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sweat upon me。 Far better that we save friendly bullets for
ourselves at the last moment； as did those brave frontier
women of my lost land； who took their own lives rather than
fall into the hands of the Indian braves。
As I wandered about the plaza lost in my gloomy forebodings
Tars Tarkas approached me on his way from the audience
chamber。 His demeanor toward me was unchanged； and he
greeted me as though we had not just parted a few
moments before。
〃Where are your quarters； John Carter？〃 he asked。
〃I have selected none；〃 I replied。 〃It seemed best that I
quartered either by myself or among the other warriors； and
I was awaiting an opportunity to ask your advice。 As you
know；〃 and I smiled； 〃I am not yet familiar with all the
customs of the Tharks。〃
〃Come with me；〃 he directed； and together we moved off
across the plaza to a building which I was glad to see
adjoined that occupied by Sola and her charges。
〃My quarters are on the first floor of this building；〃 he
said； 〃and the second 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； 〃that you have given up
your woman to 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； and so； if you wish to give your
woman to a captive； it is your own affair； but as a chieftain
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 so he promised to send women to me for
this purpose and also for the care of my arms and the
manufacture of my ammunition； which he said would be
necessary。 I suggested that they might also bring some of
the sleeping silks and furs which belonged to me as spoils of
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 winding corridor to the upper floors in search of
suitable quarters。 The beauties of the other buildings were
repeated in this； and； as usual； I was soon lost in a tour of
investigation and discovery。
I finally chose a front room on the third floor； because
this brought me nearer to Dejah Thoris； whose apartment
was on the second floor of the adjoining building； and it
flashed upon me that I could rig up some means of communication
whereby she might signal me in case she needed either my
services or my protection。
Adjoining my sleeping apartment were baths； dressing
rooms； and other sleeping and living apartments； in all some
ten rooms on this floor。 The windows of the back rooms
overlooked an enormous court； which formed the center of
the square made by the buildings which faced the four
contiguous streets； and which was now given over to the
quartering of the various animals belonging to the warriors
occupying the adjoining buildings。
While the court was entirely overgrown with the yellow；
moss…like vegetation which blankets practically the entire
surface of Mars； yet numerous fountains； statuary； benches；
and pergola…like contraptions bore witness to the beauty
which the court must have presented in bygone times； when
graced by the fair…haired； laughing people whom stern and
unalterable cosmic laws had driven not only from their homes；
but from all except the vague legends of their descendants。
One could easily picture the gorgeous foliage of the luxuriant
Martian vegetation which once filled this scene with life
and color； the graceful figures of the beautiful women； the
straight and handsome men； the happy frolicking children
all sunlight； happiness and peace。 It was difficult to realize
that they had gone； down through ages of darkness； cruelty；
and ignorance； until their hereditary instincts of culture and
humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final
composite race which now is dominant upon Mars。
My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several
young females 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 I had slain； and 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； which
they advised me constituted the balance of my goods。 On the
second trip they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other
women and youths； who； it seemed； formed the retinues of
the two chieftains。
They were not their families； nor their wives； nor their
servants； the relationship was peculiar； and so unlike
anything known to us that it is most difficult to describe。
All property among the green Martians is owned in common by
the community； except the personal weapons； ornaments and
sleeping silks and furs of the individuals。 These alone can
one claim undisputed right to； nor may he accumulate more
of these than are required for his actual needs。 The surplus
he holds merely as custodian； and it is passed on to the
younger members of the community as necessity demands。
The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened
to a military unit for which he is responsible in various
ways； as in matters of instruction； discipline； sustenance； and
the exigencies of their continual roamings and their unending
strife with other communities and with the red Martians。
His women are in no sense wives。 The green Martians use no
word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word。 Their
mating is a matter of community interest solely； and is
directed without reference to natural selection。 The council
of chieftains of each community control the matter as surely as
the owner of a Kentucky racing stud directs the scientific
breeding of his stock for the improvement of the whole。
In theory it may sound well； as is often the case with
theories； but the results of ages of this unnatural practice；
coupled with the community interest in the offspring being
held paramount to that of the mother； is shown in the cold；
cruel creatures； and their gloomy； loveless； mirthless existence。
It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous；
both men and women； with the exception of such degenerates
as Tal Hajus； but better far a finer balance of human
characteristics even at the expense of a slight and
occasional loss of chastity。
Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures；
whether I would or not； I made the best of it and directed
them to find quarters on the upper floors； leaving the
third floor to me。 One of the girls I charged with the duties