A Princess of Mars

Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and

within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied.

Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side

of the arena upon a large raised platform.

At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a

dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena.

Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve

calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them.

As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless

women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The

yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent

quality of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan

told me it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and

growling over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good

account of themselves.

Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs, and so it went

throughout the long, hot, horrible day.

During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts, but as I

was armed with a long-sword and always outclassed my adversary in

agility and generally in strength as well, it proved but child's play

to me. Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty

multitude, and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the

arena and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon.

Finally there were but three of us left, a great green warrior of some

far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself.

The other two were to battle and then I to fight the conqueror for the

liberty which was accorded the final winner.

Kantos Kan had fought several times during the day and like myself had

always proven victorious, but occasionally by the smallest of margins,

especially when pitted against the green warriors. I had little hope

that he could best his giant adversary who had mowed down all before

him during the day. The fellow towered nearly sixteen feet in height,

while Kantos Kan was some inches under six feet. As they advanced to

meet one another I saw for the first time a trick of Martian

swordsmanship which centered Kantos Kan's every hope of victory and

life on one cast of the dice, for, as he came to within about twenty

feet of the huge fellow he threw his sword arm far behind him over his

shoulder and with a mighty sweep hurled his weapon point foremost at

the green warrior. It flew true as an arrow and piercing the poor

devil's heart laid him dead upon the arena.