A Princess of Mars

Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight which now

flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far to the north of us which

also seemed to lead to Helium.

"Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory?" I asked.

"Yes," she answered, "but it is two hundred miles north of us; it is

one of the waterways we crossed on the trip to Thark."

"They would never suspect that we would try for that distant waterway,"

I answered, "and that is why I think that it is the best route for our

escape."

Sola agreed with me, and it was decided that we should leave Thark this

same night; just as quickly, in fact, as I could find and saddle my

thoats. Sola was to ride one and Dejah Thoris and I the other; each of

us carrying sufficient food and drink to last us for two days, since

the animals could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance.

I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one of the less

frequented avenues to the southern boundary of the city, where I would

overtake them with the thoats as quickly as possible; then, leaving

them to gather what food, silks, and furs we were to need, I slipped

quietly to the rear of the first floor, and entered the courtyard,

where our animals were moving restlessly about, as was their habit,

before settling down for the night.

In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance of the

Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and zitidars, the latter

grunting their low gutturals and the former occasionally emitting the

sharp squeal which denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which

these creatures passed their existence. They were quieter now, owing

to the absence of man, but as they scented me they became more restless

and their hideous noise increased. It was risky business, this

entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night; first, because their

increasing noisiness might warn the nearby warriors that something was

amiss, and also because for the slightest cause, or for no cause at all

some great bull thoat might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon

me.

Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such a night as

this, where so much depended upon secrecy and dispatch, I hugged the

shadows of the buildings, ready at an instant's warning to leap into

the safety of a nearby door or window. Thus I moved silently to the

great gates which opened upon the street at the back of the court, and

as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals. How I thanked

the kind providence which had given me the foresight to win the love

and confidence of these wild dumb brutes, for presently from the far

side of the court I saw two huge bulks forcing their way toward me

through the surging mountains of flesh.