Korad。　　It　had　been　built　upon　a　beautiful；　natural　harbor；
  landlocked　by　magnificent　hills。　　The　little　valley　on　the　west
  front　of　the　city；　she　explained；　was　all　that　remained　of　the
  harbor；　while　the　pass　through　the　hills　to　the　old　sea　bottom
  had　been　the　channel　through　which　the　shipping　passed　up
  to　the　city's　gates。
  The　shores　of　the　ancient　seas　were　dotted　with　just　such
  cities；　and　lesser　ones；　in　diminishing　numbers；　were　to　be
  found　converging　toward　the　center　of　the　oceans；　as　the
  people　had　found　it　necessary　to　follow　the　receding　waters
  until　necessity　had　forced　upon　them　their　ultimate　salvation；
  the　so…called　Martian　canals。
  We　had　been　so　engrossed　in　exploration　of　the　building
  and　in　our　conversation　that　it　was　late　in　the　afternoon
  before　we　realized　it。　　We　were　brought　back　to　a　realization
  of　our　present　conditions　by　a　messenger　bearing　a　summons
  from　Lorquas　Ptomel　directing　me　to　appear　before　him
  forthwith。　　Bidding　Dejah　Thoris　and　Sola　farewell；　and
  commanding　Woola　to　remain　on　guard；　I　hastened　to　the
  audience　chamber；　where　I　found　Lorquas　Ptomel　and　Tars
  Tarkas　seated　upon　the　rostrum。
  CHAPTER　XII
  A　PRISONER　WITH　POWER
  As　I　entered　and　saluted；　Lorquas　Ptomel　signaled　me　to　advance；
  and；　fixing　his　great；　hideous　eyes　upon　me；　addressed　me　thus：
  〃You　have　been　with　us　a　few　days；　yet　during　that　time
  you　have　by　your　prowess　won　a　high　position　among　us。
  Be　that　as　it　may；　you　are　not　one　of　us；　you　owe　us　no
  allegiance。
  〃Your　position　is　a　peculiar　one；〃　he　continued；　〃you　are
  a　prisoner　and　yet　you　give　commands　which　must　be　obeyed；
  you　are　an　alien　and　yet　you　are　a　Tharkian　chieftain；　you
  are　a　midget　and　yet　you　can　kill　a　mighty　warrior　with　one
  blow　of　your　fist。　　And　now　you　are　reported　to　have　been
  plotting　to　escape　with　another　prisoner　of　another　race；　a
  prisoner　who；　from　her　own　admission；　half　believes　you　are
  returned　from　the　valley　of　Dor。　　Either　one　of　these　accusations；
  if　proved；　would　be　sufficient　grounds　for　your　execution；
  but　we　are　a　just　people　and　you　shall　have　a　trial　on　our
  return　to　Thark；　if　Tal　Hajus　so　commands。
  〃But；〃　he　continued；　in　his　fierce　guttural　tones；　〃if　you
  run　off　with　the　red　girl　it　is　I　who　shall　have　to　account　to
  Tal　Hajus；　it　is　I　who　shall　have　to　face　Tars　Tarkas；　and
  either　demonstrate　my　right　to　command；　or　the　metal　from
  my　dead　carcass　will　go　to　a　better　man；　for　such　is　the
  custom　of　the　Tharks。
  〃I　have　no　quarrel　with　Tars　Tarkas；　together　we　rule
  supreme　the　greatest　of　the　lesser　communities　among　the
  green　men；　we　do　not　wish　to　fight　between　ourselves；　and　so
  if　you　were　dead；　John　Carter；　I　should　be　glad。　　Under　two
  conditions　only；　however；　may　you　be　killed　by　us　without
  orders　from　Tal　Hajus；　in　personal　combat　in　self…defense；
  should　you　attack　one　of　us；　or　were　you　apprehended　in　an
  attempt　to　escape。
  〃As　a　matter　of　justice　I　must　warn　you　that　we　only
  await　one　of　these　two　excuses　for　ridding　ourselves　of　so
  great　a　responsibility。　　The　safe　delivery　of　the　red　girl　to
  Tal　Hajus　is　of　the　greatest　importance。　　Not　in　a　thousand
  years　have　the　Tharks　made　such　a　capture；　she　is　the
  granddaughter　of　the　greatest　of　the　red　jeddaks；　who　is　also
  our　bitterest　enemy。　　I　have　spoken。　　The　red　girl　told　us　that
  we　were　without　the　softer　sentiments　of　humanity；　but　we
  are　a　just　and　truthful　race。　　You　may　go。〃
  Turning；　I　left　the　audience　chamber。　　So　this　was　the
  beginning　of　Sarkoja's　persecution！　　I　knew　that　none　other
  could　be　responsible　for　this　report　which　had　reached　the
  ears　of　Lorquas　Ptomel　so　quickly；　and　now　I　recalled　those
  portions　of　our　conversation　which　had　touched　upon　escape
  and　upon　my　origin。
  Sarkoja　was　at　this　time　Tars　Tarkas'　oldest　and　most
  trusted　female。　　As　such　she　was　a　mighty　power　behind　the
  throne；　for　no　warrior　had　the　confidence　of　Lorquas　Ptomel
  to　such　an　extent　as　did　his　ablest　lieutenant；　Tars　Tarkas。
  However；　instead　of　putting　thoughts　of　possible　escape
  from　my　mind；　my　audience　with　Lorquas　Ptomel　only　served
  to　center　my　every　faculty　on　this　subject。　　Now；　more　than
  before；　the　absolute　necessity　for　escape；　in　so　far　as　Dejah
  Thoris　was　concerned；　was　impressed　upon　me；　for　I　was
  convinced　that　some　horrible　fate　awaited　her　at　the
  headquarters　of　Tal　Hajus。
  As　described　by　Sola；　this　monster　was　the　exaggerated
