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race had doomed to loveless lives of cruelty and of hate。
Presently she spoke。
〃John Carter； if ever a real man walked the cold； dead
bosom of Barsoom you are one。 I know that I can trust you；
and because the knowledge may someday help you or him
or Dejah Thoris or myself； I am going to tell you the name
of my father； nor place any restrictions or conditions upon
your tongue。 When the time comes； speak the truth if it
seems best to you。 I trust you because I know that you are
not cursed with the terrible trait of absolute and unswerving
truthfulness； that you could lie like one of your own Virginia
gentlemen if a lie would save others from sorrow or suffering。
My father's name is Tars Tarkas。〃
CHAPTER XVI
WE PLAN ESCAPE
The remainder of our journey to Thark was uneventful。
We were twenty days upon the road； crossing two sea bottoms
and passing through or around a number of ruined cities；
mostly smaller than Korad。 Twice we crossed the famous
Martian waterways； or canals； so…called by our earthly
astronomers。 When we approached these points a warrior
would be sent far ahead with a powerful field glass； and if
no great body of red Martian troops was in sight we would
advance as close as possible without chance of being seen and
then camp until dark； when we would slowly approach the
cultivated tract； and； locating one of the numerous； broad
highways which cross these areas at regular intervals； creep
silently and stealthily across to the arid lands upon the other
side。 It required five hours to make one of these crossings
without a single halt； and the other consumed the entire night；
so that we were just leaving the confines of the high…walled
fields when the sun broke out upon us。
Crossing in the darkness； as we did； I was unable to see
but little； except as the nearer moon； in her wild and
ceaseless hurtling through the Barsoomian heavens； lit up
little patches of the landscape from time to time； disclosing
walled fields and low； rambling buildings； presenting much
the appearance of earthly farms。 There were many trees；
methodically arranged； and some of them were of enormous height；
there were animals in some of the enclosures； and they announced
their presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they
scented our queer； wild beasts and wilder human beings。
Only once did I perceive a human being； and that was
at the intersection of our crossroad with the wide； white
turnpike which cuts each cultivated district longitudinally
at its exact center。 The fellow must have been sleeping
beside the road； for； as I came abreast of him； he raised upon
one elbow and after a single glance at the approaching caravan
leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down the road；
scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat。
The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention； they were
not out upon the warpath； and the only sign that I had
that they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of the
caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert which
marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus。
Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris； as she
sent no word to me that I would be welcome at her chariot；
and my foolish pride kept me from making any advances。
I verily believe that a man's way with women is in inverse
ratio to his prowess among men。 The weakling and the saphead
have often great ability to charm the fair sex； while the
fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid；
sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child。
Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered
the ancient city of Thark； from whose long…forgotten
people this horde of green men have stolen even their name。
The hordes of Thark number some thirty thousand souls；
and are divided into twenty…five communities。 Each community
has its own jed and lesser chieftains； but all are under
the rule of Tal Hajus； Jeddak of Thark。 Five communities
make their headquarters at the city of Thark； and the
balance are scattered among other deserted cities of
ancient Mars throughout the district claimed by Tal Hajus。
We made our entry into the great central plaza early in
the afternoon。 There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings
for the returned expedition。 Those who chanced to be in
sight spoke the names of warriors or women with whom
they came in direct contact； in the formal greeting of their
kind； but when it was discovered that they brought two
captives a greater interest was aroused； and Dejah Thoris
and I were the centers of inquiring groups。
We were soon assigned to new quarters； and the balance
of the day was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed
conditions。 My home now was upon an avenue leading into
the plaza from the south； the main artery down which we
had marched from the gates of the city。 I was at the far
end of the square and had an entire building to myself。 The
same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable
a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here； only； if
that were possible； on a larger and richer scale。 My quarters
would have been suitable for housing the greatest of earthly
emperors； but to these queer creatures nothing about a building
appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its chambers；
the larger the building； the more desirable； and so Tal Hajus
occupied what must have been an enormous public building； the
largest in the city； but entirely unfitted for residence purposes；
the next largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel； the next for the
jed of a lesser rank； and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds。
The warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose
retinues they belonged； or； if they preferred； sought shelter
among any of the thousands of untenanted buildings in their own
quarter of town； each community being assigned a certain
section of the city。 The selection of building had to be made
in accordance with these divisions； except in so far as the
jeds were concerned； they all occupying edifices which
fronted upon the plaza。
When I had finally put my house in order； or rather seen
that it had been done； it was nearing sunset； and I hastened
out with the intention of locating Sola and her charges； as
I had determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris
and trying to impress on her the necessity of our at least
patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding
her to escape。 I searched in vain until the upper rim of the
great red sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and
then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from a second…
story window on the opposite side of the very street where
I was quartered； but nearer the plaza。
Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the
winding runway which led to the second floor； and entering
a great chamber at the front of the building was greeted
by the frenzie