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essayed to reach the opposite side before he should complete his
task and turn again toward the room's center。
Scarcely thirty steps； all told； must I take； and yet it
seemed to my overwrought imagination that that farther wall was
miles away； but at last I reached it； nor once had I taken my eyes
from the back of the old miser's head。
He did not turn until my hand was upon the button that controlled
the door through which my way led； and then he turned away
from me as I passed through and gently closed the door。
For an instant I paused； my ear close to the panel； to learn
if he had suspected aught； but as no sound of pursuit came from
within I wheeled and made my way along the new corridor； following
the rope； which I coiled and brought with me as I advanced。
But a short distance farther on I came to the rope's end at
a point where five corridors met。 What was I to do？ Which
way should I turn？ I was nonplused。
A careful examination of the end of the rope revealed the fact
that it had been cleanly cut with some sharp instrument。 This fact
and the words that had cautioned me that danger lay beyond the
KNOTS convinced me that the rope had been severed since my friend
had placed it as my guide； for I had but passed a single knot；
whereas there had evidently been two or more in the entire length
of the cord。
Now； indeed； was I in a pretty fix； for neither did I know
which avenue to follow nor when danger lay directly in my path；
but there was nothing else to be done than follow one of the corridors；
for I could gain nothing by remaining where I was。
So I chose the central opening； and passed on into its gloomy
depths with a prayer upon my lips。
The floor of the tunnel rose rapidly as I advanced； and a
moment later the way came to an abrupt end before a heavy door。
I could hear nothing beyond； and； with my accustomed rashness；
pushed the portal wide to step into a room filled with yellow
warriors。
The first to see me opened his eyes wide in astonishment； and
at the same instant I felt the tingling sensation in my finger
that denoted the presence of a friend of the ring。
Then others saw me； and there was a concerted rush to lay hands upon me；
for these were all members of the palace guardmen familiar with my face。
The first to reach me was the wearer of the mate to my strange ring；
and as he came close he whispered： 〃Surrender to me！〃 then in a
loud voice shouted： 〃You are my prisoner； white man；〃 and menaced
me with his two weapons。
And so John Carter； Prince of Helium； meekly surrendered to a
single antagonist。 The others now swarmed about us； asking many
questions； but I would not talk to them； and finally my captor
announced that he would lead me back to my cell。
An officer ordered several other warriors to accompany him；
and a moment later we were retracing the way I had just come。
My friend walked close beside me； asking many silly questions
about the country from which I had come； until finally his
fellows paid no further attention to him or his gabbling。
Gradually； as he spoke； he lowered his voice； so that presently he was
able to converse with me in a low tone without attracting attention。
His ruse was a clever one； and showed that Talu had not misjudged
the man's fitness for the dangerous duty upon which he was detailed。
When he had fully assured himself that the other guardsmen were
not listening； he asked me why I had not followed the rope；
and when I told him that it had ended at the five corridors he said
that it must have been cut by someone in need of a piece of rope；
for he was sure that 〃the stupid Kadabrans would never have guessed
its purpose。〃
Before we had reached the spot from which the five corridors
diverge my Marentinian friend had managed to drop to the rear of
the little column with me； and when we came in sight of the
branching ways he whispered：
〃Run up the first upon the right。 It leads to the watchtower upon
the south wall。 I will direct the pursuit up the next corridor；〃
and with that he gave me a great shove into the dark mouth of
the tunnel； at the same time crying out in simulated pain
and alarm as he threw himself upon the floor as though I had
felled him with a blow。
From behind the voices of the excited guardsmen came
reverberating along the corridor； suddenly growing fainter as
Talu's spy led them up the wrong passageway in fancied pursuit。
As I ran for my life through the dark galleries beneath the palace
of Salensus Oll I must indeed have presented a remarkable appearance
had there been any to note it； for though death loomed large about me；
my face was split by a broad grin as I thought of the resourcefulness
of the nameless hero of Marentina to whom I owed my life。
Of such stuff are the men of my beloved Helium； and when I meet another
of their kind； of whatever race or color； my heart goes out to him as
it did now to my new friend who had risked his life for me simply
because I wore the mate to the ring his ruler had put upon his finger。
The corridor along which I ran led almost straight for
a considerable distance； terminating at the foot of a
spiral runway； up which I proceeded to emerge presently
into a circular chamber upon the first floor of a tower。
In this apartment a dozen red slaves were employed polishing
or repairing the weapons of the yellow men。 The walls of the
room were lined with racks in which were hundreds of straight and
hooked swords； javelins； and daggers。 It was evidently an armory。
There were but three warriors guarding the workers。
My eyes took in the entire scene at a glance。 Here were weapons
in plenty！ Here were sinewy red warriors to wield them！
And here now was John Carter； Prince of Helium； in need both
of weapons and warriors！
As I stepped into the apartment； guards and prisoners saw me
simultaneously。
Close to the entrance where I stood was a rack of straight
swords； and as my hand closed upon the hilt of one of them my eyes
fell upon the faces of two of the prisoners who worked side by side。
One of the guards started toward me。 〃Who are you？〃 he demanded。
〃What do you here？〃
〃I come for Tardos Mors； Jeddak of Helium； and his son； Mors Kajak；〃
I cried； pointing to the two red prisoners； who had now
sprung to their feet； wide…eyed in astonished recognition。
〃Rise； red men！ Before we die let us leave a memorial in the
palace of Okar's tyrant that will stand forever in the annals of
Kadabra to the honor and glory of Helium；〃 for I had seen that all
the prisoners there were men of Tardos Mors's navy。
Then the first guardsman was upon me and the fight was on；
but scarce did we engage ere； to my horror； I saw that the
red slaves were shackled to the floor。
THE MAGNET SWITCH
The guardsmen paid not the slightest attention to their