The Shastapsh cavalry had formed their firing squad and were marking targets with their muskets when they were enveloped in some sort of invisible force field that literally tore all but the two soldiers at the far right into pulp. Before anyone could properly process what had happened, it happened again, killing the final two soldiers in the firing squad. Waldmont thought he could see something but couldn't properly make it out. Then the air shimmered and a bizarre figure materialized seemingly out of thin air.
Dressed in a long coat, a top hat and odd, oversized-goggles with mirrored lenses, and carrying a large and very menacing weapon, still sizzling with lambent green lightning, it was obvious that here stood their saviour.
He inspected the dead, or what was left of them, and identified them as Shastapsh household cavalry. He also cast a jaundiced eye over the astounded party of Earthmen and Thoth soldiery, then threatened the Martians in a heavy Welsh accented English, using the most uncouth language laced with vile epithets at the Martians' expense. He demanded to know who the Earthmen were and where they came from, introducing himself as Roderick LLewelyn. Wilhelm attempted with little success to assess the weapon using his own not inconsiderate knowledge of modern science and engineering as the Welshman ranted at the Martians.
Mr LLewelyn finally mounted a small machine somewhat like a bicycle with stubby wings and a small boiler, began peddling, rose into the air and vanished. A few minutes later Wilhelm and Waldmont both made out the sound of chugging and could see a faint steam trail, though the flyer and rider were still invisible.
Gathering the Shastapsh gashants, helped by the Martians, the group of ten rode furiously back to the air raft, still carrying the two women and two wounded men. After transferring cargo and people, six of the gashants were hitched to the raft and the party made for the Royal Barge Pride of Thoth where they overcame stiff opposition by means of a daring night assault, retaking the barge and rescuing Princess Aramaranda and her General Factotum, Kalamir. The Princess invited the Earthmen to meet her father, the Prince of Thoth, who would want to properly reward them all for their role as rescuers.
Once in Thoth the Prince received the party in great pomp, Kalamir acting as translator between the Prince and the Earthmen. It gradually became apparent over the course of the next few hours, particularly at the feast that evening, that Kalamir was representing the Earthmen in less than their best light, indeed was colouring everything he translated so as to represent the Earthmen in as poor a light as possible. The rescue had been mainly possible thanks to the Martian forces acting on a plan he, Kalamir, had formulated in advance, with some superficial help from these boastful Earthmen who would like to take all the credit for the Princess's safe return to her beloved Thoth.
The Prince, somewhat put out by the picture he had of the Earthmen's motives, nonetheless asked them to travel with a diplomatic caravan that was bound for Meepsoor, from where the Earthmen could get transport to Syrtis Major with ease. For acting as guards he would pay them 100 pounds each. The team accepted this deal.
Thus is was that a few days later, Waldmont and Wilhelm found themselves on the long, thirsty trek across the Nepenthese-Thoth Steppe and the southernmost tip of the Isidis Desert, in the company of more Thoth soldiery, a caravan of flunkies and menials and ... Kalamir! Kalamir was the diplomat being conveyed to Meepsoor, and he had already begun to poison various members of the caravan against the Earthmen, including - apparently - Wiiso, the captain in charge.
Seven nights into the journey, Waldmont awoke. He didn't know what was wrong, but years exploring and hunting on Earth had given him some sort of sense about things, and things were wrong. He grabbed his rifle and crept stealthily from his tent, checking all around but seeing nothing, hearing nothing.
He might have gone back to his bed if he had not discovered one of the four night guards lying dead, badly mauled by what looked like some sort of feline, a big one.. He raced to the next guard post and was in the process of raising the alarm when he and the Martian were attacked by a dreaded Steppe Tiger, one of the most dangerous animals drawing breath on Mars. The cat-like creature attacked, but chose the Martian as its first victim, giving Waldmont time to aim his rifle. The Steppe Tiger turned to attack Waldmont and was sent to Martian Hell by an amazingly accurate and telling shot, which killed the foul beast outright.
The rest of the camp came racing out into the night, weapons waving hither and yon as their owners searched frantically for the source of the noise. Order was soon restored and Wiiso and Kalamir came to marvel at the kill, and the man responsible for saving everyone.
