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watched her for hours； until finally she was lost in the dim
vistas of the distance。 The sight was awe…inspiring in the
extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre；
drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes of
the Martian heavens； a derelict of death and destruction；
typifying the life story of these strange and ferocious
creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it。
Much depressed； and； to me； unaccountably so； I slowly
descended to the street。 The scene I had witnessed seemed
to mark the defeat and annihilation of the forces of a kindred
people； rather than the routing by our green warriors of
a horde of similar； though unfriendly； creatures。 I could not
fathom the seeming hallucination； nor could I free myself
from it； but somewhere in the innermost recesses of my
soul I felt a strange yearning toward these unknown foemen；
and a mighty hope surged through me that the fleet would
return and demand a reckoning from the green warriors
who had so ruthlessly and wantonly attacked it。
Close at my heel； in his now accustomed place； followed
Woola； the hound； and as I emerged upon the street Sola
rushed up to me as though I had been the object of some
search on her part。 The cavalcade was returning to the plaza；
the homeward march having been given up for that day； nor；
in fact； was it recommenced for more than a week； owing
to the fear of a return attack by the air craft。
Lorquas Ptomel was too astute an old warrior to be
caught upon the open plains with a caravan of chariots and
children； and so we remained at the deserted city until the
danger seemed passed。
As Sola and I entered the plaza a sight met my eyes which
filled my whole being with a great surge of mingled hope；
fear； exultation； and depression； and yet most dominant
was a subtle sense of relief and happiness； for just
as we neared the throng of Martians I caught a glimpse of
the prisoner from the battle craft who was being roughly
dragged into a nearby building by a couple of green
Martian females。
And the sight which met my eyes was that of a slender；
girlish figure； similar in every detail to the earthly women
of my past life。 She did not see me at first； but just as she
was disappearing through the portal of the building which
was to be her prison she turned； and her eyes met mine。
Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme； her every
feature was finely chiseled and exquisite； her eyes large and
lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black；
waving hair； caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure。
Her skin was of a light reddish copper color； against which
the crimson glow of her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully
molded lips shone with a strangely enhancing effect。
She was as destitute of clothes as the green Martians who
accompanied her； indeed； save for her highly wrought ornaments
she was entirely naked； nor could any apparel have enhanced
the beauty of her perfect and symmetrical figure。
As her gaze rested on me her eyes opened wide in
astonishment； and she made a little sign with her free hand；
a sign which I did not； of course； understand。 Just a moment
we gazed upon each other； and then the look of hope and
renewed courage which had glorified her face as she
discovered me； faded into one of utter dejection； mingled
with loathing and contempt。 I realized I had not answered her
signal； and ignorant as I was of Martian customs； I intuitively
felt that she had made an appeal for succor and protection
which my unfortunate ignorance had prevented me from answering。
And then she was dragged out of my sight into the depths of the
deserted edifice。
CHAPTER IX
I LEARN THE LANGUAGE
As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola； who had
witnessed this encounter and I was surprised to note a
strange expression upon her usually expressionless
countenance。 What her thoughts were I did not know；
for as yet I had learned but little of the Martian tongue；
enough only to suffice for my daily needs。
As I reached the doorway of our building a strange surprise
awaited me。 A warrior approached bearing the arms；
ornaments； and full accouterments of his kind。 These he
presented to me with a few unintelligible words； and a
bearing at once respectful and menacing。
Later； Sola； with the aid of several of the other women；
remodeled the trappings to fit my lesser proportions； and
after they completed the work I went about garbed in all the
panoply of war。
From then on Sola instructed me in the mysteries of the
various weapons； and with the Martian young I spent several
hours each day practicing upon the plaza。 I was not yet
proficient with all the weapons； but my great familiarity
with similar earthly weapons made me an unusually apt
pupil； and I progressed in a very satisfactory manner。
The training of myself and the young Martians was
conducted solely by the women； who not only attend to the
education of the young in the arts of individual defense
and offense； but are also the artisans who produce every
manufactured article wrought by the green Martians。 They make
the powder； the cartridges； the firearms； in fact everything
of value is produced by the females。 In time of actual warfare
they form a part of the reserves； and when the necessity
arises fight with even greater intelligence and ferocity
than the men。
The men are trained in the higher branches of the art of war；
in strategy and the maneuvering of large bodies of troops。
They make the laws as they are needed； a new law for
each emergency。 They are unfettered by precedent in
the administration of justice。 Customs have been handed
down by ages of repetition； but the punishment for ignoring
a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of
the culprit's peers； and I may say that justice seldom
misses fire； but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to
the ascendency of law。 In one respect at least the Martians
are a happy people； they have no lawyers。
I did not see the prisoner again for several days subsequent
to our first encounter； and then only to catch a fleeting
glimpse of her as she was being conducted to the great
audience chamber where I had had my first meeting with
Lorquas Ptomel。 I could not but note the unnecessary
harshness and brutality with which her guards treated her；
so different from the almost maternal kindliness which Sola
manifested toward me； and the respectful attitude of the few
green Martians who took the trouble to notice me at all。
I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her
that the prisoner exchanged words with her guards； and this
convinced me that they spoke； or at least could make
themselves understood by a common language。 With this added
incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by my importunities
to hasten on my education and within a few more days
I had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable
me to carry on a passable conversation and to fully understand
practically all that I heard。
At this time our sleeping quarters were occupied by three
or four females and a couple of the recently hatched young；
beside Sola and her youthful ward； myself； and Woola the
hound。 After they had retired for the night it was customary
for the adults to carry on a desultory conversation for a
short time before lapsing into sleep； and now that I could
understand their language I was always a keen listener；
although I never proffered any remarks myself。
On the night following the prisoner's visit to the audience
chamber the conversation finally fell upon this subject； and
I was all ears on the instant。 I had feared to question Sola
relative to the beautiful captive； as I could not but recall the
strange expression I had noted upon her face after my first
encounter with the prisoner。 That it denoted jealousy I could
not say； and yet； judging all things by mundane standards
as I still did； I felt it safer to affect indifference in the matter
until I learned more surely Sola's attitude toward the object
of my solicitude。
Sarkoja； one of the older women who shared our domicile；
had been present at the audience as one of the captive's
guards； and it was toward her the question turned。
〃When；〃 asked one of the women； 〃will we enjoy the
death throes of the red one？ or does Lorquas Ptomel； Jed；
intend holding her for ransom？〃
〃They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark；
and exhibit her last agonies at the great games before Tal
Hajus；〃 replied Sarkoja。
〃What will be the manner of her going out？〃 inquired
Sola。 〃She is very small and very beautiful； I had hoped that
they would hold her for ransom。〃
Sarkoja and the other women grunted angrily at this evidence
of weakness on the part of Sola。
〃It is sad； Sola； th