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mighty thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts
of the enemy。 At the same moment the battle line of Helium
surged over the opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and in
another moment they were being crushed as between two
millstones。 Nobly they fought； but in vain。
The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere
the last Zodangan surrendered； but finally the carnage ceased；
the prisoners were marched back to Helium； and we entered
the greater city's gates； a huge triumphal procession of
conquering heroes。
The broad avenues were lined with women and children；
among which were the few men whose duties necessitated
that they remain within the city during the battle。 We were
greeted with an endless round of applause and showered with
ornaments of gold； platinum； silver； and precious jewels。
The city had gone mad with joy。
My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm。
Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the
gates of Helium； and that they came now as friends and allies
filled the red men with rejoicing。
That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known
to the Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my
name； and by the loads of ornaments that were fastened upon
me and my huge thoat as we passed up the avenues to the
palace； for even in the face of the ferocious appearance of
Woola the populace pressed close about me。
As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a
party of officers who greeted us warmly and requested that
Tars Tarkas and his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his
wild allies； together with myself； dismount and accompany
them to receive from Tardos Mors an expression of his
gratitude for our services。
At the top of the great steps leading up to the main
portals of the palace stood the royal party； and as we reached
the lower steps one of their number descended to meet us。
He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood； tall； straight
as an arrow； superbly muscled and with the carriage and
bearing of a ruler of men。 I did not need to be told that he
was Tardos Mors； Jeddak of Helium。
The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas
and his first words sealed forever the new friendship
between the races。
〃That Tardos Mors；〃 he said； earnestly； 〃may meet the
greatest living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor； but
that he may lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and
ally is a far greater boon。〃
〃Jeddak of Helium；〃 returned Tars Tarkas； 〃it has remained
for a man of another world to teach the green warriors of
Barsoom the meaning of friendship； to him we owe the fact that
the hordes of Thark can understand you； that they can appreciate
and reciprocate the sentiments so graciously expressed。〃
Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds；
and to each spoke words of friendship and appreciation
As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders。
〃Welcome； my son；〃 he said； 〃that you are granted； gladly；
and without one word of opposition； the most precious
jewel in all Helium； yes； on all Barsoom； is sufficient
earnest of my esteem。〃
We were then presented to Mors Kajak； Jed of lesser Helium；
and father of Dejah Thoris。 He had followed close behind
Tardos Mors and seemed even more affected by the meeting
than had his father。
He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me； but
his voice choked with emotion and he could not speak； and
yet he had； as I was to later learn； a reputation for ferocity
and fearlessness as a fighter that was remarkable even upon
warlike Barsoom。 In common with all Helium he worshiped
his daughter； nor could he think of what she had escaped
without deep emotion。
CHAPTER XXVII
FROM JOY TO DEATH
For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were
feasted and entertained； and； then； loaded with costly
presents and escorted by ten thousand soldiers of Helium
commanded by Mors Kajak； they started on the return journey
to their own lands。 The jed of lesser Helium with a small
party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to
cement more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship。
Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas； her father； who before
all his chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter。
Three weeks later； Mors Kajak and his officers； accompanied
by Tars Tarkas and Sola； returned upon a battleship that
had been dispatched to Thark to fetch them in time for
the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris and John Carter one。
For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the
armies of Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors。
The people seemed never to tire of heaping honors upon me；
and no day passed that did not bring some new proof of
their love for my princess； the incomparable Dejah Thoris。
In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a
snow…white egg。 For nearly five years ten soldiers of the
jeddak's Guard had constantly stood over it； and not a day
passed when I was in the city that Dejah Thoris and I did
not stand hand in hand before our little shrine planning for
the future； when the delicate shell should break。
Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we
sat there talking in low tones of the strange romance which
had woven our lives together and of this wonder which was
coming to augment our happiness and fulfill our hopes。
In the distance we saw the bright…white light of an
approaching airship； but we attached no special
significance to so common a sight。 Like a bolt of
lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed
bespoke the unusual。
Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer
for the jeddak； it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy
patrol boat which must convoy it to the palace docks。
Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message
called me to the council chamber； which I found filling with
the members of that body。
On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors；
pacing back and forth with tense…drawn face。 When all were
in their seats he turned toward us。
〃This morning；〃 he said； 〃word reached the several
governments of Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere
plant had made no wireless report for two days； nor had
almost ceaseless calls upon him from a score of capitals
elicited a sign of response。
〃The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take
the matter in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the
plant。 All day a thousand cruisers have been searching for
him until just now one of them returns bearing his dead
body； which was found in the pits beneath his house horribly
mutilated by some assassin。
〃I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom。 It
would take months to penetrate those mighty walls； in fact
the work has already commenced； and there would be little
to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it
should and as they all have for hundreds of years now； but the
worst； we fear； has happened。 The instruments show a rapidly
decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoomthe engine has stopped。〃
〃My gentlemen；〃 he concluded； 〃we have at best three days to live。〃
There was absolute silence for several minutes； and then
a young noble arose； and with his drawn sword held high
above his head addressed Tardos Mors。
〃The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have
ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live；
now is our opportunity to show them how they should die。
Let us go about our duties as though a thousand useful years
still lay before us。〃
The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing
better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our
example we went our ways with smiles upon our faces and
sorrow gnawing at our hearts。
When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already
had reached Dejah Thoris； so I told her all that I had heard。
〃We have been very happy； John Carter；〃 she said； 〃and I thank
whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together。〃
The next two days brought no noticeable change in the
supply of air； but on the morning of the third day breathing
became difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops。
The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people。
All business had ceased。 For the most part the people looked
bravely into the face of their unalterable doom。 Here and
there； however； men and women gave way to quiet grief。
Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced
to succumb and within an hour the people of Barsoom
were sinking by thousands into the unconsciousness
which precedes death by asphyxiation。
Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal
family had collected in a sunken garden within an inner
courtya