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Warlord of Mars
by Edgar Rice Burroughs
CONTENTS
On the River Iss
Under the Mountains
The Temple of the Sun
The Secret Tower
On the Kaolian Road
A Hero in Kaol
New Allies
Through the Carrion Caves
With the Yellow Men
In Durance
The Pity of Plenty
〃Follow the Rope！〃
The Magnet Switch
The Tide of Battle
Rewards
The New Ruler
THE WARLORD OF MARS
ON THE RIVER ISS
In the shadows of the forest that flanks the crimson plain by
the side of the Lost Sea of Korus in the Valley Dor； beneath the
hurtling moons of Mars； speeding their meteoric way close above the
bosom of the dying planet； I crept stealthily along the trail of a
shadowy form that hugged the darker places with a persistency that
proclaimed the sinister nature of its errand。
For six long Martian months I had haunted the vicinity of the
hateful Temple of the Sun； within whose slow…revolving shaft；
far beneath the surface of Mars； my princess lay entombed
but whether alive or dead I knew not。 Had Phaidor's slim blade
found that beloved heart？ Time only would reveal the truth。
Six hundred and eighty…seven Martian days must come and go
before the cell's door would again come opposite the tunnel's
end where last I had seen my ever…beautiful Dejah Thoris。
Half of them had passed； or would on the morrow； yet vivid in
my memory； obliterating every event that had come before or after；
there remained the last scene before the gust of smoke blinded my
eyes and the narrow slit that had given me sight of the interior of
her cell closed between me and the Princess of Helium for a long
Martian year。
As if it were yesterday； I still saw the beautiful face of Phaidor；
daughter of Matai Shang； distorted with jealous rage and hatred
as she sprang forward with raised dagger upon the woman I loved。
I saw the red girl； Thuvia of Ptarth； leap forward to prevent
the hideous deed。
The smoke from the burning temple had come then to blot out
the tragedy； but in my ears rang the single shriek as the knife
fell。 Then silence； and when the smoke had cleared； the revolving
temple had shut off all sight or sound from the chamber in which
the three beautiful women were imprisoned。
Much there had been to occupy my attention since that terrible moment；
but never for an instant had the memory of the thing faded；
and all the time that I could spare from the numerous duties that
had devolved upon me in the reconstruction of the government of the
First Born since our victorious fleet and land forces had
overwhelmed them； had been spent close to the grim shaft that held
the mother of my boy； Carthoris of Helium。
The race of blacks that for ages had worshiped Issus； the
false deity of Mars； had been left in a state of chaos by my
revealment of her as naught more than a wicked old woman。
In their rage they had torn her to pieces。
From the high pinnacle of their egotism the First Born had
been plunged to the depths of humiliation。 Their deity was gone；
and with her the whole false fabric of their religion。 Their
vaunted navy had fallen in defeat before the superior ships and
fighting men of the red men of Helium。
Fierce green warriors from the ocher sea bottoms of outer Mars
had ridden their wild thoats across the sacred gardens of the
Temple of Issus； and Tars Tarkas； Jeddak of Thark； fiercest of
them all； had sat upon the throne of Issus and ruled the First Born
while the allies were deciding the conquered nation's fate。
Almost unanimous was the request that I ascend the ancient throne
of the black men； even the First Born themselves concurring in it；
but I would have none of it。 My heart could never be with the race
that had heaped indignities upon my princess and my son。
At my suggestion Xodar became Jeddak of the First Born。
He had been a dator； or prince； until Issus had degraded him；
so that his fitness for the high office bestowed was unquestioned。
The peace of the Valley Dor thus assured； the green warriors
dispersed to their desolate sea bottoms； while we of Helium
returned to our own country。 Here again was a throne offered me；
since no word had been received from the missing Jeddak of Helium；
Tardos Mors； grandfather of Dejah Thoris； or his son； Mors Kajak；
Jed of Helium； her father。
Over a year had elapsed since they had set out to explore the
northern hemisphere in search of Carthoris； and at last their
disheartened people had accepted as truth the vague rumors of their
death that had filtered in from the frozen region of the pole。
Once again I refused a throne； for I would not believe that
the mighty Tardos Mors； or his no less redoubtable son； was dead。
〃Let one of their own blood rule you until they return；〃
I said to the assembled nobles of Helium； as I addressed them from
the Pedestal of Truth beside the Throne of Righteousness in the
Temple of Reward； from the very spot where I had stood a year
before when Zat Arras pronounced the sentence of death upon me。
As I spoke I stepped forward and laid my hand upon the
shoulder of Carthoris where he stood in the front rank of the
circle of nobles about me。
As one； the nobles and the people lifted their voices in a
long cheer of approbation。 Ten thousand swords sprang on high from
as many scabbards； and the glorious fighting men of ancient Helium
hailed Carthoris Jeddak of Helium。
His tenure of office was to be for life or until his great…
grandfather； or grandfather； should return。 Having thus
satisfactorily arranged this important duty for Helium； I started
the following day for the Valley Dor that I might remain close to
the Temple of the Sun until the fateful day that should see the
opening of the prison cell where my lost love lay buried。
Hor Vastus and Kantos Kan； with my other noble lieutenants；
I left with Carthoris at Helium； that he might have the benefit
of their wisdom； bravery； and loyalty in the performance of the
arduous duties which had devolved upon him。 Only Woola；
my Martian hound； accompanied me。
At my heels tonight the faithful beast moved softly in my
tracks。 As large as a Shetland pony； with hideous head and
frightful fangs； he was indeed an awesome spectacle； as he crept
after me on his ten short； muscular legs； but to me he was the
embodiment of love and loyalty。
The figure ahead was that of the black dator of the First Born；
Thurid； whose undying enmity I had earned that time I laid
him low with my bare hands in the courtyard of the Temple of Issus；
and bound him with his own harness before the noble men and women
who had but a moment before been extolling his prowess。
Like many of his fellows； he had apparently accepted the new order of
things with good grace； and had sworn fealty to Xodar； his new ruler；
but I knew that he hated me； and I was sure that in his heart he envied
and hated Xodar； so I had kept a watch upon his comings and goings；
to the end that of late I had become convinced that he was occupied
with some manner of intrigue。
Several times I had observed him leaving the walled city of
the First Born after dark； taking his way out into the cruel and
horrible Valley Dor； where no honest business could lead any man。
Tonight he moved quickly along the edge of the forest until
well beyond sight or sound of the city； then he turned across the
crimson sward toward the shore of the Lost Sea of Korus。
The rays of the nearer moon； swinging low across the valley；
touched his jewel…incrusted harness with a thousand changing lights
and glanced from the glossy ebony of his smooth hide。 Twice he
turned his head back toward the forest； after the manner of one who is
upon an evil errand； though he must have felt quite safe from pursuit。
I did not dare follow him there beneath the moonlight； since
it best suited my plans not to interrupt hisI wished him to reach
his destination unsuspecting； that I might learn just where that
destination lay and the business that awaited the night prowler there。
So it was that I remained hidden until after Thurid had
disappeared over the edge of the steep bank beside the sea a
quarter of a mile away。 Then； with Woola following； I hastened
across the open after the black dator。
The quiet of the tomb lay upon the mysterious valley of death；
crouching deep in its warm nest within the sunken area at the south
pole of the dying planet。 In the far distance the Golden Cliffs
raised their mighty barrier faces far into the starlit heavens；
the precious metals and scintillating jewels that composed them
sparkling in the brilliant light of Mars's two gorgeous moons。
At my back was the forest； pruned and trimmed like the sward
to parklike symmetry by the browsing of the ghoulish plant