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for weapons； and slightly raised platforms for the sleeping silks
and furs of the warriors； but now its only occupants were two of
the therns who had been of the party with Thurid and Matai Shang。
The men were in earnest conversation； and from their tones it was
apparent that they were entirely unaware that they had listeners。
〃I tell you；〃 one of them was saying； 〃I do not trust the black one。
There was no necessity for leaving us here to guard the way。
Against what； pray； should we guard this long…forgotten；
abysmal path？ It was but a ruse to divide our numbers。
〃He will have Matai Shang leave others elsewhere on some
pretext or other； and then at last he will fall upon us with his
confederates and slay us all。〃
〃I believe you； Lakor；〃 replied the other； 〃there can never be
aught else than deadly hatred between thern and First Born。 And
what think you of the ridiculous matter of the light？ ‘Let the
light shine with the intensity of three radium units for fifty
tals； and for one xat let it shine with the intensity of one radium
unit； and then for twenty…five tals with nine units。' Those were
his very words； and to think that wise old Matai Shang should
listen to such foolishness。〃
〃Indeed； it is silly；〃 replied Lakor。 〃It will open nothing
other than the way to a quick death for us all。 He had to make
some answer when Matai Shang asked him flatly what he should do
when he came to the Temple of the Sun； and so he made his answer
quickly from his imaginationI would wager a hekkador's diadem
that he could not now repeat it himself。〃
〃Let us not remain here longer； Lakor；〃 spoke the other thern。
〃Perchance if we hasten after them we may come in time to rescue
Matai Shang； and wreak our own vengeance upon the black dator。
What say you？〃
〃Never in a long life；〃 answered Lakor； 〃have I disobeyed a
single command of the Father of Therns。 I shall stay here
until I rot if he does not return to bid me elsewhere。〃
Lakor's companion shook his head。
〃You are my superior；〃 he said； 〃I cannot do other than you
sanction； though I still believe that we are foolish to remain。〃
I； too； thought that they were foolish to remain； for I saw
from Woola's actions that the trail led through the room where the
two therns held guard。 I had no reason to harbor any considerable
love for this race of self…deified demons； yet I would have passed
them by were it possible without molesting them。
It was worth trying anyway； for a fight might delay us considerably；
or even put an end entirely to my searchbetter men than I have
gone down before fighters of meaner ability than that possessed
by the fierce thern warriors。
Signaling Woola to heel I stepped suddenly into the room before the
two men。 At sight of me their long…swords flashed from the harness
at their sides； but I raised my hand in a gesture of restraint。
〃I seek Thurid； the black dator；〃 I said。 〃My quarrel is with him；
not with you。 Let me pass then in peace； for if I mistake not he is
as much your enemy as mine； and you can have no cause to protect him。〃
They lowered their swords and Lakor spoke。
〃I know not whom you may be； with the white skin of a thern
and the black hair of a red man； but were it only Thurid whose
safety were at stake you might pass； and welcome； in so far as we
be concerned。
〃Tell us who you be； and what mission calls you to this unknown
world beneath the Valley Dor； then maybe we can see our way to
let you pass upon the errand which we should like to undertake
would our orders permit。〃
I was surprised that neither of them had recognized me； for I
thought that I was quite sufficiently well known either by
personal experience or reputation to every thern upon Barsoom as
to make my identity immediately apparent in any part of the planet。
In fact； I was the only white man upon Mars whose hair was black
and whose eyes were gray； with the exception of my son； Carthoris。
To reveal my identity might be to precipitate an attack； for every
thern upon Barsoom knew that to me they owed the fall of their
age…old spiritual supremacy。 On the other hand my reputation as a
fighting man might be sufficient to pass me by these two were their
livers not of the right complexion to welcome a battle to the death。
To be quite candid I did not attempt to delude myself with any
such sophistry； since I knew well that upon war…like Mars there
are few cowards； and that every man； whether prince； priest；
or peasant； glories in deadly strife。 And so I gripped my
long…sword the tighter as I replied to Lakor。
〃I believe that you will see the wisdom of permitting me to
pass unmolested；〃 I said； 〃for it would avail you nothing to die
uselessly in the rocky bowels of Barsoom merely to protect a
hereditary enemy； such as Thurid； Dator of the First Born。
〃That you shall die should you elect to oppose me is evidenced by
the moldering corpses of all the many great Barsoomian warriors who
have gone down beneath this bladeI am John Carter； Prince of Helium。〃
For a moment that name seemed to paralyze the two men； but only
for a moment； and then the younger of them； with a vile name
upon his lips； rushed toward me with ready sword。
He had been standing a little behind his companion； Lakor；
during our parley； and now； ere he could engage me； the older man
grasped his harness and drew him back。
〃Hold！〃 commanded Lakor。 〃There will be plenty of time to
fight if we find it wise to fight at all。 There be good reasons
why every thern upon Barsoom should yearn to spill the blood of
the blasphemer； the sacrilegist； but let us mix wisdom with our
righteous hate。 The Prince of Helium is bound upon an errand which
we ourselves； but a moment since； were wishing that we might undertake。
〃Let him go then and slay the black。 When he returns we shall
still be here to bar his way to the outer world； and thus we shall
have rid ourselves of two enemies； nor have incurred the
displeasure of the Father of Therns。〃
As he spoke I could not but note the crafty glint in his evil eyes；
and while I saw the apparent logic of his reasoning I felt；
subconsciously perhaps； that his words did but veil some sinister
intent。 The other thern turned toward him in evident surprise；
but when Lakor had whispered a few brief words into his ear he； too；
drew back and nodded acquiescence to his superior's suggestion。
〃Proceed； John Carter；〃 said Lakor； 〃but know that if Thurid
does not lay you low there will be those awaiting your return
who will see that you never pass again into the sunlight of
the upper world。 Go！〃
During our conversation Woola had been growling and bristling
close to my side。 Occasionally he would look up into my face with
a low； pleading whine； as though begging for the word that would
send him headlong at the bare throats before him。 He； too； sensed
th