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by evident ignorance of something which as a yellow man I should
have known； but before we reached the city gate I was to learn
the purpose of that grim shaft and the meaning of the mighty
accumulation beneath it。
We had come almost to the gate when one of the party called to
his fellows； at the same time pointing toward the distant
southern horizon。 Following the direction he indicated； my eyes
descried the hull of a large flier approaching rapidly from above
the crest of the encircling hills。
〃Still other fools who would solve the mysteries of the
forbidden north；〃 said the officer； half to himself。
〃Will they never cease their fatal curiosity？〃
〃Let us hope not；〃 answered one of the warriors； 〃for then
what should we do for slaves and sport？〃
〃True； but what stupid beasts they are to continue to come to
a region from whence none of them ever has returned。〃
〃Let us tarry and watch the end of this one；〃 suggested one of the men。
The officer looked toward the city。
〃The watch has seen him；〃 he said； 〃we may remain； for we may be needed。〃
I looked toward the city and saw several hundred warriors issuing
from the nearest gate。 They moved leisurely； as though there
were no need for hastenor was there； as I was presently to learn。
Then I turned my eyes once more toward the flier。 She was
moving rapidly toward the city； and when she had come close enough
I was surprised to see that her propellers were idle。
Straight for that grim shaft she bore。 At the last minute I
saw the great blades move to reverse her； yet on she came as though
drawn by some mighty； irresistible power。
Intense excitement prevailed upon her deck； where men were
running hither and thither； manning the guns and preparing to
launch the small； one…man fliers； a fleet of which is part of the
equipment of every Martian war vessel。 Closer and closer to the
black shaft the ship sped。 In another instant she must strike； and
then I saw the familiar signal flown that sends the lesser boats in
a great flock from the deck of the mother ship。
Instantly a hundred tiny fliers rose from her deck； like a
swarm of huge dragon flies； but scarcely were they clear of the
battleship than the nose of each turned toward the shaft； and they；
too； rushed on at frightful speed toward the same now seemingly
inevitable end that menaced the larger vessel。
A moment later the collision came。 Men were hurled in every
direction from the ship's deck； while she； bent and crumpled；
took the last； long plunge to the scrap…heap at the shaft's base。
With her fell a shower of her own tiny fliers； for each of
them had come in violent collision with the solid shaft。
I noticed that the wrecked fliers scraped down the shaft's side；
and that their fall was not as rapid as might have been expected；
and then suddenly the secret of the shaft burst upon me；
and with it an explanation of the cause that prevented a flier
that passed too far across the ice…barrier ever returning。
The shaft was a mighty magnet； and when once a vessel came within
the radius of its powerful attraction for the aluminum steel
that enters so largely into the construction of all Barsoomian craft；
no power on earth could prevent such an end as we had just witnessed。
I afterward learned that the shaft rests directly over the magnetic pole
of Mars； but whether this adds in any way to its incalculable power of
attraction I do not know。 I am a fighting man； not a scientist。
Here； at last； was an explanation of the long absence of
Tardos Mors and Mors Kajak。 These valiant and intrepid warriors
had dared the mysteries and dangers of the frozen north to search
for Carthoris； whose long absence had bowed in grief the head of
his beautiful mother； Dejah Thoris； Princess of Helium。
The moment that the last of the fliers came to rest at the
base of the shaft the black…bearded； yellow warriors swarmed over
the mass of wreckage upon which they lay； making prisoners of those
who were uninjured and occasionally despatching with a sword…thrust
one of the wounded who seemed prone to resent their taunts and insults。
A few of the uninjured red men battled bravely against their
cruel foes； but for the most part they seemed too overwhelmed by
the horror of the catastrophe that had befallen them to do more than
submit supinely to the golden chains with which they were manacled。
When the last of the prisoners had been confined； the party
returned to the city； at the gate of which we met a pack of fierce；
gold…collared apts； each of which marched between two warriors；
who held them with strong chains of the same metal as their collars。
Just beyond the gate the attendants loosened the whole terrible herd；
and as they bounded off toward the grim； black shaft I did not need
to ask to know their mission。 Had there not been those within the
cruel city of Kadabra who needed succor far worse than the poor
unfortunate dead and dying out there in the cold upon the bent
and broken carcasses of a thousand fliers I could not have
restrained my desire to hasten back and do battle with those horrid
creatures that had been despatched to rend and devour them。
As it was I could but follow the yellow warriors； with bowed head；
and give thanks for the chance that had given Thuvan Dihn and me
such easy ingress to the capital of Salensus Oll。
Once within the gates； we had no difficulty in eluding our friends
of the morning； and presently found ourselves in a Martian hostelry。
IN DURANCE
The public houses of Barsoom； I have found； vary but little。
There is no privacy for other than married couples。
Men without their wives are escorted to a large chamber；
the floor of which is usually of white marble or heavy glass；
kept scrupulously clean。 Here are many small； raised platforms
for the guest's sleeping silks and furs； and if he have none of
his own clean； fresh ones are furnished at a nominal charge。
Once a man's belongings have been deposited upon one of these
platforms he is a guest of the house； and that platform his own
until he leaves。 No one will disturb or molest his belongings；
as there are no thieves upon Mars。
As assassination is the one thing to be feared； the proprietors
of the hostelries furnish armed guards； who pace back and forth
through the sleeping…rooms day and night。 The number of guards
and gorgeousness of their trappings quite usually denote the
status of the hotel。
No meals are served in these houses； but generally a public eating
place adjoins them。 Baths are connected with the sleeping chambers；
and each guest is required to bathe daily or depart from the hotel。
Usually on a second or third floor there is a large sleeping…
room for single women guests； but its appointments do not vary
materially from the chamber occupied by men。 The guards who watch