they　had　approached　within　a　hundred　yards　their　thoats
  again　became　unmanageable　and　absolutely　refused　to　advance
  further　toward　the　air　craft　which　had　frightened　them。
  The　warriors　finally　dismounted　and　hobbling　their　animals
  advanced　toward　us　on　foot　with　drawn　long…swords。
  I　advanced　to　meet　the　larger；　telling　the　Zodangan　to　do
  the　best　he　could　with　the　other。　　Finishing　my　man　with
  almost　no　effort；　as　had　now　from　much　practice　become
  habitual　with　me；　I　hastened　to　return　to　my　new　acquaintance
  whom　I　found　indeed　in　desperate　straits。
  He　was　wounded　and　down　with　the　huge　foot　of　his
  antagonist　upon　his　throat　and　the　great　long…sword　raised
  to　deal　the　final　thrust。　　With　a　bound　I　cleared　the　fifty
  feet　intervening　between　us；　and　with　outstretched　point
  drove　my　sword　completely　through　the　body　of　the　green
  warrior。　　His　sword　fell；　harmless；　to　the　ground　and　he　sank
  limply　upon　the　prostrate　form　of　the　Zodangan。
  A　cursory　examination　of　the　latter　revealed　no　mortal
  injuries　and　after　a　brief　rest　he　asserted　that　he　felt　fit　to
  attempt　the　return　voyage。　　He　would　have　to　pilot　his
  own　craft；　however；　as　these　frail　vessels　are　not　intended
  to　convey　but　a　single　person。
  Quickly　completing　the　repairs　we　rose　together　into　the
  still；　cloudless　Martian　sky；　and　at　great　speed　and　without
  further　mishap　returned　to　Zodanga。
  As　we　neared　the　city　we　discovered　a　mighty　concourse
  of　civilians　and　troops　assembled　upon　the　plain　before　the
  city。　　The　sky　was　black　with　naval　vessels　and　private　and
  public　pleasure　craft；　flying　long　streamers　of　gay…colored
  silks；　and　banners　and　flags　of　odd　and　picturesque　design。
  My　companion　signaled　that　I　slow　down；　and　running
  his　machine　close　beside　mine　suggested　that　we　approach
  and　watch　the　ceremony；　which；　he　said；　was　for　the　purpose
  of　conferring　honors　on　individual　officers　and　men　for
  bravery　and　other　distinguished　service。　　He　then　unfurled
  a　little　ensign　which　denoted　that　his　craft　bore　a　member
  of　the　royal　family　of　Zodanga；　and　together　we　made　our
  way　through　the　maze　of　low…lying　air　vessels　until　we　hung
  directly　over　the　jeddak　of　Zodanga　and　his　staff。　　All　were
  mounted　upon　the　small　domestic　bull　thoats　of　the　red
  Martians；　and　their　trappings　and　ornamentation　bore　such
  a　quantity　of　gorgeously　colored　feathers　that　I　could　not　but
  be　struck　with　the　startling　resemblance　the　concourse　bore
  to　a　band　of　the　red　Indians　of　my　own　Earth。
  One　of　the　staff　called　the　attention　of　Than　Kosis　to　the
  presence　of　my　companion　above　them　and　the　ruler　motioned
  for　him　to　descend。　　As　they　waited　for　the　troops
  to　move　into　position　facing　the　jeddak　the　two　talked
  earnestly　together；　the　jeddak　and　his　staff　occasionally
  glancing　up　at　me。　　I　could　not　hear　their　conversation　and
  presently　it　ceased　and　all　dismounted；　as　the　last　body　of
  troops　had　wheeled　into　position　before　their　emperor。　　A
  member　of　the　staff　advanced　toward　the　troops；　and　calling
  the　name　of　a　soldier　commanded　him　to　advance。　　The
  officer　then　recited　the　nature　of　the　heroic　act　which　had
  won　the　approval　of　the　jeddak；　and　the　latter　advanced
  and　placed　a　metal　ornament　upon　the　left　arm　of　the
  lucky　man。
  Ten　men　had　been　so　decorated　when　the　aide　called　out；
  〃John　Carter；　air　scout！〃
  Never　in　my　life　had　I　been　so　surprised；　but　the　habit
  of　military　discipline　is　strong　within　me；　and　I　dropped
  my　little　machine　lightly　to　the　ground　and　advanced　on
  foot　as　I　had　seen　the　others　do。　　As　I　halted　before　the
  officer；　he　addressed　me　in　a　voice　audible　to　the　entire
  assemblage　of　troops　and　spectators。
  〃In　recognition；　John　Carter；〃　he　said；　〃of　your　remarkable
  courage　and　skill　in　defending　the　person　of　the　cousin
  of　the　jeddak　Than　Kosis　and；　singlehanded；　vanquishing
  three　green　warriors；　it　is　the　pleasure　of　our　jeddak　to
  confer　on　you　the　mark　of　his　esteem。〃
  Than　Kosis　then　advanced　toward　me　and　placing　an
  ornament　upon　me；　said：
  〃My　cousin　has　narrated　the　details　of　your　wonderful
  achievement；　which　seems　little　short　of　miraculous；　and　if
  you　can　so　well　defend　a　cousin　of　the　jeddak　how　much
  better　could　you　defend　the　person　of　the　jeddak　himself。
  You　are　therefore　appointed　a　padwar　of　The　Guards　and
  will　be　quartered　in　my　palace　hereafter。〃
  I　thanked　him；　and　at　his　direction　joined　the　members
