A PRINCESS OF MARS
I ELUDE MY WATCH DOG
Sola into the brute's wicked-looking eyes, a word or two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber. I not but wonder what this ferocious-looking might do when left alone in such close to such a relatively of meat; but my were groundless, as the beast, after me for a moment, the room to the only which to the street, and full length across the threshold.
This was my with a Martian watch dog, but it was not to be my last, for this me the time I a among these green men; twice saving my life, and being away from me a moment.
While Sola was away I took occasion to more the room in which I myself captive. The painting of and beauty; mountains, rivers, lake, ocean, meadow, trees and flowers, roadways, sun-kissed gardens—scenes which might have views but for the different of the vegetation. The work had been by a master hand, so the atmosphere, so perfect the technique; yet was there a representation of a animal, either or brute, by which I at the of these other and of Mars.
While I was my to in wild on the possible of the which I had so met with on Mars, Sola returned food and drink. These she on the me, and seating herself a off me intently. The food of about a of some solid of the of and almost tasteless, while the liquid was milk from some animal. It was not to the taste, though acid, and I learned in a time to prize it very highly. It came, as I later discovered, not from an animal, as there is only one on Mars and that one very indeed, but from a large plant which without water, but to its supply of milk from the of the soil, the of the air, and the rays of the sun. A single plant of this will give eight or ten of milk day.
After I had I was invigorated, but the need of I out upon the and was soon asleep. I must have slept hours, as it was dark when I awoke, and I was very cold. I noticed that someone had a over me, but it had and in the I not see to replace it. Suddenly a hand out and the over me, adding another to my covering.
I that my was Sola, was I wrong. This girl alone, among all the green Martians with I came in contact, of sympathy, kindliness, and affection; her to my wants were unfailing, and her saved me from much and many hardships.
As I was to learn, the Martian nights are cold, and as there is no or dawn, the in temperature are and most uncomfortable, as are the from to darkness. The nights are either or very dark, for if neither of the two of Mars to be in the sky almost total results, since the of atmosphere, or, rather, the very thin atmosphere, fails to the to any great extent; on the other hand, if of the are in the at night the surface of the ground is illuminated.
Both of Mars' are nearer her than is our moon to Earth; the nearer moon being but about five thousand miles distant, while the is but little more than fourteen thousand miles away, against the nearly one-quarter miles which us from our moon. The nearer moon of Mars makes a complete around the in a little over seven and one-half hours, so that she may be through the sky like some two or three times each night, all her phases each of the heavens.
The moon revolves about Mars in something over thirty and one-quarter hours, and with her sister makes a Martian one of and grandeur. And it is well that nature has so and the Martian night, for the green men of Mars, being a without high development, have but means for lighting; upon torches, a of candle, and a oil lamp which a and without a wick.
This last device produces an far-reaching white light, but as the natural oil which it can only be by in one of and it is used by these only is for today, and for manual labor has them in a semi-barbaric for ages.
After Sola had my I again slept, did I until daylight. The other of the room, five in number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, high with a of and furs. Across the the brute, just as I had last him on the day; he had not moved a muscle; his were upon me, and I to just what might me should I to escape.
I have been to and to and where men would have left well alone. It therefore now to me that the way of learning the exact of this toward me would be to attempt to the room. I secure in my that I him should he me once I was the building, for I had to take great in my ability as a jumper. Furthermore, I see from the of his that the himself was no and no runner.
Slowly and carefully, therefore, I my feet, only to see that my did the same; I toward him, that by moving with a I my as well as make reasonably progress. As I the he away from me, and when I had the open he moved to one to let me pass. He then in me and about ten in my as I my way along the street.
Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we the of the city he me, and his and tusks. Thinking to have some at his expense, I toward him, and when almost upon him into the air, him and away from the city. He and me with the most speed I had beheld. I had his a to swiftness, but had he been with the would have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this is the animal on Mars, and to its intelligence, loyalty, and is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the Martian man.
I saw that I would have in the of the on a course, and so I met his by in my and over him as he was almost upon me. This gave me a advantage, and I was able to the city a ahead of him, and as he came after me I jumped for a window about thirty from the ground in the of one of the the valley.
Grasping the I myself up to a without looking into the building, and at the animal me. My was short-lived, however, for had I a secure seat upon the than a hand me by the from and me into the room. Here I was upon my back, and over me a ape-like creature, white and for an of upon its head.
