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and is an entirely different language from the spoken language of Mars。
Upon Barsoom there is but a single oral language。
It is spoken today by every race and nation； just as it was at
the beginning of human life upon Barsoom。 It has grown with the
growth of the planet's learning and scientific achievements； but so
ingenious a thing it is that new words to express new thoughts or
describe new conditions or discoveries form themselvesno other
word could explain the thing that a new word is required for other
than the word that naturally falls to it； and so； no matter how far
removed two nations or races； their spoken languages are identical。
Not so their written languages； however。 No two nations have the
same written language； and often cities of the same nation have
a written language that differs greatly from that of the nation
to which they belong。
Thus it was that the signs upon the paper； if in reality they
were words； baffled me for some time； but at last I made out
the first one。
It was 〃courage；〃 and it was written in the letters of Marentina。
Courage！
That was the word the yellow guardsman had whispered in my ear
as I stood upon the verge of the Pit of Plenty。
The message must be from him； and he I knew was a friend。
With renewed hope I bent my every energy to the deciphering of
the balance of the message； and at last success rewarded my
endeavorI had read the four words：
〃Courage！ Follow the rope。〃
〃FOLLOW THE ROPE〃
What could it mean？
〃Follow the rope。〃 What rope？
Presently I recalled the cord that had been attached to the
parcel when it fell at my side； and after a little groping my hand
came in contact with it again。 It depended from above； and when I
pulled upon it I discovered that it was rigidly fastened； possibly
at the pit's mouth。
Upon examination I found that the cord； though small； was amply able
to sustain the weight of several men。 Then I made another discovery
there was a second message knotted in the rope at about the height
of my head。 This I deciphered more easily； now that the key was mine。
〃Bring the rope with you。 Beyond the knots lies danger。〃
That was all there was to this message。 It was evidently
hastily formedan afterthought。
I did not pause longer than to learn the contents of the
second message； and； though I was none too sure of the
meaning of the final admonition； 〃Beyond the knots lies danger；〃
yet I was sure that here before me lay an avenue of escape；
and that the sooner I took advantage of it the more likely
was I to win to liberty。
At least； I could be but little worse off than I had been in
the Pit of Plenty。
I was to find； however； ere I was well out of that damnable
hole that I might have been very much worse off had I been
compelled to remain there another two minutes。
It had taken me about that length of time to ascend some fifty
feet above the bottom when a noise above attracted my attention。
To my chagrin I saw that the covering of the pit was being removed
far above me； and in the light of the courtyard beyond I saw a
number of yellow warriors。
Could it be that I was laboriously working my way into some new trap？
Were the messages spurious； after all？ And then； just as my hope and
courage had ebbed to their lowest； I saw two things。
One was the body of a huge； struggling； snarling apt being lowered
over the side of the pit toward me； and the other was an aperture
in the side of the shaftan aperture larger than a man's body；
into which my rope led。
Just as I scrambled into the dark hole before me the apt passed me；
reaching out with his mighty hands to clutch me； and snapping； growling；
and roaring in a most frightful manner。
Plainly now I saw the end for which Salensus Oll had destined me。
After first torturing me with starvation he had caused this
fierce beast to be lowered into my prison to finish the work that
the jeddak's hellish imagination had conceived。
And then another truth flashed upon meI had lived nine days
of the allotted ten which must intervene before Salensus Oll could
make Dejah Thoris his queen。 The purpose of the apt was to insure
my death before the tenth day。
I almost laughed aloud as I thought how Salensus Oll's measure
of safety was to aid in defeating the very end he sought； for when
they discovered that the apt was alone in the Pit of Plenty they
could not know but that he had completely devoured me； and so no
suspicion of my escape would cause a search to be made for me。
Coiling the rope that had carried me thus far upon my strange
journey； I sought for the other end； but found that as I followed
it forward it extended always before me。 So this was the meaning
of the words： 〃Follow the rope。〃
The tunnel through which I crawled was low and dark。 I had followed
it for several hundred yards when I felt a knot beneath my fingers。
〃Beyond the knots lies danger。〃
Now I went with the utmost caution； and a moment later a sharp
turn in the tunnel brought me to an opening into a large；
brilliantly lighted chamber。
The trend of the tunnel I had been traversing had been slightly upward；
and from this I judged that the chamber into which I now found myself
looking must be either on the first floor of the palace or directly
beneath the first floor。
Upon the opposite wall were many strange instruments and devices；
and in the center of the room stood a long table； at which two men
were seated in earnest conversation。
He who faced me was a yellow mana little； wizened…up；
pasty…faced old fellow with great eyes that showed the
white round the entire circumference of the iris。
His companion was a black man； and I did not need to see his
face to know that it was Thurid； for there was no other of the
First Born north of the ice…barrier。
Thurid was speaking as I came within hearing of the men's voices。
〃Solan；〃 he was saying； 〃there is no risk and the reward is great。
You know that you hate Salensus Oll and that nothing would
please you more than to thwart him in some cherished plan。
There be nothing that he more cherishes today than the idea
of wedding the beautiful Princess of Helium； but I； too；
want her； and with your help I may win her。
〃You need not more than step from this room for an instant
when I give you the signal。 I will do the rest； and then； when I
am gone； you may come and throw the great switch back into its place；
and all will be as before。 I need but an hour's start to be safe
beyond the devilish power that you control in this hidden chamber
beneath the palace of your master。 See how easy；〃 and with
the words the black dator rose from his seat and； crossing the
room； laid his hand upon a large； burnished lever that protruded
from the opposite wall。
〃No！ No！〃 cried the little old man；