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path turned restlessly upon his sleeping silks and furs。
The Heliumite paused above him； one of the short…swords in readiness
should the warrior awaken。 For what seemed an eternity to the young
prince the green man continued to move uneasily upon his couch； then； as
though actuated by springs； he leaped to his feet and faced the red man。
Instantly Carthoris struck； but not before a savage grunt escaped the
other's lips。 In an instant the room was in turmoil。 Warriors leaped to
their feet； grasping their weapons as they rose； and shouting to one another
for an explanation of the disturbance。
To Carthoris all within the room was plainly visible in the dim light
reflected from without； for the further moon stood directly at zenith； but to
the eyes of the newly…awakened green men objects as yet had not taken on
familiar formsthey but saw vaguely the figures of warriors moving about
their apartment。
Now one stumbled against the corpse of him whom Carthoris had slain。
The fellow stooped and his hand came in contact with the cleft skull。 He
saw about him the giant figures of other green men； and so he jumped to
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the only conclusion that was open to him。
〃The Thurds！〃 he cried。 〃The Thurds are upon us！ Rise； warriors of
Torquas； and drive home your swords within the hearts of Torquas' ancient
enemies！〃
Instantly the green men began to fall upon one another with naked
swords。 Their savage lust of battle was aroused。 To fight； to kill； to die
with cold steel buried in their vitals！ Ah； that to them was Nirvana。
Carthoris was quick to guess their error and take advantage of it。 He
knew that in the pleasure of killing they might fight on long after they had
discovered their mistake； unless their attention was distracted by sight of
the real cause of the altercation； and so he lost no time in continuing
across the room to the doorway upon the opposite side； which opened into
the inner court； where the savage thoats were squealing and fighting
among themselves。
Once here he had no easy task before him。 To catch and mount one
of these habitually rageful and intractable beasts was no child's play under
the best of conditions； but now； when silence and time were such
important considerations； it might well have seemed quite hopeless to a
less resourceful and optimistic man than the son of the great warlord。
From his father he had learned much concerning the traits of these
mighty beasts； and from Tars Tarkas； also； when he had visited that great
green jeddak among his horde at Thark。 So now he centred upon the
work in hand all that he had ever learned about them from others and from
his own experience； for he； too； had ridden and handled them many times。
The temper of the thoats of Torquas appeared even shorter than their
vicious cousins among the Tharks and Warhoons； and for a time it seemed
unlikely that he should escape a savage charge on the part of a couple of
old bulls that circled； squealing； about him； but at last he managed to get
close enough to one of them to touch the beast。 With the feel of his hand
upon the sleek hide the creature quieted； and in answer to the telepathic
command of the red man sank to its knees。
In a moment Carthoris was upon its back； guiding it toward the great
gate that leads from the courtyard through a large building at one end into
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an avenue beyond。
The other bull； still squealing and enraged； followed after his fellow。
There was no bridle upon either； for these strange creatures are controlled
entirely by suggestionwhen they are controlled at all。
Even in the hands of the giant green men bridle reins would be
hopelessly futile against the mad savagery and mastodonic strength of the
thoat； and so they are guided by that strange telepathic power with which
the men of Mars have learned to communicate in a crude way with the
lower orders of their planet。
With difficulty Carthoris urged the two beasts to the gate； where；
leaning down； he raised the latch。 Then the thoat that he was riding
placed his great shoulder to the skeel…wood planking； pushed through； and
a moment later the man and the two beasts were swinging silently down
the avenue to the edge of the plaza； where Kar Komak hid。
Here Carthoris found considerable difficulty in subduing the second
thoat； and as Kar Komak had never before ridden one of the beasts； it
seemed a most hopeless job； but at last the bowman managed to scramble
to the sleek back； and again the two beasts fled softly down the moss…
grown avenues toward the open sea… bottom beyond the city。
All that night and the following day and the second night they rode
toward the north…east。 No indication of pursuit developed； and at dawn
of the second day Carthoris saw in the distance the waving ribbon of great
trees that marked one of the long Barsoomian water…ways。
Immediately they abandoned their thoats and approached the
cultivated district on foot。 Carthoris also discarded the metal from his
harness； or such of it as might serve to identify him as a Heliumite； or of
royal blood； for he did not know to what nation belonged this waterway；
and upon Mars it is always well to assume every man and nation your
enemy until you have learned the contrary。
It was mid…forenoon when the two at last entered one of the roads that
cut through the cultivated districts at regular intervals； joining the arid
wastes on either side with the great； white； central highway that follows
through the centre from end to end of the far…reaching； threadlike farm
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lands。
The high wall surrounding the fields served as a protection against
surprise by raiding green hordes； as well as keeping the savage banths and
other carnivora from the domestic animals and the human beings upon the
farms。
Carthoris stopped before t