thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第29章
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contending nations lay； he would have hastened to them without delay； for
in the return of Thuvia to her sire lay the greatest hope of peace。
Half the distance they covered without sighting a single warship； and
then Kar Komak called Carthoris's attention to a distant craft that rested
upon the ochre vegetation of the great dead sea…bottom； above which the
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Thuria was speeding。
About the vessel many figures could be seen swarming。 With the aid
of powerful glasses； the Heliumite saw that they were green warriors； and
that they were repeatedly charging down upon the crew of the stranded
airship。 The nationality of the latter he could not make out at so great a
distance。
It was not necessary to change the course of the Thuria to permit of
passing directly above the scene of battle； but Carthoris dropped his craft a
few hundred feet that he might have a better and closer view。
If the ship was of a friendly power； he could do no less than stop and
direct his guns upon her enemies； though with the precious freight he
carried he scarcely felt justified in landing； for he could offer but two
swords in reinforcementscarce enough to warrant jeopardizing the safety
of the Princess of Ptarth。
As they came close above the stricken ship； they could see that it
would be but a question of minutes before the green horde would swarm
across the armoured bulwarks to glut the ferocity of their bloodlust upon
the defenders。
〃It would be futile to descend；〃 said Carthoris to Thuvia。 〃The craft
may even be of Dusarshe shows no insignia。 All that we may do is fire
upon the hordesmen〃； and as he spoke he stepped to one of the guns and
deflected its muzzle toward the green warriors at the ship's side。
At the first shot from the Thuria those upon the vessel below evidently
discovered her for the first time。 Immediately a device fluttered from the
bow of the warship on the ground。 Thuvia of Ptarth caught her breath
quickly； glancing at Carthoris。
The device was that of Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol the man to whom
the Princess of Ptarth was betrothed！
How easy for the Heliumite to pass on； leaving his rival to the fate that
could not for long be averted！ No man could accuse him of cowardice or
treachery； for Kulan Tith was in arms against Helium； and； further； upon
the Thuria were not enough swords to delay even temporarily the outcome
that already was a foregone conclusion in the minds of the watchers。
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What would Carthoris； Prince of Helium； do？
Scarce had the device broken to the faint breeze ere the bow of the
Thuria dropped at a sharp angle toward the ground。
〃Can you navigate her？〃 asked Carthoris of Thuvia。
The girl nodded。
〃I am going to try to take the survivors aboard；〃 he continued。 〃It will
need both Kar Komak and myself to man the guns while the Kaolians take
to the boarding tackle。 Keep her bow depressed against the rifle fire。
She can bear it better in her forward armour； and at the same time the
propellers will be protected。〃
He hurried to the cabin as Thuvia took the control。 A moment later the
boarding tackle dropped from the keel of the Thuria； and from a dozen
points along either side stout； knotted leathern lines trailed downward。 At
the same time a signal broke from her bow：
〃Prepare to board us。〃
A shout arose from the deck of the Kaolian warship。 Carthoris； who by
this time had returned from the cabin； smiled sadly。 He was about to
snatch from the jaws of death the man who stood between himself and the
woman he loved。
〃Take the port bow gun； Kar Komak；〃 he called to the bowman； and
himself stepped to the gun upon the starboard bow。
*They could now feel the sharp shock of the explosions of the green
warriors vomited their hail of death and destruction at the sides of the
staunch Thuria。* ＇This paragraph needs to be verified from early editions＇
It was a forlorn hope at best。 At any moment the repulsive ray tanks
might be pierced。 The men upon the Kaolian ship were battling with
renewed hope。 In the bow stood Kulan Tith； a brave figure fighting
beside his brave warriors； beating back the ferocious green men。
The Thuria came low above the other craft。 The Kaolians were
forming under their officers in readiness to board； and then a sudden fierce
fusillade from the rifles of the green warriors vomited their hail of death
and destruction into the side of the brave flier。
Like a wounded bird she dived suddenly Marsward careening
