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the great eyes of my beast bulging completely from their
sockets and blood flowing from its nostrils。 That he was
weakening perceptibly was evident； but so also was the ape；
whose struggles were growing momentarily less。
Suddenly I came to myself and； with that strange instinct
which seems ever to prompt me to my duty； I seized the
cudgel； which had fallen to the floor at the commencement of
the battle； and swinging it with all the power of my earthly
arms I crashed it full upon the head of the ape； crushing his
skull as though it had been an eggshell。
Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted
with a new danger。 The ape's mate； recovered from its first
shock of terror； had returned to the scene of the encounter
by way of the interior of the building。 I glimpsed him just
before he reached the doorway and the sight of him； now
roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched upon the
floor； and frothing at the mouth； in the extremity of his rage；
filled me； I must confess； with dire forebodings。
I am ever willing to stand and fight when the odds are not
too overwhelmingly against me； but in this instance I perceived
neither glory nor profit in pitting my relatively puny strength
against the iron muscles and brutal ferocity of this enraged
denizen of an unknown world； in fact； the only outcome
of such an encounter； so far as I might be concerned；
seemed sudden death。
I was standing near the window and I knew that once in
the street I might gain the plaza and safety before the creature
could overtake me； at least there was a chance for safety in
flight； against almost certain death should I remain and fight
however desperately。
It is true I held the cudgel； but what could I do with it
against his four great arms？ Even should I break one of them
with my first blow； for I figured that he would attempt to ward
off the cudgel； he could reach out and annihilate me with the
others before I could recover for a second attack。
In the instant that these thoughts passed through my mind
I had turned to make for the window； but my eyes alighting on
the form of my erstwhile guardian threw all thoughts of flight
to the four winds。 He lay gasping upon the floor of the
chamber； his great eyes fastened upon me in what seemed a
pitiful appeal for protection。 I could not withstand that look；
nor could I； on second thought； have deserted my rescuer
without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf
as he had in mine。
Without more ado； therefore； I turned to meet the charge
of the infuriated bull ape。 He was now too close upon me for
the cudgel to prove of any effective assistance； so I merely
threw it as heavily as I could at his advancing bulk。 It struck
him just below the knees； eliciting a howl of pain and rage；
and so throwing him off his balance that he lunged full upon
me with arms wide stretched to ease his fall。
Again； as on the preceding day； I had recourse to earthly
tactics； and swinging my right fist full upon the point of his
chin I followed it with a smashing left to the pit of his
stomach。 The effect was marvelous； for； as I lightly
sidestepped； after delivering the second blow； he reeled
and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain and gasping
for wind。 Leaping over his prostrate body； I seized the cudgel
and finished the monster before he could regain his feet。
As I delivered the blow a low laugh rang out behind me；
and； turning； I beheld Tars Tarkas； Sola； and three or four
warriors standing in the doorway of the chamber。 As my eyes
met theirs I was； for the second time； the recipient of their
zealously guarded applause。
My absence had been noted by Sola on her awakening； and
she had quickly informed Tars Tarkas； who had set out
immediately with a handful of warriors to search for me。
As they had approached the limits of the city they had witnessed
the actions of the bull ape as he bolted into the building；
frothing with rage。
They had followed immediately behind him； thinking it
barely possible that his actions might prove a clew to my
whereabouts and had witnessed my short but decisive battle
with him。 This encounter； together with my set…to with the
Martian warrior on the previous day and my feats of jumping
placed me upon a high pinnacle in their regard。 Evidently
devoid of all the finer sentiments of friendship； love； or
affection； these people fairly worship physical prowess and
bravery； and nothing is too good for the object of their
adoration as long as he maintains his position by repeated
examples of his skill； strength； and courage。
Sola； who had accompanied the searching party of her own
volition； was the only one of the Martians whose face had not
been twisted in laughter as I battled for my life。 She； on the
contrary； was sober with apparent solicitude and； as soon as I
had finished the monster； rushed to me and carefully examined
my body for possible wounds or injuries。 Satisfying herself
that I had come off unscathed she smiled quietly； and；
taking my hand； started toward the door of the chamber。
Tars Tarkas and the other warriors had entered and were
standing over the now rapidly reviving brute which had saved
my life； and whose life I； in turn； had rescued。 They seemed
to be deep in argument； and finally one of them addressed me；
but remembering my ignorance of his language turned back to
Tars Tarkas； who； with a word and gesture； gave some command
to the fellow and turned to follow us from the room。
There seemed something menacing in their attitude toward
my beast； and I hesitated to leave until I had learned the
outcome。 It was well I did so； for the warrior drew an
evil looking pistol from its holster and was on the point of
putting an end to the creature when I sprang forward and
struck up his arm。 The bullet striking the wooden casing of
the window exploded； blowing a hole completely through the
wood and masonry。
I then knelt down beside the fearsome…looking thing； and
raising it to its feet motioned for it to follow me。 The looks
of surprise which my actions elicited from the Martians were
ludicrous； they could not understand； except in a feeble and
childish way； such attributes as gratitude and compassion。
The warrior whose gun I had struck up looked enquiringly at
Tars Tarkas； but the latter signed that I be left to my own
devices； and so we returned to the plaza with my great beast
following close at heel； and Sola grasping me tightly by the
arm。
I had at least two friends on Mars； a young woman who
watched over me with motherly solicitude； and a dumb brute
which； as I later came to know； held in its poor ugly carcass
more love； more loyalty； more gratitude than could have been
found in the entire five million green Martians who rove the
deserted cities and dead sea bottoms of Mars。
CHAPTER VII
CHILD…RAISING ON MARS
After a breakfast； which was an exact replica of the meal of
the preceding day and an index of practically every meal
which followed while I was with the green men of Mars； Sola
escorted me to the plaza； where I found the entire community
engaged in watching or helping at the harnessing of huge
mastodonian animals to great three…wheeled chariots。 There
were about two hundred and fifty of these vehicles； each
drawn by a single animal； any one of which； from their
appearance； might easily have drawn the entire wagon train
when fully loaded。
The chariots themselves were large； commodious； and
gorgeously decorated。 In each was seated a female Martian
loaded with ornaments of metal； with jewels and silks and furs；
and upon the back of each of the beasts which drew the chariots
was perched a young Martian driver。 Like the animals upon which
the warriors were mounted； the heavier draft animals wore neither
bit nor bridle； but were guided entirely by telepathic means。
This power is wonderfully developed in all Martians； and
accounts largely for the simplicity of their language and the
relatively few spoken words exchanged even in long conversations。
It is the universal language of Mars； through the medium
of which the higher and lower animals of this world of
paradoxes are able to communicate to a greater or less extent；
depending upon the intellectual sphere of the species and the
development of the individual。
As the cavalcade took up the line of march in single file；
Sola dragged me into an empty chariot and we proceeded
with the procession toward the point by which I had entered
the city the day before。 At the head of the caravan rode some
two hundred warriors； five abreast； and a like number
brought up the rear； while twenty…five or thirty outriders
flanked us on either side。
Every one but myselfmen； women； and childrenwere
heavily armed； and at the tail of each chariot trotted a
Martian hound；