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plainly； as I stood there under the moonlit skies of Barsoom；
and I longed for them as I had never longed for any mortals
before。 By nature a wanderer； I had never known the
true meaning of the word home； but the great hall of the
Carters had always stood for all that the word did mean to
me； and now my heart turned toward it from the cold and
unfriendly peoples I had been thrown amongst。 For did not
even Dejah Thoris despise me！ I was a low creature； so low
in fact that I was not even fit to polish the teeth of her
grandmother's cat； and then my saving sense of humor came
to my rescue； and laughing I turned into my silks and furs
and slept upon the moon…haunted ground the sleep of a tired
and healthy fighting man。
We broke camp the next day at an early hour and marched
with only a single halt until just before dark。 Two incidents
broke the tediousness of the march。 About noon we espied
far to our right what was evidently an incubator； and Lorquas
Ptomel directed Tars Tarkas to investigate it。 The latter
took a dozen warriors； including myself； and we raced across
the velvety carpeting of moss to the little enclosure。
It was indeed an incubator； but the eggs were very small
in comparison with those I had seen hatching in ours at the
time of my arrival on Mars。
Tars Tarkas dismounted and examined the enclosure minutely；
finally announcing that it belonged to the green men
of Warhoon and that the cement was scarcely dry where it
had been walled up。
〃They cannot be a day's march ahead of us；〃 he exclaimed；
the light of battle leaping to his fierce face。
The work at the incubator was short indeed。 The warriors
tore open the entrance and a couple of them； crawling
in； soon demolished all the eggs with their short…swords。
Then remounting we dashed back to join the cavalcade。
During the ride I took occasion to ask Tars Tarkas if these
Warhoons whose eggs we had destroyed were a smaller people
than his Tharks。
〃I noticed that their eggs were so much smaller than those
I saw hatching in your incubator；〃 I added。
He explained that the eggs had just been placed there； but；
like all green Martian eggs； they would grow during the
five…year period of incubation until they obtained the size of
those I had seen hatching on the day of my arrival on Barsoom。
This was indeed an interesting piece of information；
for it had always seemed remarkable to me that the green
Martian women； large as they were； could bring forth such
enormous eggs as I had seen the four…foot infants emerging
from。 As a matter of fact； the new…laid egg is but little larger
than an ordinary goose egg； and as it does not commence to
grow until subjected to the light of the sun the chieftains
have little difficulty in transporting several hundreds of them
at one time from the storage vaults to the incubators。
Shortly after the incident of the Warhoon eggs we halted
to rest the animals； and it was during this halt that the
second of the day's interesting episodes occurred。 I was
engaged in changing my riding cloths from one of my thoats
to the other； for I divided the day's work between them；
when Zad approached me； and without a word struck my
animal a terrific blow with his long…sword。
I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know
what reply to make； for； in fact； I was so wild with anger
that I could scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and
shooting him down for the brute he was； but he stood waiting
with drawn long…sword； and my only choice was to draw my own
and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or
a lesser one。
This latter alternative is always permissible； therefore I
could have used my short…sword； my dagger； my hatchet； or
my fists had I wished； and been entirely within my rights；
but I could not use firearms or a spear while he held only
his long…sword。
I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he
prided himself upon his ability with it； and I wished； if I
worsted him at all； to do it with his own weapon。 The fight
that followed was a long one and delayed the resumption of
the march for an hour。 The entire community surrounded
us； leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter
for our battle。
Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a
wolf； but I was much too quick for him； and each time I
side…stepped his rushes he would go lunging past me； only
to receive a nick from my sword upon his arm or back。 He
was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor wounds；
but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective
thrust。 Then he changed his tactics； and fighting warily and
with extreme dexterity； he tried to do by science what he
was unable to do by brute strength。 I must admit that he was
a magnificent swordsman； and had it not been for my greater
endurance and the remarkable agility the lesser gravitation
of Mars lent me I might not have been able to put up the
creditable fight I did against him。
We circled for some time without doing much damage on
either side； the long； straight； needle…like swords flashing in
the sunlight； and ringing out upon the stillness as they
crashed together with each effective parry。 Finally Zad；
realizing that he was tiring more than I； evidently decided to
close in and end the battle in a final blaze of glory for himself；
just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light struck full
in my eyes； so that I could not see his approach and could
only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the
mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals。
I was only partially successful； as a sharp pain in my left
shoulder attested； but in the sweep of my glance as I sought
to again locate my adversary； a sight met my astonished
gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness
had caused me。 There； upon Dejah Thoris' chariot
stood three figures； for the purpose evidently of witnessing
the encounter above the heads of the intervening Tharks。
There were Dejah Thoris； Sola； and Sarkoja； and as my
fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was presented
which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my death。
As I looked； Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the
fury of a young tigress and struck something from her
upraised hand； something which flashed in the sunlight as
it spun to the ground。 Then I knew what had blinded me at
that crucial moment of the fight； and how Sarkoja had found
a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust。
Another thing I saw； too； which almost lost my life for me
then and there； for it took my mind for the fraction of an
instant entirely from my antagonist； for； as Dejah Thoris
struck the tiny mirror from her hand； Sarkoja； her face livid
with hatred and baffled rage； whipped out her dagger and
aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris； and then Sola； our dear
and faithful Sola； sprang between them； the last I saw was
the great knife descending upon her shielding breast。
My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it
extremely interesting for me； so I reluctantly gave my
attention to the work in hand； but my mind was not upon the
battle。
We rushed each other furiously time after time； 'til suddenly；
feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust
I could neither parry nor escape； I threw myself upon him
with outstretched sword and with all the weight of my
body； determined that I would not die alone if I could
prevent it。 I felt the steel tear into my chest； all went
black before me； my head whirled in dizziness； and I felt my
knees giving beneath me。
CHAPTER XV
SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY
When consciousness returned； and； as I soon learned； I was
down but a moment； I sprang quickly to my feet searching
for my sword； and there I found it； buried to the hilt in the
green breast of Zad； who lay stone dead upon the ochre
moss of the ancient sea bottom。 As I regained my full senses
I found his weapon piercing my left breast； but only through
the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs； entering near
the center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder。
As I had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely
passed beneath the muscles； inflicting a painful but not
dangerous wound。
Removing the blade from my body I also regained my
own； and turning my back upon his ugly carcass； I moved；
sick； sore； and disgusted； toward the chariots which bore my
retinue and my belongings。 A murmur of Martian applause
greeted me； but I cared not for it。
Bleeding and weak I reached my women； who； accustomed to
such happenings； dressed my wounds； applying the wonderful
healing and remedial agents which make only the most
instantaneous of death blows fatal。 Give a Martian woman
a chance and death must take a back seat。 They soon had
me