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It was all I cared to know。 There was naught to keep me from
that balcony now； and with a long； running leap I sprang far aloft
until my hands grasped its lowest sill。
In an instant all was wild confusion。 Matai Shang shrank back。
Thurid sprang forward with drawn sword to cut me down。
Again Dejah Thoris wielded her heavy irons and fought him back。
Then Matai Shang grasped her about the waist and dragged her
away through a door leading within the tower。
For an instant Thurid hesitated； and then； as though fearing
that the Father of Therns would escape him with the Princess of
Helium； he； too； dashed from the balcony in their wake。
Phaidor alone retained her presence of mind。 Two of the guards
she ordered to bear away Thuvia of Ptarth； the others she commanded
to remain and prevent me from following。 Then she turned toward me。
〃John Carter；〃 she cried； 〃for the last time I offer you the
love of Phaidor； daughter of the Holy Hekkador。 Accept and your
princess shall be returned to the court of her grandfather； and you
shall live in peace and happiness。 Refuse and the fate that my
father has threatened shall fall upon Dejah Thoris。
〃You cannot save her now； for by this time they have reached a place
where even you may not follow。 Refuse and naught can save you；
for； though the way to the last stronghold of the Holy Therns
was made easy for you； the way hence hath been made impossible。
What say you？〃
〃You knew my answer； Phaidor；〃 I replied； 〃before ever you spoke。
Make way；〃 I cried to the guards； 〃for John Carter； Prince of
Helium； would pass！〃
With that I leaped over the low baluster that surrounded the
balcony； and with drawn long…sword faced my enemies。
There were three of them； but Phaidor must have guessed what the
outcome of the battle would be； for she turned and fled from the
balcony the moment she saw that I would have none of her proposition。
The three guardsmen did not wait for my attack。 Instead； they
rushed methe three of them simultaneously； and it was that which
gave me an advantage； for they fouled one another in the narrow
precincts of the balcony； so that the foremost of them stumbled
full upon my blade at the first onslaught。
The red stain upon my point roused to its full the old blood…lust
of the fighting man that has ever been so strong within my breast；
so that my blade flew through the air with a swiftness and deadly
accuracy that threw the two remaining therns into wild despair。
When at last the sharp steel found the heart of one of them
the other turned to flee； and； guessing that his steps would lead
him along the way taken by those I sought； I let him keep ever far
enough ahead to think that he was safely escaping my sword。
Through several inner chambers he raced until he came to a
spiral runway。 Up this he dashed； I in close pursuit。 At the
upper end we came out into a small chamber； the walls of which were
plank except for a single window overlooking the slopes of Otz and
the Valley of Lost Souls beyond。
Here the fellow tore frantically at what appeared to be but a
piece of the blank wall opposite the single window。 In an instant
I guessed that it was a secret exit from the room； and so I paused
that he might have an opportunity to negotiate it； for I cared
nothing to take the life of this poor servitorall I craved was a
clear road in pursuit of Dejah Thoris； my long…lost princess。
But； try as he would； the panel would yield neither to cunning
nor force； so that eventually he gave it up and turned to face me。
〃Go thy way； Thern；〃 I said to him； pointing toward the entrance
to the runway up which we had but just come。 〃I have no quarrel
with you； nor do I crave your life。 Go！〃
For answer he sprang upon me with his sword； and so suddenly；
at that； that I was like to have gone down before his first rush。
So there was nothing for it but to give him what he sought； and
that as quickly as might be； that I might not be delayed too long
in this chamber while Matai Shang and Thurid made way with Dejah
Thoris and Thuvia of Ptarth。
The fellow was a clever swordsmanresourceful and extremely tricky。
In fact； he seemed never to have heard that there existed such a thing
as a code of honor； for he repeatedly outraged a dozen Barsoomian
fighting customs that an honorable man would rather die than ignore。
He even went so far as to snatch his holy wig from his head
and throw it in my face； so as to blind me for a moment while he
thrust at my unprotected breast。
When he thrust； however； I was not there； for I had fought with
therns before； and while none had ever resorted to precisely that
same expedient； I knew them to be the least honorable and most
treacherous fighters upon Mars； and so was ever on the alert for some
new and devilish subterfuge when I was engaged with one of their race。
But at length he overdid the thing； for； drawing his
shortsword； he hurled it； javelinwise； at my body； at the same
instant rushing upon me with his long…sword。 A single sweeping
circle of my own blade caught the flying weapon and hurled it
clattering against the far wall； and then； as I sidestepped my
antagonist's impetuous rush； I let him have my point full in the
stomach as he hurtled by。
Clear to the hilt my weapon passed through his body； and with
a frightful shriek he sank to the floor； dead。
Halting only for the brief instant that was required to wrench
my sword from the carcass of my late antagonist； I sprang across
the chamber to the blank wall beyond； through which the thern had
attempted to pass。 Here I sought for the secret of its lock；
but all to no avail。
In despair I tried to force the thing； but the cold； unyielding
stone might well have laughed at my futile； puny endeavors。
In fact； I could have sworn that I caught the faint suggestion
of taunting laughter from beyond the baffling panel。
In disgust I desisted from my useless efforts and stepped to
the chamber's single window。
The slopes of Otz and the distant Valley of Lost Souls held
nothing to compel my interest then； but； towering far above me；
the tower's carved wall riveted my keenest attention。
Somewhere within that massive pile was Dejah Thoris。 Above me
I could see windows。 There； possibly； lay the only way by which
I could reach her。 The risk was great； but not too great when
the fate of a world's most wondrous woman was at stake。
I glanced below。 A hundred feet beneath lay jagged granite
boulders at the brink of a frightful chasm upon which the tower
abutted； and if not upon the boulders； then at the chasm's bottom；
lay death； should a foot slip but once； or clutching fingers loose
their hold for the fraction of an instant。
But there was no other way and with a shrug； which I must
admit was half shudder； I stepped to the window's outer sill
and began my perilous