=== apom_ch26_pt3 === 

There was an extremely pathetic side to the surrender of these mighty fliers, the result of an age old custom which demanded that surrender should be signalized by the voluntary plunging to earth of the commander of the vanquished vessel.  One after another the brave fellows, holding their colors high above their heads, leaped from the towering bows of their mighty craft to an awful death. =

Not until the commander of the entire fleet took the fearful plunge, thus indicating the surrender of the remaining vessels, did the fighting cease, and the useless sacrifice of brave men come to an end. =

We now signaled the flagship of Heliums navy to approach, and when she was within hailing distance I called out that we had the Princess Dejah Thoris on board, and that we wished to transfer her to the flagship that she might be taken immediately to the city. =

As the full import of my announcement bore in upon them a great cry arose from the decks of the flagship, and a moment later the colors of the Princess of Helium broke from a hundred points upon her upper works.  When the other vessels of the squadron caught the meaning of the signals flashed them they took up the wild acclaim and unfurled her colors in the gleaming sunlight. =

The flagship bore down upon us, and as she swung gracefully to and touched our side a dozen officers sprang upon our decks.  As their astonished gaze fell upon the hundreds of green warriors, who now came forth from the fighting shelters, they stopped aghast, but at sight of Kantos Kan, who advanced to meet them, they came forward, crowding about him. =

Dejah Thoris and I then advanced, and they had no eyes for other than her.  She received them gracefully, calling each by name, for they were men high in the esteem and service of her grandfather, and she knew them well. =

Lay your hands upon the shoulder of John Carter, she said to them, turning toward me, the man to whom Helium owes her princess as well as her victory today. = 

=== end of pt3 ===