READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
"None so far," came the reply. "The bowmen can kill the
birds."
"then you will follow a new plan of action at once! Two of
you will remain here, as we need the malagors, but the rest
of you will return aloft and contact as many of our special
force as you can find. Bring them back here and we will assail
that wall. But, if any of you fall into the hands of the enemy,
pass the word among the common soldiers especially that
Tharos Pthan stands here now at the base of the Escarpment.
He knocks at the door of Tarnath, and he awaits the faithful
to follow him against Tario, who is a false prophet!"
The commandos looked at Tarzan in amazement, and
evident awe.
"Is this he who slew the mad zitidar in the pits of
Lothar?" asked one. "All Barsoom has heard of that one's
prowess by now."
"It is he," said the Warlord.
"But why stands he here, then, instead of smiting his
enemies?"
"He stands at my side," replied John Carter. "Tell them
that. And we shall not wait for the allegiance of all men before
entering the fortress."
So it was that four of the commandos flew swiftly upward
again, bravely dodging the fire of the sentinels, but only three
of them made it over the valley's walls. The fourth one met
with an explosive bullet, and he and his mount fell back into
the lake where they sank from sight and were seen no more.
"May his ancestors receive him as he deserves," commented
the Warlord, glumly. "At least, three have escaped. If
only one of them makes contact with the others, my plan has
a chance."
"I did not realize you were one of the commanding
officers," commented Tarzan.
One of the remaining commandos laughed. "Indeed!—"
he started to say, but John Carter interrupted him.
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