"How came you here, Thuvia?" I asked. "And where is Tars Tarkas?"
"The great Thark, I fear, is dead," she replied sadly. "He was a
mighty fighter, but a multitude of green warriors of another horde
than his overwhelmed him. The last that I saw of him they were
bearing him, wounded and bleeding, to the deserted city from which
they had sallied to attack us."
"You are not sure that he is dead, then?" I asked. "And where is
this city of which you speak?"
"It is just beyond this range of hills. The vessel in which you so
nobly resigned a place that we might find escape defied our small
skill in navigation, with the result that we drifted aimlessly about
for two days. Then we decided to abandon the craft and attempt to
make our way on foot to the nearest waterway. Yesterday we crossed
these hills and came upon the dead city beyond. We had passed within
its streets and were walking toward the central portion, when at
an intersecting avenue we saw a body of green warriors approaching.
"Tars Tarkas was in advance, and they saw him, but me they did not
see. The Thark sprang back to my side and forced me into an adjacent
doorway, where he told me to remain in hiding until I could escape,
making my way to Helium if possible.
"'There will be no escape for me now,' he said, 'for these be the
Warhoon of the South. When they have seen my metal it will be to
the death.
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