'
"Then he stepped out to meet them. Ah, my Prince, such fighting!
For an hour they swarmed about him, until the Warhoon dead formed
a hill where he had stood; but at last they overwhelmed him, those
behind pushing the foremost upon him until there remained no space
to swing his great sword. Then he stumbled and went down and
they rolled over him like a huge wave. When they carried him away
toward the heart of the city, he was dead, I think, for I did not
see him move."
"Before we go farther we must be sure," I said. "I cannot leave
Tars Tarkas alive among the Warhoons. To-night I shall enter the
city and make sure."
"And I shall go with you," spoke Carthoris.
"And I," said Xodar.
"Neither one of you shall go," I replied. "It is work that requires
stealth and strategy, not force. One man alone may succeed where
more would invite disaster. I shall go alone. If I need your
help, I will return for you."
They did not like it, but both were good soldiers, and it had been
agreed that I should command. The sun already was low, so that
I did not have long to wait before the sudden darkness of Barsoom
engulfed us.
With a parting word of instructions to Carthoris and Xodar, in case
I should not return, I bade them all farewell and set forth at a
rapid dogtrot toward the city.
As I emerged from the hills the nearer moon was winging its wild
flight through the heavens, its bright beams turning to burnished
silver the barbaric splendour of the ancient metropolis.
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