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know where he kept himself by night。
I was on the point of stepping boldly out into the room
when a slight noise behind me warned me back into the
shadows of a recess in the corridor。 Dragging Woola after
me I crouched low in the darkness。
Presently the old man passed close by me； and as he entered
the dimly lighted chamber which I had been about to
pass through I saw that he held a long thin dagger in his
hand and that he was sharpening it upon a stone。 In his mind
was the decision to inspect the radium pumps； which would
take about thirty minutes； and then return to my bed chamber
and finish me。
As he passed through the great hall and disappeared down
the runway which led to the pump…room； I stole stealthily
from my hiding place and crossed to the great door； the inner
of the three which stood between me and liberty。
Concentrating my mind upon the massive lock I hurled
the nine thought waves against it。 In breathless expectancy
I waited； when finally the great door moved softly toward
me and slid quietly to one side。 One after the other the
remaining mighty portals opened at my command and Woola
and I stepped forth into the darkness； free； but little better
off than we had been before； other than that we had full
stomachs。
Hastening away from the shadows of the formidable pile
I made for the first crossroad； intending to strike the central
turnpike as quickly as possible。 This I reached about morning
and entering the first enclosure I came to I searched for
some evidences of a habitation。
There were low rambling buildings of concrete barred
with heavy impassable doors； and no amount of hammering
and hallooing brought any response。 Weary and exhausted
from sleeplessness I threw myself upon the ground commanding
Woola to stand guard。
Some time later I was awakened by his frightful growlings
and opened my eyes to see three red Martians standing a
short distance from us and covering me with their rifles。
〃I am unarmed and no enemy；〃 I hastened to explain。 〃I
have been a prisoner among the green men and am on my
way to Zodanga。 All I ask is food and rest for myself and
my calot and the proper directions for reaching my destination。〃
They lowered their rifles and advanced pleasantly toward
me placing their right hands upon my left shoulder； after the
manner of their custom of salute； and asking me many questions
about myself and my wanderings。 They then took me to the
house of one of them which was only a short distance away。
The buildings I had been hammering at in the early
morning were occupied only by stock and farm produce；
the house proper standing among a grove of enormous trees；
and； like all red…Martian homes； had been raised at night
some forty or fifty feet from the ground on a large round
metal shaft which slid up or down within a sleeve sunk in
the ground； and was operated by a tiny radium engine in
the entrance hall of the building。 Instead of bothering with
bolts and bars for their dwellings； the red Martians simply
run them up out of harm's way during the night。 They also
have private means for lowering or raising them from the
ground without if they wish to go away and leave them。
These brothers； with their wives and children； occupied three
similar houses on this farm。 They did no work themselves；
being government officers in charge。 The labor was
performed by convicts； prisoners of war； delinquent debtors
and confirmed bachelors who were too poor to pay the high
celibate tax which all red…Martian governments impose。
They were the personification of cordiality and hospitality
and I spent several days with them； resting and recuperating
from my long and arduous experiences。
When they had heard my storyI omitted all reference
to Dejah Thoris and the old man of the atmosphere plant
they advised me to color my body to more nearly resemble
their own race and then attempt to find employment in Zodanga；
either in the army or the navy。
〃The chances are small that your tale will be believed
until after you have proven your trustworthiness and won
friends among the higher nobles of the court。 This you can
most easily do through military service； as we are a warlike
people on Barsoom；〃 explained one of them； 〃and save our
richest favors for the fighting man。〃
When I was ready to depart they furnished me with a
small domestic bull thoat； such as is used for saddle
purposes by all red Martians。 The animal is about the size
of a horse and quite gentle； but in color and shape an exact
replica of his huge and fierce cousin of the wilds。
The brothers had supplied me with a reddish oil with which
I anointed my entire body and one of them cut my hair；
which had grown quite long； in the prevailing fashion of the
time； square at the back and banged in front； so that I could
have passed anywhere upon Barsoom as a full…fledged red
Martian。 My metal and ornaments were also renewed in the
style of a Zodangan gentleman； attached to the house of
Ptor； which was the family name of my benefactors。
They filled a little sack at my side with Zodangan money。
The medium of exchange upon Mars is not dissimilar from
our own except that the coins are oval。 Paper money is
issued by individuals as they require it and redeemed twice
yearly。 If a man issues more than he can redeem； the
government pays his creditors in full and the debtor works out
the amount upon the farms or in mines； which are all owned
by the government。 This suits everybody except the debtor as
it has been a difficult thing to obtain sufficient voluntary
labor to work the great isolated farm lands of Mars； stretching
as they do like narrow ribbons from pole to pole； through wild
stretches peopled by wild animals and wilder men。
When I mentioned my inability to repay them for their kindness
to me they assured me that I would have ample opportunity
if I lived long upon Barsoom； and bidding me farewell
they watched me until I was out of sight upon the broad
white turnpike。
CHAPTER XXI
AN AIR SCOUT FOR ZODANGA
As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange and
interesting sights arrested my attention； and at the several
farm houses where I stopped I learned a number of new and
instructive things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom。
The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collected
in immense underground reservoirs at either pole from the
melting ice caps； and pumped through long conduits to the
various populated centers。 Along either side of these conduits；
and extending their entire length； lie the cultivated districts。
These are divided into tracts of about the same size； each tract
being under the supervision of one or more government officers。
Instead of flooding the surface of the fields； and thus wasting
immense quantities of water by evaporation； the precious
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