A PRINCESS OF MARS
A FIGHT THAT WON FRIENDS
The thing, which more nearly our men than it did the Martians I had seen, me to the ground with one foot, while it and at some me. This other, which was its mate, soon came toward us, a with which it to brain me.
The were about ten or fifteen tall, erect, and had, like the green Martians, an set of arms or legs, their upper and limbs. Their were close together and non-protruding; their ears were high set, but more than those of the Martians, while their and teeth were like those of our African gorilla. Altogether they were not when viewed in with the green Martians.
The was in the which ended upon my when a of myriad-legged itself through the full upon the of my executioner. With a of the which me through the open window, but its closed in a death with my preserver, which was nothing less than my watch-thing; I cannot myself to call so a a dog.
As as possible I my and against the I such a as it is beings to see. The strength, agility, and of these two is approached by nothing to man. My had an in his hold, having his into the of his adversary; but the great arms and of the ape, by those of the Martian men I had seen, had locked the of my and slowly were out his life, and his and upon his body, where I the to at the end of a neck.
In this the was away the entire of its breast, which was in the vise-like of the powerful jaws. Back and upon the they rolled, neither one a of or pain. Presently I saw the great of my from their and blood from its nostrils. That he was was evident, but so also was the ape, were less.
Suddenly I came to myself and, with that which to me to my duty, I the cudgel, which had to the at the of the battle, and it with all the power of my arms I it full upon the of the ape, his as though it had been an eggshell.
Scarcely had the when I was with a new danger. The ape's mate, from its of terror, had returned to the of the by way of the of the building. I him just he the and the of him, now as he his upon the floor, and at the mouth, in the of his rage, me, I must confess, with forebodings.
I am to and when the are not too against me, but in this I neither profit in my relatively against the iron and of this of an unknown world; in fact, the only outcome of such an encounter, so as I might be concerned, death.
I was near the window and I that once in the I might the and safety the overtake me; at least there was a for safety in flight, against almost death should I and desperately.
It is true I the cudgel, but what I do with it against his four great arms? Even should I one of them with my blow, for I that he would attempt to off the cudgel, he out and me with the others I for a second attack.
In the that these passed through my mind I had to make for the window, but my on the of my all of to the four winds. He upon the of the chamber, his great upon me in what a for protection. I not that look, I, on second thought, have my rescuer without as good an account of myself in his as he had in mine.
Without more ado, therefore, I to meet the of the ape. He was now too close upon me for the to prove of any assistance, so I it as as I at his bulk. It him just the knees, a of pain and rage, and so him off his that he full upon me with arms wide to his fall.
Again, as on the day, I had to tactics, and my right full upon the point of his I it with a left to the of his stomach. The was marvelous, for, as I sidestepped, after the second blow, he and upon the up with pain and for wind. Leaping over his body, I the and the he regain his feet.
As I delivered the a low laugh out me, and, turning, I Tars Tarkas, Sola, and three or four in the of the chamber. As my met theirs I was, for the second time, the of their applause.
My had been noted by Sola on her awakening, and she had Tars Tarkas, who had set out with a of to search for me. As they had approached the limits of the city they had the of the as he into the building, with rage.
They had him, it possible that his might prove a to my and had my but with him. This encounter, together with my set-to with the Martian on the previous day and my of jumping me upon a high in their regard. Evidently of all the of friendship, love, or affection, these people physical and bravery, and nothing is too good for the object of their as long as he his position by examples of his skill, strength, and courage.
Sola, who had the party of her own volition, was the only one of the Martians had not been in as I for my life. She, on the contrary, was with and, as soon as I had the monster, to me and my for possible or injuries. Satisfying herself that I had come off she quietly, and, taking my hand, started toward the door of the chamber.
Tars Tarkas and the other had entered and were over the now reviving which had saved my life, and life I, in turn, had rescued. They to be in argument, and one of them me, but my of his language to Tars Tarkas, who, with a word and gesture, gave some to the and to us from the room.
There something in their toward my beast, and I to until I had learned the outcome. It was well I did so, for the an looking pistol from its and was on the point of an end to the when I and up his arm. The the of the window exploded, a through the and masonry.
I then the fearsome-looking thing, and it to its for it to me. The looks of which my from the Martians were ludicrous; they not understand, in a and way, such as and compassion. The gun I had up looked at Tars Tarkas, but the that I be left to my own devices, and so we returned to the with my great close at heel, and Sola me by the arm.
I had at least two friends on Mars; a woman who over me with solicitude, and a which, as I later came to know, in its more love, more loyalty, more than have been in the entire five green Martians who rove the and sea of Mars.
