though
II stung my pride it also warmed my 3
heart with a feeling Of companionship; q
Il was good to know that some one
else on Mars beside myself had hui
nan instincts of civilized order, even
though the manifestation of them was
90 painful and notifying.
Seeing that the prisoner seemed the
center of attraction ! halted to view
he proceedings. The council squatted
mon the steps Of the rostrum, while
below them stood the prisoner and her :
.wo guards. saw that one of the
women was Sarkoja, and thus under
stood how she had been present at the
hearing of the preceding day, the re-
;ults of which she had reported to
he occupants of our dormitory last
light Her attitude toward the cap
i've was most harsh and brutal. She
eemed to be venting upon this poor {
lefenseless creature all the hatred.
ruelty, ferocity and spite Of her nine
hundred years. backed by unguessable
ges of fierce and brutal ancestors.
As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes
o address the prisoner they fell on me
nd he turned to Tars Tarkas with I
word, and gesture Of Impotence.
'ars Tarkas made some reply which
could not catch but which caused I