the gods of mars-µÚ5²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cliff's¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡that¡¡most¡¡dreaded
of¡¡Martian¡¡creaturesgreat¡¡white¡¡apes¡¡of¡¡Barsoom¡£
My¡¡former¡¡experiences¡¡upon¡¡Mars¡¡had¡¡familiarized¡¡me
thoroughly¡¡with¡¡them¡¡and¡¡their¡¡methods£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡may¡¡say¡¡that
of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fearsome¡¡and¡¡terrible£»¡¡weird¡¡and¡¡grotesque¡¡inhabitants
of¡¡that¡¡strange¡¡world£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡white¡¡apes¡¡that¡¡come¡¡nearest
to¡¡familiarizing¡¡me¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sensation¡¡of¡¡fear¡£
I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡this¡¡feeling¡¡which¡¡these¡¡apes
engender¡¡within¡¡me¡¡is¡¡due¡¡to¡¡their¡¡remarkable¡¡resemblance
in¡¡form¡¡to¡¡our¡¡Earth¡¡men£»¡¡which¡¡gives¡¡them¡¡a¡¡human¡¡appearance
that¡¡is¡¡most¡¡uncanny¡¡when¡¡coupled¡¡with¡¡their¡¡enormous¡¡size¡£
They¡¡stand¡¡fifteen¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡height¡¡and¡¡walk¡¡erect¡¡upon¡¡their
hind¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡green¡¡Martians£»¡¡they¡¡have¡¡an¡¡intermediary
set¡¡of¡¡arms¡¡midway¡¡between¡¡their¡¡upper¡¡and¡¡lower¡¡limbs¡£
Their¡¡eyes¡¡are¡¡very¡¡close¡¡set£»¡¡but¡¡do¡¡not¡¡protrude¡¡as¡¡do¡¡those
of¡¡the¡¡green¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Mars£»¡¡their¡¡ears¡¡are¡¡high¡¡set£»¡¡but¡¡more
laterally¡¡located¡¡than¡¡are¡¡the¡¡green¡¡men's£»¡¡while¡¡their¡¡snouts
and¡¡teeth¡¡are¡¡much¡¡like¡¡those¡¡of¡¡our¡¡African¡¡gorilla¡£¡¡¡¡Upon
their¡¡heads¡¡grows¡¡an¡¡enormous¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡bristly¡¡hair¡£
It¡¡was¡¡into¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡such¡¡as¡¡these¡¡and¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡plant
men¡¡that¡¡I¡¡gazed¡¡above¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡my¡¡foe£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡in
a¡¡mighty¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡snarling£»¡¡snapping£»¡¡screaming£»¡¡purring¡¡rage£»
they¡¡swept¡¡over¡¡meand¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡that¡¡assailed¡¡my
ears¡¡as¡¡I¡¡went¡¡down¡¡beneath¡¡them£»¡¡to¡¡me¡¡the¡¡most¡¡hideous
was¡¡the¡¡horrid¡¡purring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡men¡£
Instantly¡¡a¡¡score¡¡of¡¡cruel¡¡fangs¡¡and¡¡keen¡¡talons¡¡were¡¡sunk
into¡¡my¡¡flesh£»¡¡cold£»¡¡sucking¡¡lips¡¡fastened¡¡themselves¡¡upon¡¡my
arteries¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡struggled¡¡to¡¡free¡¡myself£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡though¡¡weighed
down¡¡by¡¡these¡¡immense¡¡bodies£»¡¡I¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡struggling¡¡to
my¡¡feet£»¡¡where£»¡¡still¡¡grasping¡¡my¡¡long¡sword£»¡¡and¡¡shortening¡¡my
grip¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡until¡¡I¡¡could¡¡use¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dagger£»¡¡I¡¡wrought¡¡such
havoc¡¡among¡¡them¡¡that¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡free¡£
What¡¡it¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡minutes¡¡to¡¡write¡¡occurred¡¡in¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few
seconds£»¡¡but¡¡during¡¡that¡¡time¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡my¡¡plight
and¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡branches£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had
reached¡¡with¡¡such¡¡infinite¡¡labour£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡flung¡¡the¡¡last
of¡¡my¡¡immediate¡¡antagonists¡¡from¡¡me¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Thark¡¡leaped
to¡¡my¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡we¡¡fought£»¡¡back¡¡to¡¡back£»¡¡as¡¡we
had¡¡done¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡times¡¡before¡£
Time¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡ferocious¡¡apes¡¡sprang¡¡in¡¡to¡¡close¡¡with
us£»¡¡and¡¡time¡¡and¡¡again¡¡we¡¡beat¡¡them¡¡back¡¡with¡¡our¡¡swords¡£
The¡¡great¡¡tails¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡men¡¡lashed¡¡with¡¡tremendous
power¡¡about¡¡us¡¡as¡¡they¡¡charged¡¡from¡¡various¡¡directions¡¡or
sprang¡¡with¡¡the¡¡agility¡¡of¡¡greyhounds¡¡above¡¡our¡¡heads£»¡¡but
every¡¡attack¡¡met¡¡a¡¡gleaming¡¡blade¡¡in¡¡sword¡¡hands¡¡that¡¡had
