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to hide myself in some crowded quarter where detection would
be less liable to occur。
With this idea in view I circled the great wall； keeping within
the fringe of the forest； which is cut away for a short distance
from the wall all about the city； that no enemy may utilize the
trees as a means of ingress。
Several times I attempted to scale the barrier at different points；
but not even my earthly muscles could overcome that cleverly
constructed rampart。 To a height of thirty feet the face of the
wall slanted outward； and then for almost an equal distance it
was perpendicular； above which it slanted in again for some
fifteen feet to the crest。
And smooth！ Polished glass could not be more so。 Finally I
had to admit that at last I had discovered a Barsoomian
fortification which I could not negotiate。
Discouraged； I withdrew into the forest beside a broad highway
which entered the city from the east； and with Woola beside me
lay down to sleep。
A HERO IN KAOL
It was daylight when I was awakened by the sound of stealthy
movement near by。
As I opened my eyes Woola； too； moved and； coming up to his
haunches； stared through the intervening brush toward the road；
each hair upon his neck stiffly erect。
At first I could see nothing； but presently I caught a glimpse
of a bit of smooth and glossy green moving among the scarlet and
purple and yellow of the vegetation。
Motioning Woola to remain quietly where he was； I crept forward
to investigate； and from behind the bole of a great tree I
saw a long line of the hideous green warriors of the dead sea
bottoms hiding in the dense jungle beside the road。
As far as I could see； the silent line of destruction and
death stretched away from the city of Kaol。 There could be
but one explanation。 The green men were expecting an exodus
of a body of red troops from the nearest city gate； and they
were lying there in ambush to leap upon them。
I owed no fealty to the Jeddak of Kaol； but he was of the same
race of noble red men as my own princess； and I would not stand
supinely by and see his warriors butchered by the cruel and
heartless demons of the waste places of Barsoom。
Cautiously I retraced my steps to where I had left Woola；
and warning him to silence； signaled him to follow me。
Making a considerable detour to avoid the chance of falling
into the hands of the green men； I came at last to the great wall。
A hundred yards to my right was the gate from which the troops
were evidently expected to issue； but to reach it I must pass the
flank of the green warriors within easy sight of them； and； fearing
that my plan to warn the Kaolians might thus be thwarted； I decided
upon hastening toward the left； where another gate a mile away
would give me ingress to the city。
I knew that the word I brought would prove a splendid passport
to Kaol； and I must admit that my caution was due more to my
ardent desire to make my way into the city than to avoid a brush
with the green men。 As much as I enjoy a fight； I cannot always
indulge myself； and just now I had more weighty matters to occupy
my time than spilling the blood of strange warriors。
Could I but win beyond the city's wall； there might be opportunity
in the confusion and excitement which were sure to follow my
announcement of an invading force of green warriors to find my
way within the palace of the jeddak； where I was sure Matai Shang
and his party would be quartered。
But scarcely had I taken a hundred steps in the direction of the
farther gate when the sound of marching troops； the clank of metal；
and the squealing of thoats just within the city apprised me of the
fact that the Kaolians were already moving toward the other gate。
There was no time to be lost。 In another moment the gate
would be opened and the head of the column pass out upon
the death…bordered highway。
Turning back toward the fateful gate； I ran rapidly along the edge of
the clearing； taking the ground in the mighty leaps that had first
made me famous upon Barsoom。 Thirty； fifty； a hundred feet at a bound
are nothing for the muscles of an athletic Earth man upon Mars。
As I passed the flank of the waiting green men they saw my eyes
turned upon them； and in an instant； knowing that all secrecy
was at an end； those nearest me sprang to their feet in an effort
to cut me off before I could reach the gate。
At the same instant the mighty portal swung wide and the head
of the Kaolian column emerged。 A dozen green warriors had
succeeded in reaching a point between me and the gate； but they
had but little idea who it was they had elected to detain。
I did not slacken my speed an iota as I dashed among them； and
as they fell before my blade I could not but recall the happy
memory of those other battles when Tars Tarkas； Jeddak of Thark；
mightiest of Martian green men； had stood shoulder to shoulder with me
through long； hot Martian days； as together we hewed down our enemies
until the pile of corpses about us rose higher than a tall man's head。
When several pressed me too closely； there before the carved
gateway of Kaol； I leaped above their heads； and fashioning my
tactics after those of the hideous plant men of Dor； struck down
upon my enemies' heads as I passed above them。
From the city the red warriors were rushing toward us； and from
the jungle the savage horde of green men were coming to meet them。
In a moment I was in the very center of as fierce and bloody a
battle as I had ever passed through。
These Kaolians are most noble fighters； nor are the green men
of the equator one whit less warlike than their cold； cruel cousins
of the temperate zone。 There were many times when either side
might have withdrawn without dishonor and thus ended hostilities；
but from the mad abandon with which each invariably renewed
hostilities I soon came to believe that what need not have been
more than a trifling skirmish would end only with the complete
extermination of one force or the other。
With the joy of battle once roused within me； I took keen delight
in the fray； and that my fighting was noted by the Kaolians was
often evidenced by the shouts of applause directed at me。
If I sometimes seem to take too great pride in my fighting
ability； it must be remembered that fighting is my vocation。
If your vocation be shoeing horses； or painting pictures； and you
can do one or the other better than your fellows； then you are a
fool if you are not proud of your ability。 And so I am very proud
that upon two planets no greater fighter has ever lived than John
Carter； Prince of Helium。
And I outdid myself that day to impress the fact upon the natives
of Kaol； for I wished to win a way into their heartsand their city。
Nor was I to be disappointed in my desire。
All day we fought； until the road was red with blood and clogg