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into a deep and dreamless sleep。
The forest was shrouded in impenetrable darkness when a low
growl from Woola awakened me。 All about us I could hear the
stealthy movement of great； padded feet； and now and then the
wicked gleam of green eyes upon us。 Arising； I drew my
long…sword and waited。
Suddenly a deep…toned； horrid roar burst from some savage
throat almost at my side。 What a fool I had been not to have
found safer lodgings for myself and Woola among the branches
of one of the countless trees that surrounded us！
By daylight it would have been comparatively easy to have hoisted
Woola aloft in one manner or another； but now it was too late。
There was nothing for it but to stand our ground and take
our medicine； though； from the hideous racket which now assailed
our ears； and for which that first roar had seemed to be the signal；
I judged that we must be in the midst of hundreds； perhaps thousands；
of the fierce； man…eating denizens of the Kaolian jungle。
All the balance of the night they kept up their infernal din；
but why they did not attack us I could not guess； nor am I sure to
this day； unless it is that none of them ever venture upon the
patches of scarlet sward which dot the swamp。
When morning broke they were still there； walking about as in
a circle； but always just beyond the edge of the sward。 A more
terrifying aggregation of fierce and blood…thirsty monsters it
would be difficult to imagine。
Singly and in pairs they commenced wandering off into the
jungle shortly after sunrise； and when the last of them had
departed Woola and I resumed our journey。
Occasionally we caught glimpses of horrid beasts all during the day；
but； fortunately； we were never far from a sward island； and when
they saw us their pursuit always ended at the verge of the solid sod。
Toward noon we stumbled upon a well…constructed road running
in the general direction we had been pursuing。 Everything about
this highway marked it as the work of skilled engineers； and I was
confident； from the indications of antiquity which it bore； as well
as from the very evident signs of its being still in everyday use；
that it must lead to one of the principal cities of Kaol。
Just as we entered it from one side a huge monster emerged from the
jungle upon the other； and at sight of us charged madly in our direction。
Imagine； if you can； a bald…faced hornet of your earthly experience
grown to the size of a prize Hereford bull； and you will have some
faint conception of the ferocious appearance and awesome formidability
of the winged monster that bore down upon me。
Frightful jaws in front and mighty； poisoned sting behind made my
relatively puny long…sword seem a pitiful weapon of defense indeed。
Nor could I hope to escape the lightning…like movements or hide
from those myriad facet eyes which covered three…fourths of the
hideous head； permitting the creature to see in all directions
at one and the same time。
Even my powerful and ferocious Woola was as helpless as a kitten
before that frightful thing。 But to flee were useless； even had
it ever been to my liking to turn my back upon a danger； so I stood
my ground； Woola snarling at my side； my only hope to die as
I had always livedfighting。
The creature was upon us now； and at the instant there seemed
to me a single slight chance for victory。 If I could but remove
the terrible menace of certain death hidden in the poison sacs
that fed the sting the struggle would be less unequal。
At the thought I called to Woola to leap upon the creature's
head and hang there； and as his mighty jaws closed upon that
fiendish face； and glistening fangs buried themselves in the bone
and cartilage and lower part of one of the huge eyes； I dived
beneath the great body as the creature rose； dragging Woola from
the ground； that it might bring its sting beneath and pierce the
body of the thing hanging to its head。
To put myself in the path of that poison…laden lance was to court
instant death； but it was the only way； and as the thing shot
lightning…like toward me I swung my long…sword in a terrific cut
that severed the deadly member close to the gorgeously marked body。
Then； like a battering…ram； one of the powerful hind legs caught
me full in the chest and hurled me； half stunned and wholly winded；
clear across the broad highway and into the underbrush of the
jungle that fringes it。
Fortunately； I passed between the boles of trees； had I struck
one of them I should have been badly injured； if not killed；
so swiftly had I been catapulted by that enormous hind leg。
Dazed though I was； I stumbled to my feet and staggered back to
Woola's assistance； to find his savage antagonist circling ten
feet above the ground； beating madly at the clinging calot with
all six powerful legs。
Even during my sudden flight through the air I had not once
released my grip upon my long…sword； and now I ran beneath the
two battling monsters； jabbing the winged terror repeatedly
with its sharp point。
The thing might easily have risen out of my reach； but evidently
it knew as little concerning retreat in the face of danger as
either Woola or I； for it dropped quickly toward me； and before
I could escape had grasped my shoulder between its powerful jaws。
Time and again the now useless stub of its giant sting struck
futilely against my body； but the blows alone were almost as
effective as the kick of a horse； so that when I say futilely；
I refer only to the natural function of the disabled member
eventually the thing would have hammered me to a pulp。
Nor was it far from accomplishing this when an interruption
occurred that put an end forever to its hostilities。
From where I hung a few feet above the road I could see along the
highway a few hundred yards to where it turned toward the east；
and just as I had about given up all hope of escaping the perilous
position in which I now was I saw a red warrior come into view
from around the bend。
He was mounted on a splendid thoat； one of the smaller species
used by red men； and in his hand was a wondrous long； light lance。
His mount was walking sedately when I first perceived them； but the
instant that the red man's eyes fell upon us a word to the thoat
brought the animal at full charge down upon us。 The long lance of
the warrior dipped toward us； and as thoat and rider hurtled beneath；
the point passed through the body of our antagonist。
With a convulsive shudder the thing stiffened； the jaws relaxed；
dropping me to the ground； and then； careening once in mid air；
the creature plunged headforemost to the road； full upon Woola；
who still clung tenaciously to its gory head。
By the time I had regained my feet the red man had turned and
ridden back to us。 Woola； finding his enemy inert and lifeless；
released his hold at my command and wriggled from beneath the body
that had covered him； and together we faced the warrior looking
down upon us。
I started to thank the stranger for his timely assistance；
but he cut me off peremptorily。
〃Who are you；〃 he asked； 〃who dare enter the land of Kaol and
hunt in the royal forest of the jeddak？〃
Then； as he noted my white skin through the coating of grime
and blood that covered me； his eyes went wide and in an altered
tone he whispered： 〃Can it be that you are a Holy Thern？〃
I might have deceived the fellow for a time； as I had deceived
others； but I had cast away the yellow wig and the holy diadem in
the presence of Matai Shang； and I knew that it would not be long
ere my new acquaintance discovered that I was no thern at all。
〃I am not a thern；〃 I replied； and then； flinging caution to
the winds； I said： 〃I am John Carter； Prince of Helium； whose
name may not be entirely unknown to you。〃
If his eyes had gone wide when he thought that I was a Holy Thern；
they fairly popped now that he knew that I was John Carter。
I grasped my long…sword more firmly as I spoke the words which I
was sure would precipitate an attack； but to my surprise they
precipitated nothing of the kind。
〃John Carter； Prince of Helium；〃 he repeated slowly； as though
he could not quite grasp the truth of the statement。 〃John Carter；
the mightiest warrior of Barsoom！〃
And then he dismounted and placed his hand upon my shoulder
after the manner of most friendly greeting upon Mars。
〃It is my duty； and it should be my pleasure； to kill you；
John Carter；〃 he said； 〃but always in my heart of hearts have I
admired your prowess and believed in your sincerity the while I
have questioned and disbelieved the therns and their religion。
〃It would mean my instant death were my heresy to be suspected
in the court of Kulan Tith； but if I may serve you； Prince；
you have but to command Torkar Bar； Dwar of the Kaolian Road。〃
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