Part 5 (1/2)
A haad, or Barsooree A sofad about 117 Earth inches
Still thebeyond the Lotharian hills,” he said ”Naught reen hordes of Torquas They have conquered all Barsoole valley and the city of Lothar Here we have defied theh periodically they renew their atteuess unless you be descended from the slaves the Torquasians captured in early tie; but we had heard that they destroyed all other races but their own”
Carthoris tried to explain that the Torquasians ruled but a relatively tiny part of the surface of Barsoo to attract the red race; but the Lotharian could not see beyond the valley of Lothar other than a trackless waste peopled by the ferocious green hordes of Torquas
After considerably parleying he consented to adate rolled back within its niche, and Thuvia and Carthoris entered the city of Lothar
All about them were evidences of fabulous wealth The facades of the buildings fronting upon the avenue within the ere richly carven, and about the s and doors were ofttimes set foot-wide borders of precious stones, intricatebas-reliefs depicting what otten people
He hom they had conversed across the as in the avenue to receive them About him were a hundred orrobes and all were beardless
Their attitude was onism They followed the new-comers with their eyes; but spoke no word to theh the city had been but a short time before surrounded by a horde of bloodthirsty demons yet none of the citizens appeared to be arn of soldiery about
He wondered if all the fighting men had sallied forth in one supreuarded He asked their host
The man smiled
”No creature other than a score or so of our sacred banths has left Lothar to-day,” he replied
”But the soldiers--the bowe fro the hordes of Torquas and putting them to rout with their deadly arrows and their fierce banths”
Still thesmile
”Look!” he cried, and pointed down a broad avenue before him
Carthoris and Thuvia followed the direction indicated, and there,toward thereat army of bowh another gate, or perchance these be the troops that reain the fellow smiled his uncanny smile
”There are no soldiers in Lothar,” he said ”Look!”
Both Carthoris and Thuvia had turned toward hiain toward the advancing regiments their eyes ide in astonishment, for the broad avenue before them was as deserted as the tomb
”And those who marched out upon the hordes to-day?” whispered Carthoris ”They, too, were unreal?”
The reen warriors,” insisted Thuvia
”Let us go before Tario,” replied the Lotharian ”He will tell you that which he deeht tell you too much”
”Who is Tario?” asked Carthoris
”Jeddak of Lothar,” replied the guide, leading them up the broad avenue dohich they had but a
For half an hour they walked along lovely avenues between the s that the two had ever seen Few people were in evidence Carthoris could not but note the deserted appearance of the hty city
At last they came to the royal palace Carthoris saw it fronificent pile wondered that even here there should be so little sign of activity and life
Not even a single guard was visible before the great entrance gate, nor in the gardens beyond, into which he could see, was there sign of the myriad life that pulses within the precincts of the royal estates of the red jeddaks
”Here,” said their guide, ”is the palace of Tario”
As he spoke Carthoris again let his gaze rest upon the wondrous palace With a startled exclaain No! He could not be ate stood a score of sentries Within, the avenue leading to thewas lined on either side by ranks of bow quickly to and fro, as though bent upon the duties of the minute
What manner of people were these who could conjure an arlanced toward Thuvia She, too, evidently had witnessed the transformation
With a little shudder she pressed more closely toward him
”What do you make of it?” she whispered ”It is most uncanny”
”I cannot account for it,” replied Carthoris, ”unless we have gone mad”
Carthoris turned quickly toward the Lotharian The felloas sht that you just said that there were no soldiers in Lothar,” said the Heliuuardsmen ”What are these?”
”Ask Tario,” replied the other ”We shall soon be before hi before they entered a lofty chamber at one end of which a h dais
As the trio approached, the man turned dreamy eyes sleepily upon them Twenty feet fro to Thuvia and Carthoris to follow his exa to hands and knees, he co his head to and fro and wiggling his body as you have seen a hound do when approaching its lanced quickly toward Carthoris He was standing erect, with high-held head and arhty s hiht in the other's face
”Who be these, Jav?” asked thethe floor
”O Tario, ers who ca that they were prisoners of the green e tales of cities far beyond Lothar”
”Arise, Jav,” commanded Tario, ”and ask these thy they show not to Tario the respect that is his due”
Jav arose and faced the strangers At sight of their erect positions his face went livid He leaped toward them
”Creatures!” he screamed ”Down! Down upon your bellies before the last of the jeddaks of Barsoom!”
CHAPTER VII
THE PHANTOM BOWMEN
As Jav leaped toward hi-sword The Lotharian halted The great apartment was empty save for the four at the dais, yet as Jav stepped back fro attitude the latter found himself surrounded by a score of bow? Both Carthoris and Thuvia looked their astonishment