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
drunkenly。 Thuvia turned the bow upward in an effort to avert the
imminent tragedy； but she succeeded only in lessening the shock of the
flier's impact as she struck the ground beside the Kaolian ship。
When the green men saw only two warriors and a woman upon the
deck of the Thuria； a savage shout of triumph arose from their ranks； while
an answering groan broke from the lips of the Kaolians。
The former now turned their attention upon the new arrival； for they
saw her defenders could soon be overcome and that from her deck they
could command the deck of the better…manned ship。
As they charged a shout of warning came from Kulan Tith； upon the
bridge of his own ship； and with it an appreciation of the valour of the act
that had put the smaller vessel in these sore straits。
〃Who is it；〃 he cried； 〃that offers his life in the service of Kulan Tith？
Never was wrought a nobler deed of self… sacrifice upon Barsoom！〃
The green horde was scrambling over the Thuria's side as there broke
from the bow the device of Carthoris； Prince of Helium； in reply to the
query of the jeddak of Kaol。 None upon the smaller flier had opportunity
to note the effect of this announcement upon the Kaolians； for their
attention was claimed slowly now by that which was transpiring upon
their own deck。
Kar Komak stood behind the gun he had been operating； staring with
wide eyes at the onrushing hideous green warriors。 Carthoris； seeing him
thus； felt a pang of regret that； after all； this man that he had thought so
valorous should prove； in the hour of need； as spineless as Jav or Tario。
〃Kar Komakthe man！〃 he shouted。 〃Grip yourself！ Remember the
days of the glory of the seafarers of Lothar。 Fight！ Fight； man！ Fight
as never man fought before。 All that remains to us is to die fighting。〃
Kar Komak turned toward the Heliumite； a grim smile upon his lips。
〃Why should we fight；〃 he asked。 〃Against such fearful odds？ There
is another waya better way。 Look！〃 He pointed toward the
companion…way that led below deck。
The green men； a handful of them； had already reached the Thuria's
deck； as Carthoris glanced in the direction the Lotharian had indicated。
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The sight that met his eyes set his heart to thumping in joy and relief
Thuvia of Ptarth might yet be saved？ For from below there poured a
stream of giant bowmen； grim and terrible。 Not the bowmen of Tario or
Jav； but the bowmen of an odwar of bowmensavage fighting men； eager
for the fray。
The green warriors paused in momentary surprise and consternation；
but only for a moment。 Then with horrid war…cries they leaped forward
to meet these strange； new foemen。
A volley of arrows stopped them in their tracks。 In a moment the only
green warriors upon the deck of the Thuria were dead warriors； and the
bowmen of Kar Komak were leaping over the vessel's sides to charge the
hordesmen upon the ground。
Utan after utan tumbled from the bowels of the Thuria to launch
themselves upon the unfortunate green men。 Kulan Tith and his Kaolians
stood wide…eyed and speechless with amazement as they saw thousands of
these strange； fierce warriors emerge from the companion…way of the
small craft that could not comfortably have accomodated more than fifty。
At last the green men could withstand the onslaught of overwhelming
numbers no longer。 Slowly； at first； they fell back across the ochre plain。
The bowmen pursued them。 Kar Komak； standing upon the deck of the
Thuria； trembled with excitement。
At the top of his lungs he voiced the savage war…cry of his forgotten
day。 He roared encouragement and commands at his battling utans； and
then； as they charged further and further from the Thuria； he could no
longer withstand the lure of battle。
Leaping over the ship's side to the ground； he joined the last of his
bowmen as they raced off over the dead sea…bottom in pursuit of the
fleeing green horde。
Beyond a low promontory of what once had been an island the green
men were disappearing toward the west。 Close upon their heels raced the
fleet bowmen of a bygone day； and forging steadily ahead among them
Carthoris and Thuvia could see the mighty figure of Kar Komak；
brandishing aloft the Torquasian short…sword with which he was armed； as
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he urged his creatures after the retreating enemy。
As the last of them disappeared behind the promontory； Carthoris
turned toward Thuvia of Ptarth。
〃They have taught me a lesson； these vanishing bowmen of Lothar；〃 he
said。 〃When they have served their purpose they remain not to embarrass
their masters by the
