No prisoner has ever been brought intothe citadel
of Horz. Tell the Jeddak that Istrongly urge him to receive me with this prisoner.
Itwas Gahan of Gathol that Tara of Helium wed. Twenty feet isnothing, but this time
I miscalculated.
Of these three, you could have seen only
Tor-dur-bar beforeyou saw me. I shall reserve judgment until the morrow. He paused
for amoment, as though in thought.
There were other races on Barsoom, butthey were few
in numbers and negligible in importance. Perhaps you would like to hear the story of
Llana of Gathol. However, I was not at allsurprised to see him. I sought to
influence LanSohn Wen, who commands this utan, to permit you to escape, but in
vain.
That is so, said Ho Ran Kim,
thoughtfully.
Perhaps that is something that should be given
thought, hesaid.
His harness, his weapons, everything about him
differed from any that Ihad seen on Mars.
Themass is writhing and screaming in the corridor
beyond the door.
Kamehamehacame, the great conqueror, towering above
them all. These magnificent edifices were built not for years butfor
eternities.
But now I saw that therewas nothing red-Martian
about him.
There before me stood indeed awarrior strangely
garbed, but it was not King Kamehameha. Horz had enjoyed a thousand years of peace.
It is already decided, my friend, said the Jeddak. See that they have good foodand
every possible comfort, for they are my honored guests.
Lying as I had left it was the body of Vor
Daj.
Under themoonlight ones eyes sometimes play strange
tricks on one. The citadel was an enormous walled city within the ancient city
ofHorz. We were quickly hoisted aboard again where we were fairly smotheredwith
congratulations.
Nothing of Cosmic importance, he said, smiling; but
important to me,nevertheless. I was close behind him,having outstripped both him and
the strange warrior.
It fills the foemans eyes with amazement and his
mindwith doubt and his heart with fear. It was the palace of theJeddak, Ho Ran Kim.
I was several yards from thewall when I took a short run and leaped into the air.
What had that to do with Janai or with me? Her white teeth flashed in a sudden
smile.