been¡¡reputed¡¡for¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡the¡¡best¡¡that¡¡Mars¡¡ever¡¡had
known£»¡¡for¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡and¡¡John¡¡Carter¡¡were¡¡names¡¡that¡¡the
fighting¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡of¡¡warriors¡¡loved¡¡best¡¡to¡¡speak¡£
But¡¡even¡¡the¡¡two¡¡best¡¡swords¡¡in¡¡a¡¡world¡¡of¡¡fighters¡¡can
avail¡¡not¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡against¡¡overwhelming¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡fierce
and¡¡savage¡¡brutes¡¡that¡¡know¡¡not¡¡what¡¡defeat¡¡means¡¡until
cold¡¡steel¡¡teaches¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡to¡¡beat£»¡¡and¡¡so£»¡¡step
by¡¡step£»¡¡we¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡length¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡against¡¡the
giant¡¡tree¡¡that¡¡we¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡for¡¡our¡¡ascent£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡as
charge¡¡after¡¡charge¡¡hurled¡¡its¡¡weight¡¡upon¡¡us£»¡¡we¡¡gave¡¡back
again¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡until¡¡we¡¡had¡¡been¡¡forced¡¡half¡way¡¡around
the¡¡huge¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡colossal¡¡trunk¡£
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lead£»¡¡and¡¡suddenly¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡little
cry¡¡of¡¡exultation¡¡from¡¡him¡£
¡¨Here¡¡is¡¡shelter¡¡for¡¡one¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡John¡¡Carter£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»
and£»¡¡glancing¡¡down£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree
about¡¡three¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡diameter¡£
¡¨In¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡cried£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡go£»
saying¡¡that¡¡his¡¡bulk¡¡was¡¡too¡¡great¡¡for¡¡the¡¡little¡¡aperture£»
while¡¡I¡¡might¡¡slip¡¡in¡¡easily¡£
¡¨We¡¡shall¡¡both¡¡die¡¡if¡¡we¡¡remain¡¡without£»¡¡John¡¡Carter£»¡¡here
is¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡chance¡¡for¡¡one¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡Take¡¡it¡¡and¡¡you¡¡may¡¡live
to¡¡avenge¡¡me£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡useless¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡worm¡¡my
way¡¡into¡¡so¡¡small¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡with¡¡this¡¡horde¡¡of¡¡demons
besetting¡¡us¡¡on¡¡all¡¡sides¡£¡¨
¡¨Then¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡die¡¡together£»¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡I
shall¡¡not¡¡go¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡defend¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡while¡¡you¡¡get
in£»¡¡then¡¡my¡¡smaller¡¡stature¡¡will¡¡permit¡¡me¡¡to¡¡slip¡¡in¡¡with¡¡you
before¡¡they¡¡can¡¡prevent¡£¡¨
We¡¡still¡¡were¡¡fighting¡¡furiously¡¡as¡¡we¡¡talked¡¡in¡¡broken¡¡sentences£»
punctured¡¡with¡¡vicious¡¡cuts¡¡and¡¡thrusts¡¡at¡¡our¡¡swarming¡¡enemy¡£
At¡¡length¡¡he¡¡yielded£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which
either¡¡of¡¡us¡¡might¡¡be¡¡saved¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ever¡increasing¡¡numbers
of¡¡our¡¡assailants£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡still¡¡swarming¡¡upon¡¡us¡¡from¡¡all
directions¡¡across¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡valley¡£
¡¨It¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡your¡¡way£»¡¡John¡¡Carter£»¡¡to¡¡think¡¡last¡¡of¡¡your
own¡¡life£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡still¡¡more¡¡your¡¡way¡¡to¡¡command¡¡the
lives¡¡and¡¡actions¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡of¡¡Jeddaks
who¡¡rule¡¡upon¡¡Barsoom¡£¡¨
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grim¡¡smile¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡cruel£»¡¡hard¡¡face£»¡¡as¡¡he£»
the¡¡greatest¡¡Jeddak¡¡of¡¡them¡¡all£»¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡the¡¡dictates
of¡¡a¡¡creature¡¡of¡¡another¡¡worldof¡¡a¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡stature¡¡was
less¡¡than¡¡half¡¡his¡¡own¡£
¡¨If¡¡you¡¡fail£»¡¡John¡¡Carter£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cruel
and¡¡heartless¡¡Thark£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡taught¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of
