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was by far the best and bravest of them all； I saw that it was
but a question of time before the remaining five would find an
opening through his marvelous guard and bring him down。
Now my sympathies have ever been with the weaker side of an argument；
and though I knew nothing of the cause of the trouble I could not
stand idly by and see a brave man butchered by superior numbers。
As a matter of fact I presume I gave little attention to
seeking an excuse； for I love a good fight too well to need any
other reason for joining in when one is afoot。
So it was that before Thuvan Dihn knew what I was about he saw
me standing by the side of the white…clad yellow man； battling like
mad with his five adversaries。
WITH THE YELLOW MEN
Thuvan Dihn was not long in joining me； and； though we found
the hooked weapon a strange and savage thing with which to deal；
the three of us soon despatched the five black…bearded warriors who
opposed us。
When the battle was over our new acquaintance turned to me；
and removing the shield from his wrist； held it out。 I did not
know the significance of his act； but judged that it was but a
form of expressing his gratitude to me。
I afterward learned that it symbolized the offering of a man's life
in return for some great favor done him； and my act of refusing；
which I had immediately done； was what was expected of me。
〃Then accept from Talu； Prince of Marentina；〃 said the yellow man；
〃this token of my gratitude；〃 and reaching beneath one of his
wide sleeves he withdrew a bracelet and placed it upon my arm。
He then went through the same ceremony with Thuvan Dihn。
Next he asked our names； and from what land we hailed。
He seemed quite familiar with the geography of the outerworld；
and when I said I was from Helium he raised his brows。
〃Ah；〃 he said； 〃you seek your ruler and his company？〃
〃Know you of them？〃 I asked。
〃But little more than that they were captured by my uncle； Salensus Oll；
Jeddak of Jeddaks； Ruler of Okar； land of the yellow men of Barsoom。
As to their fate I know nothing； for I am at war with my uncle；
who would crush my power in the principality of Marentina。
〃These from whom you have just saved me are warriors he has
sent out to find and slay me； for they know that often I come alone
to hunt and kill the sacred apt which Salensus Oll so much reveres。
It is partly because I hate his religion that Salensus Oll hates me；
but mostly does he fear my growing power and the great faction
which has arisen throughout Okar that would be glad to see
me ruler of Okar and Jeddak of Jeddaks in his place。
〃He is a cruel and tyrannous master whom all hate； and were it not
for the great fear they have of him I could raise an army overnight
that would wipe out the few that might remain loyal to him。 My own
people are faithful to me； and the little valley of Marentina has
paid no tribute to the court of Salensus Oll for a year。
〃Nor can he force us； for a dozen men may hold the narrow way
to Marentina against a million。 But now； as to thine own affairs。
How may I aid you？ My palace is at your disposal； if you wish to
honor me by coming to Marentina。〃
〃When our work is done we shall be glad to accept your invitation；〃
I replied。 〃But now you can assist us most by directing us to the
court of Salensus Oll； and suggesting some means by which we may
gain admission to the city and the palace； or whatever other place
we find our friends to be confined。〃
Talu gazed ruefully at our smooth faces and at Thuvan Dihn's
red skin and my white one。
〃First you must come to Marentina；〃 he said； 〃for a great change
must be wrought in your appearance before you can hope to
enter any city in Okar。 You must have yellow faces and black
beards； and your apparel and trappings must be those least likely
to arouse suspicion。 In my palace is one who can make you appear
as truly yellow men as does Salensus Oll himself。〃
His counsel seemed wise； and as there was apparently no other
way to insure a successful entry to Kadabra； the capital city of
Okar； we set out with Talu； Prince of Marentina； for his little；
rock…bound country。
The way was over some of the worst traveling I have ever seen；
and I do not wonder that in this land where there are neither
thoats nor fliers that Marentina is in little fear of invasion； but
at last we reached our destination； the first view of which I had
from a slight elevation a half…mile from the city。
Nestled in a deep valley lay a city of Martian concrete；
whose every street and plaza and open space was roofed with glass。
All about lay snow and ice； but there was none upon the rounded；
domelike； crystal covering that enveloped the whole city。
Then I saw how these people combatted the rigors of the arctic；
and lived in luxury and comfort in the midst of a land of
perpetual ice。 Their cities were veritable hothouses； and when I
had come within this one my respect and admiration for the
scientific and engineering skill of this buried nation was unbounded。
The moment we entered the city Talu threw off his outer garments
of fur； as did we； and I saw that his apparel differed but little
from that of the red races of Barsoom。 Except for his leathern
harness； covered thick with jewels and metal； he was naked；
nor could one have comfortably worn apparel in that warm and
humid atmosphere。
For three days we remained the guests of Prince Talu； and
during that time he showered upon us every attention and courtesy
within his power。 He showed us all that was of interest in his
great city。
The Marentina atmosphere plant will maintain life indefinitely
in the cities of the north pole after all life upon the balance of
dying Mars is extinct through the failure of the air supply； should
the great central plant again cease functioning as it did upon that
memorable occasion that gave me the opportunity of restoring life
and happiness to the strange world that I had already learned to
love so well。
He showed us the heating system that stores the sun's rays in
great reservoirs beneath the city； and how little is necessary to
maintain the perpetual summer heat of the glorious garden spot
within this arctic paradise。
Broad avenues of sod sewn with the seed of the ocher vegetation
of the dead sea bottoms carried the noiseless traffic of light
and airy ground fliers that are the only form of artificial
transportation used north of the gigantic ice…barrier。
The broad tires of these unique fliers are but rubber…like gas
bags filled with the eighth Barsoomian ray； or ray of propulsion
that remarkable discovery of the Martians that has made possible
the great fleets of mighty airships that render the red man of the
outer world supreme。 It is this ray which propels the inherent or
reflected light of the planet off into space； and when confin