couldn't get by the fire in the tunnel-their only means of escape. Later, we simply went in and dragged out as many as we needed to load into our troop ships.'
'But the parachutes!' exclaimed Kantos Kan. 'How did you manage to get those on their backs or keep them from tearing them off when the creatures finally became conscious?'
'They did not regain consciousness until the last minute,' replied the earthman. 'We kept the inside cabin of each troop ship filled with enough smoke to keep the rats unconscious all the way to Helium. We had plenty of time to attach the parachutes to their backs. The rats came to in midair after my men shoved them out of the ships.'
John Carter nodded toward the disappearing creatures in the mountains. 'They were very much alive and fighting mad when they hit the ground, as you saw,' added the earthman. 'They simply stepped out of their parachute harnesses when they landed, and leaped for anyone in sight.
'As for the malagors,' he concluded, 'they are birds-and birds on both Earth and Mars have no love for snakes or rats. I knew those malagors would prefer other surroundings when they saw and smelled their natural enemies in the air around them!'
Dejah Thoris looked up at her chieftain and smiled. 'Was there ever such a man before?' she asked. 'Could it be that all earthman are like you?'
That night all Helium celebrated its victory. The streets of the city surged with laughing people. The mighty, green warriors of Thark mingled-in common brotherhood with the fighting legions of Helium.
In the royal palace was staged a great feast in honor of John Carter's service to Helium.
Old Tardos Mors, the jeddak, was so choked with feeling at the miraculous delivery of his city from the hands of their enemy and the safe return of his granddaughter that he was unable to speak for some time when he arose at the dining table to offer the kingdom's thanks to the earthman.
But when he finally spoke, his words were couched with the simple dignity of a great ruler. The intense gratitude of these people deeply touched the earthman's heart.
Later that night, John Carter and Dejah Thoris stood alone on a balcony overlooking the royal gardens.
The moons of Mars circled majestically across the heavens, causing the shadows of the distant mountains to roll and tumble in an ever-changing fantasy over the plain and the forest.
Even the shadows of the two people on the royal balcony slowly merged into one.
