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Again locking his arm in mine； we had proceeded into the
audience chamber。 There were few formalities observed in
approaching the Martian chieftain。 My captor merely strode
up to the rostrum； the others making way for him as he
advanced。 The chieftain rose to his feet and uttered the name
of my escort who； in turn； halted and repeated the name of
the ruler followed by his title。
At the time； this ceremony and the words they uttered
meant nothing to me； but later I came to know that this was
the customary greeting between green Martians。 Had the men
been strangers； and therefore unable to exchange names； they
would have silently exchanged ornaments； had their missions
been peacefulotherwise they would have exchanged shots；
or have fought out their introduction with some other of their
various weapons。
My captor； whose name was Tars Tarkas； was virtually the
vice…chieftain of the community； and a man of great ability as
a statesman and warrior。 He evidently explained briefly the
incidents connected with his expedition； including my capture；
and when he had concluded the chieftain addressed me at
some length。
I replied in our good old English tongue merely to
convince him that neither of us could understand the other；
but I noticed that when I smiled slightly on concluding； he did
likewise。 This fact； and the similar occurrence during my first
talk with Tars Tarkas； convinced me that we had at least
something in common； the ability to smile； therefore to laugh；
denoting a sense of humor。 But I was to learn that the
Martian smile is merely perfunctory； and that the Martian
laugh is a thing to cause strong men to blanch in horror。
The ideas of humor among the green men of Mars are
widely at variance with our conceptions of incitants to
merriment。 The death agonies of a fellow being are； to these
strange creatures provocative of the wildest hilarity； while
their chief form of commonest amusement is to inflict death
on their prisoners of war in various ingenious and horrible
ways。
The assembled warriors and chieftains examined me closely；
feeling my muscles and the texture of my skin。 The principal
chieftain then evidently signified a desire to see me perform；
and； motioning me to follow； he started with Tars Tarkas for
the open plaza。
Now； I had made no attempt to walk； since my first signal
failure； except while tightly grasping Tars Tarkas' arm； and
so now I went skipping and flitting about among the desks
and chairs like some monstrous grasshopper。 After bruising
myself severely； much to the amusement of the Martians； I
again had recourse to creeping； but this did not suit them and
I was roughly jerked to my feet by a towering fellow who had
laughed most heartily at my misfortunes。
As he banged me down upon my feet his face was bent
close to mine and I did the only thing a gentleman might do
under the circumstances of brutality； boorishness； and lack of
consideration for a stranger's rights； I swung my fist squarely
to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox。 As he sunk to
the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest
desk； expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his
fellows； but determined to give them as good a battle as the
unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life。
My fears were groundless； however； as the other Martians；
at first struck dumb with wonderment； finally broke into wild
peals of laughter and applause。 I did not recognize the
applause as such； but later； when I had become acquainted
with their customs； I learned that I had won what they seldom
accord； a manifestation of approbation。
The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen； nor
did any of his mates approach him。 Tars Tarkas advanced
toward me； holding out one of his arms； and we thus proceeded
to the plaza without further mishap。 I did not； of course；
know the reason for which we had come to the open； but I
was not long in being enlightened。 They first repeated
the word 〃sak〃 a number of times； and then Tars Tarkas made
several jumps； repeating the same word before each leap； then；
turning to me； he said； 〃sak！〃 I saw what they were after； and
gathering myself together I 〃sakked〃 with such marvelous
success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet； nor did I
this time； lose my equilibrium； but landed squarely upon my
feet without falling。 I then returned by easy jumps of twenty…
five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors。
My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser
Martians； and they immediately broke into demands for a
repetition； which the chieftain then ordered me to make； but
I was both hungry and thirsty； and determined on the spot
that my only method of salvation was to demand the
consideration from these creatures which they evidently would
not voluntarily accord。 I therefore ignored the repeated
commands to 〃sak；〃 and each time they were made I motioned
to my mouth and rubbed my stomach。
Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words； and the
former； calling to a young female among the throng； gave
her some instructions and motioned me to accompany her。 I
grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza
toward a large building on the far side。
My fair companion was about eight feet tall； having just
arrived at maturity； but not yet to her full height。 She was of
a light olive…green color； with a smooth； glossy hide。 Her
name； as I afterward learned； was Sola； and she belonged to
the retinue of Tars Tarkas。 She conducted me to a spacious
chamber in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza； and
which； from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor； I took
to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives。
The room was well lighted by a number of large windows
and was beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics；
but upon all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch
of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the
architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing
in common with the crude half…brutes which now occupied them。
Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near
the center of the room； and； turning； made a peculiar hissing
sound； as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room。
In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new
Martian wonder。 It waddled in on its ten short legs； and
squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy。 The
thing was about the size of a Shetland pony； but its head bore
a slight resemblance to that of a frog； except that the jaws
were equipped with three rows of long； sharp tusks。
CHAPTER V
I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG
Sola stared into the brute's wicked…looking eyes； muttered a
word or two of command； pointed to me； and left the chamber。
I could not but wonder what this ferocious…looking monstrosity
might do when left alone in such close proximity to such a
relatively tender morsel of meat； but my fears were groundless；
as the beast； after surveying me intently for a moment； crossed
the room to the only exit which led to the street； and lay down
full length across the threshold。
This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog； but
it was destined not to be my last； for this fellow guarded me
carefully during the time I remained a captive among these
green men； twice saving my life； and never voluntarily being
away from me a moment。
While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more
minutely the room in which I found myself captive。 The
mural painting depicted scenes of rare and wonderful beauty；
mountains； rivers； lake； ocean； meadow； trees and flowers；
winding roadways； sun…kissed gardensscenes which might
have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of
the vegetation。 The work had evidently been wrought by a
master hand； so subtle the atmosphere； so perfect the technique；
yet nowhere was there a representation of a living animal；
either human or brute； by which I could guess at the likeness
of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars。
While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture
on the possible explanation of the strange anomalies which
I had so far met with on Mars； Sola returned bearing both
food and drink。 These she placed on the floor beside me；
and seating herself a short ways off regarded me intently。
The food consisted of about a pound of some solid substance of
the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless； while the liquid
was apparently milk from some animal。 It was not unpleasant
to the taste； though slightly acid； and I learned in a short time
to prize it very highly。 It came； as I later discovered； not from
an animal； as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one
very rare indeed； but from a large plant which grows practically
without water； but se