CHAPTER X
CHAMPION AND CHIEF
Early the next morning I was astir. Considerable freedom was allowedme, as Sola had informed me that so long as I did not attempt to leavethe city I was free to go and come as I pleased. She had warned me,however, against venturing forth unarmed, as this city, like all otherdeserted metropolises of an ancient Martian civilization, was peopledby the great white apes of my second day's adventure.
In advising me that I must not leave the boundaries of the city Solahad explained that Woola would prevent this anyway should I attempt it,and she warned me most urgently not to arouse his fierce nature byignoring his warnings should I venture too close to the forbiddenterritory. His nature was such, she said, that he would bring me backinto the city dead or alive should I persist in opposing him;"preferably dead," she added.
On this morning I had chosen a new street to explore when suddenly Ifound myself at the limits of the city. Before me were low hillspierced by narrow and inviting ravines. I longed to explore thecountry before me, and, like the pioneer stock from which I sprang, toview what the landscape beyond the encircling hills might disclose fromthe summits which shut out my view.
It also occurred to me that this would prove an excellent opportunityto test the qualities of Woola. I was convinced that the brute lovedme; I had seen more evidences of affection in him than in any otherMartian animal, man or beast, and I was sure that gratitude for theacts that had twice saved his life would more than outweigh his loyaltyto the duty imposed upon him by cruel and loveless masters.
As I approached the boundary line Woola ran anxiously before me, andthrust his body against my legs. His expression was pleading ratherthan ferocious, nor did he bare his great tusks or utter his fearfulguttural warnings. Denied the friendship and companionship of my kind,I had developed considerable affection for Woola and Sola, for thenormal earthly man must have some outlet for his natural affections,and so I decided upon an appeal to a like instinct in this great brute,sure that I would not be disappointed.
I had never petted nor fondled him, but now I sat upon the ground andputting my arms around his heavy neck I stroked and coaxed him, talkingin my newly acquired Martian tongue as I would have to my hound athome, as I would have talked to any other friend among the loweranimals. His response to my manifestation of affection was remarkableto a degree; he stretched his great mouth to its full width, baring theentire expanse of his upper rows of tusks and wrinkling his snout untilhis great eyes were almost hidden by the folds of flesh. If you haveever seen a collie smile you may have some idea of Woola's facialdistortion.
He threw himself upon his back and fairly wallowed at my feet; jumpedup and sprang upon me, rolling me upon the ground by his great weight;then wriggling and squirming around me like a playful puppy presentingits back for the petting it craves. I could not resist theludicrousness of the spectacle, and holding my sides I rocked back andforth in the first laughter which had passed my lips in many days; thefirst, in fact, since the morning Powell had left camp when his horse,long unused, had precipitately and unexpectedly bucked him offheadforemost into a pot of frijoles.
My laughter frightened Woola, his antics ceased and he crawledpitifully toward me, poking his ugly head far into my lap; and then Iremembered what laughter signified on Mars--torture, suffering, death.Quieting myself, I rubbed the poor old fellow's head and back, talkedto him for a few minutes, and then in an authoritative tone commandedhim to follow me, and arising started for the hills.
There was no further question of authority between us; Woola was mydevoted slave from that moment hence, and I his only and undisputedmaster. My walk to the hills occupied but a few minutes, and I foundnothing of particular interest to reward me. Numerous brilliantlycolored and strangely formed wild flowers dotted the ravines and fromthe summit of the first hill I saw still other hills stretching offtoward the north, and rising, one range above another, until lost inmountains of quite respectable dimensions; though I afterward foundthat only a few peaks on all Mars exceed four thousand feet in height;the suggestion of magnitude was merely relative.
My morning's walk had been large with importance to me for it hadresulted in a perfect understanding with Woola, upon whom Tars Tarkasrelied for my safe keeping. I now knew that while theoretically aprisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limitsbefore the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhilemasters. The adventure decided me never again to leave the limits ofmy prescribed stamping grounds until I was ready to venture forth forgood and all, as it would certainly result in a curtailment of myliberties, as well as the probable death of Woola, were we to bediscovered.
On regaining the plaza I had my third glimpse of the captive girl. Shewas standing with her guards before the entrance to the audiencechamber, and as I approached she gave me one haughty glance and turnedher back full upon me. The act was so womanly, so earthly womanly,that though it stung my pride it also warmed my heart with a feeling ofcompanionship; it was good to know that someone else on Mars besidemyself had human instincts of a civilized order, even though themanifestation of them was so painful and mortifying.
Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt shewould, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or amovement of her trigger finger; but as their sentiments are mostlyatrophied it would have required a serious injury to have aroused suchpassions in them. Sola, let me add, was an exception; I never saw herperform a cruel or uncouth act, or fail in uniform kindliness and goodnature. She was indeed, as her fellow Martian had said of her, anatavism; a dear and precious reversion to a former type of loved andloving ancestor.
Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I halted toview the proceedings. I had not long to wait for presently LorquasPtomel and his retinue of chieftains approached the building and,signing the guards to follow with the prisoner entered the audiencechamber. Realizing that I was a somewhat favored character, and alsoconvinced that the warriors did not know of my proficiency in theirlanguage, as I had plead with Sola to keep this a secret on thegrounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the men until Ihad perfectly mastered the Martian tongue, I chanced an attempt toenter the audience chamber and listen to the proceedings.
The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum, while below themstood the prisoner and her two guards. I saw that one of the women wasSarkoja, and thus understood how she had been present at the hearing ofthe preceding day, the results of which she had reported to theoccupants of our dormitory last night. Her attitude toward the captivewas most harsh and brutal. When she held her, she sunk her rudimentarynails into the poor girl's flesh, or twisted her arm in a most painfulmanner. When it was necessary to move from one spot to another sheeither jerked her roughly, or pushed her headlong before her. Sheseemed to be venting upon this poor defenseless creature all thehatred, cruelty, ferocity, and spite of her nine hundred years, backedby unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors.
The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely indifferent; ifthe prisoner had been left to her alone, and fortunately she was atnight, she would have received no harsh treatment, nor, by the sametoken would she have received any attention at all.
As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner they fell onme and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word, and gesture of impatience.Tars Tarkas made some reply which I could not catch, but which causedLorquas Ptomel to smile; after which they paid no further attention tome.
"What is your name?" asked Lorquas Ptomel, addressing the prisoner.
"Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium."
"And the nature of your expedition?" he continued.
"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father'sfather, the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to takeatmospheric density tests," replied the fair prisoner, in a low,well-modulated voice.
"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we we
re on apeaceful mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted.The work we were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, foryou know full well that were it not for our labors and the fruits ofour scientific operations there would not be enough air or water onMars to support a single human life. For ages we have maintained theair and water supply at practically the same point without anappreciable loss, and we have done this in the face of the brutal andignorant interference of you green men.
"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows?Must you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but littleabove the plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people withoutwritten language, without art, without homes, without love; the victimsof eons of the horrible community idea. Owning everything in common,even to your women and children, has resulted in your owning nothing incommon. You hate each other as you hate all else except yourselves.Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, come back to the lightof kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, you will findthe hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we may dostill more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of thegreatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will youcome?"
Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and intently atthe young woman for several moments after she had ceased speaking.What was passing in their minds no man may know, but that they weremoved I truly believe, and if one man high among them had been strongenough to rise above custom, that moment would have marked a new andmighty era for Mars.
I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak, and on his face was such an expressionas I had never seen upon the countenance of a green Martian warrior.It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, withage-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost ofbenignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce andterrible countenance.
What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips were neverspoken, as just then a young warrior, evidently sensing the trend ofthought among the older men, leaped down from the steps of the rostrum,and striking the frail captive a powerful blow across the face, whichfelled her to the floor, placed his foot upon her prostrate form andturning toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid,mirthless laughter.
For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him dead, nor did theaspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too favorably for the brute, but themood passed, their old selves reasserted their ascendency, and theysmiled. It was portentous however that they did not laugh aloud, forthe brute's act constituted a side-splitting witticism according to theethics which rule green Martian humor.
That I have taken moments to write down a part of what occurred as thatblow fell does not signify that I remained inactive for any such lengthof time. I think I must have sensed something of what was coming, forI realize now that I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blowaimed at her beautiful, upturned, pleading face, and ere the handdescended I was halfway across the hall.
Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once, when I was upon him.The brute was twelve feet in height and armed to the teeth, but Ibelieve that I could have accounted for the whole roomful in theterrific intensity of my rage. Springing upward, I struck him full inthe face as he turned at my warning cry and then as he drew hisshort-sword I drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast, hookingone leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge tuskswith my left hand while I delivered blow after blow upon his enormouschest.
He could not use his short-sword to advantage because I was too closeto him, nor could he draw his pistol, which he attempted to do indirect opposition to Martian custom which says that you may not fight afellow warrior in private combat with any other than the weapon withwhich you are attacked. In fact he could do nothing but make a wildand futile attempt to dislodge me. With all his immense bulk he waslittle if any stronger than I, and it was but the matter of a moment ortwo before he sank, bleeding and lifeless, to the floor.
Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was watching thebattle with wide, staring eyes. When I had regained my feet I raisedher in my arms and bore her to one of the benches at the side of theroom.
Again no Martian interfered with me, and tearing a piece of silk frommy cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of blood from her nostrils. Iwas soon successful as her injuries amounted to little more than anordinary nosebleed, and when she could speak she placed her hand uponmy arm and looking up into my eyes, said:
"Why did you do it? You who refused me even friendly recognition inthe first hour of my peril! And now you risk your life and kill one ofyour companions for my sake. I cannot understand. What strange mannerof man are you, that you consort with the green men, though your formis that of my race, while your color is little darker than that of thewhite ape? Tell me, are you human, or are you more than human?"
"It is a strange tale," I replied, "too long to attempt to tell younow, and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself that Ifear to hope that others will believe it. Suffice it, for the present,that I am your friend, and, so far as our captors will permit, yourprotector and your servant."
"Then you too are a prisoner? But why, then, those arms and theregalia of a Tharkian chieftain? What is your name? Where yourcountry?"
"Yes, Dejah Thoris, I too am a prisoner; my name is John Carter, and Iclaim Virginia, one of the United States of America, Earth, as my home;but why I am permitted to wear arms I do not know, nor was I aware thatmy regalia was that of a chieftain."
We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one of thewarriors, bearing arms, accoutrements and ornaments, and in a flash oneof her questions was answered and a puzzle cleared up for me. I sawthat the body of my dead antagonist had been stripped, and I read inthe menacing yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought methese trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced by theother who had brought me my original equipment, and now for the firsttime I realized that my blow, on the occasion of my first battle in theaudience chamber had resulted in the death of my adversary.
The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was now apparent;I had won my spurs, so to speak, and in the crude justice, which alwaysmarks Martian dealings, and which, among other things, has caused me tocall her the planet of paradoxes, I was accorded the honors due aconqueror; the trappings and the position of the man I killed. Intruth, I was a Martian chieftain, and this I learned later was thecause of my great freedom and my toleration in the audience chamber.
As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticedthat Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, andthe eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner.Finally he addressed me:
"You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one who was deaf anddumb to us a few short days ago. Where did you learn it, John Carter?"
"You, yourself, are responsible, Tars Tarkas," I replied, "in that youfurnished me with an instructress of remarkable ability; I have tothank Sola for my learning."
"She has done well," he answered, "but your education in other respectsneeds considerable polish. Do you know what your unprecedentedtemerity would have cost you had you failed to kill either of the twochieftains whose metal you now wear?"
"I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill, would have killedme," I answered, smiling.
"No, you are wrong. Only in the last extremity of self-defense would aMartian warrior kill a prisoner; we like to save them for otherpurposes," and his face bespoke possibilities that were not pleasant todwell upon.
"But one thing can save you now," he continued. "Should you, inrecognition of your remarkable valor, ferocity, and prowess, beconsidered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his service you may be taken intothe community and become a full-fledged Tharkian. Until we reach theheadquarters of Tal Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you beaccorded the respect your acts have earned you. You will be treated
byus as a Tharkian chieftain, but you must not forget that every chiefwho ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to our mighty andmost ferocious ruler. I am done."
"I hear you, Tars Tarkas," I answered. "As you know I am not ofBarsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future asI have in the past, in accordance with the dictates of my conscienceand guided by the standards of mine own people. If you will leave mealone I will go in peace, but if not, let the individual Barsoomianswith whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger among you,or take whatever consequences may befall. Of one thing let us be sure,whatever may be your ultimate intentions toward this unfortunate youngwoman, whoever would offer her injury or insult in the future mustfigure on making a full accounting to me. I understand that youbelittle all sentiments of generosity and kindliness, but I do not, andI can convince your most doughty warrior that these characteristics arenot incompatible with an ability to fight."
Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches, nor ever before had Idescended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote which wouldstrike an answering chord in the breasts of the green Martians, nor wasI wrong, for my harangue evidently deeply impressed them, and theirattitude toward me thereafter was still further respectful.
Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his only commentwas more or less enigmatical--"And I think I know Tal Hajus, Jeddak ofThark."
I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting her to herfeet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring her hovering guardianharpies as well as the inquiring glances of the chieftains. Was I notnow a chieftain also! Well, then, I would assume the responsibilitiesof one. They did not molest us, and so Dejah Thoris, Princess ofHelium, and John Carter, gentleman of Virginia, followed by thefaithful Woola, passed through utter silence from the audience chamberof Lorquas Ptomel, Jed among the Tharks of Barsoom.