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sight behind the ridge。 He did not wait for them to join
him； however； instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing
madly in our direction。
There was but one slight chance and that we must take
quickly。 Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I
sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger；
there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal； and
the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying
mount。
Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise； and directed
Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a
mighty effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were
upon us。 I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might
find a temporary hiding place； and even though they died
there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than that
they fell into the hands of the Tharks。 Forcing my two
revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection； and；
as a last resort； as an escape for themselves from the horrid
death which recapture would surely mean； I lifted Dejah
Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the thoat behind
Sola； who had already mounted at my command。
〃Good…bye； my princess；〃 I whispered； 〃we may meet in
Helium yet。 I have escaped from worse plights than this；〃
and I tried to smile as I lied。
〃What；〃 she cried； 〃are you not coming with us？〃
〃How may I； Dejah Thoris？ Someone must hold these
fellows off for a while； and I can better escape them alone
than could the three of us together。〃
She sprang quickly from the thoat and； throwing her dear
arms about my neck； turned to Sola； saying with quiet dignity：
〃Fly； Sola！ Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she
loves。〃
Those words are engraved upon my heart。 Ah； gladly
would I give up my life a thousand times could I only hear
them once again； but I could not then give even a second to
the rapture of her sweet embrace； and pressing my lips to
hers for the first time； I picked her up bodily and tossed
her to her seat behind Sola again； commanding the latter
in peremptory tones to hold her there by force； and then；
slapping the thoat upon the flank； I saw them borne away；
Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself from
Sola's grasp。
Turning； I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge
and looking for their chieftain。 In a moment they saw him；
and then me； but scarcely had they discovered me than I
commenced firing； lying flat upon my belly in the moss。 I had
an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my rifle； and
another hundred in the belt at my back； and I kept up a
continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who
had been first to return from behind the ridge either dead or
scurrying to cover。
My respite was short…lived however； for soon the entire
party； numbering some thousand men； came charging into
view； racing madly toward me。 I fired until my rifle was
empty and they were almost upon me； and then a glance
showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had disappeared
among the hills； I sprang up； throwing down my useless gun；
and started away in the direction opposite to that taken by
Sola and her charge。
If ever Martians had an exhibition of jumping； it was
granted those astonished warriors on that day long years ago；
but while it led them away from Dejah Thoris it did not distract
their attention from endeavoring to capture me。
They raced wildly after me until； finally； my foot struck a
projecting piece of quartz； and down I went sprawling upon
the moss。 As I looked up they were upon me； and although
I drew my long…sword in an attempt to sell my life as
dearly as possible； it was soon over。 I reeled beneath their
blows which fell upon me in perfect torrents； my head swam；
all was black； and I went down beneath them to oblivion。
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAINED IN WARHOON
It must have been several hours before I regained consciousness
and I well remember the feeling of surprise which swept over me
as I realized that I was not dead。
I was lying among a pile of sleeping silks and furs in the
corner of a small room in which were several green warriors；
and bending over me was an ancient and ugly female。
As I opened my eyes she turned to one of the warriors； saying；
〃He will live； O Jed。〃
〃'Tis well；〃 replied the one so addressed； rising and approaching
my couch； 〃he should render rare sport for the great games。〃
And now as my eyes fell upon him； I saw that he was no
Thark； for his ornaments and metal were not of that horde。
He was a huge fellow； terribly scarred about the face and
chest； and with one broken tusk and a missing ear。 Strapped
on either breast were human skulls and depending from
these a number of dried human hands。
His reference to the great games of which I had heard so
much while among the Tharks convinced me that I had but
jumped from purgatory into gehenna。
After a few more words with the female； during which
she assured him that I was now fully fit to travel； the jed
ordered that we mount and ride after the main column。
I was strapped securely to as wild and unmanageable a
thoat as I had ever seen； and； with a mounted warrior on
either side to prevent the beast from bolting； we rode forth
at a furious pace in pursuit of the column。 My wounds gave
me but little pain； so wonderfully and rapidly had the
applications and injections of the female exercised their
therapeutic powers； and so deftly had she bound and plastered
the injuries。
Just before dark we reached the main body of troops
shortly after they had made camp for the night。 I was
immediately taken before the leader； who proved to be the
jeddak of the hordes of Warhoon。
Like the jed who had brought me； he was frightfully
scarred； and also decorated with the breastplate of human
skulls and dried dead hands which seemed to mark all the
greater warriors among the Warhoons； as well as to indicate
their awful ferocity； which greatly transcends even that of
the Tharks。
The jeddak； Bar Comas； who was comparatively young；
was the object of the fierce and jealous hatred of his old
lieutenant； Dak Kova； the jed who had captured me； and I
could not but note the almost studied efforts which the
latter made to affront his superior。
He entirely omitted the usual formal salutation as we entered
the presence of the jeddak； and as he pushed me roughly before
the ruler he exclaimed in a loud and menacing voice。
〃I have brought a strange creature wearing the metal of a
Thark whom it is my pleasure to have battle with a wild
thoat at the great games。〃
〃He will die as Bar Comas； your jeddak； sees fit； if at all；〃
replied the young ruler； with emphasis and dignity。
〃If at all？〃 roared Dak Kova。 〃By the dead hands at my
throat but he shall die； Bar Comas。 No maudlin weakness
on your part shall save him。 O； would that Warhoon were
r