thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第8章
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considerable tinkering； Carthoris was able to propel his wounded flier at
low speed； a rate which could not approach the rapid gait of the thoat；
whose eight long； powerful legs carried it over the ochre vegetation of the
dead sea…bottom at terrific speed。
The Prince of Helium chafed and fretted at the slowness of his pursuit；
yet he was thankful that the damage was no worse； for now he could at
least move more rapidly than on foot。
But even this meagre satisfaction was soon to be denied him； for
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presently the flier commenced to sag toward the port and by the bow。
The damage to the buoyancy tanks had evidently been more grievous than
he had at first believed。
All the balance of that long day Carthoris crawled erratically through
the still air； the bow of the flier sinking lower and lower； and the list to
port becoming more and more alarming； until at last； near dark； he was
floating almost bowdown； his harness buckled to a heavy deck ring to
keep him from being precipitated to the ground below。
His forward movement was now confined to a slow drifting with the
gentle breeze that blew out of the south…east； and when this died down
with the setting of the sun； he let the flier sink gently to the mossy carpet
beneath。
Far before him loomed the mountains toward which the green man had
been fleeing when last he had seen him； and with dogged resolution the
son of John Carter； endowed with the indomitable will of his mighty sire；
took up the pursuit on foot。
All that night he forged ahead until； with the dawning of a new day； he
entered the low foothills that guard the approach to the fastness of the
mountains of Torquas。
Rugged； granitic walls towered before him。 Nowhere could he
discern an opening through the formidable barrier； yet somewhere into this
inhospitable world of stone the green warrior had borne the woman of the
red man's heart's desire。
Across the yielding moss of the sea…bottom there had been no spoor to
follow； for the soft pads of the thoat but pressed down in his swift passage
the resilient vegetation which sprang up again behind his fleeting feet；
leaving no sign。
But here in the hills； where loose rock occasionally strewed the way；
where black loam and wild flowers partially replaced the sombre
monotony of the waste places of the lowlands； Carthoris hoped to find
some sign that would lead him in the right direction。
Yet； search as he would； the baffling mystery of the trail seemed likely
to remain for ever unsolved。
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It was drawing toward the day's close once more when the keen eyes
of the Heliumite discerned the tawny yellow of a sleek hide moving
among the boulders several hundred yards to his left。
Crouching quickly behind a large rock； Carthoris watched the thing
before him。 It was a huge banth； one of those savage Barsoomian lions
that roam the desolate hills of the dying planet。
The creature's nose was close to the ground。 It was evident that he
was following the spoor of meat by scent。
As Carthoris watched him； a great hope leaped into the man's heart。
Here； possibly； might lie the solution to the mystery he had been
endeavouring to solve。 This hungry carnivore； keen always for the flesh
of man； might even now be trailing the two whom Carthoris sought。
Cautiously the youth crept out upon the trail of the man…eater。 Along
the foot of the perpendicular cliff the creature moved； sniffing at the
invisible spoor； and now and then emitting the low moan of the hunting
banth。
Carthoris had followed the creature for but a few minutes when it
disappeared as suddenly and mysteriously as though dissolved into thin
air。
The man leaped to his feet。 Not again was he to be cheated as the
man had cheated him。 He sprang forward at a reckless pace to the spot at
which he last had seen the great； skulking brute。
Before him loomed the sheer cliff； its face unbroken by any aperture
into which the huge banth might have wormed its great carcass。 Beside
him was a small； flat boulder； not larger than the deck of a ten…man flier；
nor standing to a greater height than twice his own stature。
Perhaps the banth was in hiding behind this？ The brute might have
discovered the man upon his trail； and even now be lying in wait for his
easy prey。
Cautiously； with drawn long…sword； Carthoris crept around the corner
of the rock。 There was no banth there； but something which surprised
him infinitely more than would the presence of twenty banths。
Before him yawned the mouth of a dark cave leading downward into
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the ground。 Through this the banth must have disappeared。 Was it his
lair？ Within its dark and forbidding interior might there not lurk not one
but many of the fearsome creatures？
Carthoris did not know； nor； with the thought that had been spurring
him onward upon the trail of the creature uppermost in his mind； did he
much care； for into this gloomy cavern he was sure the banth had trailed
the green man and his captive； and into it he； too； would follow； content to
give his life in the service of the woman he loved。
Not an instant did he hesitate； nor yet did he advance rashly； but with
ready sword and cautious steps； for the way was dark； he stole on。 As he
advanced； the obscurity became impenetrable blackness。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER V
THE FAIR RACE
Downward along a smooth； broad floor led the strange tunnel； for
such Carthoris was now convinced was the nature of the shaft he at first
had thought but a cave。
Before him he could hear the occasional low moans of the banth； and
presently from behind came a similar uncanny note。 Another banth had
entered the passageway on HIS trail！
His position was anything but pleasant。 His eyes could not penetrate
the darkness even to the distinguishing of his hand before his face； while
the banths； he knew； could see quite well； though absence of light were
utter。
No other sounds came to his ears than the dismal； bloodthirsty
moanings of the beast ahead and the beast behind。
The tunnel had led straight； from where he had entered it beneath the
side of the rock furthest from the unscaleable cliffs； toward the mighty
barrier that had baffled him so long。
Now it was running almost level； and presently he noted a gradual
ascent。
The beast behind him was gaining upon him； crowding him perilously
close upon the heels of the beast in front。 Presently he should have to do
battle with one； or both。 More firmly he gripped his weapon。
Now he could hear the breathing of the banth at his heels。 Not for
much longer could he delay the encounter。
Long since he had become assured that the tunnel led beneath the cliffs
to the opposite side of the barrier； and he had hoped that he might reach
the moonlit open before being compelled to grapple with either of the
monsters。
The sun had been setting as he entered the tunnel； and the way had
been sufficiently long to assure him that darkness now reigned upon the
world without。 He glanced behind him。 Blazing out of the darkness；
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seemingly not ten paces behind； glared two flaming points of fire。 As the
savage eyes met his； the beast emitted a frightful roar and then he charged。
To face that savage mountain of onrushing ferocity； to stand unshaken
before the hideous fangs that he knew were bared in slavering blood…
thirstiness； though he could not see them； required nerves of steel； but of
such were the nerves of Carthoris of Helium。
He had the brute's eyes to guide his point； and； as true as the sword
hand of his mighty sire； his guided the keen point to one of those blazing
orbs； even as he leaped lightly to one side。
With a hideous scream of pain and rage； the wounded banth hurtled；
clawing； past him。 Then it turned to charge once more； but this time
Carthoris saw but a single gleaming point of fiery hate directed upon him。
Again the needle point met its flashing target。 Again the horrid cry of
the stricken beast reverberated through the rocky tunnel； shocking in its
torture…laden shrillness； deafening in its terrific volume。
But now； as it turned to charge again； the man had no guide whereby to
direct his point。 He heard the scraping of the padded feet upon the rocky
floor。 He knew the thing was charging down upon him once again； but he
could see nothing。
Yet； if he could not see his antagonist； neither could his antagonist now
see him。
Leaping； as he thought； to the exact centre of the tunnel； he held his
sword point ready on a line with the beast's chest。 It was all that he could
do； hoping that chance might send the point into the savage heart as he
went down beneath the great body。
So quickly was the thing over that Carthoris could scarce believe his
senses as the mighty body rushed madly past him。 Either he had not
placed himself in the centre of the tunnel； or else the blinded banth had
erred in its calculations。
However； the huge body missed him by a foot； and the creature
continued on down the tunnel as though in pursuit
