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tone of suppressed excitement and surprise。 In an instant I
was by his side。
〃Look！〃 said Thuvan Dihn； pointing toward the courtyard below。
As my eyes followed the direction indicated I saw two women
pacing back and forth in an enclosed garden。
At the same moment I recognized themthey were Dejah Thoris
and Thuvia of Ptarth！
There were they whom I had trailed from one pole to another；
the length of a world。 Only ten feet of space and a few metal bars
separated me from them。
With a cry I attracted their attention； and as Dejah Thoris
looked up full into my eyes I made the sign of love that the
men of Barsoom make to their women。
To my astonishment and horror her head went high； and as a
look of utter contempt touched her finely chiseled features she
turned her back full upon me。 My body is covered with the scars of
a thousand conflicts； but never in all my long life have I suffered
such anguish from a wound； for this time the steel of a woman's
look had entered my heart。
With a groan I turned away and buried my face in my arms。 I
heard Thuvan Dihn call aloud to Thuvia； but an instant later his
exclamation of surprise betokened that he； too； had been repulsed
by his own daughter。
〃They will not even listen；〃 he cried to me。 〃They have put
their hands over their ears and walked to the farther end of the
garden。 Ever heard you of such mad work； John Carter？ The two
must be bewitched。〃
Presently I mustered the courage to return to the window； for
even though she spurned me I loved her； and could not keep my eyes
from feasting upon her divine face and figure； but when she saw me
looking she again turned away。
I was at my wit's end to account for her strange actions； and
that Thuvia； too； had turned against her father seemed incredible。
Could it be that my incomparable princess still clung to the
hideous faith from which I had rescued her world？ Could it be that
she looked upon me with loathing and contempt because I had
returned from the Valley Dor； or because I had desecrated the
temples and persons of the Holy Therns？
To naught else could I ascribe her strange deportment； yet it
seemed far from possible that such could be the case； for the love
of Dejah Thoris for John Carter had been a great and wondrous love
far above racial distinctions； creed； or religion。
As I gazed ruefully at the back of her haughty； royal head a
gate at the opposite end of the garden opened and a man entered。
As he did so he turned and slipped something into the hand of the
yellow guardsman beyond the gate； nor was the distance too great
that I might not see that money had passed between them。
Instantly I knew that this newcomer had bribed his way within
the garden。 Then he turned in the direction of the two women；
and I saw that he was none other than Thurid； the black dator
of the First Born。
He approached quite close to them before he spoke； and as they
turned at the sound of his voice I saw Dejah Thoris shrink from him。
There was a nasty leer upon his face as he stepped close to her and
spoke again。 I could not hear his words； but her answer came clearly。
〃The granddaughter of Tardos Mors can always die；〃 she said；
〃but she could never live at the price you name。〃
Then I saw the black scoundrel go upon his knees beside her；
fairly groveling in the dirt； pleading with her。 Only part of what
he said came to me； for though he was evidently laboring under the
stress of passion and excitement； it was equally apparent that he
did not dare raise his voice for fear of detection。
〃I would save you from Matai Shang；〃 I heard him say。 〃You know
the fate that awaits you at his hands。 Would you not choose
me rather than the other？〃
〃I would choose neither；〃 replied Dejah Thoris； 〃even were I
free to choose； as you know well I am not。〃
〃You ARE free！〃 he cried。 〃John Carter； Prince of Helium； is dead。〃
〃I know better than that； but even were he dead； and I must
needs choose another mate； it should be a plant man or a great
white ape in preference to either Matai Shang or you； black calot；〃
she answered with a sneer of contempt。
Of a sudden the vicious beast lost all control of himself；
as with a vile oath he leaped at the slender woman； gripping her
tender throat in his brute clutch。 Thuvia screamed and sprang to
aid her fellow…prisoner； and at the same instant I； too； went mad；
and tearing at the bars that spanned my window I ripped them from
their sockets as they had been but copper wire。
Hurling myself through the aperture I reached the garden；
but a hundred feet from where the black was choking the life
from my Dejah Thoris； and with a single great bound I was upon him。
I spoke no word as I tore his defiling fingers from that beautiful
throat； nor did I utter a sound as I hurled him twenty feet from me。
Foaming with rage； Thurid regained his feet and charged me
like a mad bull。
〃Yellow man；〃 he shrieked； 〃you knew not upon whom you had
laid your vile hands； but ere I am done with you； you will
know well what it means to offend the person of a First Born。〃
Then he was upon me； reaching for my throat； and precisely as
I had done that day in the courtyard of the Temple of Issus I did
here in the garden of the palace of Salensus Oll。 I ducked beneath
his outstretched arms； and as he lunged past me I planted a
terrific right upon the side of his jaw。
Just as he had done upon that other occasion he did now。 Like a top
he spun round； his knees gave beneath him； and he crumpled to the
ground at my feet。 Then I heard a voice behind me。
It was the deep voice of authority that marks the ruler of men；
and when I turned to face the resplendent figure of a giant
yellow man I did not need to ask to know that it was Salensus Oll。
At his right stood Matai Shang； and behind them a score of guardsmen。
〃Who are you；〃 he cried； 〃and what means this intrusion within
the precincts of the women's garden？ I do not recall your face。
How came you here？〃
But for his last words I should have forgotten my disguise
entirely and told him outright that I was John Carter；
Prince of Helium； but his question recalled me to myself。
I pointed to the dislodged bars of the window above。
〃I am an aspirant to membership in the palace guard；〃 I said；
〃and from yonder window in the tower where I was confined awaiting
the final test for fitness I saw this brute attack the this woman。
I could not stand idly by； O Jeddak； and see this thing done within
the very palace grounds； and yet feel that I was fit to serve and
guard your royal person。〃
I had evidently made an impression upon the ruler of Okar by my
fair words； and when he had turned to Dejah Thoris and Thuvia of
Ptarth； and both had corroborated my statements it began to look
pretty dark for Thurid。
I saw the ugly gleam in Matai