The evening world. Newspaper, January 4, 1916, Page 19

Tao meper ene ney Reaeereorereceronesneneresencoencoesonsconaeseres Under the Moons of Mars A Wonder Romance by the Creator of “TARZAN” By Ed (Copyright, the Frank A, Munsey Oo.) SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. CHAPTER IV. : {Continved.) A Glimpse of Aindness. HAT will be the manner of her going out? inquired Bola, “She is very. small and very beautiful. I had hoped that they would hold her for ransom.” Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence of ‘weakness off the part of Sola. “It is sad, Sola, that you were not born a million years ago,” snapped Sarkoja, “when all the hollows of the Jand were filled with water and the peoples were as soft as the stuff they eailed upon. in our day we have progressed to a point where such sen- timents mark the weakling. “It will not be well for you to per- mit Tars Tarkas to learn that you hold such degenerate sentiments, as 1 doubt that he would care to entrust such as you with the grave responsi- bilities of maternity.” “[ gee nothing wrong with my ex- mn of interest in this red wom- an," retorted Sola, “She has never harmed us, nor would she should we have fallen into her hands. It ls only the men of her kind who war upon ‘us, and I have always thought that their attitude toward us is but the reflection of ours toward them. They lve at peace with all their fellows, except when duty calls upon them to make war, while we are at peace forever warring among ‘as well as upon the red our own kii men, and even in our own communi- ties the individuals fight among themselves. It is one continual, tiresome, awful period of bloodshed from t time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the river of mystery, the dark and an- clent Iss which carries us to an un- known, but at Jeast no more fright- ful and terrible existence. Fortunate indeed is he who meets his end In an early death. ay what you please to Tars Tarkas, he can mete out no worse fate to'me than a continuation of tho horrible Cate tag we are forced to ea. this life.” : This wild outbreak on the part of Sola so greatly surprised and shocked the other women, that, after a few words of general reprimand, they all be rs into silence and were soon p F allowed me, as Sola had In- formed me that go long as I did not attempt to leave the city, I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all other deserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopled by the great white apes of my second day's adventure. In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city, Sola explained that Woola would pre- vent this any way might I attempt it. On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly 1 found myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hills pierced by Barrow and inviting ravines, ‘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 guttural warnings. I petted him and he accompanied me without further objection as I walked on into the country for several miles. On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. She was standing with her guards before the entrance to the audience chamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turned her back full upon me, ‘he act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, thi though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with @ feeling of companionship. It was gee to know that some one else on ‘ars besides myself had human tn- stincts of a civilized order, even though the manifestation of them was #o painful and mortifying. Seeing that the prisoner seemed the centre of attraction I halted to wit ness what was taking place. I had not long to wait, for presently Lorquas Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building ‘and, signing the guards to follow with CHAPTER V. To the Rescue. ARLY the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was the’ prisoner, entered the audience chamber. The council! squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below them stood the prisoner and her guards, I saw that one of the women ‘was Sarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing of the preceding day, the re- sults of which she had reported to the occupants of our dormitory last ht. i attitude toward the captive was most harsh and brutal. When she held her she sank her rudi- mentary nails into the poor girl’ flesh, or twisted her arm in a m painful manner, When it was neces- to move from one spot to an- other she either jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her, "As Lorauas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word and gesture of impa- Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention to me, “What is your name?” asked Lor- auas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner, “Dej-h Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Hellum.” “And tho nature of your expedi- SRE eR arene eee ean 1916 4. The Evening World Daily Magazine, Tuesday, January gar Rice Burroughs Sd vi oe tion?” he continued, “It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father’s father, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents and to take atmospheric density tests,” replied the fair pris- oner in @ low, well-modulate® voice. “We were unprepared for battle,” she continued, “as we were on & peaceful mission, as our bannere and the colors of our craft