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and to my immense relief found the faithful beast still there。
The twelve great banths lay in the doorways of their lairs；
eyeing him and growling ominously； but they had not disobeyed
Thuvia's injunction； and I thanked the fate that had made her
their keeper within the Golden Cliffs； and endowed her with the
kind and sympathetic nature that had won the loyalty and affection
of these fierce beasts for her。
Woola leaped in frantic joy when he discovered me； and as the
flier touched the pavement of the court for a brief instant he
bounded to the deck beside me； and in the bearlike manifestation
of his exuberant happiness all but caused me to wreck the vessel
against the courtyard's rocky wall。
Amid the angry shouting of thern guardsmen we rose high above
the last fortress of the Holy Therns； and then raced straight
toward the northeast and Kaol； the destination which I had heard
from the lips of Matai Shang。
Far ahead； a tiny speck in the distance； I made out another
flier late in the afternoon。 It could be none other than that
which bore my lost love and my enemies。
I had gained considerably on the craft by night； and then；
knowing that they must have sighted me and would show no lights
after dark； I set my destination compass upon herthat wonderful
little Martian mechanism which； once attuned to the object of
destination； points away toward it； irrespective of every change
in its location。
All that night we raced through the Barsoomian void； passing over
low hills and dead sea bottoms； above long…deserted cities and
populous centers of red Martian habitation upon the ribbon…like
lines of cultivated land which border the globe…encircling
waterways； which Earth men call the canals of Mars。
Dawn showed that I had gained appreciably upon the flier ahead of me。
It was a larger craft than mine； and not so swift； but even so；
it had covered an immense distance since the flight began。
The change in vegetation below showed me that we were rapidly
nearing the equator。 I was now near enough to my quarry to have
used my bow gun； but； though I could see that Dejah Thoris was not
on deck； I feared to fire upon the craft which bore her。
Thurid was deterred by no such scruples； and though it must have been
difficult for him to believe that it was really I who followed them；
he could not very well doubt the witness of his own eyes； and so he
trained their stern gun upon me with his own hands； and an instant later
an explosive radium projectile whizzed perilously close above my deck。
The black's next shot was more accurate； striking my flier
full upon the prow and exploding with the instant of contact；
ripping wide open the bow buoyancy tanks and disabling the engine。
So quickly did my bow drop after the shot that I scarce had
time to lash Woola to the deck and buckle my own harness to a
gunwale ring before the craft was hanging stern up and making
her last long drop to ground。
Her stern buoyancy tanks prevented her dropping with great rapidity；
but Thurid was firing rapidly now in an attempt to burst these also；
that I might be dashed to death in the swift fall that would instantly
follow a successful shot。
Shot after shot tore past or into us； but by a miracle neither
Woola nor I was hit； nor were the after tanks punctured。 This good
fortune could not last indefinitely； and； assured that Thurid would
not again leave me alive； I awaited the bursting of the next shell
that hit； and then； throwing my hands above my head； I let go my hold
and crumpled； limp and inert； dangling in my harness like a corpse。
The ruse worked； and Thurid fired no more at us。 Presently I
heard the diminishing sound of whirring propellers and realized
that again I was safe。
Slowly the stricken flier sank to the ground； and when I had freed
myself and Woola from the entangling wreckage I found that we were
upon the verge of a natural forestso rare a thing upon the bosom
of dying Mars that； outside of the forest in the Valley Dor beside
the Lost Sea of Korus； I never before had seen its like upon the planet。
From books and travelers I had learned something of the little…known
land of Kaol； which lies along the equator almost halfway round the
planet to the east of Helium。
It comprises a sunken area of extreme tropical heat； and is
inhabited by a nation of red men varying but little in manners；
customs； and appearance from the balance of the red men of Barsoom。
I knew that they were among those of the outer world who still
clung tenaciously to the discredited religion of the Holy Therns；
and that Matai Shang would find a ready welcome and safe refuge
among them； while John Carter could look for nothing better
than an ignoble death at their hands。
The isolation of the Kaolians is rendered almost complete by
the fact that no waterway connects their land with that of any
other nation； nor have they any need of a waterway since the low；
swampy land which comprises the entire area of their domain
self…waters their abundant tropical crops。
For great distances in all directions rugged hills and arid
stretches of dead sea bottom discourage intercourse with them；
and since there is practically no such thing as foreign commerce
upon warlike Barsoom； where each nation is sufficient to itself；
really little has been known relative to the court of the Jeddak of Kaol
and the numerous strange； but interesting； people over whom he rules。
Occasional hunting parties have traveled to this out…of…the…way
corner of the globe； but the hostility of the natives has usually
brought disaster upon them； so that even the sport of hunting the
strange and savage creatures which haunt the jungle fastnesses
of Kaol has of later years proved insufficient lure even to the
most intrepid warriors。
It was upon the verge of the land of the Kaols that I now knew
myself to be； but in what direction to search for Dejah Thoris；
or how far into the heart of the great forest I might have to
penetrate I had not the faintest idea。
But not so Woola。
Scarcely had I disentangled him than he raised his head high
in air and commenced circling about at the edge of the forest。
Presently he halted； and； turning to see if I were following；
set off straight into the maze of trees in the direction we had
been going before Thurid's shot had put an end to our flier。
As best I could； I stumbled after him down a steep declivity
beginning at the forest's edge。
Immense trees reared their mighty heads far above us； their broad
fronds completely shutting off the slightest glimpse of the sky。
It was easy to see why the Kaolians needed no navy； their cities；
hidden in the midst of this towering forest； must be entirely
invisible from above； nor could a landing be made by any but the
smallest fliers； and then only with the greatest risk of accident。
How Thurid and Matai Shang were to land I could not imagine；
though later I was to learn that to the level of the forest
top there rises in each city of Kaol a slender watchtower
which guards the Kaolians by day and by night against the secret
approach of a hostile fleet。 To one of these the hekkador of the
Holy Therns had no difficulty in approaching； and by its means the
party was safely lowered to the ground。
As Woola and I approached the bottom of the declivity the
ground became soft and mushy； so that it was with the greatest
difficulty that we made any headway whatever。
Slender purple grasses topped with red and yellow fern…like fronds
grew rankly all about us to the height of several feet above my head。
Myriad creepers hung festooned in graceful loops from tree to tree；
and among them were several varieties of the Martian 〃man…flower；〃
whose blooms have eyes and hands with which to see and seize the
insects which form their diet。
The repulsive calot tree was； too； much in evidence。 It is a
carnivorous plant of about the bigness of a large sage…brush such
as dots our western plains。 Each branch ends in a set of strong jaws；
which have been known to drag down and devour large and formidable
beasts of prey。
Both Woola and I had several narrow escapes from these greedy；
arboreous monsters。
Occasional areas of firm sod gave us intervals of rest from
the arduous labor of traversing this gorgeous； twilight swamp； and
it was upon one of these that I finally decided to make camp for
the night which my chronometer warned me would soon be upon us。
Many varieties of fruit grew in abundance about us； and as Martian
calots are omnivorous； Woola had no difficulty in making a square
meal after I had brought down the viands for him。 Then； having eaten；
too； I lay down with my back to that of my faithful hound； and dropped
into a deep and dreamless sleep。
The forest was shrouded in impenetrable darkness when