thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第35节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fighting men leaped to view upon the landing…stage。 At their head was
Astok of Dusar； and as he saw the two he had thought so safely in his
power slipping from his grasp； he danced with rage and chagrin； shaking
his fists and hurling abuse and vile insults at them。
With her bow inclined upward at a dizzy angle； the Thuria shot
meteor…like into the sky。 From a dozen points swift patrol boats darted
after her； for the scene upon the landing…stage above the palace of the
Prince of Dusar had not gone unnoticed。
A dozen times shots grazed the Thuria's side； and as Carthoris could
not leave the control levers； Thuvia of Ptarth turned the muzzles of the
craft's rapid…fire guns upon the enemy as she clung to the steep and
slippery surface of the deck。
It was a noble race and a noble fight。 One against a score now； for
other Dusarian craft had joined in the pursuit； but Astok； Prince of Dusar；
had built well when he built the Thuria。 None in the navy of his sire
possessed a swifter flier； no other craft so well armoured or so well armed。
One by one the pursuers were distanced； and as the last of them fell
out of range behind； Carthoris dropped the Thuria's nose to a horizontal
plane； as with lever drawn to the last notch； she tore through the thin air of
dying Mars toward the east and Ptarth。
Thirteen and a half thousand haads away lay Ptartha stiff thirty…hour
journey for the swiftest of fliers； and between Dusar and Ptarth might lie
half the navy of Dusar； for in this direction was the reported seat of the
great naval battle that even now might be in progress。
Could Carthoris have known precisely where the great fleets of the
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
131
… Page 132…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
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。
132
… Page 133…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
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
133
… Page 134…
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
