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〃More； too； I heard； and that of the chivalrous kindness that
John Carter had accorded my daughter。 They told me how he fought
for her and rescued her； and how he spurned escape from the savage
Warhoons of the south； sending her to safety upon his own
thoat and remaining upon foot to meet the green warriors。
〃Can you wonder； Kulan Tith； that I am willing to jeopardize
my life； the peace of my nation； or even your friendship； which I
prize more than aught else； to champion the Prince of Helium？〃
For a moment Kulan Tith was silent。 I could see by the expression
of his face that he was sore perplexed。 Then he spoke。
〃Thuvan Dihn；〃 he said； and his tone was friendly though sad；
〃who am I to judge my fellow…man？ In my eyes the Father of Therns
is still holy； and the religion which he teaches the only true religion；
but were I faced by the same problem that has vexed you I doubt not
that I should feel and act precisely as you have。
〃In so far as the Prince of Helium is concerned I may act； but between
you and Matai Shang my only office can be one of conciliation。
The Prince of Helium shall be escorted in safety to the boundary
of my domain ere the sun has set again； where he shall be free
to go whither he will； but upon pain of death must he never
again enter the land of Kaol。
〃If there be a quarrel between you and the Father of Therns；
I need not ask that the settlement of it be deferred until both
have passed beyond the limits of my power。 Are you satisfied；
Thuvan Dihn？〃
The Jeddak of Ptarth nodded his assent； but the ugly scowl that
he bent upon Matai Shang harbored ill for that pasty…faced godling。
〃The Prince of Helium is far from satisfied；〃 I cried；
breaking rudely in upon the beginnings of peace； for I
had no stomach for peace at the price that had been named。
〃I have escaped death in a dozen forms to follow Matai Shang
and overtake him； and I do not intend to be led； like a decrepit
thoat to the slaughter； from the goal that I have won by the
prowess of my sword arm and the might of my muscles。
〃Nor will Thuvan Dihn； Jeddak of Ptarth； be satisfied when he
has heard me through。 Do you know why I have followed Matai Shang
and Thurid； the black dator； from the forests of the Valley Dor
across half a world through almost insurmountable difficulties？
〃Think you that John Carter； Prince of Helium； would stoop to
assassination？ Can Kulan Tith be such a fool as to believe
that lie； whispered in his ear by the Holy Thern or Dator Thurid？
〃I do not follow Matai Shang to kill him； though the God of
mine own planet knows that my hands itch to be at his throat。
I follow him； Thuvan Dihn； because with him are two prisoners
my wife； Dejah Thoris； Princess of Helium； and your daughter；
Thuvia of Ptarth。
〃Now think you that I shall permit myself to be led beyond
the walls of Kaol unless the mother of my son accompanies me；
and thy daughter be restored？〃
Thuvan Dihn turned upon Kulan Tith。 Rage flamed in his keen eyes；
but by the masterfulness of his self…control he kept his tones level
as he spoke。
〃Knew you this thing； Kulan Tith？〃 he asked。 〃Knew you that
my daughter lay a prisoner in your palace？〃
〃He could not know it；〃 interrupted Matai Shang； white with
what I am sure was more fear than rage。 〃He could not know it；
for it is a lie。〃
I would have had his life for that upon the spot； but even as
I sprang toward him Thuvan Dihn laid a heavy hand upon my shoulder。
〃Wait；〃 he said to me； and then to Kulan Tith。 〃It is not a lie。
This much have I learned of the Prince of Heliumhe does not lie。
Answer me； Kulan TithI have asked you a question。〃
〃Three women came with the Father of Therns；〃 replied Kulan Tith。
〃Phaidor； his daughter； and two who were reported to be her slaves。
If these be Thuvia of Ptarth and Dejah Thoris of Helium I did not
know itI have seen neither。 But if they be； then shall they be
returned to you on the morrow。〃
As he spoke he looked straight at Matai Shang； not as a devotee
should look at a high priest； but as a ruler of men looks at one
to whom he issues a command。
It must have been plain to the Father of Therns； as it was to me；
that the recent disclosures of his true character had done much
already to weaken the faith of Kulan Tith； and that it would require
but little more to turn the powerful jeddak into an avowed enemy；
but so strong are the seeds of superstition that even the great
Kaolian still hesitated to cut the final strand that bound him
to his ancient religion。
Matai Shang was wise enough to seem to accept the mandate of
his follower； and promised to bring the two slave women to the
audience chamber on the morrow。
〃It is almost morning now；〃 he said； 〃and I should dislike to break
in upon the slumber of my daughter； or I would have them fetched
at once that you might see that the Prince of Helium is mistaken；〃
and he emphasized the last word in an effort to affront me so
subtilely that I could not take open offense。
I was about to object to any delay； and demand that the Princess
of Helium be brought to me forthwith； when Thuvan Dihn made such
insistence seem unnecessary。
〃I should like to see my daughter at once；〃 he said； 〃but if
Kulan Tith will give me his assurance that none will be permitted
to leave the palace this night； and that no harm shall befall
either Dejah Thoris or Thuvia of Ptarth between now and the moment
they are brought into our presence in this chamber at daylight I
shall not insist。〃
〃None shall leave the palace tonight；〃 replied the Jeddak of Kaol；
〃and Matai Shang will give us assurance that no harm will come
to the two women？〃
The thern assented with a nod。 A few moments later Kulan Tith
indicated that the audience was at an end； and at Thuvan Dihn's
invitation I accompanied the Jeddak of Ptarth to his own apartments；
where we sat until daylight； while he listened to the account of
my experiences upon his planet and to all that had befallen
his daughter during the time that we had been together。
I found the father of Thuvia a man after my own heart； and that
night saw the beginning of a friendship which has grown until
it is second only to that which obtains between Tars Tarkas；
the green Jeddak of Thark； and myself。
The first burst of Mars's sudden dawn brought messengers from
Kulan Tith； summoning us to the audience chamber where Thuvan Dihn
was to receive his daughter after years of separation； and I was to
be reunited with the glorious daughter of Helium after an almost
unbroken separation of twelve years。
My heart pounded within my bosom until I looked about me in
embarrassment； so sure was I that all within the room must hear。
My arms ached to enfold once more the divine form of her
whose eternal youth and undying beauty were but outward
manifestations of a perfect soul。