  of　his　staff。　　After　the　ceremony　I　returned　my　machine　to
  its　quarters　on　the　roof　of　the　barracks　of　the　air…scout
  squadron；　and　with　an　orderly　from　the　palace　to　guide　me
  I　reported　to　the　officer　in　charge　of　the　palace。
  CHAPTER　XXII
  I　FIND　DEJAH
  The　major…domo　to　whom　I　reported　had　been　given　instructions
  to　station　me　near　the　person　of　the　jeddak；　who；　in　time
  of　war；　is　always　in　great　danger　of　assassination；　as　the
  rule　that　all　is　fair　in　war　seems　to　constitute　the　entire
  ethics　of　Martian　conflict。
  He　therefore　escorted　me　immediately　to　the　apartment
  in　which　Than　Kosis　then　was。　　The　ruler　was　engaged　in
  conversation　with　his　son；　Sab　Than；　and　several　courtiers
  of　his　household；　and　did　not　perceive　my　entrance。
  The　walls　of　the　apartment　were　completely　hung　with
  splendid　tapestries　which　hid　any　windows　or　doors　which
  may　have　pierced　them。　　The　room　was　lighted　by　imprisoned
  rays　of　sunshine　held　between　the　ceiling　proper　and　what
  appeared　to　be　a　ground…glass　false　ceiling　a　few　inches
  below。
  My　guide　drew　aside　one　of　the　tapestries；　disclosing　a
  passage　which　encircled　the　room；　between　the　hangings　and
  the　walls　of　the　chamber。　　Within　this　passage　I　was　to
  remain；　he　said；　so　long　as　Than　Kosis　was　in　the　apartment。
  When　he　left　I　was　to　follow。　　My　only　duty　was　to　guard
  the　ruler　and　keep　out　of　sight　as　much　as　possible。　　I
  would　be　relieved　after　a　period　of　four　hours。　　The　major…
  domo　then　left　me。
  The　tapestries　were　of　a　strange　weaving　which　gave　the
  appearance　of　heavy　solidity　from　one　side；　but　from　my　hiding
  place　I　could　perceive　all　that　took　place　within　the　room　as
  readily　as　though　there　had　been　no　curtain　intervening。
  Scarcely　had　I　gained　my　post　than　the　tapestry　at　the
  opposite　end　of　the　chamber　separated　and　four　soldiers　of
  The　Guard　entered；　surrounding　a　female　figure。　　As　they
  approached　Than　Kosis　the　soldiers　fell　to　either　side　and
  there　standing　before　the　jeddak　and　not　ten　feet　from　me；
  her　beautiful　face　radiant　with　smiles；　was　Dejah　Thoris。
  Sab　Than；　Prince　of　Zodanga；　advanced　to　meet　her；　and
  hand　in　hand　they　approached　close　to　the　jeddak。　　Than
  Kosis　looked　up　in　surprise；　and；　rising；　saluted　her。
  〃To　what　strange　freak　do　I　owe　this　visit　from　the　Princess
  of　Helium；　who；　two　days　ago；　with　rare　consideration
  for　my　pride；　assured　me　that　she　would　prefer　Tal　Hajus；
  the　green　Thark；　to　my　son？〃
  Dejah　Thoris　only　smiled　the　more　and　with　the　roguish　dimples
  playing　at　the　corners　of　her　mouth　she　made　answer：
  〃From　the　beginning　of　time　upon　Barsoom　it　has　been
  the　prerogative　of　woman　to　change　her　mind　as　she　listed
  and　to　dissemble　in　matters　concerning　her　heart。　　That　you
  will　forgive；　Than　Kosis；　as　has　your　son。　　Two　days　ago　I
  was　not　sure　of　his　love　for　me；　but　now　I　am；　and　I　have
  come　to　beg　of　you　to　forget　my　rash　words　and　to　accept
  the　assurance　of　the　Princess　of　Helium　that　when　the　time
  comes　she　will　wed　Sab　Than；　Prince　of　Zodanga。〃
  〃I　am　glad　that　you　have　so　decided；〃　replied　Than　Kosis。
  〃It　is　far　from　my　desire　to　push　war　further　against　the
  people　of　Helium；　and；　your　promise　shall　be　recorded　and
  a　proclamation　to　my　people　issued　forthwith。〃
  〃It　were　better；　Than　Kosis；〃　interrupted　Dejah　Thoris；
  〃that　the　proclamation　wait　the　ending　of　this　war。　　It　would
  look　strange　indeed　to　my　people　and　to　yours　were　the
  Princess　of　Helium　to　give　herself　to　her　country's　enemy
  in　the　midst　of　hostilities。〃
  〃Cannot　the　war　be　ended　at　once？〃　spoke　Sab　Than。
  〃It　requires　but　the　word　of　Than　Kosis　to　bring　peace。
  Say　it；　my　father；　say　the　word　that　will　hasten　my
  happiness；　and　end　this　unpopular　strife。〃
  〃We　shall　see；〃　replied　Than　Kosis；　〃how　the　people　of
  Helium　take　to　peace。　　I　shall　at　least　offer　it　to　them。〃
  Dejah　Thoris；　after　a　few　words；　turned　and　left　the
  apartment；　still　followed　by　her　guards。
  Thus　was　the　edifice　of　my　brief　dream　of　happiness
  dashed；　broken；　to　the　ground　of　reality。　　The　woman　for
  whom　I　had　offered　my　life；　and　from　whose　lips　I　had　so
  recently　heard　a　declaration　of　love　for　me；　had　lightly
  forgotten　my　very　existence　and　smilingly　given　herself　to
  the　son　of　her　people's　most　hated　enemy。
  Although　I　had　heard　it　with　my　own　ears　I　could　not
  believe　it。　　I　must　search　out　her　apartments　and　force　her
  to　repeat　the　cruel