As I proceeded on my journey toward Zodanga many strange andinteresting sights arrested my attention, and at the severalfarm houses where I stopped I learned a number of new andinstructive things concerning the methods and manners of Barsoom.

The water which supplies the farms of Mars is collectedin immense underground reservoirs at either pole from themelting ice caps, and pumped through long conduits to thevarious populated centers. Along either side of these conduits,and extending their entire length, lie the cultivated districts.These are divided into tracts of about the same size, each tractbeing under the supervision of one or more government officers.

Instead of flooding the surface of the fields, and thus wastingimmense quantities of water by evaporation, the preciousliquid is carried underground through a vast network ofsmall pipes directly to the roots of the vegetation. The cropsupon Mars are always uniform, for there are no droughts, norains, no high winds, and no insects, or destroying birds.

On this trip I tasted the first meat I had eaten sinceleaving Earth--large, juicy steaks and chops from the well-feddomestic animals of the farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruitsand vegetables, but not a single article of food which wasexactly similar to anything on Earth. Every plant and flowerand vegetable and animal has been so refined by ages of careful,scientific cultivation and breeding that the like of them onEarth dwindled into pale, gray, characterless nothingnessby comparison.

At a second stop I met some highly cultivated people ofthe noble class and while in conversation we chanced tospeak of Helium. One of the older men had been there ona diplomatic mission several years before and spoke withregret of the conditions which seemed destined ever to keepthese two countries at war.

"Helium," he said, "rightly boasts the most beautifulwomen of Barsoom, and of all her treasures the wondrousdaughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah Thoris, is the most exquisiteflower.

"Why," he added, "the people really worship the groundshe walks upon and since her loss on that ill-starredexpedition all Helium has been draped in mourning.

"That our ruler should have attacked the disabled fleetas it was returning to Helium was but another of his awfulblunders which I fear will sooner or later compel Zodangato elevate a wiser man to his place."

"Even now, though our victorious armies are surroundingHelium, the people of Zodanga are voicing their displeasure,for the war is not a popular one, since it is not based onright or justice. Our forces took advantage of the absenceof the principal fleet of Helium on their search for theprincess, and so we have been able easily to reduce the cityto a sorry plight. it is said she will fall within the next fewpassages of the further moon."

"And what, think you, may have been the fate of theprincess, Dejah Thoris?" I asked as casually as possible.

"She is dead," he answered. "This much was learnedfrom a green warrior recently captured by our forces inthe south. She escaped from the hordes of Thark with astrange creature of another world, only to fall into the handsof the Warhoons. Their thoats were found wandering uponthe sea bottom and evidences of a bloody conflict werediscovered nearby."

While this information was in no way reassuring, neitherwas it at all conclusive proof of the death of Dejah Thoris,and so I determined to make every effort possible to reachHelium as quickly as I could and carry to Tardos Morssuch news of his granddaughter's possible whereabouts aslay in my power.

Ten days after leaving the three Ptor brothers I arrivedat Zodanga. From the moment that I had come in contactwith the red inhabitants of Mars I had noticed that Wooladrew a great amount of unwelcome attention to me, sincethe huge brute belonged to a species which is neverdomesticated by the red men. Were one to stroll downBroadway with a Numidian lion at his heels the effect wouldbe somewhat similar to that which I should have producedhad I entered Zodanga with Woola.

The very thought of parting with the faithful fellow causedme so great regret and genuine sorrow that I put it off untiljust before we arrived at the city's gates; but then, finally,it became imperative that we separate. Had nothing furtherthan my own safety or pleasure been at stake no argumentcould have prevailed upon me to turn away the one creatureupon Barsoom that had never failed in a demonstrationof affection and loyalty; but as I would willingly have offeredmy life in the service of her in search of whom I was aboutto challenge the unknown dangers of this, to me, mysteriouscity, I could not permit even Woola's life to threaten thesuccess of my venture, much less his momentary happiness,for I doubted not he soon would forget me. And so I badethe poor beast an affectionate farewell, promising him,however, that if I came through my adventure in safety thatin some way I should find the means to search him out.

