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that they had gone； down through ages of darkness； cruelty；
and ignorance； until their hereditary instincts of culture and
humanitarianism had risen ascendant once more in the final
composite race which now is dominant upon Mars。
My thoughts were cut short by the advent of several
young females bearing loads of weapons； silks； furs； jewels；
cooking utensils； and casks of food and drink； including
considerable loot from the air craft。 All this； it seemed； had
been the property of the two chieftains I had slain； and now；
by the customs of the Tharks； it had become mine。 At my
direction they placed the stuff in one of the back rooms； and
then departed； only to return with a second load； which
they advised me constituted the balance of my goods。 On the
second trip they were accompanied by ten or fifteen other
women and youths； who； it seemed； formed the retinues of
the two chieftains。
They were not their families； nor their wives； nor their
servants； the relationship was peculiar； and so unlike
anything known to us that it is most difficult to describe。
All property among the green Martians is owned in common by
the community； except the personal weapons； ornaments and
sleeping silks and furs of the individuals。 These alone can
one claim undisputed right to； nor may he accumulate more
of these than are required for his actual needs。 The surplus
he holds merely as custodian； and it is passed on to the
younger members of the community as necessity demands。
The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened
to a military unit for which he is responsible in various
ways； as in matters of instruction； discipline； sustenance； and
the exigencies of their continual roamings and their unending
strife with other communities and with the red Martians。
His women are in no sense wives。 The green Martians use no
word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word。 Their
mating is a matter of community interest solely； and is
directed without reference to natural selection。 The council
of chieftains of each community control the matter as surely as
the owner of a Kentucky racing stud directs the scientific
breeding of his stock for the improvement of the whole。
In theory it may sound well； as is often the case with
theories； but the results of ages of this unnatural practice；
coupled with the community interest in the offspring being
held paramount to that of the mother； is shown in the cold；
cruel creatures； and their gloomy； loveless； mirthless existence。
It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous；
both men and women； with the exception of such degenerates
as Tal Hajus； but better far a finer balance of human
characteristics even at the expense of a slight and
occasional loss of chastity。
Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures；
whether I would or not； I made the best of it and directed
them to find quarters on the upper floors； leaving the
third floor to me。 One of the girls I charged with the duties
of my simple cuisine； and directed the others to take up
the various activities which had formerly constituted their
vocations。 Thereafter I saw little of them； nor did I care to。
CHAPTER XIII
LOVE…MAKING ON MARS
Following the battle with the air ships； the community
remained within the city for several days； abandoning the
homeward march until they could feel reasonably assured
that the ships would not return； for to be caught on the
open plains with a cavalcade of chariots and children was
far from the desire of even so warlike a people as the green
Martians。
During our period of inactivity； Tars Tarkas had instructed
me in many of the customs and arts of war familiar to the
Tharks； including lessons in riding and guiding the great
beasts which bore the warriors。 These creatures； which are
known as thoats； are as dangerous and vicious as their masters；
but when once subdued are sufficiently tractable for the
purposes of the green Martians。
Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors
whose metal I wore； and in a short time I could handle them
quite as well as the native warriors。 The method was not at
all complicated。 If the thoats did not respond with sufficient
celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they
were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with the butt of a
pistol； and if they showed fight this treatment was continued
until the brutes either were subdued； or had unseated their
riders。
In the latter case it became a life and death struggle
between the man and the beast。 If the former were quick
enough with his pistol he might live to ride again； though
upon some other beast； if not； his torn and mangled body
was gathered up by his women and burned in accordance
with Tharkian custom。
My experience with Woola determined me to attempt the
experiment of kindness in my treatment of my thoats。 First I
taught them that they could not unseat me； and even rapped
them sharply between the ears to impress upon them my
authority and mastery。 Then； by degrees； I won their
confidence in much the same manner as I had adopted countless
times with my many mundane mounts。 I was ever a good hand
with animals； and by inclination； as well as because
it brought more lasting and satisfactory results； I was
always kind and humane in my dealings with the lower orders。
I could take a human life； if necessary； with far less compunction
than that of a poor； unreasoning； irresponsible brute。
In the course of a few days my thoats were the wonder
of the entire community。 They would follow me like dogs；
rubbing their great snouts against my body in awkward evidence
of affection； and respond to my every command with an alacrity
and docility which caused the Martian warriors to ascribe to me
the possession of some earthly power unknown on Mars。
〃How have you bewitched them？〃 asked Tars Tarkas one
afternoon； when he had seen me run my arm far between
the great jaws of one of my thoats which had wedged a
piece of stone between two of his teeth while feeding upon
the moss…like vegetation within our court yard。
〃By kindness；〃 I replied。 〃You see； Tars Tarkas； the softer
sentiments have their value； even to a warrior。 In the height
of battle as well as upon the march I know that my thoats
will obey my every command； and therefore my fighting
efficiency is enhanced； and I am a better warrior for the
reason that I am a kind master。 Your other warriors would find
it to the advantage of themselves as well as of the community
to adopt my methods in this respect。 Only a few days since you；
yourself； told me that these great brutes； by the uncertainty
of their tempers； often were the means of turning victory
into defeat； since； at a crucial moment； they might elect
to unseat and rend their riders。〃
〃Show me how you accomplish these results；〃 was Tars Tarkas'
only rejoinder。
And so I explained as carefully as I could the entire
method of training I had adopted with my beasts； and later
he had me repeat it before Lorquas Ptomel and the assembled
warriors。 That moment marked the beginning of a new existence
for the poor thoats； and before I left the community of
Lorquas Ptomel I had the satisfaction of observing a regiment
of as tractable and docile mounts as one might care to
see。 The effect on the precision and celerity of the military
movements was so remarkable that Lorquas Ptomel presented
me with a massive anklet of gold from his own leg； as a sign
of his appreciation of my service to the horde。
On the seventh day following the battle with the air craft
we again took up the march toward Thark； all probability of
another attack being deemed remote by Lorquas Ptomel。
During the days just preceding our departure I had seen
but little of Dejah Thoris； as I had been kept very busy by
Tars Tarkas with my lessons in the art of Martian warfare；
as well as in the training of my thoats。 The few times I had
visited her quarters she had been absent； walking upon the
streets with Sola； or investigating the buildings in the near
vicinity of the plaza。 I had warned them against venturing
far from the plaza for fear of the great white apes； whose
ferocity I was only too well acquainted with。 However； since
Woola accompanied them on all their excursions； and as
Sola was well armed； there was comparatively little cause for
fear。
On the evening before our departure I saw them approaching
along one of the great avenues which lead into the
plaza from the east。 I advanced to meet them； and telling
Sola that I would take the responsibility for Dejah Thoris'
safekeeping； I directed her to return to her quarters on some
trivial errand。 I liked and trusted Sola； but for some reason I
desired to be alone with Dejah Thoris； who represented to
me all that