A Princess of Mars · Chapter
V: I Elude My Watch Dog explained
John Carter awakens to find a Martian watch dog guarding him.
What happens
John Carter awakens to find a Martian watch dog guarding him. He examines the room's murals, eats and drinks food provided by Sola, and learns about Martian nights and moons. Attempting to escape, he outruns the watch dog but is captured by a white apelike creature.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Carter adapts to Martian food, climate, and the watch dog's behavior.
Alienation and Belonging
Carter is a captive among alien green Martians, yet finds a sympathetic ally in Sola.
Characters to notice
- John Carter
Narrator and protagonist; attempts escape from the green Martians.
- Sola
Shows kindness and care; provides food, drink, and coverings for Carter.
- Woola
Martian watch dog; guards Carter and later chases him.
Key passages
“Sola stared into the brute’s wicked-looking eyes, muttered a word or two of command, pointed to me, and left the chamber.”
Sola looked at the fierce creature, gave it a brief command, gestured toward me, and then left the room.
Sola commands the watch dog to guard Carter.
“The food consisted of about a pound of some solid substance of the consistency of cheese and almost tasteless, while the liquid was apparently milk from some animal.”
The meal was a pound of cheese-like, nearly flavorless solid, and a drink that seemed like animal milk.
Description of Martian food and drink.
“I quickly saw that I would have difficulty in escaping the fangs of the beast on a straightaway course, and so I met his charge by doubling in my tracks and leaping over him as he was almost upon me.”
Realizing I couldn't outrun the beast in a straight line, I turned and jumped over him just as he was about to catch me.
Carter uses agility to evade the watch dog.