登陆注册
15423600000031

第31章

The two stopped often, apparently in argument, as though one would proceed in the direction that they were going while the other demurred.But each time the smaller won reluctant consent from the other, and so they came closer and closer to the last line of workers toiling between the enclosure from which they had come and the hill where Gahan of Gathol lay watching, and then suddenly the smaller figure struck its companion full in the face.Gahan, horrified, saw the latter's head topple from its body, saw the body stagger and fall to the ground.The man half rose from his concealment the better to view the happening in the valley below.The creature that had felled its companion was dashing madly in the direction of the hill upon which he was hidden, it dodged one of the workers that sought to seize it.

Gahan hoped that it would gain its liberty, why he did not know other than at closer range it had every appearance of being a creature of his own race.Then he saw it stumble and go down and instantly its pursuers were upon it.Then it was that Gahan's eyes chanced to return to the figure of the creature the fugitive had felled.

What horror was this that he was witnessing? Or were his eyes playing some ghastly joke upon him? No, impossible though it was--it was true--the head was moving slowly to the fallen body.

It placed itself upon the shoulders, the body rose, and the creature, seemingly as good as new, ran quickly to where its fellows were dragging the hapless captive to its feet.

The watcher saw the creature take its prisoner by the arm and lead it back to the enclosure, and even across the distance that separated them from him he could note dejection and utter hopelessness in the bearing of the prisoner, and, too, he was half convinced that it was a woman, perhaps a red Martian of his own race.Could he be sure that this was true he must make some effort to rescue her even though the customs of his strange world required it only in case she was of his own country; but he was not sure; she might not be a red Martian at all, or, if she were, it was as possible that she sprang from an enemy people as not.

His first duty was to return to his own people with as little personal risk as possible, and though the thought of adventure stirred his blood he put the temptation aside with a sigh and turned away from the peaceful and beautiful valley that he longed to enter, for it was his intention to skirt its eastern edge and continue his search for Gathol beyond.

As Gahan of Gathol turned his steps along the southern slopes of the hills that bound Bantoom upon the south and east, his attention was attracted toward a small cluster of trees a short distance to his right.The low sun was casting long shadows.It would soon be night.The trees were off the path that he had chosen and he had little mind to be diverted from his way; but as he looked again he hesitated.There was something there besides boles of trees, and underbrush.There were suggestions of familiar lines of the handicraft of man.Gahan stopped and strained his eyes in the direction of the thing that had arrested his attention.No, he must be mistaken--the branches of the trees and a low bush had taken on an unnatural semblance in the horizontal rays of the setting sun.He turned and continued upon his way; but as he cast another side glance in the direction of the object of his interest, the sun's rays were shot back into his eyes from a glistening point of radiance among the trees.

Gahan shook his head and walked quickly toward the mystery, determined now to solve it.The shining object still lured him on and when he had come closer to it his eyes went wide in surprise, for the thing they saw was naught else than the jewel-encrusted emblem upon the prow of a small flier.Gahan, his hand upon his short-sword, moved silently forward, but as he neared the craft he saw that he had naught to fear, for it was deserted.Then he turned his attention toward the emblem.As its significance was flashed to his understanding his face paled and his heart went cold --it was the insignia of the house of The Warlord of Barsoom.Instantly he saw the dejected figure of the captive being led back to her prison in the valley just beyond the hills.

Tara of Helium! And he had been so near to deserting her to her fate.The cold sweat stood in beads upon his brow.

A hasty examination of the deserted craft unfolded to the young jed the whole tragic story.The same tempest that had proved his undoing had borne Tara of Helium to this distant country.Here, doubtless, she had landed in hope of obtaining food and water since, without a propellor, she could not hope to reach her native city, or any other friendly port, other than by the merest caprice of Fate.The flier seemed intact except for the missing propellor and the fact that it had been carefully moored in the shelter of the clump of trees indicated that the girl had expected to return to it, while the dust and leaves upon its deck spoke of the long days, and even weeks, since she had landed.

Mute yet eloquent proofs, these things, that Tara of Helium was a prisoner, and that she was the very prisoner whose bold dash for liberty he had so recently witnessed he now had not the slightest doubt.

同类推荐
  • 四明洞天丹山图咏集

    四明洞天丹山图咏集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 续西游记

    续西游记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Scouts of the Valley

    The Scouts of the Valley

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 超日明三昧经

    超日明三昧经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 下第有感

    下第有感

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 羊皮卷活学活用

    羊皮卷活学活用

    传说中,《羊皮卷》来自10张羊皮卷。很久以前,在阿拉伯地区的沙漠里,有一个赶骆驼的男孩,他的名字叫海菲。海菲聪明又能干,而且有一颗非凡的爱心。当时,他在当地最著名的皮货商人柏萨罗家里作仆人。因为被海菲的诚挚、超凡的爱心感动,他的主人在临死时,赠给了海菲10张神秘的羊皮卷——这就是代代相传,风靡全球的《羊皮卷》。有了《羊皮卷》的指引,海菲很快改变了贫穷的面貌,开始了新的生活,成为“世界上最伟大的推销员”。
  • 宝觉祖心禅师语录

    宝觉祖心禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 轮回天机门

    轮回天机门

    奇门天机,隔世传承,扶摇直上九万里;三尺青锋,一篇残卷,搅动华夏三千年!凭着手中三尺青锋,上古传承,在一个个乱世之中如鱼得水,挥洒自如。主宰沉浮!
  • 仙武乱穹

    仙武乱穹

    武道巅峰之后,是什么?主角从一个没有武脉的废物,一步步走到巅峰,可是,当他站在了这片大陆的巅峰之时,才发现,这不过只是开始
  • 我们在爱情中长大

    我们在爱情中长大

    即便是生命的过客,也不能无视爱情的存在和辛苦,所以将经过的点滴、看到的些许记录下来,给下世的我和今世的你。
  • 妹撩债

    妹撩债

    “嫁给我、好么?”他单膝下跪,手儿空空。“哦,不、你欠我……”她羞怯地说。“我欠你一枝玫瑰加上一生守护;我欠你一生一世加上一心一意、真爱你!”……
  • 浮城之道士录

    浮城之道士录

    命运开启的时刻,是懵懂的,我从何而来也就变得不再那么重要,但,我可以选择属于自己的道路。又名《天界杀手》
  • 血红袍

    血红袍

    界域三千,群雄崛起,光怪陆离的世界,无边的生命之地,冰雪交加的神秘无尽深渊内的频繁嘶吼,无尽业火焚烧之地内的咒骂、热血似火山沸腾,激情若瀚海汹涌,欲望如深渊无止境……登天路,踏歌行,弹指憾天歌。少年身披血红袍,成就无敌强者。
  • 纯粹正义

    纯粹正义

    正邪,是非是由谁来丈量。善恶,美丑由由谁来定夺。是世界改变了我们,还是我们改变了世界。