He seemed to understand me fully, and when I pointedback in the direction of Thark he turned sorrowfully away,nor could I bear to watch him go; but resolutely set myface toward Zodanga and with a touch of heartsicknessapproached her frowning walls.

The letter I bore from them gained me immediate entranceto the vast, walled city. It was still very early inthe morning and the streets were practically deserted.The residences, raised high upon their metal columns, resembledhuge rookeries, while the uprights themselves presented theappearance of steel tree trunks. The shops as a rule werenot raised from the ground nor were their doors bolted orbarred, since thievery is practically unknown upon Barsoom.Assassination is the ever-present fear of all Barsoomians,and for this reason alone their homes are raised high abovethe ground at night, or in times of danger.

The Ptor brothers had given me explicit directions forreaching the point of the city where I could find livingaccommodations and be near the offices of the governmentagents to whom they had given me letters. My way led tothe central square or plaza, which is a characteristic of allMartian cities.

The plaza of Zodanga covers a square mile and is boundedby the palaces of the jeddak, the jeds, and other membersof the royalty and nobility of Zodanga, as well as by theprincipal public buildings, cafes, and shops.

As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder andadmiration of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeousscarlet vegetation which carpeted the broad lawns Idiscovered a red Martian walking briskly toward me from oneof the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention to me,but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning Iplaced my hand upon his shoulder, calling out:

"Kaor, Kantos Kan!"

Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so muchas lower my hand the point of his long-sword was at mybreast.

"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leapcarried me fifty feet from his sword he dropped the pointto the ground and exclaimed, laughing,

"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man uponall Barsoom who can bounce about like a rubber ball. Bythe mother of the further moon, John Carter, how cameyou here, and have you become a Darseen that you canchange your color at will?"

"You gave me a bad half minute my friend," he continued,after I had briefly outlined my adventures since partingwith him in the arena at Warhoon. "Were my nameand city known to the Zodangans I would shortly be sittingon the banks of the lost sea of Korus with my revered anddeparted ancestors. I am here in the interest of TardosMors, Jeddak of Helium, to discover the whereabouts ofDejah Thoris, our princess. Sab Than, prince of Zodanga,has her hidden in the city and has fallen madly in lovewith her. His father, Than Kosis, Jeddak of Zodanga, hasmade her voluntary marriage to his son the price of peacebetween our countries, but Tardos Mors will not accede tothe demands and has sent word that he and his peoplewould rather look upon the dead face of their princess thansee her wed to any than her own choice, and that personallyhe would prefer being engulfed in the ashes of a lost andburning Helium to joining the metal of his house with thatof Than Kosis. His reply was the deadliest affront he couldhave put upon Than Kosis and the Zodangans, but his peoplelove him the more for it and his strength in Helium isgreater today than ever.

"I have been here three days," continued Kantos Kan,"but I have not yet found where Dejah Thoris is imprisoned.Today I join the Zodangan navy as an air scout and I hopein this way to win the confidence of Sab Than, the prince,who is commander of this division of the navy, and thuslearn the whereabouts of Dejah Thoris. I am glad that youare here, John Carter, for I know your loyalty to my princessand two of us working together should be able toaccomplish much."

The plaza was now commencing to fill with people goingand coming upon the daily activities of their duties. Theshops were opening and the cafes filling with early morningpatrons. Kantos Kan led me to one of these gorgeous eatingplaces where we were served entirely by mechanical apparatus.No hand touched the food from the time it entered thebuilding in its raw state until it emerged hot and deliciousupon the tables before the guests, in response to the touchingof tiny buttons to indicate their desires.

