thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第14章
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chieftains called to him to hasten； for the charge of the fair…skinned
inhabitants of the city was developing into a more serious matter than the
Torquasians had anticipated。
Instead of remaining to battle with the red man； Hortan Gur promised
him his attention after he had disposed of the presumptuous citizens of the
walled city； and； leaping astride his thoat； galloped off to meet the rapidly
advancing bowmen。
The other warriors quickly followed their jeddak； leaving Thuvia and
Carthoris alone upon the platform。
Between them and the city raged a terrific battle。 The fair…skinned
warriors； armed only with their long bows and a kind of short…handled
war…axe； were almost helpless beneath the savage mounted green men at
close quarters； but at a distance their sharp arrows did fully as much
execution as the radium projectiles of the green men。
But if the warriors themselves were outclassed； not so their savage
companions； the fierce banths。 Scarce had the two lines come together
when hundreds of these appalling creatures had leaped among the
Torquasians； dragging warriors from their thoatsdragging down the huge
thoats themselves； and bringing consternation to all before them。
The numbers of the citizenry； too； was to their advantage； for it seemed
that scarce a warrior fell but his place was taken by a score more； in such a
constant stream did they pour from the city's great gate。
And so it came； what with the ferocity of the banths and the numbers
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
of the bowmen； that at last the Torquasians fell back； until presently the
platform upon which stood Carthoris and Thuvia lay directly in the centre
of the fight。
That neither was struck by a bullet or an arrow seemed a miracle to
both； but at last the tide had rolled completely past them； so that they were
alone between the fighters and the city； except for the dying and the dead；
and a score or so of growling banths； less well trained than their fellows；
who prowled among the corpses seeking meat。
To Carthoris the strangest part of the battle had been the terrific toll
taken by the bowmen with their relatively puny weapons。 Nowhere that
he could see was there a single wounded green man； but the corpses of
their dead lay thick upon the field of battle。
Death seemed to follow instantly the slightest pinprick of a bowman's
arrow； nor apparently did one ever miss its goal。 There could be but one
explanation： the missiles were poison…tipped。
Presently the sounds of conflict died in the distant forest。 Quiet
reigned； broken only by the growling of the devouring banths。 Carthoris
turned toward Thuvia of Ptarth。 As yet neither had spoken。
〃Where are we； Thuvia？〃 he asked。
The girl looked at him questioningly。 His very presence had seemed
to proclaim a guilty knowledge of her abduction。 How else might he have
known the destination of the flier that brought her！
〃Who should know better than the Prince of Helium？〃 she asked in
return。 〃Did he not come hither of his own free will？〃
〃From Aaanthor I came voluntarily upon the trail of the green man
who had stolen you； Thuvia；〃 he replied； 〃but from the time I left Helium
until I awoke above Aaanthor I thought myself bound for Ptarth。
〃It had been intimated that I had guilty knowledge of your abduction；〃
he explained simply； 〃and I was hastening to the jeddak； your father； to
convince him of the falsity of the charge； and to give my service to your
recovery。 Before I left Helium some one tampered with my compass； so
that it bore me to Aaanthor instead of to Ptarth。 That is all。 You believe
me？〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
〃But the warriors who stole me from the garden！〃 she exclaimed。
〃After we arrived at Aaanthor they wore the metal of the Prince of Helium。
When they took me they were trapped in Dusarian harness。 There
seemed but a single explanation。 Whoever dared the outrage wished to
put the onus upon another； should he be detected in the act； but once safely
away from Ptarth he felt safe in having his minions return to their own
harness。〃
〃You believe that I did this thing； Thuvia？〃 he asked。
〃Ah； Carthoris；〃 she replied sadly； 〃I did not wish to believe it； but
when everything pointed to youeven then I would not believe it。〃
〃I did not do it； Thuvia；〃 he said。 〃But let me be entirely honest with
you。 As much as I love your father； as much as I respect Kulan Tith； to
whom you are betrothed； as well as I know the frightful consequences that
must have followed such an act of mine； hurling into war； as it would；
three of the greatest nations of Barsoomyet； notwithstanding all this； I
should not have hesitated to take you thus； Thuvia of Ptarth； had you even
hinted that it would not have displeased YOU。
〃But you did nothing of the kind； and so I am here； not in my own
service； but in yours； and in the service of the man to whom you are
promised； to save you for him； if it lies within the power of man to do so；〃
he concluded； almost bitterly。
Thuvia of Ptarth looked into his face for several moments。 Her breast
was rising and falling as though to some resistless emotion。 She half
took a step toward him。 Her lips parted as though to speakswiftly and
impetuously。
And then she conquered whatever had moved her。
〃The future acts of the Prince of Helium；〃 she said coldly； 〃must
constitute the proof of his past honesty of purpose。〃
Carthoris was hurt by the girl's tone； as much as by the doubt as to his
integrity which her words implied。
He had half hoped that she might hint that his love would be
acceptablecertainly there was due him at least a little gratitude for his
recent acts in her behalf； but the best he received was cold scepticism。
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The Prince of Helium shrugged his broad shoulders。 The girl noted it；
and the little smile that touched his lips； so that it became her turn to be
hurt。
Of course she had not meant to hurt him。 He might have known that
after what he had said she could not do anything to encourage him！ But
he need not have made his indifference quite so palpable。 The men of
Helium were noted for their gallantrynot for boorishness。 Possibly it was
the Earth blood that flowed in his veins。
How could she know that the shrug was but Carthoris' way of
attempting； by physical effort； to cast blighting sorrow from his heart； or
that the smile upon his lips was the fighting smile of his father with which
the son gave outward evidence of the determination he had reached to
submerge his own great love in his efforts to save Thuvia of Ptarth for
another； because he believed that she loved this other！
He reverted t
