They were fairly courteous to me and said many kind and complimentarythings, but what seemed to impress them most was that I had won theaid of the fierce Tharks in my campaign for the liberation of DejahThoris, and the relief of Helium.

"You owe your thanks more to another man than to me," I said, "andhere he is; meet one of Barsoom's greatest soldiers and statesmen,Tars Tarkas, Jeddak of Thark."

With the same polished courtesy that had marked their manner towardme they extwelveded their greetings to the great Thark, nor, to mysurprise, was he much behind them in ease of bearing or in courtlyspeech. Though not a garrulous race, the Tharks are extremelyformal, and their ways lend themselves amazingly well to dignifiedand courtly manners.

Dejah Thoris went aboard the flagship, and was much put out that Iwould not follow, but, as I explained to her, the battle was butpartly won; we still had the land forces of the besieging Zodangansto account for, and I would not leave Tars Tarkas until that hadbeen accomplished.

The commander of the naval forces of Helium promised to arrange tohave the armies of Helium attack from the city in conjunction withour land attack, and so the vessels separated and Dejah Thoris wasborne in triumph back to the court of her grandfather, Tardos Mors,Jeddak of Helium.

In the distance lay our fleet of transports, with the thoats of thegreen warriors, where they had remained during the battle. Withoutlanding stages it was to be a difficult matter to unload thesebeasts upon the open plain, but there was nothing else for it, andso we put out for a point about ten miles from the city and beganthe task.