warlord of mars-第20节

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eroded　by　running　water　in　some　far…gone　age　when　a　mighty　river

found　its　way　to　the　south　through　this　single　breach　in　the

barrier　of　rock　and　ice　that　hems　the　country　of　the　pole。

　

Thuvan　Dihn　and　I　traversed　the　remaining　nineteen　caverns

without　adventure　or　mishap。

　

We　were　afterward　to　learn　that　but　once　a　month　is　it　possible

to　find　all　the　apts　of　the　Carrion　Caves　in　a　single　chamber。

　

At　other　times　they　roam　singly　or　in　pairs　in　and　out　of　the　caves；

so　that　it　would　have　been　practically　impossible　for　two　men　to

have　passed　through　the　entire　twenty…seven　chambers　without

encountering　an　apt　in　nearly　every　one　of　them。　　Once　a　month

they　sleep　for　a　full　day；　and　it　was　our　good　fortune　to　stumble

by　accident　upon　one　of　these　occasions。

　

Beyond　the　last　cave　we　emerged　into　a　desolate　country　of

snow　and　ice；　but　found　a　well…marked　trail　leading　north。

The　way　was　boulder…strewn；　as　had　been　that　south　of　the　barrier；

so　that　we　could　see　but　a　short　distance　ahead　of　us　at　any　time。

　

After　a　couple　of　hours　we　passed　round　a　huge　boulder　to　come

to　a　steep　declivity　leading　down　into　a　valley。

　

Directly　before　us　we　saw　a　half　dozen　menfierce；　black…bearded

fellows；　with　skins　the　color　of　a　ripe　lemon。

　

〃The　yellow　men　of　Barsoom！〃　ejaculated　Thuvan　Dihn；　as　though

even　now　that　he　saw　them　he　found　it　scarce　possible　to　believe

that　the　very　race　we　expected　to　find　hidden　in　this　remote　and

inaccessible　land　did　really　exist。

　

We　withdrew　behind　an　adjacent　boulder　to　watch　the　actions　of　the

little　party；　which　stood　huddled　at　the　foot　of　another　huge　rock；

their　backs　toward　us。

　

One　of　them　was　peering　round　the　edge　of　the　granite　mass　as

though　watching　one　who　approached　from　the　opposite　side。

　

Presently　the　object　of　his　scrutiny　came　within　the　range

of　my　vision　and　I　saw　that　it　was　another　yellow　man。　　All

were　clothed　in　magnificent　fursthe　six　in　the　black　and　yellow

striped　hide　of　the　orluk；　while　he　who　approached　alone　was

resplendent　in　the　pure　white　skin　of　an　apt。

　

The　yellow　men　were　armed　with　two　swords；　and　a　short　javelin

was　slung　across　the　back　of　each；　while　from　their　left　arms　hung

cuplike　shields　no　larger　than　a　dinner　plate；　the　concave　sides　of

which　turned　outward　toward　an　antagonist。

　

They　seemed　puny　and　futile　implements　of　safety　against　an

even　ordinary　swordsman；　but　I　was　later　to　see　the　purpose　of　them

and　with　what　wondrous　dexterity　the　yellow　men　manipulate　them。

　

One　of　the　swords　which　each　of　the　warriors　carried　caught　my

immediate　attention。　　I　call　it　a　sword；　but　really　it　was　a　sharp…

edged　blade　with　a　complete　hook　at　the　far　end。

　

The　other　sword　was　of　about　the　same　length　as　the　hooked

instrument；　and　somewhere　between　that　of　my　long…sword　and　my

short…sword。　　It　was　straight　and　two…edged。　　In　addition　to　the

weapons　I　have　ennumerated　each　man　carried　a　dagger　in　his　harness。

　

As　the　white…furred　one　approached；　the　six　grasped　their

swords　more　firmlythe　hooked　instrument　in　the　left　hand；　the

straight　sword　in　the　right；　while　above　the　left　wrist　the　small

shield　was　held　rigid　upon　a　metal　bracelet。

　

As　the　lone　warrior　came　opposite　them　the　six　rushed　out　upon

him　with　fiendish　yells　that　resembled　nothing　more　closely　than

the　savage　war　cry　of　the　Apaches　of　the　South…west。

　

Instantly　the　attacked　drew　both　his　swords；　and　as　the　six　fell

upon　him　I　witnessed　as　pretty　fighting　as　one　might　care　to　see。

　

With　their　sharp　hooks　the　combatants　attempted　to　take　hold　of　an

adversary；　but　like　lightning　the　cupshaped　shield　would　spring

before　the　darting　weapon　and　into　its　hollow　the　hook　would　plunge。

　

Once　the　lone　warrior　caught　an　antagonist　in　the　side　with

his　hook；　and　drawing　him　close　ran　his　sword　through　him。

　

But　the　odds　were　too　unequal；　and；　though　he　who　fought　alone

was　by　far　the　best　and　bravest　of　them　all；　I　saw　that　it　was

but　a　question　of　time　before　the　remaining　five　would　find　an

opening　through　his　marvelous　guard　and　bring　him　down。

　

Now　my　sympathies　have　ever　been　with　the　weaker　side　of　an　argument；

and　though　I　knew　nothing　of　the　cause　of　the　trouble　I　could　not

stand　idly　by　and　see　a　brave　man　butchered　by　superior　numbers。

　

As　a　matter　of　fact　I　presume　I　gave　little　attention　to

seeking　an　excuse；　for　I　love　a　good　fight　too　well　to　need　any

other　reason　for　joining　in　when　one　is　afoot。

　