denoted. The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in oui for you know full well that were it not for our labors and ihe fruits of our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on Mars to suppor @ single human life.” 1 saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face Was such an expression as I had never seen upon the counte- nance of @ green Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak a look almost of benignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his flerce and terrible countenance, What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were never spoken, as just ten a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend of thought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which felled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form, and turning toward the assmbled council broke into peals of horrid, mirthless laughter, Scarcely had his hideous laugh rung out but once when I was upon him. The brute was twelve feet in height, and armed to the teeth, but 1 believe that I could have accounted for the whole room full in the terrific in- tensity of my rage, 1 struck him full fn the face as h turned at my warning cry, and thea, as he drew his short-sword, | drew mine and sprang in upon his breast, hooking one leg over the butt of his Pistol, and grasping one of his huge tusks with my left hand, I delivered blow after blow upon his enormous chest. In fact he could do nothing bu make a wild and futile ‘attempt 4 dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he was little, if any, stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment or two before he sank, bleed- ing and lifeless, to the floor, Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching the battle with wide, staring eyes. When I had ‘regained my feet 1} raised her in my arms and pore her to one of the benches at the side of the room, Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk from my cape I endeavored to etanch the flow of blood from her nostrils, I was soon successful, as her inju- ries amounted to little more than an ordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand upon my arm, and, looking up into my eyes, said: “Why did you #? You, who refused me even friendly recognition in the first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one of your companions for my eake. I cannot understand, Are you, too, a prisoner?” “Yes, Dejah Thoras, I too am a prisoner, My name is John Carter, and 1 claim Virginia, one of the Uni- ted States of America, Earth, as my home.” We were interrupted at this junc- ture by the approach of one of the warriors, bearing arms, accoutre- ments and ornaments, and in a flash one of her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me, I saw that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped and I read in the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by the other who had brought me the original equipment. For the first time I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first bat- tle in the audience chamber, had re- sulted in the death of my adversary. The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now appar- ent. [had won my spurs, $0 to speak, and in the crude justice which always marks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me to call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a con- queror; the trappings and the pos! tion of the man I killed. In truth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this, I learned later, was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber. As I turned to receive the dead war. rior’s chattels I had noticed that Tars ‘Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner, Finally he addressed me: “You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf and dumb to us a few short days ag ‘Where did you learn it, John Carter “You yourself are responsible, Tars Tarkas,” I replied, “in that you fur- nished me with an instructress of re- markable ability, I have to thank Sola for my learning.” “She has done well,” he answered, “but your education in other respects needs considerable polish, Do you know what your unprecedented temerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the two chieftains whose metal you now wear?” “L presume that the one whom I had fatled to kill would have killed me." I answered, smiling. “No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would @ Martian warrior kill 4 prisoner, We like to save them for other pur- poses:"” His face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant to dwell upon. “But one thing can save you now,” he continued, “Should you, in recog- nition of your rcmarkable valor, ferocity and prowwss, be co! lered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service, you may be taken into the commu- nity and become a full-fledged Tharklan, Until we reach the head- quarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded the respect your acts have earned OU. ¥You will be treated by us as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe de- livery to our mighty and most fero- clous ruler, Iam done.” I turned my attention to Dejak ‘Thoris, and, assisting her to her feet, I walked with her toward the exit, ignoring ber guardian harpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chief- CHAPTER VI. New Bonds. tains, iS we reached the open the two