friendship£»¡¡will¡¡come¡¡out¡¡to¡¡die¡¡beside¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¨As¡¡you¡¡will£»¡¡my¡¡friend£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡quickly¡¡now£»
head¡¡first£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡cover¡¡your¡¡retreat¡£¡¨
He¡¡hesitated¡¡a¡¡little¡¡at¡¡that¡¡word£»¡¡for¡¡never¡¡before¡¡in¡¡his
whole¡¡life¡¡of¡¡continual¡¡strife¡¡had¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡upon
aught¡¡than¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡or¡¡defeated¡¡enemy¡£
¡¨Haste£»¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡urged£»¡¡¡¨or¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡both¡¡go¡¡down
to¡¡profitless¡¡defeat£»¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡hold¡¡them¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡alone¡£¡¨
As¡¡he¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡to¡¡force¡¡his¡¡way¡¡into¡¡the
tree£»¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡howling¡¡pack¡¡of¡¡hideous¡¡devils¡¡hurled¡¡themselves
upon¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left¡¡flew¡¡my¡¡shimmering¡¡blade£»
now¡¡green¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sticky¡¡juice¡¡of¡¡a¡¡plant¡¡man£»¡¡now¡¡red
with¡¡the¡¡crimson¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡white¡¡ape£»¡¡but¡¡always
flying¡¡from¡¡one¡¡opponent¡¡to¡¡another£»¡¡hesitating¡¡but¡¡the¡¡barest
fraction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡second¡¡to¡¡drink¡¡the¡¡lifeblood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of
some¡¡savage¡¡heart¡£
And¡¡thus¡¡I¡¡fought¡¡as¡¡I¡¡never¡¡had¡¡fought¡¡before£»¡¡against¡¡such
frightful¡¡odds¡¡that¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡realize¡¡even¡¡now¡¡that¡¡human
muscles¡¡could¡¡have¡¡withstood¡¡that¡¡awful¡¡onslaught£»¡¡that
terrific¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡hurtling¡¡tons¡¡of¡¡ferocious£»¡¡battling¡¡flesh¡£
With¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡we¡¡would¡¡escape¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡creatures
redoubled¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡pull¡¡me¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡the¡¡ground
about¡¡me¡¡was¡¡piled¡¡high¡¡with¡¡their¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡dying¡¡comrades£»
they¡¡succeeded¡¡at¡¡last¡¡in¡¡overwhelming¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡went¡¡down
beneath¡¡them¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡again
felt¡¡those¡¡awful¡¡sucking¡¡lips¡¡against¡¡my¡¡flesh¡£
But¡¡scarce¡¡had¡¡I¡¡fallen¡¡ere¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡powerful¡¡hands¡¡grip¡¡my¡¡ankles£»
and¡¡in¡¡another¡¡second¡¡I¡¡was¡¡being¡¡drawn¡¡within¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡of
the¡¡tree's¡¡interior¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tug¡¡of¡¡war¡¡between
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡and¡¡a¡¡great¡¡plant¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡clung¡¡tenaciously¡¡to¡¡my¡¡breast£»
but¡¡presently¡¡I¡¡got¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡my¡¡long¡sword¡¡beneath¡¡him¡¡and¡¡with
a¡¡mighty¡¡thrust¡¡pierced¡¡his¡¡vitals¡£
Torn¡¡and¡¡bleeding¡¡from¡¡many¡¡cruel¡¡wounds£»¡¡I¡¡lay¡¡panting
upon¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡within¡¡the¡¡hollow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree£»¡¡while¡¡Tars
Tarkas¡¡defended¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡from¡¡the¡¡furious¡¡mob¡¡without¡£
For¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡they¡¡howled¡¡about¡¡the¡¡tree£»¡¡but¡¡after¡¡a¡¡few
attempts¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡us¡¡they¡¡confined¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡terrorizing
shrieks¡¡and¡¡screams£»¡¡to¡¡horrid¡¡growling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the
great¡¡white¡¡apes£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fearsome¡¡and¡¡indescribable¡¡purring
by¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡men¡£
At¡¡length£»¡¡all¡¡but¡¡a¡¡score£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡apparently¡¡been¡¡left¡¡to
prevent¡¡our¡¡escape£»¡¡had¡¡left¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡our¡¡adventure¡¡seemed
destined¡¡to¡¡result¡¡in¡¡a¡¡siege£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡outcome¡¡of¡¡which¡¡could
