the gods of mars-µÚ4²¿·Ö
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to¡¡fill¡¡me¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡dire¡¡apprehension£»¡¡for£»¡¡streaming
in¡¡from¡¡all¡¡directions¡¡across¡¡the¡¡meadow£»¡¡from¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
forest£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡far¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flat¡¡land¡¡across¡¡the
river£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡converging¡¡upon¡¡us¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡different
lines¡¡of¡¡wildly¡¡leaping¡¡creatures¡¡such¡¡as¡¡we¡¡were¡¡now
engaged¡¡with£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡them¡¡some¡¡strange¡¡new¡¡monsters¡¡which
ran¡¡with¡¡great¡¡swiftness£»¡¡now¡¡erect¡¡and¡¡now¡¡upon¡¡all¡¡fours¡£
¡¨It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡great¡¡death£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡my¡¡companion¡£¡¡¡¨Look£¡¡¨
As¡¡he¡¡shot¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡glance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡I¡¡indicated¡¡he¡¡smiled¡£
¡¨We¡¡may¡¡at¡¡least¡¡die¡¡fighting¡¡and¡¡as¡¡great¡¡warriors¡¡should£»
John¡¡Carter£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡replied¡£
We¡¡had¡¡just¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡our¡¡immediate¡¡antagonists
as¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡in¡¡surprised¡¡wonderment¡¡at¡¡the
sound¡¡of¡¡my¡¡name¡£
And¡¡there¡¡before¡¡my¡¡astonished¡¡eyes¡¡I¡¡beheld¡¡the¡¡greatest
of¡¡the¡¡green¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Barsoom£»¡¡their¡¡shrewdest¡¡statesman£»
their¡¡mightiest¡¡general£»¡¡my¡¡great¡¡and¡¡good¡¡friend£»
Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¡Jeddak¡¡of¡¡Thark¡£
CHAPTER¡¡II
A¡¡FOREST¡¡BATTLE
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡and¡¡I¡¡found¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡an¡¡exchange¡¡of¡¡experiences
as¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡before¡¡the¡¡great¡¡boulder¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡the
corpses¡¡of¡¡our¡¡grotesque¡¡assailants£»¡¡for¡¡from¡¡all¡¡directions
down¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡valley¡¡was¡¡streaming¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡torrent¡¡of
terrifying¡¡creatures¡¡in¡¡response¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weird¡¡call¡¡of¡¡the
strange¡¡figure¡¡far¡¡above¡¡us¡£
¡¨Come£»¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡must¡¡make¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡£
There¡¡lies¡¡our¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡even¡¡temporary¡¡escape£»¡¡there
we¡¡may¡¡find¡¡a¡¡cave¡¡or¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡ledge¡¡which¡¡two¡¡may¡¡defend
for¡¡ever¡¡against¡¡this¡¡motley£»¡¡unarmed¡¡horde¡£¡¨
Together¡¡we¡¡raced¡¡across¡¡the¡¡scarlet¡¡sward£»¡¡I¡¡timing¡¡my
speed¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡not¡¡outdistance¡¡my¡¡slower¡¡companion¡£¡¡¡¡We
had£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡between¡¡our
boulder¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cliffs£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡search¡¡out¡¡a¡¡suitable
shelter¡¡for¡¡our¡¡stand¡¡against¡¡the¡¡terrifying¡¡things¡¡that¡¡were
pursuing¡¡us¡£
They¡¡were¡¡rapidly¡¡overhauling¡¡us¡¡when¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡cried
to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡hasten¡¡ahead¡¡and¡¡discover£»¡¡if¡¡possible£»¡¡the¡¡sanctuary
we¡¡sought¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡suggestion¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡one£»¡¡for¡¡thus¡¡many
valuable¡¡minutes¡¡might¡¡be¡¡saved¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡and£»¡¡throwing
every¡¡ounce¡¡of¡¡my¡¡earthly¡¡muscles¡¡into¡¡the¡¡effort£»¡¡I¡¡cleared
the¡¡remaining¡¡distance¡¡between¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡in
great¡¡leaps¡¡and¡¡bounds¡¡that¡¡put¡¡me¡¡at¡¡their¡¡base¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡£
The¡¡cliffs¡¡rose¡¡perpendicular¡¡directly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡almost¡¡level
sward¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡accumulation¡¡of¡¡fallen¡¡debris£»