female guards who had been detailed to watch over Dejah Thoris burried up and made though to assume custody of her once more. The poor child shrank against me and I felt her two little hands fold tightly over my arm, Waving the women away, I informed them that Sola would attend the captive here- after, and I further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja’s sudden and pain- ful demise, So Sarkoja gave us an ugly look and departed to hatch up deviltries against us. I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her to guard Dejah ‘Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished her to find other quarters where they would not be molested by Sarkoja, and I finally informed her that I myself would take up my quarters among the men. Sola glanced at the accoutrements which I carried in my hand and slung across my shoulder. “You are @ great chieftain now, John Carter,” she said, “and I must do Miko bidding, though indeed I am glad to do it under any circumstances. ‘The man whose metal you carry was young, but he was @ great warrior, and by his promotions and kills had won his way close to the rank of Tars Tarkas, who, as you know, is second to Lorquas Ptomel only, You are eleventh; there are but ten chieftains in this community who rank you in prowess,” should kill Lorquas “And if I Ptomel?” I asked, “You would be first, John Carter. But you may only win that honor by the will of the entire council that Lorquas Ptomel meet you in combat, or should he attack you, you may kill him tn self-defense and thus win first place.” 1 accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new quarters. Wo found these in a building nearer the audience chamber and of far more pretentious architecture than our former habitation. We also found here real sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought metal swung from enormous gold chains depending from the marble ceilings. As Sola departed, Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile, “I heard your challenge to the crea- ture you call Tare Tarkas, and think I understand your position among these people, but what I can- not fathom is your statement that you are not of Barsoom, In the name of my first ancestor, then, where nay you be from?" Briefly, I told her my story. We fell into a general conversation then, asking and answering many questions on each side, She was curi- ous to learn of the customs of my people, and displayed a remarkadie knowledge of events on earth, When I questioned her closely on this seem- ing famillarity with earthly things she laughed and cried out: “Why every schoolboy on Barsoom knows, the geography and much con- corned the fauna and dora, as weil as the history of your planet fully as well as of bis own. Can we not seo everything which takes place upon earth—as you call it? Is {t not hang- ing there in the heavens in plain sight?” This baffled me I must confess fully as much as my statements d con- founded her, and I told her so. She then explained roughly the instru- ments her people had used and been perfecting for ages, which permit them to throw upon a screen a per- fect image of what ts transpiring upon any planet and upon many of the stars. At this point Sola returned with our meagre belongings and her young Martian protege, who of course would have to share the quarters with them, Sola asked us if we had bad a vis- itor during her absence, and seemed much surprised when we answered in the negative. It seemed that as she had mounted the approach to the up- per floors where our quarters were located, she had met Sarkoja de- ecending, We were brought back to a reall- zation of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to ap- pear before him forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas seated upon the rostrum, CHAPTER VII. A Prisoner of Power. § I entered and saluted them, Lorquas Ptome! signalled me to advance, and, fix- ing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus: 'You have been with us a few day: yet during that time you have by your prowess won a high position among us. Be that as it may, you are not one of us. You owe us no allegiance. “Your position is peculiar. You are a prisoner and yet you give com- mands which must be obeyed. You are an alien, and yet you are a Tharkian chief, You are a midget, and yet you can kill a mighty warrior with one blow of your fist, “And now you are reported t» have been plotting to escape with another prisoner of another race. “But,” be continued, in his fleroe, guttural tone, “if you run off with the red girl, it is I who shall have to ac- ARE 4 gount to Tal Hafus. It is I who shall have to face Tars Tarkas, and either demonstrate my right to command or give up the metal from my dead car- cass to a better man, for such Is the custom of the Tharks. “L have no quarrel with Tars Tar- kas, Together we rule supreme the greatest of the lesser communities among the green men. We do not wish fight between ourselves, and so if you were dead, John Carter, I should be glad. “Under two conditions only, how- ever, may you be killed by us without orders from Tal Hajus-—in personal combat in selfdefense, should you at- tack one of us, or were you appre- hended in an attempt to escape, “As a matter of justice, 1 must warn you that we only await one of these two excuses for ridding our- selves of 50 great a responsibility. “The safe delivery of the red