They are
fearsome appearing brutes at best, but when they are aroused they
are fully as dangerous as they look. The thoat stands a good ten
feet at the shoulder. His hide is sleek and hairless, and of a
dark slate colour on back and sides, shading down his eight legs
to a vivid yellow at the huge, padded, nailless feet; the belly
is pure white. A broad, flat tail, larger at the tip than at the
root, completes the picture of this ferocious green Martian mount
--a fit war steed for these warlike people.
As the thoats are guided by telepathic means alone, there is
no need for rein or bridle, and so our object now was to find two
that would obey our unspoken commands. As they charged about us we
succeeded in mastering them sufficiently to prevent any concerted
attack upon us, but the din of their squealing was certain to bring
investigating warriors into the courtyard were it to continue much
longer.
At length I was successful in reaching the side of one great brute,
and ere he knew what I was about I was firmly seated astride his
glossy back. A moment later Tars Tarkas had caught and mounted
another, and then between us we herded three or four more toward
the great gates.
Tars Tarkas rode ahead and, leaning down to the latch, threw the
barriers open, while I held the loose thoats from breaking back to
the herd. Then together we rode through into the avenue with our
stolen mounts and, without waiting to close the gates, hurried off
toward the southern boundary of the city.
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