After our meal, Kantos Kan took me with him to theheadquarters of the air-scout squadron and introducing meto his superior asked that I be enrolled as a member of thecorps. In accordance with custom an examination was necessary,but Kantos Kan had told me to have no fear on this score as hewould attend to that part of the matter. He accomplishedthis by taking my order for examination to the examiningofficer and representing himself as John Carter.

"This ruse will be discovered later," he cheerfullyexplained, "when they check up my weights, measurements,and other personal identification data, but it will beseveral months before this is done and our mission shouldbe accomplished or have failed long before that time."

The next few days were spent by Kantos Kan in teachingme the intricacies of flying and of repairing the daintylittle contrivances which the Martians use for this purpose.The body of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feetlong, two feet wide and three inches thick, tapering to apoint at each end. The driver sits on top of this plane upona seat constructed over the small, noiseless radium enginewhich propels it. The medium of buoyancy is containedwithin the thin metal walls of the body and consists ofthe eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion, as it maybe termed in view of its properties.

This ray, like the ninth ray, is unknown on Earth, butthe Martians have discovered that it is an inherent propertyof all light no matter from what source it emanates. Theyhave learned that it is the solar eighth ray which propelsthe light of the sun to the various planets, and that it isthe individual eighth ray of each planet which "reflects," orpropels the light thus obtained out into space once more.The solar eighth ray would be absorbed by the surface ofBarsoom, but the Barsoomian eighth ray, which tends topropel light from Mars into space, is constantly streamingout from the planet constituting a force of repulsion ofgravity which when confined is able to life enormous weightsfrom the surface of the ground.

It is this ray which has enabled them to so perfect aviationthat battle ships far outweighing anything known uponEarth sail as gracefully and lightly through the thin air ofBarsoom as a toy balloon in the heavy atmosphere of Earth.

During the early years of the discovery of this ray manystrange accidents occurred before the Martians learned tomeasure and control the wonderful power they had found.In one instance, some nine hundred years before, the firstgreat battle ship to be built with eighth ray reservoirs wasstored with too great a quantity of the rays and she hadsailed up from Helium with five hundred officers and men,never to return.

Her power of repulsion for the planet was so great thatit had carried her far into space, where she can be seentoday, by the aid of powerful telescopes, hurtling throughthe heavens ten thousand miles from Mars; a tiny satellitethat will thus encircle Barsoom to the end of time.

The fourth day after my arrival at Zodanga I made myfirst flight, and as a result of it I won a promotion whichincluded quarters in the palace of Than Kosis.

As I rose above the city I circled several times, as I hadseen Kantos Kan do, and then throwing my engine into topspeed I raced at terrific velocity toward the south, followingone of the great waterways which enter Zodanga from thatdirection.

I had traversed perhaps two hundred miles in a little lessthan an hour when I descried far below me a party ofthree green warriors racing madly toward a small figure onfoot which seemed to be trying to reach the confines of oneof the walled fields.

Dropping my machine rapidly toward them, and circlingto the rear of the warriors, I soon saw that the object oftheir pursuit was a red Martian wearing the metal of thescout squadron to which I was attached. A short distanceaway lay his tiny flier, surrounded by the tools with whichhe had evidently been occupied in repairing some damagewhen surprised by the green warriors.

They were now almost upon him; their flying mountscharging down on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed,while the warriors leaned low to the right, with their greatmetal-shod spears. Each seemed striving to be the first toimpale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his fatewould have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival.

Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behindthe warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishingmy speed I rammed the prow of my little flier between theshoulders of the nearest. The impact sufficient to have tornthrough inches of solid steel, hurled the fellow's headless bodyinto the air over the head of his thoat, where it fell sprawlingupon the moss. The mounts of the other two warriorsturned squealing in terror, and bolted in opposite directions.

Reducing my speed I circled and came to the groundat the feet of the astonished Zodangan. He was warm inhis thanks for my timely aid and promised that my day'swork would bring the reward it merited, for it was noneother than a cousin of the jeddak of Zodanga whose life Ihad saved.