girl to ‘Tal Hajus is of the greatest import- ance. Not in a thousand years have the Tharks made such a capture. She ig the granddaughter of the greatest of the red jeddaks, who is also our bitterest enemy. “I have spoken, The red girl told us that we were without the softer sentiments of humanity, but we are just and truthful race. You may go Turning, | left the audience cham- ber, So this was the beginning of Barkoja's persecution! I knew that none other than she could be respon- sibi for this report which had reached the ears of Lorquas Ptomel #o quickly, and now | recalled those tions of our conversation whiob jad touched upon escape and upon fy origin. natead, howe’ shousdte of pos: mind, my audience with Ptomel only served to centre my every faculty on this subject. Now, more than before, the absolute neces- sity for ape, in so far as Dejah Thoris was concerned, was tmpressed upon me, for | was convinced that some horrible fate awaited ber at the headquarters of Tal Hajus, As described by Sola, this monster was the exaggerated personification of all the ages of cruelty, ferocity and brutality from which he had de- scended, As I wandered about the plaza, lost in my gloomy forebodings, Tars ‘Tar- kas approached me on his way from the audience chamber, His demeanor toward me was unchanged, and he Breeted me as though we had not just parted a few moments before, “Where are your quarters, Carter?” he asked. “IT have selected none.” I replied t seemed best that I quartered either by myself or among the other war YOU John ONE OF THE MANY THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO ARE READING THE EVENING WORLD’S Complete Novel Each Week? not, you are rebbing yourself ef the richest fiction treat ever offered to the readers of a newspaper. The Evening World, every wee! prints a novel by some famouse author, These novels are issued complete in six large daily instalments. They are selected with » view And the tremendous success of the In The Evening Wortd's “CO to euiting the tastes of all readers. jan has long been demonstrated. TE NOVEL EACH WEEK” eorice is the foremost work ef such “best-esller” authors as Robert W. Chambers, Ma: weed, Morgan Roberts Rinehart, Rupert Hughes, James Oliver Cur- in, Margaret Widdemer, George Randolph Chee- ter, Loule Joseph Vance, Edgar Rice Burroughs and many ethere of equal I riors, and I was awaiting an oppor- tunity to ask your advice. As you know,” and I smiled, “I am not yet eae with all the customs of the arks.”” “Come with me," he directed, and to- gether we moved off across the plaza to @ building whioh adjoined that oc- cupled by Sola and her charges. “My quarters are on the first floor of this building,” he said. “The sec- ond floor also is fully occupied by warriors, but the third floor and the floors above are vacant. You may take your choice of these, “I understand,” he continued, at you have given up your woman .0 the red prisoner. Well, as you have said, your ways are not our ways, but you can fight well enough to do about as you please. Thus, if you wish to give your woman to a cap- tive, it is your own affair, “As a chieftain, bowever, you should have those to serve you, and in accordance with our customs you may select any or all the females from the retinues of the chieftains whose metal you now wear. I thanked him, but assured him that I could get along very nicely without assistance, except in the matter of preparing food, and #0 he promised to send women to me for this purpose and also for the care of my arms and the manufacture of ny ammunition, which he said would be necessary, I suggested that they bring some of the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to as spoils of the combat, for the nights were cold and I had none of my own, He promised to do so, and departed. Left alone, I ascended the windin; corridor to the upper floors in searc of suitable quarters. The beauties of the other buildings were repeated in this, and, as usual, | was soon lost in @ tour of investigation and covery. I finally chose a front room on the third floor, because this brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris, who was quartered on the second floor of the adjoining building My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several young female bearing loads of weapons, silks, furs, jewels, cooking utensils, and casks of food and drink, including considerable loot from the air craft. All this, it seemed, had been the property of the two chieftains [ had slain, id now, by the customs of the Tharks, it had become mine. At my direction they placed the stuff in one of the back rooms, and then departed, only to return with a second load, whioh they advised mé constituted the balance of my goods. On the second trip they were accom- panied by ten or fifteen other wom- en and youths, who, it seemed formed the retinues of the two chief taina, One of the girls I charged with the 4uties of my simple outsine, and di- reoted the others to take up the vart- ous activities which had formerly constituted their vocations Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did I care to. CHAPTER VIII, The Old Climax. ht also fi JOLLOWING the battle with several days, abandoning the homeward march until they F the airships, the community could feel reasonably as- remained within the city for sured that the ships would not re- Plaing with a cavalcade of chariots