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As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's
neck I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming
eyes fixed； unwinking； upon me。 Slowly they approached and slowly
I shrank back from the awful horror of them。 Back into my corner
I crouched holding my hands palms out； before me； and stealthily
on came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet。
Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating
sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess
of my dungeon。
CHAPTER XIX
BATTLING IN THE ARENA
Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again
to attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my
former jailer。 But as I reached out into the darkness to locate
it I found to my horror that it was gone。 Then the truth
flashed on me； the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged
my prize away from me to be devoured in their neighboring lair；
as they had been waiting for days； for weeks； for months；
through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag
my dead carcass to their feast。
For two days no food was brought me； but then a new
messenger appeared and my incarceration went on as before；
but not again did I allow my reason to be submerged by the
horror of my position。
Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in
and chained near me。 By the dim torch light I saw that he
was a red Martian and I could scarcely await the departure
of his guards to address him。 As their retreating footsteps
died away in the distance； I called out softly the Martian
word of greeting； kaor。
〃Who are you who speaks out of the darkness？〃 he answered
〃John Carter； a friend of the red men of Helium。〃
〃I am of Helium；〃 he said； 〃but I do not recall your name。〃
And then I told him my story as I have written it here；
omitting only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris。
He was much excited by the news of Helium's princess and
seemed quite positive that she and Sola could easily have
reached a point of safety from where they left me。 He said
that he knew the place well because the defile through which
the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was
the only one ever used by them when marching to the south。
〃Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles
from a great waterway and are now probably quite safe；〃
he assured me。
My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan； a padwar （lieutenant）
in the navy of Helium。 He had been a member of the ill…
fated expedition which had fallen into the hands of the
Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' capture； and he briefly
related the events which followed the defeat of the battleships。
Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped
slowly toward Helium； but while passing near the city of
Zodanga； the capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among
the red men of Barsoom； they had been attacked by a great
body of war vessels and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan
belonged were either destroyed or captured。 His vessel was
chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but
finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless night。
Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris； or about
the time of our coming to Thark； his vessel had reached
Helium with about ten survivors of the original crew of seven
hundred officers and men。 Immediately seven great fleets；
each of one hundred mighty war ships； had been dispatched
to search for Dejah Thoris； and from these vessels two
thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in
futile search for the missing princess。
Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the
face of Barsoom by the avenging fleets； but no trace of Dejah
Thoris had been found。 They had been searching among the
northern hordes； and only within the past few days had
they extended their quest to the south。
Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one…man
fliers and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the
Warhoons while exploring their city。 The bravery and daring
of the man won my greatest respect and admiration。 Alone he
had landed at the city's boundary and on foot had penetrated
to the buildings surrounding the plaza。 For two days and
nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in
search of his beloved princess only to fall into the
hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave； after
assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there。
During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I
became well acquainted； and formed a warm personal friendship。
A few days only elapsed； however； before we were dragged forth
from our dungeon for the great games。 We were conducted early
one morning to an enormous amphitheater； which instead of having
been built upon the surface of the ground was excavated below
the surface。 it had partially filled with debris so that how
large it had originally been was difficult to say。 In its
present condition it held the entire twenty thousand Warhoons
of the assembled hordes。
The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt。
Around it the Warhoons had piled building stone from
some of the ruined edifices of the ancient city to prevent
the animals and the captives from escaping into the
audience； and at each end had been constructed cages
to hold them until their turns came to meet some horrible
death upon the arena。
Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages。
In the others were wild calots； thoats； mad zitidars；
green warriors； and women of other hordes； and many
strange and ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had
never before seen。 The din of their roaring； growling and
squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of
any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel
grave forebodings。
Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one
of these prisoners would gain freedom and the others would
lie dead about the arena。 The winners in the various contests
of the day would be pitted against each other until only two
remained alive； the victor in the last encounter being set free；
whether animal or man。 The following morning the cages would
be filled with a new consignment of victims； and so on
throughout the ten days of the games。
Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill
and within an hour every available part of the seating space
was occupied。 Dak Kova； with his jeds and chieftains； sat at
the center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform。
At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were
thrown open and a dozen green Martian females were
driven to the center of the arena。 Each was given a
dagger and then； at the far end； a pack of twelve calots；
or wild dogs were loosed upon them。
As the brutes； growling and foaming； rushed upon the almost
defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the
horrid sight。 The yells and laughter of the green horde
bore witness to the excellent quality of the sport and
when I turned back to the arena； as Kantos Kan told me it
was over； I saw three victorious calots； snarling and growling
over the bodies of their prey。 The women had given a good account
of themselves。
Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs；
and so it went throughout the long； hot； horrible day。
During the day I was pitted against first men and then
beasts； but as I was armed with a long…sword and always
outclassed my adversary in agility and generally in strength
as well； it proved but child's play to me。 Time and time again
I won the applause of the bloodthirsty multitude； and toward
the end there were cries that I be taken from the arena
and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon。
Finally there were but three of us left； a great green warrior
of some far northern horde； Kantos Kan； and myself。
The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror
for the liberty which was accorded the final winner。
Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and
like myself had always proven victorious； but occasionally
by the smallest of margins； especially when pitted against
the green warriors。 I had little hope that he could best his
giant adversary who had mowed down all before him during
the day。 The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height；
while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet。 As they
advanced to meet one another I saw for the first time a trick
of Martian swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's
every hope of victory and life on one cast of the dice； for；
as he came to within about twenty feet of the huge fellow
he threw his sword arm far behind him over his shoulder
and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost
at the green warrior。 It flew true as an arr