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第7章

a princess of mars-第7章

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under the circumstances of brutality; boorishness; and lack of

consideration for a stranger's rights; I swung my fist squarely

to his jaw and he went down like a felled ox。  As he sunk to

the floor I wheeled around with my back toward the nearest

desk; expecting to be overwhelmed by the vengeance of his

fellows; but determined to give them as good a battle as the

unequal odds would permit before I gave up my life。



My fears were groundless; however; as the other Martians;

at first struck dumb with wonderment; finally broke into wild

peals of laughter and applause。  I did not recognize the

applause as such; but later; when I had become acquainted

with their customs; I learned that I had won what they seldom

accord; a manifestation of approbation。



The fellow whom I had struck lay where he had fallen; nor

did any of his mates approach him。  Tars Tarkas advanced

toward me; holding out one of his arms; and we thus proceeded

to the plaza without further mishap。  I did not; of course;

know the reason for which we had come to the open; but I

was not long in being enlightened。  They first repeated

the word 〃sak〃 a number of times; and then Tars Tarkas made

several jumps; repeating the same word before each leap; then;

turning to me; he said; 〃sak!〃  I saw what they were after; and

gathering myself together I 〃sakked〃 with such marvelous

success that I cleared a good hundred and fifty feet; nor did I

this time; lose my equilibrium; but landed squarely upon my

feet without falling。  I then returned by easy jumps of twenty…

five or thirty feet to the little group of warriors。



My exhibition had been witnessed by several hundred lesser

Martians; and they immediately broke into demands for a

repetition; which the chieftain then ordered me to make; but

I was both hungry and thirsty; and determined on the spot

that my only method of salvation was to demand the

consideration from these creatures which they evidently would

not voluntarily accord。  I therefore ignored the repeated

commands to 〃sak;〃 and each time they were made I motioned

to my mouth and rubbed my stomach。



Tars Tarkas and the chief exchanged a few words; and the

former; calling to a young female among the throng; gave

her some instructions and motioned me to accompany her。  I

grasped her proffered arm and together we crossed the plaza

toward a large building on the far side。



My fair companion was about eight feet tall; having just

arrived at maturity; but not yet to her full height。  She was of

a light olive…green color; with a smooth; glossy hide。  Her

name; as I afterward learned; was Sola; and she belonged to

the retinue of Tars Tarkas。  She conducted me to a spacious

chamber in one of the buildings fronting on the plaza; and

which; from the litter of silks and furs upon the floor; I took

to be the sleeping quarters of several of the natives。



The room was well lighted by a number of large windows

and was beautifully decorated with mural paintings and mosaics;

but upon all there seemed to rest that indefinable touch

of the finger of antiquity which convinced me that the

architects and builders of these wondrous creations had nothing

in common with the crude half…brutes which now occupied them。



Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near

the center of the room; and; turning; made a peculiar hissing

sound; as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room。

In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new

Martian wonder。  It waddled in on its ten short legs; and

squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy。  The

thing was about the size of a Shetland pony; but its head bore

a slight resemblance to that of a frog; except that the jaws

were equipped with three rows of long; sharp tusks。









CHAPTER V





I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG





Sola stared into the brute's wicked…looking eyes; muttered a

word or two of command; pointed to me; and left the chamber。

I could not but wonder what this ferocious…looking monstrosity

might do when left alone in such close proximity to such a

relatively tender morsel of meat; but my fears were groundless;

as the beast; after surveying me intently for a moment; crossed

the room to the only exit which led to the street; and lay down

full length across the threshold。



This was my first experience with a Martian watch dog; but

it was destined not to be my last; for this fellow guarded me

carefully during the time I remained a captive among these

green men; twice saving my life; and never voluntarily being

away from me a moment。



While Sola was away I took occasion to examine more

minutely the room in which I found myself captive。  The

mural painting depicted scenes of rare and wonderful beauty;

mountains; rivers; lake; ocean; meadow; trees and flowers;

winding roadways; sun…kissed gardensscenes which might

have portrayed earthly views but for the different colorings of

the vegetation。  The work had evidently been wrought by a

master hand; so subtle the atmosphere; so perfect the technique;

yet nowhere was there a representation of a living animal;

either human or brute; by which I could guess at the likeness

of these other and perhaps extinct denizens of Mars。



While I was allowing my fancy to run riot in wild conjecture

on the possible explanation of the strange anomalies which

I had so far met with on Mars; Sola returned bearing both

food and drink。  These she placed on the floor beside me;

and seating herself a short ways off regarded me intently。

The food consisted of about a pound of some solid substance of

the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless; while the liquid

was apparently milk from some animal。  It was not unpleasant

to the taste; though slightly acid; and I learned in a short time

to prize it very highly。  It came; as I later discovered; not from

an animal; as there is only one mammal on Mars and that one

very rare indeed; but from a large plant which grows practically

without water; but seems to distill its plentiful supply of

milk from the products of the soil; the moisture of the air;

and the rays of the sun。  A single plant of this species will give

eight or ten quarts of milk per day。



After I had eaten I was greatly invigorated; but feeling the

need of rest I stretched out upon the silks and was soon

asleep。  I must have slept several hours; as it was dark when

I awoke; and I was very cold。  I noticed that someone had

thrown a fur over me; but it had become partially dislodged

and in the darkness I could not see to replace it。  Suddenly a

hand reached out and pulled the fur over me; shortly afterwards

adding another to my covering。



I presumed that my watchful guardian was Sola; nor was

I wrong。  This girl alone; among all the green Martians with

whom I came in contact; disclosed characteristics of sympathy;

kindliness; and affection; her ministrations to my bodily wants

were unfailing; and her solicitous care saved me from much

suffering and many hardships。



As I was to learn; the Martian nights are extremely cold;

and as there is practically no twilight or dawn; the changes

in temperature are sudden and most uncomfortable; as are the

transitions from brilliant daylight to darkness。  The nights are

either brilliantly illumined or very dark; for if neither of the

two moons of Mars happen to be in the sky almost total

darkness results; since the lack of atmosphere; or; rather; the

very thin atmosphere; fails to diffuse the starlight to any

great extent; on the other hand; if both of the moons are in

the heavens at night the surface of the ground is brightly

illuminated。



Both of Mars' moons are vastly nearer her than is our

moon to Earth; the nearer moon being but about five thousand

miles distant; while the further is but little more than

fourteen thousand miles away; against the nearly one…quarter

million miles which separate us from our moon。  

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