按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you have but to command Torkar Bar； Dwar of the Kaolian Road。〃
Truth and honesty were writ large upon the warrior's noble countenance；
so that I could not but have trusted him； enemy though he should have been。
His title of Captain of the Kaolian Road explained his timely presence
in the heart of the savage forest； for every highway upon Barsoom is
patrolled by doughty warriors of the noble class； nor is there any
service more honorable than this lonely and dangerous duty in the
less frequented sections of the domains of the red men of Barsoom。
〃Torkar Bar has already placed a great debt of gratitude upon
my shoulders；〃 I replied； pointing to the carcass of the
creature from whose heart he was dragging his long spear。
The red man smiled。
〃It was fortunate that I came when I did；〃 he said。 〃Only
this poisoned spear pricking the very heart of a sith can kill it
quickly enough to save its prey。 In this section of Kaol we are
all armed with a long sith spear； whose point is smeared with the
poison of the creature it is intended to kill； no other virus acts
so quickly upon the beast as its own。
〃Look；〃 he continued； drawing his dagger and making an
incision in the carcass a foot above the root of the sting； from
which he presently drew forth two sacs； each of which held fully a
gallon of the deadly liquid。
〃Thus we maintain our supply； though were it not for
certain commercial uses to which the virus is put；
it would scarcely be necessary to add to our present store；
since the sith is almost extinct。
〃Only occasionally do we now run upon one。 Of old； however；
Kaol was overrun with the frightful monsters that often came in
herds of twenty or thirty； darting down from above into our cities
and carrying away women； children； and even warriors。〃
As he spoke I had been wondering just how much I might safely tell
this man of the mission which brought me to his land； but his next
words anticipated the broaching of the subject on my part； and
rendered me thankful that I had not spoken too soon。
〃And now as to yourself； John Carter；〃 he said； 〃I shall not
ask your business here； nor do I wish to hear it。 I have eyes and
ears and ordinary intelligence； and yesterday morning I saw the
party that came to the city of Kaol from the north in a small flier。
But one thing I ask of you； and that is： the word of John Carter
that he contemplates no overt act against either the nation
of Kaol or its jeddak。〃
〃You may have my word as to that； Torkar Bar；〃 I replied。
〃My way leads along the Kaolian road； away from the city of Kaol；〃
he continued。 〃I have seen no oneJohn Carter least of all。
Nor have you seen Torkar Bar； nor ever heard of him。 You understand？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 I replied。
He laid his hand upon my shoulder。
〃This road leads directly into the city of Kaol；〃 he said。
〃I wish you fortune；〃 and vaulting to the back of his thoat
he trotted away without even a backward glance。
It was after dark when Woola and I spied through the mighty
forest the great wall which surrounds the city of Kaol。
We had traversed the entire way without mishap or adventure；
and though the few we had met had eyed the great calot wonderingly；
none had pierced the red pigment with which I had smoothly smeared
every square inch of my body。
But to traverse the surrounding country； and to enter the guarded
city of Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； were two very different things。
No man enters a Martian city without giving a very detailed and
satisfactory account of himself； nor did I delude myself with
the belief that I could for a moment impose upon the acumen of
the officers of the guard to whom I should be taken the moment
I applied at any one of the gates。
My only hope seemed to lie in entering the city surreptitiously
under cover of the darkness； and once in； trust to my own wits
to hide myself in some crowded quarter where detection would
be less liable to occur。
With this idea in view I circled the great wall； keeping within
the fringe of the forest； which is cut away for a short distance
from the wall all about the city； that no enemy may utilize the
trees as a means of ingress。
Several times I attempted to scale the barrier at different points；
but not even my earthly muscles could overcome that cleverly
constructed rampart。 To a height of thirty feet the face of the
wall slanted outward； and then for almost an equal distance it
was perpendicular； above which it slanted in again for some
fifteen feet to the crest。
And smooth！ Polished glass could not be more so。 Finally I
had to admit that at last I had discovered a Barsoomian
fortification which I could not negotiate。
Discouraged； I withdrew into the forest beside a broad highway
which entered the city from the east； and with Woola beside me
lay down to sleep。
A HERO IN KAOL
It was daylight when I was awakened by the sound of stealthy
movement near by。
As I opened my eyes Woola； too； moved and； coming up to his
haunches； stared through the intervening brush toward the road；
each hair upon his neck stiffly erect。
At first I could see nothing； but presently I caught a glimpse
of a bit of smooth and glossy green moving among the scarlet and
purple and yellow of the vegetation。
Motioning Woola to remain quietly where he was； I crept forward
to investigate； and from behind the bole of a great tree I
saw a long line of the hideous green warriors of the dead sea
bottoms hiding in the dense jungle beside the road。
As far as I could see； the silent line of destruction and
death stretched away from the city of Kaol。 There could be
but one explanation。 The green men were expecting an exodus
of a body of red troops from the nearest city gate； and they
were lying there in ambush to leap upon them。
I owed no fealty to the Jeddak of Kaol； but he was of the same
race of noble red men as my own princess； and I would not stand
supinely by and see his warriors butchered by the cruel and
heartless demons of the waste places of Barsoom。
Cautiously I retraced my steps to where I had left Woola；
and warning him to silence； signaled him to follow me。
Making a considerable detour to avoid the chance of falling
into the hands of the green men； I came at last to the great wall。
A hundred yards to my right was the gate from which the troops
were evidently expected to issue； but to reach it I must pass the
flank of the green warriors within easy sight of them； and； fearing
that my plan to warn the Kaolians might thus be thwarted； I decided
upon hastening toward the left； where another gate a mile away
would give me ingress to the city。
I knew that the word I brought would prove a splendid passport
to Kaol； and I must admit that my caution was due more to my
ardent desire to make my way into the city than to avoid a brush
with the green men。 As much as I enjoy a fight； I cannot always
indulge myself； and just now I had more weighty matters to occupy
my time than spilling the blood of strange warriors。
Could I but win beyond the city's wall； there might be opportunity
in the confusion and excitement which were sure to follow my
announcement of an invading force of green warriors to find my
way within the palace of the jeddak； where I was sure Matai Shang
and his party would be quartered。
But scarcely had I taken a hundred steps in the direction of the
farther gate when the sound of marching troops； the clank of metal；
and the squealing of thoats just within the city apprised me of the
fact that the Kaolians were already moving toward the other gate。
There was no time to be lost。 In another moment the gate
would be opened and the head of the column pass out upon
the death…bordered highway。
Turning back toward the fateful gate； I ran rapidly along the edge of
the clearing； taking the ground in the mighty leaps that had first
made me famous upon Barsoom。 Thirty； fifty； a hundred feet at a bound
are nothing for the muscles of an athletic Earth man upon Mars。
As I passed the flank of the waiting green men they saw my eyes
turned upon them； and in an instant； knowing that all secrecy
was at an end； those nearest me sprang to their feet in an effort
to cut me off before I could reach the gate。
At the same instant the mighty portal swung wide and the head
of the Kaolian column emerged。 A dozen green warriors had
succeeded in reaching a point between me and the gate； but they
had but little idea who it was they had elected to detain。
I did not slacken my speed an iota as I dashed among them； and
as they fell before my blade I could not but recall the happy
memory of those other battles when Tars Tarkas； Jeddak of Thark；
mightiest of Martian green men； had stood shoulder to shoulder with me
through long； hot Mar