end children was far from the desire of even #0 warlike a people as the green Martians. During our period of inactivity Tare Tarkas bad instructed me in many of the customs and arts of war famil- lar to the Tharks, including lessons in riding and guiding the great beasts ‘which bore the warriors. These crea- tures, which are known as thoata, are ag dangerous and vicious as their masters; but when once subdued are suMolently tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. ‘Two of those animals had fallen to wore, and in short time I could handle them quite as well as the native warriors, The method was not at all com- plicated. If the thoats did not re+ spond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow be- tween the ears with the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was continued until the brutes either were subdued or had unseated their riders, often with fatal result, In the latter event it immediately became « life ana death struggle be- tween the man and the beast. If the warrior were quick enough with his pistol he might live to ride agal tho upon some other beast; not, his torn and mangled body w gal up by his women an burned in accordance with the Thark- jan custom. My experience with Woola deter. mined me to attempt the experiment of kindness in my treatment of my thoats, First I taught them that they could not unseat me, and even rapped them sharply between the ears to impress upon them my au- thority and mastery. Then, by degrees, I won their con- fidence in much the same manner as 1 bad adopted countiess times with my many mundane mounts I wae always @ hand with animals, and by inclination, as well aa because it brought more lastigg and satis- factory results, I wae always kind and bumane in my dealings with the lower orders, I could take a human lite, if necessary, With far less com- punction than that of @ poor, un- reasoning: irresponsible brute. In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder of the entire community. They would follow me like dogs, rubbing their t snouts against my body in awkward evi- cence of affection, and respond to my every command with an al rity and docility which caused the Martian warriors to ascribe to me the posses- aion of some earthly power unknowa bewitched them?” while feeding. “By kindness," replied, “You see, Tare Tarkas, the softer sentiments have their value, even to a warrior, In the height of battle, as well as upon the march, | know that my thoats will obey my eyery Command, and there- tore my fighting efficiency is en- hanced, and I am a better warrior for the reason that I am a kind master, “Your other warriors would find it to the advantage of themselves, as well as of the community, to adopt my methods in this feapect, Only a few days since you yourself told me that these great brutes, by the uncer- tainty of their tempers, often were the means of turning victory into de- feat, since, at a crucial moment, they might elect to unseat and rend their riders. “Show me how you accomplish these results," was Tars Tarkas’s only rejoinder to my remarks, ‘And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire method of training I had adopted with my beasts, and later he had me repeat it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assemblod warriors, That moment marked the beginning of a new existence for the poor thoats, and before | left the commu- nity of Lorquas Ptomel I had the sat- isfaction of observing a regiment of as tractable and docile mounts aa one might care to see, The effect n the precision and celority of thh “military movements was so remarkable that Lora Ptomel presented me with a masai anklet of gold from his own leg, as eign of his appreciation, On the seventh day following the battle with the atrcraft we again took up the march toward Thark, al] prob- ability of @ counter attack being dee: remote by Lorquas Ptomel, During the days just preceding our departure dd seen but little of Dejah Thoris, as I had been kept very busy with Tars Tarkas with my les- sons in the art of Martian warfare, as well ag in the training of my thoats. The few times I had visited her quarters she had been absent, walking upon the streets with Sola or investi- gating the buildings in the near vicin- ity of the plaza, ‘On the evening before our departure 1 saw them approaching along one of the great avenues which led to the aza from the east. [ advanced to meet them and, telling Bola that 1 would take the rewponaibility for De jah Thoris’s safekeeping, I directed her to return to her quarters on some trivial errand. I liked and trusted Sola, but for some reason 1 desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris, who represented to me all that I had left oehind upon in agreeable companionship. seemed bonds of mutual in- between us as powerful as though we had been born under the same roof, rather than upon different nets that hurtled th h space some forty-eight million miles apart, That she shared my sentiments in ect 1 was positive, k of pitiful t countenan, a smile of weleo ttle right hand on 4 Martian salute “Sarkoja told Sola that you had be- come a true Thark,” she sai that I would now see no more ¢ than of any of the other warriors. rkoja is a liar the first mag nitude,” 1 replied otwithstanding the proud claim of the Tharks to ab- + solute verity.” Dejah Thorts laughed, “I knew that even though you be- y 1 her