forming¡¡a¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡rough¡¡ascent¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡as¡¡is¡¡the¡¡case¡¡with
nearly¡¡all¡¡other¡¡cliffs¡¡I¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡seen¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡scattered
boulders¡¡that¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡from¡¡above¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡or¡¡partly
buried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡turf£»¡¡were¡¡the¡¡only¡¡indication¡¡that¡¡any
disintegration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡massive£»¡¡towering¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡rocks¡¡ever
had¡¡taken¡¡place¡£
My¡¡first¡¡cursory¡¡inspection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡filled
my¡¡heart¡¡with¡¡forebodings£»¡¡since¡¡nowhere¡¡could¡¡I¡¡discern£»¡¡except
where¡¡the¡¡weird¡¡herald¡¡stood¡¡still¡¡shrieking¡¡his¡¡shrill¡¡summons£»¡¡the
faintest¡¡indication¡¡of¡¡even¡¡a¡¡bare¡¡foothold¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡lofty¡¡escarpment¡£
To¡¡my¡¡right¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡was¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡foliage
of¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡which¡¡terminated¡¡at¡¡its¡¡very¡¡foot£»¡¡rearing¡¡its
gorgeous¡¡foliage¡¡fully¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡¡against¡¡its¡¡stern¡¡and
forbidding¡¡neighbour¡£
To¡¡the¡¡left¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡ran£»¡¡apparently¡¡unbroken£»¡¡across¡¡the
head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡valley£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡outlines¡¡of¡¡what
appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡range¡¡of¡¡mighty¡¡mountains¡¡that¡¡skirted
and¡¡confined¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡in¡¡every¡¡direction¡£
Perhaps¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡me¡¡the¡¡river¡¡broke£»¡¡as¡¡it
seemed£»¡¡directly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliffs£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡there
seemed¡¡not¡¡the¡¡remotest¡¡chance¡¡for¡¡escape¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction
I¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡attention¡¡again¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡forest¡£
The¡¡cliffs¡¡towered¡¡above¡¡me¡¡a¡¡good¡¡five¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡£
The¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡and¡¡they¡¡loomed¡¡a¡¡dull
yellow¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡shade¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡they¡¡were¡¡broken
with¡¡streaks¡¡and¡¡patches¡¡of¡¡dusky¡¡red£»¡¡green£»¡¡and¡¡occasional
areas¡¡of¡¡white¡¡quartz¡£
Altogether¡¡they¡¡were¡¡very¡¡beautiful£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡I¡¡did
not¡¡regard¡¡them¡¡with¡¡a¡¡particularly¡¡appreciative¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡this£»
my¡¡first¡¡inspection¡¡of¡¡them¡£
Just¡¡then¡¡I¡¡was¡¡absorbed¡¡in¡¡them¡¡only¡¡as¡¡a¡¡medium¡¡of
escape£»¡¡and¡¡so£»¡¡as¡¡my¡¡gaze¡¡ran¡¡quickly£»¡¡time¡¡and¡¡again£»
over¡¡their¡¡vast¡¡expanse¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡some¡¡cranny¡¡or¡¡crevice£»
I¡¡came¡¡suddenly¡¡to¡¡loathe¡¡them¡¡as¡¡the¡¡prisoner¡¡must¡¡loathe
the¡¡cruel¡¡and¡¡impregnable¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡his¡¡dungeon¡£
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡was¡¡approaching¡¡me¡¡rapidly£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡more
rapidly¡¡came¡¡the¡¡awful¡¡horde¡¡at¡¡his¡¡heels¡£
It¡¡seemed¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡now¡¡or¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡just¡¡on¡¡the
point¡¡of¡¡motioning¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡me¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction
when¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡cliff's¡¡zenith£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡rays
touched¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡surface¡¡it¡¡burst¡¡out¡¡into¡¡a¡¡million¡¡scintillant
lights¡¡of¡¡burnished¡¡gold£»¡¡of¡¡flaming¡¡red£»¡¡of¡¡soft¡¡greens£»¡¡and
gleaming¡¡whitesa¡¡more¡¡gorgeous¡¡and¡¡inspiring¡¡spectacle
