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dwelt¡¡such¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡of¡¡Helium¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡you

are¡¡a¡¡princess¡¡does¡¡not¡¡abash¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡you¡¡is

enough¡¡to¡¡make¡¡me¡¡doubt¡¡my¡¡sanity¡¡as¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡you£»¡¡my¡¡princess£»

to¡¡be¡¡mine¡£¡¨



¡¨He¡¡does¡¡not¡¡need¡¡to¡¡be¡¡abashed¡¡who¡¡so¡¡well¡¡knew¡¡the

answer¡¡to¡¡his¡¡plea¡¡before¡¡the¡¡plea¡¡were¡¡made£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied£»

rising¡¡and¡¡placing¡¡her¡¡dear¡¡hands¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡shoulders£»¡¡and¡¡so

I¡¡took¡¡her¡¡in¡¡my¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡her¡£



And¡¡thus¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡city¡¡of¡¡wild¡¡conflict£»¡¡filled

with¡¡the¡¡alarms¡¡of¡¡war£»¡¡with¡¡death¡¡and¡¡destruction¡¡reaping

their¡¡terrible¡¡harvest¡¡around¡¡her£»¡¡did¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris£»¡¡Princess

of¡¡Helium£»¡¡true¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Mars£»¡¡the¡¡God¡¡of¡¡War£»¡¡promise

herself¡¡in¡¡marriage¡¡to¡¡John¡¡Carter£»¡¡Gentleman¡¡of¡¡Virginia¡£









CHAPTER¡¡XXVI





THROUGH¡¡CARNAGE¡¡TO¡¡JOY





Sometime¡¡later¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡and¡¡Kantos¡¡Kan¡¡returned¡¡to

report¡¡that¡¡Zodanga¡¡had¡¡been¡¡completely¡¡reduced¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡forces

were¡¡entirely¡¡destroyed¡¡or¡¡captured£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡further¡¡resistance

was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡expected¡¡from¡¡within¡£¡¡¡¡Several¡¡battleships¡¡had¡¡escaped£»

but¡¡there¡¡were¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡war¡¡and¡¡merchant¡¡vessels¡¡under¡¡guard

of¡¡Thark¡¡warriors¡£



The¡¡lesser¡¡hordes¡¡had¡¡commenced¡¡looting¡¡and¡¡quarreling

among¡¡themselves£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡we¡¡collect¡¡what

warriors¡¡we¡¡could£»¡¡man¡¡as¡¡many¡¡vessels¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡with

Zodangan¡¡prisoners¡¡and¡¡make¡¡for¡¡Helium¡¡without¡¡further

loss¡¡of¡¡time¡£



Five¡¡hours¡¡later¡¡we¡¡sailed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡roofs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dock

buildings¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡battleships£»

carrying¡¡nearly¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡green¡¡warriors£»¡¡followed

by¡¡a¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡transports¡¡with¡¡our¡¡thoats¡£



Behind¡¡us¡¡we¡¡left¡¡the¡¡stricken¡¡city¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fierce¡¡and¡¡brutal

clutches¡¡of¡¡some¡¡forty¡¡thousand¡¡green¡¡warriors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lesser

hordes¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡looting£»¡¡murdering£»¡¡and¡¡fighting¡¡amongst

themselves¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡places¡¡they¡¡had¡¡applied¡¡the¡¡torch£»

and¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡dense¡¡smoke¡¡were¡¡rising¡¡above¡¡the¡¡city¡¡as

though¡¡to¡¡blot¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡heaven¡¡the¡¡horrid¡¡sights

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

surged¡¡ove
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü