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speedometer。 It was true I could follow the stars in the
general direction of Helium； but without knowing the exact
location of the city or the speed at which I was traveling
my chances for finding it were slim。
Helium lies a thousand miles southwest of Zodanga； and
with my compass intact I should have made the trip； barring
accidents； in between four and five hours。 As it turned
out； however； morning found me speeding over a vast expanse
of dead sea bottom after nearly six hours of continuous
flight at high speed。 Presently a great city showed
below me； but it was not Helium； as that alone of all
Barsoomian metropolises consists in two immense circular
walled cities about seventy…five miles apart and would
have been easily distinguishable from the altitude at
which I was flying。
Believing that I had come too far to the north and west；
I turned back in a southeasterly direction； passing during
the forenoon several other large cities； but none resembling
the description which Kantos Kan had given me of Helium。
In addition to the twin…city formation of Helium； another
distinguishing feature is the two immense towers； one of
vivid scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the
center of one of the cities； while the other； of bright yellow
and of the same height； marks her sister。
CHAPTER XXIV
TARS TARKAS FINDS A FRIEND
About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient
Mars； and as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I
came full upon several thousand green warriors engaged in
a terrific battle。 Scarcely had I seen them than a volley of
shots was directed at me； and with the almost unfailing
accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined
wreck； sinking erratically to the ground。
I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat；
among warriors who had not seen my approach so busily
were they engaged in life and death struggles。 The men
were fighting on foot with long…swords； while an occasional
shot from a sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict
would bring down a warrior who might for an instant separate
himself from the entangled mass。
As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight
or die； with good chances of dying in any event； and so I
struck the ground with drawn long…sword ready to defend
myself as I could。
I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three
antagonists； and as I glanced at his fierce face； filled with
the light of battle； I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark。 He
did not see me； as I was a trifle behind him； and just then
the three warriors opposing him； and whom I recognized
as Warhoons； charged simultaneously。 The mighty fellow
made quick work of one of them； but in stepping back for
another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and
was down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant。 Quick
as lightning they were upon him； and Tars Tarkas would
have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not
sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries。
I had accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark
regained his feet and quickly settled the other。
He gave me one look； and a slight smile touched his grim
lip as； touching my shoulder； he said；
〃I would scarcely recognize you； John Carter； but there
is no other mortal upon Barsoom who would have done
what you have for me。 I think I have learned that there is
such a thing as friendship； my friend。〃
He said no more； nor was there opportunity； for the
Warhoons were closing in about us； and together we fought；
shoulder to shoulder； during all that long； hot afternoon；
until the tide of battle turned and the remnant of the fierce
Warhoon horde fell back upon their thoats； and fled into
the gathering darkness。
Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle；
and upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead。
Neither side asked or gave quarter； nor did they attempt
to take prisoners。
On our return to the city after the battle we had gone
directly to Tars Tarkas' quarters； where I was left alone
while the chieftain attended the customary council which
immediately follows an engagement。
As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard
something move in an adjoining apartment； and as I glanced
up there rushed suddenly upon me a huge and hideous
creature which bore me backward upon the pile of silks and
furs upon which I had been reclining。 It was Woolafaithful；
loving Woola。 He had found his way back to Thark and；
as Tars Tarkas later told me； had gone immediately to my
former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and
seemingly hopeless watch for my return。
〃Tal Hajus knows that you are here； John Carter；〃 said
Tars Tarkas； on his return from the jeddak's quarters；
〃Sarkoja saw and recognized you as we were returning。 Tal
Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him tonight。 I
have ten thoats； John Carter； you may take your choice
from among them； and I will accompany you to the nearest
waterway that leads to Helium。 Tars Tarkas may be a cruel
green warrior； but he can be a friend as well。 Come； we
must start。〃
〃And when you return； Tars Tarkas？〃 I asked。
〃The wild calots； possibly； or worse；〃 he replied。 〃Unless
I should chance to have the opportunity I have so long
waited of battling with Tal Hajus。〃
〃We will stay； Tars Tarkas； and see Tal Hajus tonight。
You shall not sacrifice yourself； and it may be that tonight
you can have the chance you wait。〃
He objected strenuously； saying that Tal Hajus often flew
into wild fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I
had dealt him； and that if ever he laid his hands upon me
I would be subjected to the most horrible tortures。
While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story
which Sola had told me that night upon the sea bottom
during the march to Thark。
He said but little； but the great muscles of his face
worked in passion and in agony at recollection of the
horrors which had been heaped upon the only thing he had
ever loved in all his cold； cruel； terrible existence。
He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before
Tal Hajus； only saying that he would like to speak to
Sarkoja first。 At his request I accompanied him to her
quarters； and the look of venomous hatred she cast upon
me was almost adequate recompense for any future misfortunes
this accidental return to Thark might bring me。
〃Sarkoja；〃 said Tars Tarkas； 〃forty years ago you were
instrumental in bringing about the torture and death of a
woman named Gozava。 I have just discovered that the warrior
who loved that woman has learned of your part in the transaction。
He may not kill you； Sarkoja； it is not our custom； but there is
nothing to prevent him tying one end of a strap about your neck
and the other end to a wild thoat； merely to test your fitness
to survive and help perpetuate our race。 Having heard that he
would do this on the morrow； I thought it only right to warn you；
for I am a just man。 The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage；
Sarkoja。 Come； John Carter。〃
The next morning Sarkoja was gone； nor was she ever seen after。
In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace； where we were
immediately admitted to his presence； in fact； he could
scarcely wait to see me and was standing erect upon his
platform glowering at the entrance as I came in。
〃Strap him to that pillar；〃 he shrieked。 〃We shall see who
it is dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus。 Heat the irons； with
my own hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he
may not pollute my person with his vile gaze。〃
〃Chieftains of Thark；〃 I cried； turning to the assembled
council and ignoring Tal Hajus； 〃I have been a chief among
you； and today I have fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder
with her greatest warrior。 You owe me； at least； a hearing。
I have won that much today。 You claim to be just people〃
〃Silence；〃 roared Tal Hajus。 〃Gag the creature and bind
him as I command。〃
〃Justice； Tal Hajus；〃 exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel。 〃Who are
you to set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks。〃
〃Yes； justice！〃 echoed a dozen voices； and so； while Tal
Hajus fumed and frothed； I continued。
〃You are a brave people and you love bravery； but where
was your mighty jeddak during the fighting today？ I did
not see him in the thick of battle； he was not there。 He
rends defenseless women and little children in his lair； but
how recently has one of you seen him fight with men？ Why；
even I； a midget beside him； felled him with a single blow
of my fist。 Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks？
There stands beside me now a great Thark； a mighty warrior
and a noble man。 Chieftains； how sounds； Tars Tarkas；
Jeddak of Thark？〃
A roar of deep…toned applause greeted t