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silks； and furs we were to need； I slipped quietly to the
rear of the first floor； and entered the courtyard； where
our animals were moving restlessly about； as was their habit；
before settling down for the night。
In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance
of the Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and
zitidars； the latter grunting their low gutturals and
the former occasionally emitting the sharp squeal which
denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which these
creatures passed their existence。 They were quieter now；
owing to the absence of man； but as they scented me they became
more restless and their hideous noise increased。 It was risky
business； this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night；
first； because their increasing noisiness might warn the nearby
warriors that something was amiss； and also because for the
slightest cause； or for no cause at all some great bull thoat
might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me。
Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such
a night as this； where so much depended upon secrecy and
dispatch； I hugged the shadows of the buildings； ready at
an instant's warning to leap into the safety of a nearby
door or window。 Thus I moved silently to the great gates
which opened upon the street at the back of the court； and
as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals。 How
I thanked the kind providence which had given me the foresight
to win the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes； for
presently from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks
forcing their way toward me through the surging mountains of flesh。
They came quite close to me； rubbing their muzzles
against my body and nosing for the bits of food it was
always my practice to reward them with。 Opening the gates
I ordered the two great beasts to pass out； and then
slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me。
I did not saddle or mount the animals there； but instead
walked quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an
unfrequented avenue which led toward the point I had arranged
to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola。 With the noiselessness
of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the
deserted streets； but not until we were within sight of
the plain beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely。
I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty
in reaching our rendezvous undetected； but with my great thoats
I was not so sure for myself； as it was quite unusual for warriors
to leave the city after dark； in fact there was no place for them
to go within any but a long ride。
I reached the appointed meeting place safely； but as Dejah
Thoris and Sola were not there I led my animals into the
entrance hall of one of the large buildings。 Presuming that
one of the other women of the same household may have
come in to speak to Sola； and so delayed their departure；
I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour
had passed without a sign of them； and by the time another
half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave
anxiety。 Then there broke upon the stillness of the night
the sound of an approaching party； which； from the noise； I
knew could be no fugitives creeping stealthily toward liberty。
Soon the party was near me； and from the black shadows of my
entranceway I perceived a score of mounted warriors； who；
in passing； dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart clean
into the top of my head。
〃He would likely have arranged to meet them just without
the city； and so〃 I heard no more； they had passed on；
but it was enough。 Our plan had been discovered； and
the chances for escape from now on to the fearful end
would be small indeed。 My one hope now was to return
undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what
fate had overtaken her； but how to do it with these great
monstrous thoats upon my hands； now that the city probably
was aroused by the knowledge of my escape was a problem
of no mean proportions。
Suddenly an idea occurred to me； and acting on my knowledge
of the construction of the buildings of these ancient
Martian cities with a hollow court within the center of each
square； I groped my way blindly through the dark chambers；
calling the great thoats after me。 They had difficulty in
negotiating some of the doorways； but as the buildings fronting
the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a
magnificent scale； they were able to wriggle through without
sticking fast； and thus we finally made the inner court where
I found； as I had expected； the usual carpet of moss…like
vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I
could return them to their own enclosure。 That they would
be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was confident；
nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would
be discovered； as the green men had no great desire to enter
these outlying buildings； which were frequented by the
only thing； I believe； which caused them the sensation of
fearthe great white apes of Barsoom。
Removing the saddle trappings； I hid them just within
the rear doorway of the building through which we had
entered the court； and； turning the beasts loose； quickly
made my way across the court to the rear of the buildings
upon the further side； and thence to the avenue beyond。
Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured
that no one was approaching； I hurried across to the opposite
side and through the first doorway to the court beyond；
thus； crossing through court after court with only the slight
chance of detection which the necessary crossing of the
avenues entailed； I made my way in safety to the courtyard
in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters。
Here； of course； I found the beasts of the warriors who
quartered in the adjacent buildings； and the warriors
themselves I might expect to meet within if I entered； but；
fortunately for me； I had another and safer method of reaching
the upper story where Dejah Thoris should be found； and；
after first determining as nearly as possible which of the
buildings she occupied； for I had never observed them before
from the court side； I took advantage of my relatively great
strength and agility and sprang upward until I grasped the
sill of a second…story window which I thought to be in the
rear of her apartment。 Drawing myself inside the room I
moved stealthily toward the front of the building； and not
until I had quite reached the doorway of her room was I
made aware by voices that it was occupied。
I did not rush headlong in； but listened without to assure
myself that it was Dejah Thoris and that it was safe to
venture within。 It was well indeed that I took this precaution；
for the conversation I heard was in the low gutturals of men；
and the words which finally came to me proved a most timely warning。
The speaker was a chieftain and he