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family had collected in a sunken garden within an inner
courtyard of the palace。 We conversed in low tones； when
we conversed at all； as the awe of the grim shadow of death
crept over us。 Even Woola seemed to feel the weight of the
impending calamity； for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris
and to me； whining pitifully。
The little incubator had been brought from the roof of
our palace at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing
longingly upon the unknown little life that now she would
never know。
As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos
Mors arose； saying；
〃Let us bid each other farewell。 The days of the greatness
of Barsoom are over。 Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a
dead world which through all eternity must go swinging through
the heavens peopled not even by memories。 It is the end。〃
He stooped and kissed the women of his family； and laid
his strong hand upon the shoulders of the men。
As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah
Thoris。 Her head was drooping upon her breast； to all
appearances she was lifeless。 With a cry I sprang to her
and raised her in my arms。
Her eyes opened and looked into mine。
〃Kiss me； John Carter；〃 she murmured。 〃I love you！
I love you！ It is cruel that we must be torn apart who
were just starting upon a life of love and happiness。〃
As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of
unconquerable power and authority rose in me。 The fighting
blood of Virginia sprang to life in my veins。
〃It shall not be； my princess；〃 I cried。 〃There is； there
must be some way； and John Carter； who has fought his way
through a strange world for love of you； will find it。〃
And with my words there crept above the threshold of my
conscious mind a series of nine long forgotten sounds。 Like a
flash of lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned
upon methe key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant！
Turning suddenly toward Tardos Mors as I still clasped my
dying love to my breast I cried。
〃A flier； Jeddak！ Quick！ Order your swiftest flier to the
palace top。 I can save Barsoom yet。〃
He did not wait to question； but in an instant a guard was racing
to the nearest dock and though the air was thin and almost gone
at the rooftop they managed to launch the fastest one…man；
air…scout machine that the skill of Barsoom had ever produced。
Kissing Dejah Thoris a dozen times and commanding Woola；
who would have followed me； to remain and guard her；
I bounded with my old agility and strength to the high
ramparts of the palace； and in another moment I was headed
toward the goal of the hopes of all Barsoom。
I had to fly low to get sufficient air to breathe； but I took
a straight course across an old sea bottom and so had to rise
only a few feet above the ground。
I traveled with awful velocity for my errand was a race
against time with death。 The face of Dejah Thoris hung
always before me。 As I turned for a last look as I left
the palace garden I had seen her stagger and sink upon the
ground beside the little incubator。 That she had dropped
into the last coma which would end in death； if the air
supply remained unreplenished； I well knew； and so； throwing
caution to the winds； I flung overboard everything but the
engine and compass； even to my ornaments； and lying on my
belly along the deck with one hand on the steering wheel
and the other pushing the speed lever to its last notch I
split the thin air of dying Mars with the speed of a meteor。
An hour before dark the great walls of the atmosphere
plant loomed suddenly before me； and with a sickening thud
I plunged to the ground before the small door which was
withholding the spark of life from the inhabitants of an
entire planet。
Beside the door a great crew of men had been laboring
to pierce the wall； but they had scarcely scratched the flint…
like surface； and now most of them lay in the last sleep from
which not even air would awaken them。
Conditions seemed much worse here than at Helium； and
it was with difficulty that I breathed at all。 There were
a few men still conscious； and to one of these I spoke。
〃If I can open these doors is there a man who can start
the engines？〃 I asked。
〃I can；〃 he replied； 〃if you open quickly。 I can last but a
few moments more。 But it is useless； they are both dead
and no one else upon Barsoom knew the secret of these awful
locks。 For three days men crazed with fear have surged
about this portal in vain attempts to solve its mystery。〃
I had no time to talk； I was becoming very weak and it
was with difficulty that I controlled my mind at all。
But； with a final effort； as I sank weakly to my knees I
hurled the nine thought waves at that awful thing before me。
The Martian had crawled to my side and with staring eyes
fixed on the single panel before us we waited in the silence
of death。
Slowly the mighty door receded before us。 I attempted to
rise and follow it but I was too weak。
〃After it；〃 I cried to my companion； 〃and if you reach the
pump room turn loose all the pumps。 It is the only chance
Barsoom has to exist tomorrow！〃
From where I lay I opened the second door； and then the
third； and as I saw the hope of Barsoom crawling weakly on
hands and knees through the last doorway I sank unconscious
upon the ground。
CHAPTER XXVIII
AT THE ARIZONA CAVE
It was dark when I opened my eyes again。 Strange； stiff
garments were upon my body； garments that cracked and
powdered away from me as I rose to a sitting posture。
I felt myself over from head to foot and from head to
foot I was clothed； though when I fell unconscious at the
little doorway I had been naked。 Before me was a small
patch of moonlit sky which showed through a ragged aperture。
As my hands passed over my body they came in contact
with pockets and in one of these a small parcel of matches
wrapped in oiled paper。 One of these matches I struck； and
its dim flame lighted up what appeared to be a huge cave；
toward the back of which I discovered a strange； still figure
huddled over a tiny bench。 As I approached it I saw that it
was the dead and mummified remains of a little old woman
with long black hair； and the thing it leaned over was a small
charcoal burner upon which rested a round copper vessel
containing a small quantity of greenish powder。
Behind her； depending from the roof upon rawhide thongs；
and stretching entirely across the cave； was a row of human
skeletons。 From the thong which held them stretched another
to the dead hand of the little old woman； as I touched
the cord the skeletons swung to the motion with a noise as
of the rustling of dry leaves。
It was a most grotesque and horrid tableau and I hastened
out into the fresh air； glad to escape from so gruesome a place。
The sight that met my eyes as I stepped out upon a small
ledge which ran before the entrance of the cave filled me
with consternation。
A new heaven and a new landscape met my gaze。 The silvered
mountains in the distance； the almost stationary moon
hanging in the sky； the cacti…studded valley below me
were not of Mars。 I could scarcely believe my eyes； but the
truth slowly forced itself upon meI was looking upon Arizona
from the same ledge from which ten years before I had gazed
with longing upon Mars。
Burying my head in my arms I turned； broken； and sorrowful；
down the trail from the cave。
Above me shone the red eye of Mars holding her awful
secret； forty…eight million miles away。
Did the Martian reach the pump room？ Did the vitalizing
air reach the people of that distant planet in time to save
them？ Was my Dejah Thoris alive； or did her beautiful body
lie cold in death beside the tiny golden incubator in the
sunken garden of the inner courtyard of the palace of Tardos
Mors； the jeddak of Helium？
For ten years I have waited and prayed for an answer to
my questions。 For ten years I have waited and prayed to be
taken back to the world of my lost love。 I would rather lie
dead beside her there than live on Earth all those millions of
terrible miles from her。
The old mine； which I found untouched； has made me
fabulously wealthy； but what care I for wealth！
As I sit here tonight in my little study overlooking the
Hudson； just twenty years have elapsed since I first opened
my eyes upon Mars。
I can see her shining in the sky through the little window
by my desk； and tonight she seems calling to me again as
she has not called before since that long dead night； and I
think I can see； across that awful abyss of space； a beautiful
black…haired woman standing in the garden of a palace；
and at her side is a little boy who puts his arm around her
as she points into the sky toward the planet Earth； while at