human¡¡eye¡¡has¡¡never¡¡rested¡¡upon¡£
The¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡cliff¡¡was£»¡¡as¡¡later¡¡inspection
conclusively¡¡proved£»¡¡so¡¡shot¡¡with¡¡veins¡¡and¡¡patches¡¡of
solid¡¡gold¡¡as¡¡to¡¡quite¡¡present¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡wall¡¡of
that¡¡precious¡¡metal¡¡except¡¡where¡¡it¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡outcroppings¡¡of
ruby£»¡¡emerald£»¡¡and¡¡diamond¡¡bouldersa¡¡faint¡¡and¡¡alluring
indication¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡and¡¡unguessable¡¡riches¡¡which¡¡lay
deeply¡¡buried¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡magnificent¡¡surface¡£
But¡¡what¡¡caught¡¡my¡¡most¡¡interested¡¡attention¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment
that¡¡the¡¡sun's¡¡rays¡¡set¡¡the¡¡cliff's¡¡face¡¡a¡shimmer£»¡¡was¡¡the
several¡¡black¡¡spots¡¡which¡¡now¡¡appeared¡¡quite¡¡plainly¡¡in¡¡evidence
high¡¡across¡¡the¡¡gorgeous¡¡wall¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡forest's¡¡top£»
and¡¡extending¡¡apparently¡¡below¡¡and¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡branches¡£
Almost¡¡immediately¡¡I¡¡recognised¡¡them¡¡for¡¡what¡¡they¡¡were£»
the¡¡dark¡¡openings¡¡of¡¡caves¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡solid¡¡wallspossible
avenues¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡or¡¡temporary¡¡shelter£»¡¡could¡¡we¡¡but¡¡reach¡¡them¡£
There¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡single¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡led¡¡through¡¡the
mighty£»¡¡towering¡¡trees¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡I¡¡could¡¡scale
them¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡full¡¡well£»¡¡but¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡mighty¡¡bulk
and¡¡enormous¡¡weight£»¡¡would¡¡find¡¡it¡¡a¡¡task¡¡possibly¡¡quite
beyond¡¡his¡¡prowess¡¡or¡¡his¡¡skill£»¡¡for¡¡Martians¡¡are¡¡at¡¡best¡¡but
poor¡¡climbers¡£¡¡¡¡Upon¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡that¡¡ancient¡¡planet
I¡¡never¡¡before¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡hill¡¡or¡¡mountain¡¡that¡¡exceeded¡¡four
thousand¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡height¡¡above¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡sea¡¡bottoms£»¡¡and¡¡as
the¡¡ascent¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡gradual£»¡¡nearly¡¡to¡¡their¡¡summits¡¡they
presented¡¡but¡¡few¡¡opportunities¡¡for¡¡the¡¡practice¡¡of¡¡climbing¡£
Nor¡¡would¡¡the¡¡Martians¡¡have¡¡embraced¡¡even¡¡such¡¡opportunities
as¡¡might¡¡present¡¡themselves£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡could¡¡always¡¡find¡¡a
circuitous¡¡route¡¡about¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡any¡¡eminence£»¡¡and¡¡these
roads¡¡they¡¡preferred¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡in¡¡preference¡¡to¡¡the
shorter¡¡but¡¡more¡¡arduous¡¡ways¡£
However£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡than¡¡an¡¡attempt
to¡¡scale¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡contiguous¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡in¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡to
reach¡¡the¡¡caves¡¡above¡£
The¡¡Thark¡¡grasped¡¡the¡¡possibilities¡¡and¡¡the¡¡difficulties¡¡of
the¡¡plan¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡alternative£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡we
set¡¡out¡¡rapidly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡nearest¡¡the¡¡cliff¡£
Our¡¡relentless¡¡pursuers¡¡were¡¡now¡¡close¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡so¡¡close¡¡that
it¡¡seemed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡an¡¡utter¡¡impossibility¡¡for¡¡the
Jeddak¡¡of¡¡Thark¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡in¡¡advance¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡nor
was¡¡there¡¡any¡¡considerable¡¡will¡¡in¡¡the¡¡efforts¡¡that¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas
made£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡green¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Barsoom¡¡do¡¡not¡¡relish¡¡flight£»¡¡nor
ever¡¡before¡¡had¡¡I¡¡seen¡¡one¡¡fleeing¡¡from¡¡death¡¡in¡¡whatsoever
form¡¡it¡¡might¡¡have¡¡confronted¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡that¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡was
