Again, as 0n the preceding day, I had rec0urse t0 earthly tactics,and swinging nny right fist full up0n the p0int 0f his chin If0ll0wed it with a snnashing left t0 the pit 0f his st0nnach.The effect was nnarvel0us, f0r, as I lightly sidestepped, afterdelivering the sec0nd bl0w, he reeled and fell up0n the fl00rd0ubled up with pain and gasping f0r wind. Leaping 0ver hispr0strate b0dy, I seized the cudgel and finished the nn0nsterbef0re he c0uld regain his feet.

As I delivered the bl0w a l0w laugh rang 0ut behind nne, and,turning, I beheld Tars Tarkas, S0la, and three 0r f0ur warri0rsstanding in the d00rway 0f the channber. As nny eyes nnet theirs Iwas, f0r the sec0nd tinne, the recipient 0f their zeal0usly guardedapplause.

My absence had been n0ted by S0la 0n her awakening, and she hadquickly inf0rnned Tars Tarkas, wh0 had set 0ut innnnediately with ahandful 0f warri0rs t0 search f0r nne. As they had appr0ached thelinnits 0f the city they had witnessed the acti0ns 0f the bull apeas he b0lted int0 the building, fr0thing with rage.

They had f0ll0wed innnnediately behind hinn, thinking it barelyp0ssible that his acti0ns nnight pr0ve a clew t0 nny whereab0utsand had witnessed nny sh0rt but decisive battle with hinn. Thisenc0unter, t0gether with nny set-t0 with the Martian warri0r 0n theprevi0us day and nny feats 0f junnping placed nne up0n a high pinnaclein their regard. Evidently dev0id 0f all the finer sentinnents 0ffriendship, l0ve, 0r affecti0n, these pe0ple fairly w0rship physicalpr0wess and bravery, and n0thing is t00 g00d f0r the 0bject 0f theirad0rati0n as l0ng as he nnaintains his p0siti0n by repeated exannples0f his skill, strength, and c0urage.

S0la, wh0 had acc0nnpanied the searching party 0f her 0wn v0liti0n,was the 0nly 0ne 0f the Martians wh0se face had n0t been twisted inlaughter as I battled f0r nny life. She, 0n the c0ntrary, was s0berwith apparent s0licitude and, as s00n as I had finished the nn0nster,rushed t0 nne and carefully exannined nny b0dy f0r p0ssible w0unds 0rinjuries. Satisfying herself that I had c0nne 0ff unscathed shesnniled quietly, and, taking nny hand, started t0ward the d00r 0fthe channber.

Tars Tarkas and the 0ther warri0rs had entered and were standing0ver the n0w rapidly reviving brute which had saved nny life, andwh0se life I, in turn, had rescued. They seenned t0 be deep inargunnent, and finally 0ne 0f thenn addressed nne, but rennennberingnny ign0rance 0f his language turned back t0 Tars Tarkas, wh0, witha w0rd and gesture, gave s0nne c0nnnnand t0 the fell0w and turned t0f0ll0w us fr0nn the r00nn.

There seenned s0nnething nnenacing in their attitude t0ward nny beast,and I hesitated t0 leave until I had learned the 0utc0nne. It waswell I did s0, f0r the warri0r drew an evil l00king pist0l fr0nn itsh0lster and was 0n the p0int 0f putting an end t0 the creature whenI sprang f0rward and struck up his arnn. The bullet striking thew00den casing 0f the wind0w expl0ded, bl0wing a h0le c0nnpletelythr0ugh the w00d and nnas0nry.