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waste across which； for two hundred dangerous and weary miles；
lay another main artery leading to Helium。
No word was spoken until we had left the city far behind；
but I could hear the quiet sobbing of Dejah Thoris as she
clung to me with her dear head resting against my shoulder。
〃If we make it； my chieftain； the debt of Helium will be
a mighty one； greater than she can ever pay you； and should
we not make it；〃 she continued； 〃the debt is no less； though
Helium will never know； for you have saved the last of our
line from worse than death。〃
I did not answer； but instead reached to my side and
pressed the little fingers of her I loved where they clung to
me for support； and then； in unbroken silence； we sped over
the yellow； moonlit moss； each of us occupied with his own
thoughts。 For my part I could not be other than joyful had I
tried； with Dejah Thoris' warm body pressed close to mine；
and with all our unpassed danger my heart was singing as
gaily as though we were already entering the gates of Helium。
Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now
found ourselves without food or drink； and I alone was
armed。 We therefore urged our beasts to a speed that must
tell on them sorely before we could hope to sight the ending
of the first stage of our journey。
We rode all night and all the following day with only a
few short rests。 On the second night both we and our animals
were completely fagged； and so we lay down upon the moss
and slept for some five or six hours； taking up the journey
once more before daylight。 All the following day we rode；
and when； late in the afternoon we had sighted no distant
trees； the mark of the great waterways throughout all Barsoom；
the terrible truth flashed upon uswe were lost。
Evidently we had circled； but which way it was difficult
to say； nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by
day and the moons and stars by night。 At any rate no waterway
was in sight； and the entire party was almost ready to
drop from hunger； thirst and fatigue。 Far ahead of us and
a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines of low
mountains。 These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope
that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway。
Night fell upon us before we reached our goal； and； almost
fainting from weariness and weakness； we lay down and slept。
I was awakened early in the morning by some huge body
pressing close to mine； and opening my eyes with a start I
beheld my blessed old Woola snuggling close to me； the faithful
brute had followed us across that trackless waste to share
our fate； whatever it might be。 Putting my arms about his
neck I pressed my cheek close to his； nor am I ashamed
that I did it； nor of the tears that came to my eyes as I
thought of his love for me。 Shortly after this Dejah Thoris
and Sola awakened； and it was decided that we push on at
once in an effort to gain the hills。
We had gone scarcely a mile when I noticed that my
thoat was commencing to stumble and stagger in a most
pitiful manner； although we had not attempted to force
them out of a walk since about noon of the preceding day。
Suddenly he lurched wildly to one side and pitched violently to
the ground。 Dejah Thoris and I were thrown clear of him
and fell upon the soft moss with scarcely a jar； but the poor
beast was in a pitiable condition； not even being able to rise；
although relieved of our weight。 Sola told me that the coolness
of the night； when it fell； together with the rest would
doubtless revive him； and so I decided not to kill him； as
was my first intention； as I had thought it cruel to leave him
alone there to die of hunger and thirst。 Relieving him of his
trappings； which I flung down beside him； we left the poor
fellow to his fate； and pushed on with the one thoat as best
we could。 Sola and I walked； making Dejah Thoris ride； much
against her will。 In this way we had progressed to within
about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring to reach when
Dejah Thoris； from her point of vantage upon the thoat；
cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing
down from a pass in the hills several miles away。 Sola and I
both looked in the direction she indicated； and there； plainly
discernible； were several hundred mounted warriors。 They
seemed to be headed in a southwesterly direction； which
would take them away from us。
They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent
out to capture us； and we breathed a great sigh of relief that
they were traveling in the opposite direction。 Quickly lifting
Dejah Thoris from the thoat； I commanded the animal to lie
down and we three did the same； presenting as small an object
as possible for fear of attracting the attention of the
warriors toward us。
We could see them as they filed out of the pass； just for
an instant； before they were lost to view behind a friendly
ridge； to us a most providential ridge； since； had they
been in view for any great length of time； they scarcely
could have failed to discover us。 As what proved to be the
last warrior came into view from the pass； he halted and； to our
consternation； threw his small but powerful fieldglass to his
eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions。 Evidently
he was a chieftain； for in certain marching formations among the
green men a chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column。
As his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts；
and I could feel the cold sweat start from every pore in my body。
Presently it swung full upon us andstopped。 The tension
on our nerves was near the breaking point； and I doubt if
any of us breathed for the few moments he held us covered
by his glass； and then he lowered it and we could see him
shout a command to the warriors who had passed from our
sight behind the ridge。 He did not wait for them to join
him； however； instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing
madly in our direction。
There was but one slight chance and that we must take
quickly。 Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I
sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger；
there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal； and
the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying
mount。
Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise； and directed
Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a
mighty effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were
upon us。 I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might
find a temporary hiding place； and even though they died
there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than that
they fell into the hands of the Tharks。 Forcing my two
revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection； and；
as a last resort； as an escape for themselves from the horrid
death which recapture would surely mean； I lifted Dejah
Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the thoat behind
Sola； who had already mounted at my command。
〃Good…bye； my princess；〃 I whispered； 〃we may meet in
Helium yet。 I have escaped from worse plights than this；〃
and I tried to smile as I lied。
〃What；〃 she cried； 〃are you not coming with us？〃
〃How may I； Dejah Thoris？ Someone must hold these
fellows off for a while； and I can better escape them alone
than could the three of us together。〃
She sprang quickly from the thoat and； throwing her dear
arms about my neck； turned to Sola； saying with quiet dignity：
〃Fly； Sola！ Dejah Thoris remains to die with the man she
loves。〃
Those words are engraved upon my heart。 Ah； gladly
would I give up my life a thousand times could I only hear
them once again； but I could not then give even a second to
the rapture of her sweet embrace； and pressing my lips to
hers for the first time； I picked her up bodily and tossed
her to her seat behind Sola again； commanding the latter
in peremptory tones to hold her there by force； and then；
slapping the thoat upon the flank； I saw them borne away；
Dejah Thoris struggling to the last to free herself from
Sola's grasp。
Turning； I beheld the green warriors mounting the ridge
and looking for their chieftain。 In a moment they saw him；
and then me； but scarcely had they discovered me than I
commenced firing； lying flat upon my belly in the moss。 I had
an even hundred rounds in the magazine of my rifle； and
another hundred in the belt at my back； and I kept up a
continuous stream of fire until I saw all of the warriors who
had been first to return from behind the ridge either dead or
scurrying to cover。
My respite was short…lived however； for soon the entire
party； numbering some thousand men； came charging into
view； racing madly toward me。 I fired until my rifle was
empty and they were almost upon me； and then a glance
showing me that Dejah Thoris and Sola had disappeared
among the hills； I sprang up； throw