be¡¡our¡¡death¡¡by¡¡starvation£»¡¡for¡¡even¡¡should¡¡we¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡slip
out¡¡after¡¡dark£»¡¡whither¡¡in¡¡this¡¡unknown¡¡and¡¡hostile¡¡valley
could¡¡we¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡our¡¡steps¡¡toward¡¡possible¡¡escape£¿
As¡¡the¡¡attacks¡¡of¡¡our¡¡enemies¡¡ceased¡¡and¡¡our¡¡eyes¡¡became
accustomed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡semi¡darkness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡our¡¡strange
retreat£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡explore¡¡our¡¡shelter¡£
The¡¡tree¡¡was¡¡hollow¡¡to¡¡an¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡about¡¡fifty¡¡feet¡¡in
diameter£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡its¡¡flat£»¡¡hard¡¡floor¡¡I¡¡judged¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had
often¡¡been¡¡used¡¡to¡¡domicile¡¡others¡¡before¡¡our¡¡occupancy¡£
As¡¡I¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡toward¡¡its¡¡roof¡¡to¡¡note¡¡the¡¡height¡¡I¡¡saw
far¡¡above¡¡me¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡glow¡¡of¡¡light¡£
There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡above¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡we¡¡could¡¡but¡¡reach¡¡it
we¡¡might¡¡still¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡caves¡£
My¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡now¡¡become¡¡quite¡¡used¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subdued¡¡light¡¡of
the¡¡interior£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡pursued¡¡my¡¡investigation¡¡I¡¡presently
came¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡rough¡¡ladder¡¡at¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cave¡£
Quickly¡¡I¡¡mounted¡¡it£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡find¡¡that¡¡it¡¡connected¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top
with¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡of¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡horizontal¡¡wooden¡¡bars¡¡that¡¡spanned
the¡¡now¡¡narrow¡¡and¡¡shaft¡like¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree's¡¡stem¡£
These¡¡bars¡¡were¡¡set¡¡one¡¡above¡¡another¡¡about¡¡three¡¡feet¡¡apart£»
and¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡ladder¡¡as¡¡far¡¡above¡¡me¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡£
Dropping¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡I¡¡detailed¡¡my¡¡discovery
to¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¡who¡¡suggested¡¡that¡¡I¡¡explore¡¡aloft¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as
I¡¡could¡¡go¡¡in¡¡safety¡¡while¡¡he¡¡guarded¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡against¡¡a
possible¡¡attack¡£
As¡¡I¡¡hastened¡¡above¡¡to¡¡explore¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡shaft¡¡I¡¡found
that¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡of¡¡horizontal¡¡bars¡¡mounted¡¡always¡¡as¡¡far
above¡¡me¡¡as¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡could¡¡reach£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡ascended£»¡¡the
light¡¡from¡¡above¡¡grew¡¡brighter¡¡and¡¡brighter¡£
For¡¡fully¡¡five¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡¡I¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡climb£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡
length¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stem¡¡which¡¡admitted
the¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡of¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡diameter¡¡as¡¡the¡¡entrance
at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree£»¡¡and¡¡opened¡¡directly¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡large¡¡flat
limb£»¡¡the¡¡well¡¡worn¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡which¡¡testified¡¡to¡¡its¡¡long
continued¡¡use¡¡as¡¡an¡¡avenue¡¡for¡¡some¡¡creature¡¡to¡¡and¡¡from
this¡¡remarkable¡¡shaft¡£
I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡venture¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡limb¡¡for¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might
be¡¡discovered¡¡and¡¡our¡¡retreat¡¡in¡¡this¡¡direction¡¡cut¡¡off£»
but¡¡instead¡¡hurried¡¡to¡¡retrace¡¡my¡¡steps¡¡to¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡£
I¡¡soon¡¡reached¡¡him¡¡and¡¡presently¡¡we¡¡were¡¡both¡¡ascending
the¡¡long¡¡ladder¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