  personification　of　all　the　ages　of　cruelty；　ferocity；　and
  brutality　from　which　he　had　descended。　　Cold；　cunning；
  calculating；　he　was；　also；　in　marked　contrast　to　most　of　his
  fellows；　a　slave　to　that　brute　passion　which　the　waning
  demands　for　procreation　upon　their　dying　planet　has　almost
  stilled　in　the　Martian　breast。
  The　thought　that　the　divine　Dejah　Thoris　might　fall　into
  the　clutches　of　such　an　abysmal　atavism　started　the　cold
  sweat　upon　me。　　Far　better　that　we　save　friendly　bullets　for
  ourselves　at　the　last　moment；　as　did　those　brave　frontier
  women　of　my　lost　land；　who　took　their　own　lives　rather　than
  fall　into　the　hands　of　the　Indian　braves。
  As　I　wandered　about　the　plaza　lost　in　my　gloomy　forebodings
  Tars　Tarkas　approached　me　on　his　way　from　the　audience
  chamber。　　His　demeanor　toward　me　was　unchanged；　and　he
  greeted　me　as　though　we　had　not　just　parted　a　few
  moments　before。
  〃Where　are　your　quarters；　John　Carter？〃　he　asked。
  〃I　have　selected　none；〃　I　replied。　　〃It　seemed　best　that　I
  quartered　either　by　myself　or　among　the　other　warriors；　and
  I　was　awaiting　an　opportunity　to　ask　your　advice。　　As　you
  know；〃　and　I　smiled；　〃I　am　not　yet　familiar　with　all　the
  customs　of　the　Tharks。〃
  〃Come　with　me；〃　he　directed；　and　together　we　moved　off
  across　the　plaza　to　a　building　which　I　was　glad　to　see
  adjoined　that　occupied　by　Sola　and　her　charges。
  〃My　quarters　are　on　the　first　floor　of　this　building；〃　he
  said；　〃and　the　second　floor　also　is　fully　occupied　by　warriors；
  but　the　third　floor　and　the　floors　above　are　vacant；　you　may
  take　your　choice　of　these。
  〃I　understand；〃　he　continued；　〃that　you　have　given　up
  your　woman　to　the　red　prisoner。　　Well；　as　you　have　said；
  your　ways　are　not　our　ways；　but　you　can　fight　well　enough
  to　do　about　as　you　please；　and　so；　if　you　wish　to　give　your
  woman　to　a　captive；　it　is　your　own　affair；　but　as　a　chieftain
  you　should　have　those　to　serve　you；　and　in　accordance　with
  our　customs　you　may　select　any　or　all　the　females　from　the
  retinues　of　the　chieftains　whose　metal　you　now　wear。〃
  I　thanked　him；　but　assured　him　that　I　could　get　along
  very　nicely　without　assistance　except　in　the　matter　of
  preparing　food；　and　so　he　promised　to　send　women　to　me　for
  this　purpose　and　also　for　the　care　of　my　arms　and　the
  manufacture　of　my　ammunition；　which　he　said　would　be
  necessary。　　I　suggested　that　they　might　also　bring　some　of
  the　sleeping　silks　and　furs　which　belonged　to　me　as　spoils　of
  combat；　for　the　nights　were　cold　and　I　had　none　of　my　own。
  He　promised　to　do　so；　and　departed。　　Left　alone；　I　ascended
  the　winding　corridor　to　the　upper　floors　in　search　of
  suitable　quarters。　　The　beauties　of　the　other　buildings　were
  repeated　in　this；　and；　as　usual；　I　was　soon　lost　in　a　tour　of
  investigation　and　discovery。
  I　finally　chose　a　front　room　on　the　third　floor；　because
  this　brought　me　nearer　to　Dejah　Thoris；　whose　apartment
  was　on　the　second　floor　of　the　adjoining　building；　and　it
  flashed　upon　me　that　I　could　rig　up　some　means　of　communication
  whereby　she　might　signal　me　in　case　she　needed　either　my
  services　or　my　protection。
  Adjoining　my　sleeping　apartment　were　baths；　dressing
  rooms；　and　other　sleeping　and　living　apartments；　in　all　some
  ten　rooms　on　this　floor。　　The　windows　of　the　back　rooms
  overlooked　an　enormous　court；　which　formed　the　center　of
  the　square　made　by　the　buildings　which　faced　the　four
  contiguous　streets；　and　which　was　now　given　over　to　the
  quartering　of　the　various　animals　belonging　to　the　warriors
  occupying　the　adjoining　buildings。
  While　the　court　was　entirely　overgrown　with　the　yellow；
  moss…like　vegetation　which　blankets　practically　the　entire
  surface　of　Mars；　yet　numerous　fountains；　statuary；　benches；
  and　pergola…like　contraptions　bore　witness　to　the　beauty
  which　the　court　must　have　presented　in　bygone　times；　when
  graced　by　the　fair…haired；　laughing　people　whom　stern　and
  unalterable　cosmic　laws　had　driven　not　only　from　their　homes；
  but　from　all　except　the　vague　legends　of　their　descendants。
  One　could　easily　picture　the　gorgeous　foliage　of　the　luxuriant
  Martian　vegetation　which　once　filled　this　scene　with　life
  and　color；　the　graceful　figures　of　the　beautiful　women；　the
  straight　and　handsome　men；　the　happy　frolicking　children
  all　sunlight；　happiness　and　peace。　　It　was　difficult　to　realize
  that　they　had　gone；　down　through　ages　of　darkness；　cruelty；
  and　ign