Edgar Rice Burroughs

A Princess of Mars Edgar Rice Burroughs

A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I was on the point ofgiving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of approaching horses reached my ears. Iattempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond tomy will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. Itwas then, for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuousand only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also came to my nostrils afaintly pungent odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, butwhy I should retain my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom. I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short stretch of trail which laybetween the cave and the turn of the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the approachinghorses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledgewhich led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I didnot particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spiritprompted them. I had not long to wait before a stealthy sound apprised me of their nearness, and then a warbonneted, paint-streaked face was thrust cautiously around the shoulder of the cliff, and savage eyeslooked into mine. That he could see me in the dim light of the cave I was sure for the early morningsun was falling full upon me through the opening. The fellow, instead of approaching, merely stood and stared; his eyes bulging and his jawdropped. And then another savage face appeared, and a third and fourth and fifth, craning theirnecks over the shoulders of their fellows whom they could not pass upon the narrow ledge. Eachface was the picture of awe and fear, but for what reason I did not know, nor did I learn until tenyears later. That there were still other braves behind those who regarded me was apparent from thefact that the leaders passed back whispered word to those behind them.