Your position is a peculiar one; 
you have won a high position 
among us by your prowess, 
yet you are not one of us. 
A midget who can kill 
with one blow of his fist; 
and a prisoner 
who must be obeyed. . . .

"Either of these charges,
if proven, would be enough 
to execute you, 
but you shall have your trial,
if Tal Hajus so deems, 
when we return to Thark.
"But if you run off
with the Red Girl,
it is I who shall have 
to account to Tal Hajus, 
and Tars Tarkas to me. 
"Not in a thousand years 
have we had so valuable
a prisoner as she --
the granddaughter of 
our most bitter, 
powerful red enemy! 
-- But you --"

In justice, you may be killed,
either by losing at armed combat, 
or to be caught trying to escape --
and truthfully I warn you --

We await but one of these 
two reasons to be rid of you,
but we are just and truthful. 
You may go."

So this was the beginning of 
Sarkoja's persecution! 
I now recalled our conversation -- 
Sarkoja could be 
the only one responsible. 

It was now more important
than ever to save Dejah Thoris 
from the clutches of Tal Hajus; 
Sola had told me of his cunning,
his cruelty, and his atavistic lust. 

We must escape 
before we arrived at Thark.

"Where are your quarters?" 
he asked. "John Carter?"

"I have selected none," 
I replied, 
"I had meant to ask you?"

"Come with me,"
he directed.

"That is your affair, but a chieftain 
needs those to serve, 
and you have won the retinues,
any or all the women and possessions,
of the warriors you defeated. 

They will prepare food and care 
for your weapons and ammunition." 
I mentioned that I would need sleeping furs, 
for I had none.

I thought on how to 
communicate with her 
should she need me. . . 

The back windows 
faced a huge court 
where the animals were kept, 
closed in by the rear walls 
of the buildings. . . 

I gazed for a while at the many
fountains, statuary, benches and pergolas 
in the overgrown courtyard, 
pondering upon the happy life 
which must have once filled it, 
now in ruins. 
 
 
 
 
 

My thoughts were cut short by 
the advent of several young females 
bearing loads of weapons,
silks, furs, jewels, casks of food and drink --

all the property of the two chieftains
I had slain, which was now mine.

A man's retinue is 
somewhat like a military unit 
for which he is responsible
in various ways. 
His women are in no sense wives, 
and mating is a matter 
of community interest, 
directed by the council of chieftains 
coldly and scientifically. . .