Fortunate indeed it was for us, nor did it take me long to grasp
the opportunity for escape which this happy condition offered
us. Keeping the boat's nose at a stiff angle I raced her for the
impenetrable curtain which Nature had hung above this dying world
to shut us out from the sight of our pursuing enemies.
We plunged through the cold camp fog without diminishing our
speed, and in a moment emerged into the glorious light of the two
moons and the million stars. I dropped into a horizontal course
and headed due north. Our enemies were a good half-hour behind us
with no conception of our direction. We had performed the miraculous
and come through a thousand dangers unscathed--we had escaped from
the land of the First Born. No other prisoners in all the ages of
Barsoom had done this thing, and now as I looked back upon it it
did not seem to have been so difficult after all.
I said as much to Xodar, over my shoulder.
"It is very wonderful, nevertheless," he replied. "No one else
could have accomplished it but John Carter."
At the sound of that name the boy jumped to his feet.
"John Carter!" he cried. "John Carter! Why, man, John Carter,
Prince of Helium, has been dead for years. I am his son."
CHAPTER XIV
THE EYES IN THE DARK
My son! I could not believe my ears. Slowly I rose and faced
the handsome youth.
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