A Princess of Mars

leave the city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me, however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like

she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature by ignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbidden territory. His n

ow hills pierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore the country before me, and, like the pioneer stock from

ved me; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any other Martian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for

reat tusks or utter his fearful guttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind, I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for the norm

me, as I would have talked to any other friend among the lower animals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkable to a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring the entire

puppy presenting its back for the petting it craves. I could not resist the ludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back and forth in the first laughter which had passed m

I remembered what laughter signified on Mars-torture, suffering, death. Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and ba

cular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantly colored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and from the summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching off toward the north, and rising, one

ner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile masters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits of my p

one haughty glance and turned her back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly, that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling of companio

are mostly atrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused such passions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw her perform a cruel or uncouth act, or

to follow with the prisoner entered the audience chamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and also convinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their language, as I had plead with Sola

to the occupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captive was most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentary nails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painful manner. When it was necessary to move from one sp

ad been left to her alone, and fortunately she was at night, she would have received n

Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience. Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not c

sked Lorquas Ptomel, a

aughter of Mors

of your expediti

the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take atmospheri

ours, for you know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of our scientific operations there would not be enough air or water on Mars to support a single human life. For ages

of eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common, even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the ligh

ased speaking. What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they were moved I truly believe, and if one man

n Martian warrior. It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and as he opened

among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum, and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, which felled he

rute, but the mood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and they smiled. It was portentous however that they did

ny such length of time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, for I realize now that I was crouched as for a s

le roomful in the terrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full in the face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew his short-sword I drew mine and spra

ys that you may not fight a fellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon with which you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wild and futile atte

ttle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raised her

flow of blood from her nostrils. I was soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than an ord

f your companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange manner of man are you, that you consort with the green men, though your

t the credibility of myself that I fear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the pres

those arms and the regalia of a Tharkian chie

ia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home; but why I am permitted

w that the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read in the menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by

lings, and which, among other things, has caused me to call her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due a conqueror; the trappings and the positio

rs Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and the eyes of t

for one who was deaf and dumb to us a few short

d, "in that you furnished me with an instructress of re

nsiderable polish. Do you know what your unprecedented temerity would have cost

had failed to kill, would have

artian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for other purposes,

into the community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach the headquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded the respect your acts have earned you. Y

n peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomians with whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you, or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure, whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate young woman, whoever would offe

he keynote which would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor was I wrong, for my

but his only comment was more or less enigmatica

ces of the chieftains. Was I not now a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilities of one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium,