A Princess of Mars

Reducing my speed I circled and came to the ground at the feet of the

astonished Zodangan. He was warm in his thanks for my timely aid and

promised that my day's work would bring the reward it merited, for it

was none other than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had

saved.

We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriors would surely

return as soon as they had gained control of their mounts. Hastening

to his damaged machine we were bending every effort to finish the

needed repairs and had almost completed them when we saw the two green

monsters returning at top speed from opposite sides of us. When they

had approached within a hundred yards their thoats again became

unmanageable and absolutely refused to advance further toward the air

craft which had frightened them.

The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animals advanced

toward us on foot with drawn long-swords.

I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to do the best he

could with the other. Finishing my man with almost no effort, as had

now from much practice become habitual with me, I hastened to return to

my new acquaintance whom I found indeed in desperate straits.

He was wounded and down with the huge foot of his antagonist upon his

throat and the great long-sword raised to deal the final thrust. With

a bound I cleared the fifty feet intervening between us, and with

outstretched point drove my sword completely through the body of the

green warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sank

limply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan.

A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortal injuries and

after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit to attempt the return

voyage. He would have to pilot his own craft, however, as these frail

vessels are not intended to convey but a single person.

Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into the still,

cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and without further mishap

returned to Zodanga.

As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourse of civilians and

troops assembled upon the plain before the city. The sky was black

with naval vessels and private and public pleasure craft, flying long

streamers of gay-colored silks, and banners and flags of odd and

picturesque design.

My companion signaled that I slow down, and running his machine close

beside mine suggested that we approach and watch the ceremony, which,

he said, was for the purpose of conferring honors on individual

officers and men for bravery and other distinguished service. He then

unfurled a little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a member of

the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made our way through the

maze of low-lying air vessels until we hung directly over the jeddak of

Zodanga and his staff. All were mounted upon the small domestic bull

thoats of the red Martians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore

such a quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not but be

struck with the startling resemblance the concourse bore to a band of

the red Indians of my own Earth.