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a great chamber at the front of the building was greeted
by the frenzied Woola； who threw his great carcass upon
me； nearly hurling me to the floor； the poor old fellow was
so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me； his
head split from ear to ear； showing his three rows of tusks
in his hobgoblin smile。
Quieting him with a word of command and a caress； I
looked hurriedly through the approaching gloom for a sign
of Dejah Thoris； and then； not seeing her； I called her name。
There was an answering murmur from the far corner of the
apartment； and with a couple of quick strides I was standing
beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks
upon an ancient carved wooden seat。 As I waited she rose
to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said：
〃What would Dotar Sojat； Thark； of Dejah Thoris his captive？〃
〃Dejah Thoris； I do not know how I have angered you。
It was furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you；
whom I had hoped to protect and comfort。 Have none of
me if it is your will； but that you must aid me in effecting
your escape； if such a thing be possible； is not my request；
but my command。 When you are safe once more at your
father's court you may do with me as you please； but from
now on until that day I am your master； and you must
obey and aid me。〃
She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that
she was softening toward me。
〃I understand your words； Dotar Sojat；〃 she replied； 〃but
you I do not understand。 You are a queer mixture of child
and man； of brute and noble。 I only wish that I might read
your heart。〃
〃Look down at your feet； Dejah Thoris； it lies there now
where it has lain since that other night at Korad； and where
it will ever lie beating alone for you until death stills it
forever。〃
She took a little step toward me； her beautiful hands
outstretched in a strange； groping gesture。
〃What do you mean； John Carter？〃 she whispered。
〃What are you saying to me？〃
〃I am saying what I had promised myself that I would
not say to you； at least until you were no longer a captive
among the green men； what from your attitude toward me
for the past twenty days I had thought never to say to you；
I am saying； Dejah Thoris； that I am yours； body and soul；
to serve you； to fight for you； and to die for you。 Only
one thing I ask of you in return； and that is that you make
no sign； either of condemnation or of approbation of my
words until you are safe among your own people； and that
whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they be not
influenced or colored by gratitude； whatever I may do to
serve you will be prompted solely from selfish motives；
since it gives me more pleasure to serve you than not。〃
〃I will respect your wishes； John Carter； because I
understand the motives which prompt them； and I accept
your service no more willingly than I bow to your authority；
your word shall be my law。 I have twice wronged you
in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness。〃
Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented
by the entrance of Sola； who was much agitated and wholly
unlike her usual calm and possessed self。
〃That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus；〃 she
cried； 〃and from what I heard upon the plaza there is
little hope for either of you。〃
〃What do they say？〃 inquired Dejah Thoris。
〃That you will be thrown to the wild calots ＇dogs＇ in
the great arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for
the yearly games。〃
〃Sola；〃 I said； 〃you are a Thark； but you hate and loathe
the customs of your people as much as we do。 Will you
not accompany us in one supreme effort to escape？ I am
sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a home and protection
among her people； and your fate can be no worse among
them than it must ever be here。〃
〃Yes；〃 cried Dejah Thoris； 〃come with us； Sola； you will
be better off among the red men of Helium than you are
here； and I can promise you not only a home with us； but
the love and affection your nature craves and which must
always be denied you by the customs of your own race。
Come with us； Sola； we might go without you； but your
fate would be terrible if they thought you had connived to
aid us。 I know that even that fear would not tempt you to
interfere in our escape； but we want you with us； we want
you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness； amongst
a people who know the meaning of love； of sympathy； and
of gratitude。 Say that you will； Sola； tell me that you will。〃
〃The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty
miles to the south；〃 murmured Sola； half to herself； 〃a
swift thoat might make it in three hours； and then to
Helium it is five hundred miles； most of the way through
thinly settled districts。 They would know and they would
follow us。 We might hide among the great trees for a time；
but the chances are small indeed for escape。 They would
follow us to the very gates of Helium； and they would take
toll of life at every step； you do not know them。〃
〃Is there no other way we might reach Helium？〃 I asked。
〃Can you not draw me a rough map of the country we
must traverse； Dejah Thoris？〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； and taking a great diamond from
her hair she drew upon the marble floor the first map of
Barsoomian territory I had ever seen。 It was crisscrossed in
every direction with long straight lines； sometimes running
parallel and sometimes converging toward some great circle。
The lines； she said； were waterways； the circles； cities； and
one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium。
There were other cities closer； but she said she feared to
enter many of them； as they were not all friendly toward Helium。
Finally； after studying the map carefully in the moonlight
which now flooded the room； I pointed out a waterway far
to the north of us which also seemed to lead to Helium。
〃Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory？〃 I
asked。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃but it is two hundred miles north
of us； it is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip
to Thark。〃
〃They would never suspect that we would try for that
distant waterway；〃 I answered； 〃and that is why I think
that it is the best route for our escape。〃
Sola agreed with me； and it was decided that we should
leave Thark this same night； just as quickly； in fact； as I
could find and saddle my thoats。 Sola was to ride one and
Dejah Thoris and I the other； each of us carrying sufficient
food and drink to last us for two days； since the animals
could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance。
I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one
of the less frequented avenues to the southern boundary of
the city； where I would overtake them with the thoats as
quickly as possible； then； leaving them to gather what food；
silks； and furs we were to need； I slipped quietly to the
rear of the first floor； and e