the¡¡bravest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brave¡¡he¡¡had¡¡proven¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡times£»
yes£»¡¡tens¡¡of¡¡thousands¡¡in¡¡countless¡¡mortal¡¡combats¡¡with¡¡men
and¡¡beasts¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡another¡¡reason¡¡than
fear¡¡of¡¡death¡¡behind¡¡his¡¡flight£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡a¡¡greater
power¡¡than¡¡pride¡¡or¡¡honour¡¡spurred¡¡me¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡these
fierce¡¡destroyers¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡case¡¡it¡¡was¡¡lovelove¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divine
Dejah¡¡Thoris£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Thark's¡¡great¡¡and¡¡sudden
love¡¡of¡¡life¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡fathom£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡oftener¡¡that¡¡they¡¡seek
death¡¡than¡¡lifethese¡¡strange£»¡¡cruel£»¡¡loveless£»¡¡unhappy¡¡people¡£
At¡¡length£»¡¡however£»¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡while
right¡¡behind¡¡us¡¡sprang¡¡the¡¡swiftest¡¡of¡¡our¡¡pursuersa¡¡giant¡¡plant¡¡man
with¡¡claws¡¡outreaching¡¡to¡¡fasten¡¡his¡¡bloodsucking¡¡mouths¡¡upon¡¡us¡£
He¡¡was£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡say£»¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡in¡¡advance¡¡of¡¡his
closest¡¡companion£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡I¡¡called¡¡to¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡to¡¡ascend¡¡a
great¡¡tree¡¡that¡¡brushed¡¡the¡¡cliff's¡¡face¡¡while¡¡I¡¡dispatched¡¡the
fellow£»¡¡thus¡¡giving¡¡the¡¡less¡¡agile¡¡Thark¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to
reach¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡branches¡¡before¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡horde¡¡should¡¡be
upon¡¡us¡¡and¡¡every¡¡vestige¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡cut¡¡off¡£
But¡¡I¡¡had¡¡reckoned¡¡without¡¡a¡¡just¡¡appreciation¡¡either¡¡of
the¡¡cunning¡¡of¡¡my¡¡immediate¡¡antagonist¡¡or¡¡the¡¡swiftness
with¡¡which¡¡his¡¡fellows¡¡were¡¡covering¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡which¡¡had
separated¡¡them¡¡from¡¡me¡£
As¡¡I¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡long¡sword¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡the¡¡creature¡¡its¡¡death
thrust¡¡it¡¡halted¡¡in¡¡its¡¡charge¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡my¡¡sword¡¡cut¡¡harmlessly
through¡¡the¡¡empty¡¡air£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡tail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡swept¡¡with
the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡a¡¡grizzly's¡¡arm¡¡across¡¡the¡¡sward¡¡and¡¡carried
me¡¡bodily¡¡from¡¡my¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡brute
was¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡ere¡¡it¡¡could¡¡fasten¡¡its¡¡hideous¡¡mouths¡¡into¡¡my
breast¡¡and¡¡throat¡¡I¡¡grasped¡¡a¡¡writhing¡¡tentacle¡¡in¡¡either¡¡hand¡£
The¡¡plant¡¡man¡¡was¡¡well¡¡muscled£»¡¡heavy£»¡¡and¡¡powerful
but¡¡my¡¡earthly¡¡sinews¡¡and¡¡greater¡¡agility£»¡¡in¡¡conjunction
with¡¡the¡¡deathly¡¡strangle¡¡hold¡¡I¡¡had¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡would¡¡have
given¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡an¡¡eventual¡¡victory¡¡had¡¡we¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to
discuss¡¡the¡¡merits¡¡of¡¡our¡¡relative¡¡prowess¡¡uninterrupted¡£
But¡¡¡¡as¡¡we¡¡strained¡¡and¡¡struggled¡¡about¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡into¡¡which
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡was¡¡clambering¡¡with¡¡infinite¡¡difficulty£»¡¡I¡¡suddenly
caught¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡over¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡my¡¡antagonist¡¡of¡¡the
great¡¡swarm¡¡of¡¡pursuers¡¡that¡¡now¡¡were¡¡fairly¡¡upon¡¡me¡£
Now£»¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡monsters¡¡who
had¡¡come¡¡with¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡men¡¡in¡¡response¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weird¡¡calling
of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cliff's¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡that¡¡most¡¡dreade