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第45章

a princess of mars-第45章

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beneath。



In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and

yellow towers of Helium; and a short time later a great fleet

of Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers

without the city; and advanced to meet us。



The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to

stern of each of our mighty craft; but the Zodangans did

not need this sign to realize that we were enemies; for our

green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them almost

as they left the ground。  With their uncanny marksmanship


they raked the on…coming fleet with volley after volley。



The twin cities of Helium; perceiving that we were friends;

sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us; and then began the

first real air battle I had ever witnessed。



The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling

above the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga; since

their batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks who;

having no navy; have no skill in naval gunnery。  Their small…

arm fire; however; was most effective; and the final outcome

of the engagement was strongly influenced; if not wholly

determined; by their presence。



At first the two forces circled at the same altitude; pouring

broadside after broadside into each other。  Presently a great

hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft

from the Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely

over; the little figures of her crew plunging; turning

and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; then

with sickening velocity she tore after them; almost completely

burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom。



A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron;

and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan

fleet。  By a pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium

gained a position above their adversaries; from which they

poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect

torrent of exploding bombs。



Then; one by one; the battleships of Helium succeeded in

rising above the Zodangans; and in a short time a number

of the beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks

toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium。  Several

others attempted to escape; but they were soon surrounded

by thousands of tiny individual fliers; and above each hung

a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties

upon their decks。



Within but little more than an hour from the moment the

victorious Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from

the camp of the besiegers the battle was over; and the

remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed

toward the cities of Helium under prize crews。



There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender

of these mighty fliers; the result of an age…old custom which

demanded that surrender should be signalized by the voluntary

plunging to earth of the commander of the vanquished vessel。

One after another the brave fellows; holding their colors

high above their heads; leaped from the towering bows of

their mighty craft to an awful death。



Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful

plunge; thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels;

did the fighting cease; and the useless sacrifice of brave men

come to an end。



We now signaled the flagship of Helium's navy to approach;

and when she was within hailing distance I called out that

we had the Princess Dejah Thoris on board; and that we

wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be

taken immediately to the city。



As the full import of my announcement bore in upon

them a great cry arose from the decks of the flagship; and

a moment later the colors of the Princess of Helium broke

from a hundred points upon her upper works。  When the

other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of the

signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and

unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight。



The flagship bore down upon us; and as she swung gracefully

to and touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon

our decks。  As their astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds

of green warriors; who now came forth from the fighting

shelters; they stopped aghast; but at sight of Kantos Kan;

who advanced to meet them; they came forward; crowding

about him。



Dejah Thoris and I then advanced; and they had no eyes

for other than her。  She received them gracefully; calling

each by name; for they were men high in the esteem and

service of her grandfather; and she knew them well。



〃Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter;〃 she

said to them; turning toward me; 〃the man to whom Helium

owes her princess as well as her victory today。〃



They were very courteous to me and said many kind and

complimentary things; but what seemed to impress them

most was that I had won the aid of the fierce Tharks in my

campaign for the liberation of Dejah Thoris; and the relief

of Helium。



〃You owe your thanks more to another man than to me;〃

I said; 〃and here he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest

soldiers and statesmen; Tars Tarkas; Jeddak of Thark。〃



With the same polished courtesy that had marked their

manner toward me they extended their greetings to the great

Thark; nor; to my surprise; was he much behind them in

ease of bearing or in courtly speech。  Though not a garrulous

race; the Tharks are extremely formal; and their ways lend

themselves amazingly well to dignified and courtly manners。



Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship; and was much put

out that I would not follow; but; as I explained to her; the

battle was but partly won; we still had the land forces of

the besieging Zodangans to account for; and I would not leave

Tars Tarkas until that had been accomplished。



The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised

to arrange to have the armies of Helium attack from the

city in conjunction with our land attack; and so the vessels

separated and Dejah Thoris was borne in triumph back to

the court of her grandfather; Tardos Mors; Jeddak of Helium。



In the distance lay our fleet of transports; with the thoats

of the green warriors; where they had remained during the

battle。  Without landing stages it was to be a difficult matter

to unload these beasts upon the open plain; but there was

nothing else for it; and so we put out for a point about ten

miles from the city and began the task。



It was necessary to lower the animals to the ground in

slings and this work occupied the remainder of the day and

half the night。  Twice we were attacked by parties of Zodangan

cavalry; but with little loss; however; and after darkness shut

down they withdrew。



As soon as the last thoat was unloaded Tars Tarkas gave

the command to advance; and in three parties we crept upon

the Zodangan camp from the north; the south and the east。



About a mile from the main camp we encountered their

outposts and; as had been prearranged; accepted this as the

signal to charge。  With wild; ferocious cries and amidst the

nasty squealing of battle…enraged thoats we bore down upon

the Zodangans。



We did not catch them napping; but found a well…entrenched

battle line confronting us。  Time after time we were repulsed until;

toward noon; I began to fear for the result of the battle。



The Zodangans numbered nearly a million fighting men;

gathered from pole to pole; wherever stretched their ribbon…

like waterways; while pitted against them were less than a

hundred thousand green warriors。  The forces from Helium

had not arrived; nor could we receive any word from them。



Just at noon we heard heavy firing all along the line between

the Zodangans and the cities; and we knew then that

our much…needed reinforcements had come。



Again Tars Tarkas ordered the charge; and once more the

mighty thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts

of the enemy。  At the same moment the battle line of Helium

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