So　it　was　that　before　Thuvan　Dihn　knew　what　I　was　about　he　saw

me　standing　by　the　side　of　the　white…clad　yellow　man；　battling　like

mad　with　his　five　adversaries。

　

　

　

　

WITH　THE　YELLOW　MEN

　

　

Thuvan　Dihn　was　not　long　in　joining　me；　and；　though　we　found

the　hooked　weapon　a　strange　and　savage　thing　with　which　to　deal；

the　three　of　us　soon　despatched　the　five　black…bearded　warriors　who

opposed　us。

　

When　the　battle　was　over　our　new　acquaintance　turned　to　me；

and　removing　the　shield　from　his　wrist；　held　it　out。　　I　did　not

know　the　significance　of　his　act；　but　judged　that　it　was　but　a

form　of　expressing　his　gratitude　to　me。

　

I　afterward　learned　that　it　symbolized　the　offering　of　a　man's　life

in　return　for　some　great　favor　done　him；　and　my　act　of　refusing；

which　I　had　immediately　done；　was　what　was　expected　of　me。

　

〃Then　accept　from　Talu；　Prince　of　Marentina；〃　said　the　yellow　man；

〃this　token　of　my　gratitude；〃　and　reaching　beneath　one　of　his

wide　sleeves　he　withdrew　a　bracelet　and　placed　it　upon　my　arm。

He　then　went　through　the　same　ceremony　with　Thuvan　Dihn。

　

Next　he　asked　our　names；　and　from　what　land　we　hailed。

He　seemed　quite　familiar　with　the　geography　of　the　outerworld；

and　when　I　said　I　was　from　Helium　he　raised　his　brows。

　

〃Ah；〃　he　said；　〃you　seek　your　ruler　and　his　company？〃

　

〃Know　you　of　them？〃　I　asked。

　

〃But　little　more　than　that　they　were　captured　by　my　uncle；　Salensus　Oll；

Jeddak　of　Jeddaks；　Ruler　of　Okar；　land　of　the　yellow　men　of　Barsoom。

As　to　their　fate　I　know　nothing；　for　I　am　at　war　with　my　uncle；

who　would　crush　my　power　in　the　principality　of　Marentina。

　

〃These　from　whom　you　have　just　saved　me　are　warriors　he　has

sent　out　to　find　and　slay　me；　for　they　know　that　often　I　come　alone

to　hunt　and　kill　the　sacred　apt　which　Salensus　Oll　so　much　reveres。

It　is　partly　because　I　hate　his　religion　that　Salensus　Oll　hates　me；

but　mostly　does　he　fear　my　growing　power　and　the　great　faction

which　has　arisen　throughout　Okar　that　would　be　glad　to　see

me　ruler　of　Okar　and　Jeddak　of　Jeddaks　in　his　place。

　

〃He　is　a　cruel　and　tyrannous　master　whom　all　hate；　and　were　it　not

for　the　great　fear　they　have　of　him　I　could　raise　an　army　overnight

that　would　wipe　out　the　few　that　might　remain　loyal　to　him。　　My　own

people　are　faithful　to　me；　and　the　little　valley　of　Marentina　has

paid　no　tribute　to　the　court　of　Salensus　Oll　for　a　year。

　

〃Nor　can　he　force　us；　for　a　dozen　men　may　hold　the　narrow　way

to　Marentina　against　a　million。　　But　now；　as　to　thine　own　affairs。

How　may　I　aid　you？　　My　palace　is　at　your　disposal；　if　you　wish　to

honor　me　by　coming　to　Marentina。〃

　

〃When　our　work　is　done　we　shall　be　glad　to　accept　your　invitation；〃

I　replied。　　〃But　now　you　can　assist　us　most　by　directing　us　to　the

court　of　Salensus　Oll；　and　suggesting　some　means　by　which　we　may

gain　admission　to　the　city　and　the　palace；　or　whatever　other　place

we　find　our　friends　to　be　confined。〃

　

Talu　gazed　ruefully　at　our　smooth　faces　and　at　Thuvan　Dihn's

red　skin　and　my　white　one。

　

〃First　you　must　come　to　Marentina；〃　he　said；　〃for　a　great　change

must　be　wrought　in　your　appearance　before　you　can　hope　to

enter　any　city　in　Okar。　　You　must　have　yellow　faces　and　black

beards；　and　your　apparel　and　trappings　must　be　those　least　likely

to　arouse　suspicion。　　In　my　palace　is　one　who　can　make　you　appear

as　truly　yellow　men　as　does　Salensus　Oll　himself。〃

　

His　counsel　seemed　wise；　and　as　there　was　apparently　no　other

way　to　insure　a　successful　entry　to　Kadabra；　the　capital　city　of

Okar；　we　set　out　with　Talu；　Prince　of　Marentina；　for　his　little；

rock…bound　country。

　

The　way　was　over　some　of　the　worst　traveling　I　have　ever　seen；

and　I　do　not　wonder　that　in　this　land　where　there　are　neither

thoats　nor　fliers　that　Marentina　is　in　little　fear　of　invasion；　but

at　last　we　reached　our　destination；　the　first　view　of　which　I　had

from　a　slight　elevation　a　half…mile　from　the　city。

　

Nestled　in　a　deep　valley　lay　a　city　of　Martian　concrete；

whose　every　street　and　plaza　and　open　space　was　roofed　with　glass。

All　about　lay　snow　and　ice；　but　there　was　none　upon　the　rounded；

domelike；　crystal　covering　that　enveloped　the　whole　city。

　

Then　I　saw　how　these　people　combatted　the　rigors　of　the　arctic；

and　lived　in　luxury　and　comfort　in　the　midst　of　a　land　of

perpetual　ice。　　Their　cities　were　veritabl