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Jeddak of Thark？〃
A roar of deep…toned applause greeted this suggestion。
〃It but remains for this council to command； and Tal Hajus
must prove his fitness to rule。 Were he a brave man he would
invite Tars Tarkas to combat； for he does not love him；
but Tal Hajus is afraid； Tal Hajus； your jeddak； is a coward。
With my bare hands I could kill him； and he knows it。〃
After I ceased there was tense silence； as all eyes were
riveted upon Tal Hajus。 He did not speak or move； but the
blotchy green of his countenance turned livid； and the froth
froze upon his lips。
〃Tal Hajus；〃 said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold； hard voice；
〃never in my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks
so humiliated。 There could be but one answer to this arraignment。
We wait it。〃 And still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified。
〃Chieftains；〃 continued Lorquas Ptomel； 〃shall the jeddak；
Tal Hajus； prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas？〃
There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum； and
twenty swords flashed high in assent。
There was no alternative。 That decree was final； and so
Tal Hajus drew his long…sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas。
The combat was soon over； and； with his foot upon the neck of
the dead monster； Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks。
His first act was to make me a full…fledged chieftain with
the rank I had won by my combats the first few weeks
of my captivity among them。
Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward
Tars Tarkas； as well as toward me； I grasped the opportunity
to enlist them in my cause against Zodanga。 I told Tars Tarkas
the story of my adventures； and in a few words had explained
to him the thought I had in mind。
〃John Carter has made a proposal；〃 he said； addressing
the council； 〃which meets with my sanction。 I shall put it
to you briefly。 Dejah Thoris； the Princess of Helium； who
was our prisoner； is now held by the jeddak of Zodanga；
whose son she must wed to save her country from devastation
at the hands of the Zodangan forces。
〃John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her
to Helium。 The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent； and
I have often thought that had we an alliance with the people
of Helium we could obtain sufficient assurance of sustenance
to permit us to increase the size and frequency of our hatchings；
and thus become unquestionably supreme among the green men of
all Barsoom。 What say you？〃
It was a chance to fight； an opportunity to loot； and they
rose to the bait as a speckled trout to a fly。
For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic； and before another half
hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across
dead sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition。
In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga；
one hundred thousand strong； as Tars Tarkas had been able
to enlist the services of three smaller hordes on the promise
of the great loot of Zodanga。
At the head of the column I rode beside the great Thark
while at the heels of my mount trotted my beloved Woola。
We traveled entirely by night； timing our marches so that
we camped during the day at deserted cities where； even
to the beasts； we were all kept indoors during the daylight
hours。 On the march Tars Tarkas； through his remarkable
ability and statesmanship； enlisted fifty thousand more warriors
from various hordes； so that； ten days after we set out we halted
at midnight outside the great walled city of Zodanga； one hundred
and fifty thousand strong。
The fighting strength and efficiency of this horde of
ferocious green monsters was equivalent to ten times
their number of red men。 Never in the history of Barsoom；
Tars Tarkas told me； had such a force of green warriors marched
to battle together。 It was a monstrous task to keep even a
semblance of harmony among them； and it was a marvel to
me that he got them to the city without a mighty battle
among themselves。
But as we neared Zodanga their personal quarrels were
submerged by their greater hatred for the red men； and
especially for the Zodangans； who had for years waged a
ruthless campaign of extermination against the green men；
directing special attention toward despoiling their incubators。
Now that we were before Zodanga the task of obtaining
entry to the city devolved upon me； and directing Tars
Tarkas to hold his forces in two divisions out of earshot
of the city； with each division opposite a large gateway； I
took twenty dismounted warriors and approached one of
the small gates that pierced the walls at short intervals。
These gates have no regular guard； but are covered by
sentries； who patrol the avenue that encircles the city just
within the walls as our metropolitan police patrol their
beats。
The walls of Zodanga are seventy…five feet in height and
fifty feet thick。 They are built of enormous blocks of
carborundum； and the task of entering the city seemed；
to my escort of green warriors； an impossibility。
The fellows who had been detailed to accompany me were
of one of the smaller hordes； and therefore did not know me。
Placing three of them with their faces to the wall and arms locked；
I commanded two more to mount to their shoulders； and a sixth I
ordered to climb upon the shoulders of the upper two。 The head
of the topmost warrior towered over forty feet from the ground。
In this way； with ten warriors； I built a series of three
steps from the ground to the shoulders of the topmost man。
Then starting from a short distance behind them I ran
swiftly up from one tier to the next； and with a final bound
from the broad shoulders of the highest I clutched the top
of the great wall and quietly drew myself to its broad expanse。
After me I dragged six lengths of leather from an equal number
of my warriors。 These lengths we had previously fastened together；
and passing one end to the topmost warrior I lowered the other end
cautiously over the opposite side of the wall toward the avenue below。
No one was in sight； so； lowering myself to the end of my leather strap；
I dropped the remaining thirty feet to the pavement below。
I had learned from Kantos Kan the secret of opening
these gates； and in another moment my twenty great fighting
men stood within the doomed city of Zodanga。
I found to my delight that I had entered at the lower
boundary of the enormous palace grounds。 The building
itself showed in the distance a blaze of glorious light； and
on the instant I determined to lead a detachment of warriors
directly within the palace itself； while the balance of
the great horde was attacking the barracks of the soldiery。
Dispatching one of my men to Tars Tarkas for a detail
of fifty Tharks； with word of my intentions； I ordered ten
warriors to capture and open one of the great gates while
with the nine remaining I took the other。 We were to do
our work quietly； no shots were to be fired and no general
advance made until I had reached the palace with my fifty
Tharks。 Our plans worked to perfection。 The two sentries
we met were dispatched to their fathers upon the banks of
the lost sea of Korus； and the guards at both gates followed
them in silence。
CHAPTER XXV
THE LOOTING OF ZODANGA
As the great gate where I stood swung open my fifty Tharks；
headed by Tars Tarkas himself； rode in upon their mighty
thoats。 I led them to the palace walls； which I negotiated
easily without assistance。 Once inside； however； the gate
gave me considerable trouble； but I finally was rewarded
by seeing it swing upon its huge hinges； and soon my fierce
escort was riding across the gardens of the jeddak of Zodanga。
As we approached the palace I could see through the
great windows of the first floor into the brilliantly
illuminated audience chamber of Than Kosis。 The immense hall
was crowded with nobles and their women； as though some
important function was in progress。 There was not a guard
in sight without the palace； due； I presume； to the fact
that the city and palace walls were considered impregnable；
and so I came close and peered within。
At one end of the chamber； upon massive golden thrones
encrusted with diamonds； sat Than Kosis and his consort；
surrounded by officers and dignitaries of state。 Before them
stretched a broad aisle lined on either side with soldiery；
and as I looked there entered this aisle at the far end of
the hall； the head of a procession which advanced to the
foot of the throne。
First there marched four officers of the jeddak's Guard
bearing a huge salver on which reposed； upon a cushion
of scarlet silk； a great golden chain with a collar and
padlock at each end。 Directly behind these officers came
four others carrying a similar salver which supported the
magnificent ornaments of a prince and princess of the
reigning house