We wasted no time in talk as we knew that the warriorswould surely return as soon as they had gained control oftheir mounts. Hastening to his damaged machine we werebending every effort to finish the needed repairs and hadalmost completed them when we saw the two green monstersreturning at top speed from opposite sides of us. Whenthey had approached within a hundred yards their thoatsagain became unmanageable and absolutely refused to advancefurther toward the air craft which had frightened them.

The warriors finally dismounted and hobbling their animalsadvanced toward us on foot with drawn long-swords.

I advanced to meet the larger, telling the Zodangan to dothe best he could with the other. Finishing my man withalmost no effort, as had now from much practice becomehabitual with me, I hastened to return to my new acquaintancewhom I found indeed in desperate straits.

He was wounded and down with the huge foot of hisantagonist upon his throat and the great long-sword raisedto deal the final thrust. With a bound I cleared the fiftyfeet intervening between us, and with outstretched pointdrove my sword completely through the body of the greenwarrior. His sword fell, harmless, to the ground and he sanklimply upon the prostrate form of the Zodangan.

A cursory examination of the latter revealed no mortalinjuries and after a brief rest he asserted that he felt fit toattempt the return voyage. He would have to pilot hisown craft, however, as these frail vessels are not intendedto convey but a single person.

Quickly completing the repairs we rose together into thestill, cloudless Martian sky, and at great speed and withoutfurther mishap returned to Zodanga.

As we neared the city we discovered a mighty concourseof civilians and troops assembled upon the plain before thecity. The sky was black with naval vessels and private andpublic pleasure craft, flying long streamers of gay-coloredsilks, and banners and flags of odd and picturesque design.

My companion signaled that I slow down, and runninghis machine close beside mine suggested that we approachand watch the ceremony, which, he said, was for the purposeof conferring honors on individual officers and men forbravery and other distinguished service. He then unfurleda little ensign which denoted that his craft bore a memberof the royal family of Zodanga, and together we made ourway through the maze of low-lying air vessels until we hungdirectly over the jeddak of Zodanga and his staff. All weremounted upon the small domestic bull thoats of the redMartians, and their trappings and ornamentation bore sucha quantity of gorgeously colored feathers that I could not butbe struck with the startling resemblance the concourse boreto a band of the red Indians of my own Earth.

One of the staff called the attention of Than Kosis to thepresence of my companion above them and the ruler motionedfor him to descend. As they waited for the troopsto move into position facing the jeddak the two talkedearnestly together, the jeddak and his staff occasionallyglancing up at me. I could not hear their conversation andpresently it ceased and all dismounted, as the last body oftroops had wheeled into position before their emperor. Amember of the staff advanced toward the troops, and callingthe name of a soldier commanded him to advance. Theofficer then recited the nature of the heroic act which hadwon the approval of the jeddak, and the latter advancedand placed a metal ornament upon the left arm of thelucky man.

Ten men had been so decorated when the aide called out,

"John Carter, air scout!"

Never in my life had I been so surprised, but the habitof military discipline is strong within me, and I droppedmy little machine lightly to the ground and advanced onfoot as I had seen the others do. As I halted before theofficer, he addressed me in a voice audible to the entireassemblage of troops and spectators.

"In recognition, John Carter," he said, "of your remarkablecourage and skill in defending the person of the cousinof the jeddak Than Kosis and, singlehanded, vanquishingthree green warriors, it is the pleasure of our jeddak toconfer on you the mark of his esteem."

Than Kosis then advanced toward me and placing anornament upon me, said:

"My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderfulachievement, which seems little short of miraculous, and ifyou can so well defend a cousin of the jeddak how muchbetter could you defend the person of the jeddak himself.You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards andwill be quartered in my palace hereafter."

I thanked him, and at his direction joined the membersof his staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine toits quarters on the roof of the barracks of the air-scoutsquadron, and with an orderly from the palace to guide meI reported to the officer in charge of the palace.