The Gods of Mars

deeply; but it humiliated me as well, since I felt that in some thoughtless w

a scented glove four sizes too small for him, or kissing a dead flower that has begun to smell like a cabbage. So I was quite at a loss as to what to do or say.

to be done, and so I did it

I told her the story of my love for Dejah Thoris. That of all the women of two

panting, to her feet. Her beautiful face was distorted in an exp

er of Matai Shang, supplicates? She commands. What to her is your puny

ocious deaths could not atone for the affront that you have put upon me. The thing that you call

ss you have attempted to humiliate. Tortures and ignominies shall be

r prayer, and from the high balcony of the Golden Clif

e time be so fiendishly vindictive. It occurred to me, however, that she had overlooked one little factor in her revenge, and so, without any i

nce at the dark, swirling waters without sent her crumpled upon a low bench, where with her face buri

t-holes became noticeably warm from the heat of the water withou

ead at high speed. It was very dark down there, but the light from our port-holes, and the reflection from what must have been

to a full stop, and then commenced to rise swiftly toward the su

d the cabin

him through the hatchway which ha

tre of which was the pool in which lay our submarine, floati

perpendicularly for a few feet to arch toward the centre of the low roof. The walls

rt walk halted before a steel cage which lay at the bot

soom. They are operated by means of enormous magnets which are suspended at the top of the shaft. By

the upward trip, since the small force of gravity inherent to Ma

s than we were slowing up to stop at the landing

, we found ourselves in the midst of a veritable fairyland of beauty. The combined langu

diamonds themselves; of a magnificent temple of burnished gold, hand-wrought with marvellous designs; but where are the words to describe the glorious colours that are unknow

he barbaric splendours of a Martian Jeddak's

es were wide

us," she whispered

m smile, partly of amusement

ite females serving their every want. The places of the outer world and the temples of the th

by a cordon of armed guards. Xodar spoke a few words to an officer who came forward

o look upon the daughter of Matai Shang, and the strange c

d in a spacious chamber in the centre of the temple. One of the officers who had accompanied us advanced to a large door in the further e

backs toward the room we were to enter. The doors were swung open and after being cautioned not to

e which still clung to me that I might again see her kept me from rising to face the goddess of the Firs

fashion for a matter of a couple of hu

hin, wavering voice, yet one that had eviden

scort, "but do not

an you may return to the Isle of Shador which lies against the northern shore of the Sea of Omean. Let the woman turn and look upon Issu

turned, as though drawn by some invisible yet irresistible force. She was standing quite close to

time on the Supreme Deity of Mars, but felt the shudder that ra

I, "to cause such emotion in the breast of so rad

h his instructions I dropped to my hands and knees once more and crawled from the Presence. It had been my first audience with deity, bu

s and I was bid to rise. Xodar joined me and toget

e little way in silence, "and I would aid you if I might. I can help to make your life here

be my fat

send for you and reveal her face to you, you may live on for

she send for

ou, for example, would render fine sport in the monthly rites of the temple. There are men pitted

red for anything in this still less accessible heaven, where all was evidently dictated by a single omnipotence; where ages of n

f the field and the forest. Why then should they not eat of the flesh of the lower orders whose lives and characters the

the red Barsoomians. The flesh of the others goes to our boards.

thought the limit of ghoulishness already had been reached in the recitation of Issus' menu. I still h

ny chambers and corridors which led to

s of wondrous beauty and of such prowess that alone he slew seven of the First Bo

he did not relish the thought that Iss

icer once again to the closed doors before the a

ssus bid me rise. For several minutes all was silen

repeating in a singsong drone the words which for cou

of the lower orders who gaze upon the holy vision of her r

ved sorapus wood. On this bench, or throne, squatted a female black. She was evidently very old. Not a hair remained upon her wrinkled skull. With the exception of two yellow fangs she was entirely toothless. On either si

ich seemed to be mostly distorted abdomen comp

of female slaves, among them

irst Born and, bare-handed, bound Dator

loveliness, it is," replied th

or Xodar," s

ght from the a

, a baleful light i

ou shall be degraded to a rank below the lowest. No longer be you a Dator, but for evermore a slave of slaves, to fetch an

a tremor shook his giant frame as a soldier of the g

e gardens of Issus let you serve as a slave of this slave who conquered you in the prison o

turned and stalked from the chamber. Issus ro

he manner of your fighting. Go." Then she disappeared, followed by her retinue. Only Phaidor lagg

an almost incoherent volley of thoughts, so rapidly she spoke. "You did not understand the honour that I did you. Among the therns there is no marriage or giving in marriage, as among the lower orders of the out

dervalue the honour which you have done me, but the thing you desire may not be. Regardless of the foolish belief of the peoples of the outer world, or of Holy Thern, or ebon First Born, I am not dead. While I live my heart beats for but one woman-the inco

ment. No anger showed in her eyes this time,

n the direction of the door through which Issus and her reti