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Presently he stopped and released me； standing between me and
the way we had come； looking up into my face as though to ask if I
would now follow him voluntarily or if he must still resort to force。
Looking ruefully at the marks of his great teeth upon my bare arm
I decided to do as he seemed to wish me to do。 After all； his strange
instinct might be more dependable than my faulty human judgment。
And well it was that I had been forced to follow him。 But a
short distance from the circular chamber we came suddenly into a
brilliantly lighted labyrinth of crystal glass partitioned passages。
At first I thought it was one vast； unbroken chamber； so clear
and transparent were the walls of the winding corridors； but after
I had nearly brained myself a couple of times by attempting to pass
through solid vitreous walls I went more carefully。
We had proceeded but a few yards along the corridor that had
given us entrance to this strange maze when Woola gave mouth to
a most frightful roar； at the same time dashing against the clear
partition at our left。
The resounding echoes of that fearsome cry were still
reverberating through the subterranean chambers when I saw the
thing that had startled it from the faithful beast。
Far in the distance； dimly through the many thicknesses of
intervening crystal； as in a haze that made them seem unreal and
ghostly； I discerned the figures of eight peoplethree females and
five men。
At the same instant； evidently startled by Woola's fierce cry；
they halted and looked about。 Then； of a sudden； one of them； a
woman； held her arms out toward me； and even at that great distance
I could see that her lips movedit was Dejah Thoris； my ever
beautiful and ever youthful Princess of Helium。
With her were Thuvia of Ptarth； Phaidor； daughter of Matai Shang；
and Thurid； and the Father of Therns； and the three lesser therns
that had accompanied them。
Thurid shook his fist at me； and then two of the therns grasped
Dejah Thoris and Thuvia roughly by their arms and hurried them on。
A moment later they had disappeared into a stone corridor beyond
the labyrinth of glass。
They say that love is blind； but so great a love as that of Dejah Thoris
that knew me even beneath the thern disguise I wore and across the
misty vista of that crystal maze must indeed be far from blind。
THE SECRET TOWER
I have no stomach to narrate the monotonous events of the
tedious days that Woola and I spent ferreting our way across the
labyrinth of glass； through the dark and devious ways beyond that
led beneath the Valley Dor and Golden Cliffs to emerge at last upon
the flank of the Otz Mountains just above the Valley of Lost Souls
that pitiful purgatory peopled by the poor unfortunates who dare
not continue their abandoned pilgrimage to Dor； or return to the
various lands of the outer world from whence they came。
Here the trail of Dejah Thoris' abductors led along the mountains' base；
across steep and rugged ravines； by the side of appalling precipices；
and sometimes out into the valley； where we found fighting aplenty
with the members of the various tribes that make up the population
of this vale of hopelessness。
But through it all we came at last to where the way led up a
narrow gorge that grew steeper and more impracticable at every step
until before us loomed a mighty fortress buried beneath the side of
an overhanging cliff。
Here was the secret hiding place of Matai Shang； Father of Therns。
Here； surrounded by a handful of the faithful； the hekkador of the
ancient faith； who had once been served by millions of vassals
and dependents； dispensed the spiritual words among the half dozen
nations of Barsoom that still clung tenaciously to their false
and discredited religion。
Darkness was just falling as we came in sight of the seemingly
impregnable walls of this mountain stronghold； and lest we be
seen I drew back with Woola behind a jutting granite promontory；
into a clump of the hardy； purple scrub that thrives upon the
barren sides of Otz。
Here we lay until the quick transition from daylight to darkness
had passed。 Then I crept out to approach the fortress walls
in search of a way within。
Either through carelessness or over…confidence in the supposed
inaccessibility of their hiding place； the triple…barred gate
stood ajar。 Beyond were a handful of guards； laughing and
talking over one of their incomprehensible Barsoomian games。
I saw that none of the guardsmen had been of the party that
accompanied Thurid and Matai Shang； and so； relying entirely upon
my disguise； I walked boldly through the gateway and up to the
thern guard。
The men stopped their game and looked up at me； but there was no
sign of suspicion。 Similarly they looked at Woola； growling at
my heel。
〃Kaor！〃 I said in true Martian greeting； and the warriors
arose and saluted me。 〃I have but just found my way hither from
the Golden Cliffs；〃 I continued； 〃and seek audience with the
hekkador； Matai Shang； Father of Therns。 Where may he be found？〃
〃Follow me；〃 said one of the guard； and； turning； led me
across the outer courtyard toward a second buttressed wall。
Why the apparent ease with which I seemingly deceived them did not
rouse my suspicions I know not； unless it was that my mind was still
so full of that fleeting glimpse of my beloved princess that there
was room in it for naught else。 Be that as it may； the fact is that
I marched buoyantly behind my guide straight into the jaws of death。
Afterward I learned that thern spies had been aware of my
coming for hours before I reached the hidden fortress。
The gate had been purposely left ajar to tempt me on。 The guards had
been schooled well in their part of the conspiracy； and I； more like
a schoolboy than a seasoned warrior； ran headlong into the trap。
At the far side of the outer court a narrow door let into the
angle made by one of the buttresses with the wall。 Here my guide
produced a key and opened the way within； then； stepping back； he
motioned me to enter。
〃Matai Shang is in the temple court beyond；〃 he said； and as Woola
and I passed through； the fellow closed the door quickly upon us。
The nasty laugh that came to my ears through the heavy
planking of the door after the lock clicked was my first intimation
that all was not as it should be。
I found myself in a small； circular chamber within the buttress。
Before me a door opened； presumably； upon the inner court beyond。
For a moment I hesitated； all my suspicions now suddenly；
though tardily； aroused； then； with a shrug of my shoulders；
I opened the door and stepped out into the glare of torches
that lighted the inner court。
Directly opposite me a massive tower rose to a height of three
hundred feet。 It was of the strangely beautiful modern Barsoomian
style of architec