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and lived in luxury and comfort in the midst of a land of
perpetual ice。 Their cities were veritable hothouses； and when I
had come within this one my respect and admiration for the
scientific and engineering skill of this buried nation was unbounded。
The moment we entered the city Talu threw off his outer garments
of fur； as did we； and I saw that his apparel differed but little
from that of the red races of Barsoom。 Except for his leathern
harness； covered thick with jewels and metal； he was naked；
nor could one have comfortably worn apparel in that warm and
humid atmosphere。
For three days we remained the guests of Prince Talu； and
during that time he showered upon us every attention and courtesy
within his power。 He showed us all that was of interest in his
great city。
The Marentina atmosphere plant will maintain life indefinitely
in the cities of the north pole after all life upon the balance of
dying Mars is extinct through the failure of the air supply； should
the great central plant again cease functioning as it did upon that
memorable occasion that gave me the opportunity of restoring life
and happiness to the strange world that I had already learned to
love so well。
He showed us the heating system that stores the sun's rays in
great reservoirs beneath the city； and how little is necessary to
maintain the perpetual summer heat of the glorious garden spot
within this arctic paradise。
Broad avenues of sod sewn with the seed of the ocher vegetation
of the dead sea bottoms carried the noiseless traffic of light
and airy ground fliers that are the only form of artificial
transportation used north of the gigantic ice…barrier。
The broad tires of these unique fliers are but rubber…like gas
bags filled with the eighth Barsoomian ray； or ray of propulsion
that remarkable discovery of the Martians that has made possible
the great fleets of mighty airships that render the red man of the
outer world supreme。 It is this ray which propels the inherent or
reflected light of the planet off into space； and when confined
gives to the Martian craft their airy buoyancy。
The ground fliers of Marentina contain just sufficient buoyancy
in their automobile…like wheels to give the cars traction for
steering purposes； and though the hind wheels are geared to the
engine； and aid in driving the machine； the bulk of this work is
carried by a small propeller at the stern。
I know of no more delightful sensation than that of riding in
one of these luxuriously appointed cars which skim； light and airy
as feathers； along the soft； mossy avenues of Marentina。 They move
with absolute noiselessness between borders of crimson sward and
beneath arching trees gorgeous with the wondrous blooms that mark
so many of the highly cultivated varieties of Barsoomian vegetation。
By the end of the third day the court barberI can think of no
other earthly appellation by which to describe himhad wrought
so remarkable a transformation in both Thuvan Dihn and myself that
our own wives would never have known us。 Our skins were of the
same lemon color as his own； and great； black beards and mustaches
had been deftly affixed to our smooth faces。 The trappings of
warriors of Okar aided in the deception； and for wear beyond the
hothouse cities we each had suits of the black… and yellow…striped orluk。
Talu gave us careful directions for the journey to Kadabra； the
capital city of the Okar nation； which is the racial name of the
yellow men。 This good friend even accompanied us part way； and then；
promising to aid us in any way that he found possible； bade us adieu。
On parting he slipped upon my finger a curiously wrought ring set with
a dead…black； lusterless stone； which appeared more like a bit of
bituminous coal than the priceless Barsoomian gem which in reality it is。
〃There had been but three others cut from the mother stone；〃
he said； 〃which is in my possession。 These three are worn by
nobles high in my confidence； all of whom have been sent on secret
missions to the court of Salensus Oll。
〃Should you come within fifty feet of any of these three you will
feel a rapid； pricking sensation in the finger upon which you
wear this ring。 He who wears one of its mates will experience the
same feeling； it is caused by an electrical action that takes place
the moment two of these gems cut from the same mother stone come
within the radius of each other's power。 By it you will know that
a friend is at hand upon whom you may depend for assistance
in time of need。
〃Should another wearer of one of these gems call upon you for aid
do not deny him； and should death threaten you swallow the ring
rather than let it fall into the hands of enemies。 Guard it with
your life； John Carter； for some day it may mean more than life to you。〃
With this parting admonition our good friend turned back
toward Marentina； and we set our faces in the direction of the
city of Kadabra and the court of Salensus Oll； Jeddak of Jeddaks。
That very evening we came within sight of the walled and glass…roofed
city of Kadabra。 It lies in a low depression near the pole； surrounded
by rocky； snow…clad hills。 From the pass through which we entered
the valley we had a splendid view of this great city of the north。
Its crystal domes sparkled in the brilliant sunlight gleaming above
the frost…covered outer wall that circles the entire one hundred miles
of its circumference。
At regular intervals great gates give entrance to the city；
but even at the distance from which we looked upon the massive pile
we could see that all were closed； and； in accordance with Talu's
suggestion； we deferred attempting to enter the city until the
following morning。
As he had said； we found numerous caves in the hillsides about us；
and into one of these we crept for the night。 Our warm orluk
skins kept us perfectly comfortable； and it was only after a most
refreshing sleep that we awoke shortly after daylight on the
following morning。
Already the city was astir； and from several of the gates we saw
parties of yellow men emerging。 Following closely each detail
of the instructions given us by our good friend of Marentina； we
remained concealed for several hours until one party of some half
dozen warriors had passed along the trail below our hiding place
and entered the hills by way of the pass along which we had come
the previous evening。
After giving them time to get well out of sight of our cave；
Thuvan Dihn and I crept out and followed them； overtaking them
when they were well into the hills。
When we had come almost to them I called aloud to their leader；
when the whole party halted and turned toward us。
The crucial test had come。 Could we but deceive these men
the rest would be comparatively easy。
〃Kaor！〃 I cried as I came closer to them。
〃Kaor！〃 responded the officer in charge of the party。
〃We be from Illall；〃 I continued； giving the name of the most remote
city of Okar； which has little or no intercourse with Kadabra。
〃Only yesterday we arrived； and this morning the captain of
the gate told us that you were setting out to hunt orluks；
which is a sport we do not find in our own neighborhood。 We have
hastened after you to pray that you allow us to accompany you。〃
The officer was entirely deceived； and graciously permitted us
to go with them for the day。 The chance guess that they were bound
upon an orluk hunt proved correct； and Talu had said that the
chances were ten to one that such would be the mission of any party
leaving Kadabra by the pass through which we entered the valley；
since that way leads directly to the vast plains frequented by this
elephantine beast of prey。
In so far as the hunt was concerned； the day was a failure；
for we did not see a single orluk； but this proved more than
fortunate for us； since the yellow men were so chagrined by their
misfortune that they would not enter the city by the same gate by
which they had left it in the morning； as it seemed that they had
made great boasts to the captain of that gate about their skill at
this dangerous sport。
We； therefore； approached Kadabra at a point several miles
from that at which the party had quitted it in the morning；
and so were relieved of the danger of embarrassing questions
and explanations on the part of the gate captain； whom we had
said had directed us to this particular hunting party。
We had come quite close to the city when my attention was
attracted toward a tall； black shaft that reared its head several
hundred feet into the air from what appeared to be a tangled mass
of junk or wreckage； now partially snow…covered。
I did not dare venture an inquiry for fear of arousing suspicion
by evident ignorance of something which as a yellow man I should
have known； but before we reached the