READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
and yellow fur, terminating in double strips of the pelt down
their backs. This was the bravado in them, advertizing their
prowess in the hunt, as were their broad and ornate shortsword
scabbards across their massive chests the announcement
of their intrepidity in battle. The dried human hands
depending from the necks of some of them were the mark of
sadism. With such as these, there could be no appeal to
reason. But Tarzan grinned mentally as he realized from his
experience that there was, perhaps, a more basic method of
persuasion.
Tarzan was thinking that to fall into their hands would
undoubtedly result in eventual death, or, at best, a grievous
delay of his search for Jane. he had to escape, but just how
this might be accomplished in view of their formidable size,
armaments and numbers he did not know. So he waited for
his would-be captors to make the first move. After that, he
reasoned, fate would have to take its course.
At last, desisting i his efforts to communicate, the green
warrior with the lance gave the peremptory command to one
of his companions. Evidently quite certain of the apeman's
defenselessness and comparative weakness, he wheeled his
mount about and began to lead the way back whence he had
come.
The single warrior who had been assigned the task of
taking him prisoner now swung easily alongside Tarzan and
leaned down to grasp him. In that instant, the apeman took
hold of the giant fellow's arm and yanked him off his thoat.
Simultaneously he heard a chorus of low laughs from the
others who had turned in their saddles to witness the scene.
They waited there idly to watch their companion dispatch
him.
Tarzan had intended to occupy the green warrior's place
on the thoat, but the creature had darted away with a wild
squeal of fright and he was left standing on the ground facing
his first green Martian antagonist. The latter sprang to his
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