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to parklike symmetry by the browsing of the ghoulish plant men。
Before me lay the Lost Sea of Korus； while farther on I caught
the shimmering ribbon of Iss； the River of Mystery； where it wound
out from beneath the Golden Cliffs to empty into Korus； to which
for countless ages had been borne the deluded and unhappy Martians
of the outer world upon the voluntary pilgrimage to this false heaven。
The plant men； with their blood…sucking hands； and the monstrous
white apes that make Dor hideous by day； were hidden in their
lairs for the night。
There was no longer a Holy Thern upon the balcony in the Golden
Cliffs above the Iss to summon them with weird cry to the victims
floating down to their maws upon the cold； broad bosom of ancient Iss。
The navies of Helium and the First Born had cleared the
fortresses and the temples of the therns when they had refused to
surrender and accept the new order of things that had swept their
false religion from long…suffering Mars。
In a few isolated countries they still retained their age…old
power； but Matai Shang； their hekkador； Father of Therns； had been
driven from his temple。 Strenuous had been our endeavors to
capture him； but with a few of the faithful he had escaped； and was
in hidingwhere we knew not。
As I came cautiously to the edge of the low cliff overlooking
the Lost Sea of Korus I saw Thurid pushing out upon the bosom of
the shimmering water in a small skiffone of those strangely
wrought craft of unthinkable age which the Holy Therns； with their
organization of priests and lesser therns； were wont to distribute
along the banks of the Iss； that the long journey of their victims
might be facilitated。
Drawn up on the beach below me were a score of similar boats；
each with its long pole； at one end of which was a pike； at the
other a paddle。 Thurid was hugging the shore； and as he passed out
of sight round a near…by promontory I shoved one of the boats into
the water and； calling Woola into it； pushed out from shore。
The pursuit of Thurid carried me along the edge of the sea
toward the mouth of the Iss。 The farther moon lay close to the
horizon； casting a dense shadow beneath the cliffs that fringed the
water。 Thuria； the nearer moon； had set； nor would it rise again
for near four hours； so that I was ensured concealing darkness for
that length of time at least。
On and on went the black warrior。 Now he was opposite the
mouth of the Iss。 Without an instant's hesitation he turned up the
grim river； paddling hard against the strong current。
After him came Woola and I； closer now； for the man was too
intent upon forcing his craft up the river to have any eyes for
what might be transpiring behind him。 He hugged the shore where
the current was less strong。
Presently he came to the dark cavernous portal in the face of
the Golden Cliffs； through which the river poured。 On into the
Stygian darkness beyond he urged his craft。
It seemed hopeless to attempt to follow him here where I could
not see my hand before my face； and I was almost on the point of
giving up the pursuit and drifting back to the mouth of the river；
there to await his return； when a sudden bend showed a faint
luminosity ahead。
My quarry was plainly visible again； and in the increasing
light from the phosphorescent rock that lay embedded in great
patches in the roughly arched roof of the cavern I had no
difficulty in following him。
It was my first trip upon the bosom of Iss； and the things
I saw there will live forever in my memory。
Terrible as they were； they could not have commenced to
approximate the horrible conditions which must have obtained before
Tars Tarkas； the great green warrior； Xodar； the black dator； and
I brought the light of truth to the outer world and stopped the mad
rush of millions upon the voluntary pilgrimage to what they believed
would end in a beautiful valley of peace and happiness and love。
Even now the low islands which dotted the broad stream were choked
with the skeletons and half devoured carcasses of those who；
through fear or a sudden awakening to the truth； had halted almost
at the completion of their journey。
In the awful stench of these frightful charnel isles haggard
maniacs screamed and gibbered and fought among the torn remnants of
their grisly feasts； while on those which contained but clean…
picked bones they battled with one another； the weaker furnishing
sustenance for the stronger； or with clawlike hands clutched at the
bloated bodies that drifted down with the current。
Thurid paid not the slightest attention to the screaming things
that either menaced or pleaded with him as the mood directed
themevidently he was familiar with the horrid sights that
surrounded him。 He continued up the river for perhaps a mile；
and then； crossing over to the left bank； drew his craft up on
a low ledge that lay almost on a level with the water。
I dared not follow across the stream； for he most surely would
have seen me。 Instead I stopped close to the opposite wall beneath
an overhanging mass of rock that cast a dense shadow beneath it。
Here I could watch Thurid without danger of discovery。
The black was standing upon the ledge beside his boat； looking
up the river； as though he were awaiting one whom he expected
from that direction。
As I lay there beneath the dark rocks I noticed that a strong
current seemed to flow directly toward the center of the river；
so that it was difficult to hold my craft in its position。 I edged
farther into the shadow that I might find a hold upon the bank；
but； though I proceeded several yards； I touched nothing； and then；
finding that I would soon reach a point from where I could no
longer see the black man； I was compelled to remain where I was；
holding my position as best I could by paddling strongly against
the current which flowed from beneath the rocky mass behind me。
I could not imagine what might cause this strong lateral flow；
for the main channel of the river was plainly visible to me from
where I sat； and I could see the rippling junction of it and the
mysterious current which had aroused my curiosity。
While I was still speculating upon the phenomenon； my
attention was suddenly riveted upon Thurid； who had raised both
palms forward above his head in the universal salute of Martians；
and a moment later his 〃Kaor！〃 the Barsoomian word of greeting；
came in low but distinct tones。
I turned my eyes up the river in the direction that his were bent；
and presently there came within my limited range of vision a
long boat； in which were six men。 Five were at the paddles；
while the sixth sat in the seat of honor。
The white skins； the flowing yellow wigs which covered their
bald pates； and the gorgeous diadems set in circlets of gold
about their heads marked them as Holy Therns。
As they drew up beside the ledge upon which Thurid awaited
them； he in the bow of the boat arose to step ashore； and then I
saw that it was none other than Matai Shang； Father of Therns。
The evident cordiality with which the two men exchanged
greetings filled me with wonder； for the black and white men of
Barsoom were hereditary enemiesnor ever before had I known of
two meeting other than in battle。
Evidently the reverses that had recently overtaken both peoples
had resulted in an alliance between these two individualsat
least against the common enemyand now I saw why Thurid had
come so often out into the Valley Dor by night； and that the
nature of his conspiring might be such as to strike very close
to me or to my friends。
I wished that I might have found a point closer to the two men
from which to have heard their conversation； but it was out of the
question now to attempt to cross the river； and so I lay quietly
watching them； who would have given so much to have known how close
I lay to them； and how easily they might have overcome and killed
me with their superior force。
Several times Thurid pointed across the river in my direction；
but that his gestures had any reference to me I did not for a
moment believe。 Presently he and Matai Shang entered the latter's
boat； which turned out into the river and； swinging round； forged
steadily across in my direction。
As they advanced I moved my boat farther and farther in
beneath the overhanging wall； but at last it became evident that
their craft was holding the same course。 The five paddlers sent
the larger boat ahead at a speed that taxed my energies to equal。
Every instant I expected to feel my prow crash against solid rock。
The light from the river was no longer visible； but ahead I
saw the faint tinge of a distant radiance； and still the water
before me was open。
At last the truth dawned upon meI was following a subterranean
river which emptied into the Iss