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And so it was that I bolted into the chamber full into
the midst of a dozen nobles of the court of Salensus Oll。
They were passing through on their way to the outside world
along the corridors we had just traversed。
At sight of us they halted in their tracks； and then an ugly
smile overspread the features of their leader。
〃The author of all our misfortunes！〃 he cried； pointing at me。
〃We shall have the satisfaction of a partial vengeance at least
when we leave behind us here the dead and mutilated corpses of the
Prince and Princess of Helium。
〃When they find them；〃 he went on； jerking his thumb upward toward
the palace above； 〃they will realize that the vengeance of the
yellow man costs his enemies dear。 Prepare to die； John Carter；
but that your end may be the more bitter； know that I may change
my intention as to meting a merciful death to your princess
possibly she shall be preserved as a plaything for my nobles。〃
I stood close to the instrument…covered wallDejah Thoris at my side。
She looked up at me wonderingly as the warriors advanced upon us with
drawn swords； for mine still hung within its scabbard at my side；
and there was a smile upon my lips。
The yellow nobles； too； looked in surprise； and then as I made
no move to draw they hesitated； fearing a ruse； but their leader
urged them on。 When they had come almost within sword's reach of
me I raised my hand and laid it upon the polished surface of a
great lever； and then； still smiling grimly； I looked my enemies
full in the face。
As one they came to a sudden stop； casting affrighted glances
at me and at one another。
〃Stop！〃 shrieked their leader。 〃You dream not what you do！〃
〃Right you are；〃 I replied。 〃John Carter does not dream。
He knowsknows that should one of you take another step toward
Dejah Thoris； Princess of Helium； I pull this lever wide；
and she and I shall die together； but we shall not die alone。〃
The nobles shrank back； whispering together for a few moments。
At last their leader turned to me。
〃Go your way； John Carter；〃 he said； 〃and we shall go ours。〃
〃Prisoners do not go their own way；〃 I answered； 〃and you are
prisonersprisoners of the Prince of Helium。〃
Before they could make answer a door upon the opposite side of
the apartment opened and a score of yellow men poured into the
apartment。 For an instant the nobles looked relieved； and then as
their eyes fell upon the leader of the new party their faces fell；
for he was Talu； rebel Prince of Marentina； and they knew that they
could look for neither aid nor mercy at his hands。
〃Well done； John Carter；〃 he cried。 〃You turn their own
mighty power against them。 Fortunate for Okar is it that you were
here to prevent their escape； for these be the greatest villains
north of the ice…barrier； and this one〃pointing to the leader of
the party〃would have made himself Jeddak of Jeddaks in the place
of the dead Salensus Oll。 Then indeed would we have had a more
villainous ruler than the hated tyrant who fell before your sword。〃
The Okarian nobles now submitted to arrest； since nothing but
death faced them should they resist； and； escorted by the warriors
of Talu； we made our way to the great audience chamber that had
been Salensus Oll's。 Here was a vast concourse of warriors。
Red men from Helium and Ptarth； yellow men of the north；
rubbing elbows with the blacks of the First Born who had come
under my friend Xodar to help in the search for me and my princess。
There were savage； green warriors from the dead sea bottoms
of the south； and a handful of white…skinned therns who had
renounced their religion and sworn allegiance to Xodar。
There was Tardos Mors and Mors Kajak； and tall and mighty in his
gorgeous warrior trappings； Carthoris； my son。 These three fell
upon Dejah Thoris as we entered the apartment； and though the lives
and training of royal Martians tend not toward vulgar demonstration；
I thought that they would suffocate her with their embraces。
And there were Tars Tarkas； Jeddak of Thark； and Kantos Kan；
my old…time friends； and leaping and tearing at my harness
in the exuberance of his great love was dear old Woola
frantic mad with happiness。
Long and loud was the cheering that burst forth at sight of us；
deafening was the din of ringing metal as the veteran warriors
of every Martian clime clashed their blades together on high in
token of success and victory； but as I passed among the throng
of saluting nobles and warriors； jeds and jeddaks； my heart
still was heavy； for there were two faces missing that I would have
given much to have seen thereThuvan Dihn and Thuvia of Ptarth
were not to be found in the great chamber。
I made inquiries concerning them among men of every nation；
and at last from one of the yellow prisoners of war I learned that
they had been apprehended by an officer of the palace as they
sought to reach the Pit of Plenty while I lay imprisoned there。
I did not need to ask to know what had sent them thither
the courageous jeddak and his loyal daughter。 My informer
said that they lay now in one of the many buried dungeons
of the palace where they had been placed pending a decision
as to their fate by the tyrant of the north。
A moment later searching parties were scouring the ancient pile
in search of them； and my cup of happiness was full when I saw
them being escorted into the room by a cheering guard of honor。
Thuvia's first act was to rush to the side of Dejah Thoris；
and I needed no better proof of the love these two bore for
each other than the sincerity with which they embraced。
Looking down upon that crowded chamber stood the silent and
empty throne of Okar。
Of all the strange scenes it must have witnessed since that
long…dead age that had first seen a Jeddak of Jeddaks take his
seat upon it； none might compare with that upon which it now
looked down； and as I pondered the past and future of that
long…buried race of black…bearded yellow men I thought that
I saw a brighter and more useful existence for them among
the great family of friendly nations that now stretched
from the south pole almost to their very doors。
Twenty…two years before I had been cast； naked and a stranger；
into this strange and savage world。 The hand of every race and
nation was raised in continual strife and warring against the men
of every other land and color。 Today； by the might of my sword and
the loyalty of the friends my sword had made for me； black man and
white； red man and green rubbed shoulders in peace and good…fellowship。
All the nations of Barsoom were not yet as one； but a great stride
forward toward that goal had been taken； and now if I could but
cement the fierce yellow race into this solidarity of nations
I should feel that I had rounded out a great lifework；
and repaid to Mars at least a portion of the immense debt of
grati