It rin true r tura, To be caught on the open came a me pber of the community you me from the warriors whose metal I 4" - ot would not cease to be my friend. ‘A = warrior may ohange his metal, 4 not bis heart,’ as saying is upon “I think they have to keep us apart,” she continued, “for. whenever you have been off duty of the older women of Tars retinue bas always a to trump up some excuse to got on and me out of it. “The; ve had me down in the pits below the buildings helping know that these have factured by artificial light, as @x- _ posure to sunlight always results a . explosion. You have noticed their bullets explode when they etrike object. trchen’,y" oe leas eaboniaat’ 4 roken ma) C a glass cylinder, almost solid, ip the ward end of which is a minute parti- ole of radium powder, The moment the sunlight, even ene. diffused, atrikes this powder tt ex; ee with & violence which nothing ean with- etand. “If you ever witness a night battle © you will notice the absence of these _ explosions, while the morning follow ing the battle will be filed at sunrise with the sharp detonations of explod- ing missiles fired the preceding night. As a general thing, however, non- San projectiles are used at t BEES oh fa8 While I was much interested in _ Dejah Thoris's explanation of this var wonderful adjunct to Martian war- a fare, I was more concerned by the * immediate problem of thelr treat- ment of her. That they were keeping her away from me was not a matter for sur » rise, but that they should i r to dangerous and arduous labor, -o9j/ filled Me with rage. “Have they ever subjected you to’ yx cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?”* 1 asked, feeling the hot blood of my fighting ancestors leap in my veins ap I awaited ber reply. “Only in little ways, John Carter, sho answered. “Nothing that can harm me outside my pee know that I am the daughter thousand jeddaks, that | am of tracing my ancestry straight without @ break to the builder of the first great waterway, and ¢! do not even know their own are jealous of me. “At heart they hate their faces, ani %0 wirek thelr poor i on me Whee ur everything have not, for all they moat zs a Es and never can ottatn, Lat us ai the: my chieftain, , even we dio at“thelr bands, we can ~ thi ity, since are greater than they, End ‘they know £5 ated one Had I known the significance of chieftain,” as ap- plied by @ red ‘Martian’ woman to a @% man, | should have had the #1 of my life; but I gid not know at that time, nor for many thereafter, 1 still had much to learn upon Bar~ soom. “I presume it is the better part of wisdom that we bow to our fate with as good grace as possible, Thoris; butt hope, nevertheless, I may be present the next ne. et any Martian, green, red, pink, or violet, has the temerity to even 40 much as frown on you, my princess.” 5.3% Sa ¢? lau corners of het mouth, she shook head and cried: “What a child! A great warrior © and yet umbling little child)” “What have I done now?" I . “Some day you shall know, Jobo Carter, if we live; but I may not tell you. And I, the daughter of Mors Kajak, son of Tardos More, have lis- tened without “d Then she Droke out again inte one of her gay laughing moods, jo! with me on my prowess as @ warrior, a8 contrasted with my soft heart and natural kindliness, “L sume that should you acci- dentally wound an enemy you Would take him home and nurse him back to health,” she ‘hed, “That is proeisely what we do on Earth,” | answered. “At least among etvilized men.” That made her laugh again, Ghe: could not understand it, for, with all her tenderness and womanly sweet- ness, she was still a Martian, and to a Martian the only good enemy is a dead enemy; for every dead Martian means fo much more to divide be- tween those who live, | was very curious to know what I had sald or done to cause her so much perturbation a moment before, and so I continued to tmportune her to enlighten me. oi imed, “Tt fi ‘No, ex nough that you ha id it and that I have listened, And when you learn, John Carter, and if IT be dead, as likely push I shall be the further moon has circled Barsoon another twe times, remember that I list- ened and that I smiled,” It was all Greek to me, bi more | begged her to explain tewmae poaltive became her denials of my re- 5 quest, and so, in very h by desisted, he agp Day had now given way, and, as we wandered along the great avenue, fae vaag Fa 8a lighted by the two moons of Bai and with Barth looking down upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be go, The chill of the Martian night wag upon us, and removing my silks T threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris, As my arm rested for an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fier of my being, such as con. tweet with no other had ever produced, It seemed to me that she had leaned slightly Coward me, but of that I was not sure, Only | know that as my arm rested there across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw away nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the ce of a dying world, but in the st of one of us at least had been born that which is ever oldest, yet ever new . L loved Dejah Thoris, ‘The toyeh of her arm upon my shoulder had spoken to me in words 1 could not mistake, I knew that I had loved her since the moment that my eyes hors that first time tn the plage the dead city ¢f Korad, (To Be Continued.) ane OO cal