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dwelt such a woman as the Princess of Helium。 That you
are a princess does not abash me； but that you are you is
enough to make me doubt my sanity as I ask you； my princess；
to be mine。〃
〃He does not need to be abashed who so well knew the
answer to his plea before the plea were made；〃 she replied；
rising and placing her dear hands upon my shoulders； and so
I took her in my arms and kissed her。
And thus in the midst of a city of wild conflict； filled
with the alarms of war； with death and destruction reaping
their terrible harvest around her； did Dejah Thoris； Princess
of Helium； true daughter of Mars； the God of War； promise
herself in marriage to John Carter； Gentleman of Virginia。
CHAPTER XXVI
THROUGH CARNAGE TO JOY
Sometime later Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan returned to
report that Zodanga had been completely reduced。 Her forces
were entirely destroyed or captured； and no further resistance
was to be expected from within。 Several battleships had escaped；
but there were thousands of war and merchant vessels under guard
of Thark warriors。
The lesser hordes had commenced looting and quarreling
among themselves； so it was decided that we collect what
warriors we could； man as many vessels as possible with
Zodangan prisoners and make for Helium without further
loss of time。
Five hours later we sailed from the roofs of the dock
buildings with a fleet of two hundred and fifty battleships；
carrying nearly one hundred thousand green warriors； followed
by a fleet of transports with our thoats。
Behind us we left the stricken city in the fierce and brutal
clutches of some forty thousand green warriors of the lesser
hordes。 They were looting； murdering； and fighting amongst
themselves。 In a hundred places they had applied the torch；
and columns of dense smoke were rising above the city as
though to blot out from the eye of heaven the horrid sights
beneath。
In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and
yellow towers of Helium； and a short time later a great fleet
of Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers
without the city； and advanced to meet us。
The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to
stern of each of our mighty craft； but the Zodangans did
not need this sign to realize that we were enemies； for our
green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them almost
as they left the ground。 With their uncanny marksmanship
they raked the on…coming fleet with volley after volley。
The twin cities of Helium； perceiving that we were friends；
sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us； and then began the
first real air battle I had ever witnessed。
The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling
above the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga； since
their batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks who；
having no navy； have no skill in naval gunnery。 Their small…
arm fire； however； was most effective； and the final outcome
of the engagement was strongly influenced； if not wholly
determined； by their presence。
At first the two forces circled at the same altitude； pouring
broadside after broadside into each other。 Presently a great
hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft
from the Zodangan camp； with a lurch she turned completely
over； the little figures of her crew plunging； turning
and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below； then
with sickening velocity she tore after them； almost completely
burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom。
A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron；
and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan
fleet。 By a pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium
gained a position above their adversaries； from which they
poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect
torrent of exploding bombs。
Then； one by one； the battleships of Helium succeeded in
rising above the Zodangans； and in a short time a number
of the beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks
toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium。 Several
others attempted to escape； but they were soon surrounded
by thousands of tiny individual fliers； and above each hung
a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties
upon their decks。
Within but little more than an hour from the moment the
victorious Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from
the camp of the besiegers the battle was over； and the
remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed
toward the cities of Helium under prize crews。
There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender
of these mighty fliers； the result of an age…old custom which
demanded that surrender should be signalized by the voluntary
plunging to earth of the commander of the vanquished vessel。
One after another the brave fellows； holding their colors
high above their heads； leaped from the towering bows of
their mighty craft to an awful death。
Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful
plunge； thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels；
did the fighting cease； and the useless sacrifice of brave men
come to an end。
We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach；
and when she was within hailing distance I called out that
we had the Princess Dejah Thoris on board； and that we
wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be
taken immediately to the city。
As the full import of my announcement bore in upon
them a great cry arose from the decks of the flagship； and
a moment later the colors of the Princess of Helium broke
from a hundred points upon her upper works。 When the
other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of the
signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and
unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight。
The flagship bore down upon us； and as she swung gracefully
to and touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon
our decks。 As their astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds
of green warriors； who now came forth from the fighting
shelters； they stopped aghast； but at sight of Kantos Kan；
who advanced to meet them； they came forward； crowding
about him。
Dejah Thoris and I then advanced； and they had no eyes
for other than her。 She received them gracefully； calling
each by name； for they were men high in the esteem and
service of her grandfather； and she knew them well。
〃Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter；〃 she
said to them； turning toward me； 〃the man to whom Helium
owes her princess as well as her victory today。〃
They were very courteous to me and said many kind and
complimentary things； but what seemed to impress them
most was that I had won the aid of the fierce Tharks in my
campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris； and the relief
of Helium。
〃You owe your thanks more to another man than to me；〃