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Never had I had the heart to punish Woola during the long years that
had passed since that first day upon Mars when the green jed of the
Tharks had placed him on guard over me； and I had won his love and
loyalty from the cruel and loveless masters of his former life；
yet I believe he would have submitted to any cruelty that I might
have inflicted upon him； so wondrous was his affection for me。
The diadem in the center of the circlet of gold upon the brow of
Lakor proclaimed him a Holy Thern； while his companion； not thus
adorned； was a lesser thern； though from his harness I gleaned that
he had reached the Ninth Cycle； which is but one below that of the
Holy Therns。
As I stood for a moment looking at the gruesome havoc Woola
had wrought； there recurred to me the memory of that other occasion
upon which I had masqueraded in the wig； diadem； and harness of
Sator Throg； the Holy Thern whom Thuvia of Ptarth had slain； and
now it occurred to me that it might prove of worth to utilize
Lakor's trappings for the same purpose。
A moment later I had torn his yellow wig from his bald pate
and transferred it and the circlet； as well as all his harness； to
my own person。
Woola did not approve of the metamorphosis。 He sniffed at me
and growled ominously； but when I spoke to him and patted his huge
head he at length became reconciled to the change； and at my
command trotted off along the corridor in the direction we had
been going when our progress had been interrupted by the therns。
We moved cautiously now； warned by the fragment of conversation
I had overheard。 I kept abreast of Woola that we might have
the benefit of all our eyes for what might appear suddenly
ahead to menace us； and well it was that we were forewarned。
At the bottom of a flight of narrow steps the corridor turned
sharply back upon itself； immediately making another turn in the
original direction； so that at that point it formed a perfect
letter S； the top leg of which debouched suddenly into a large
chamber； illy lighted； and the floor of which was completely
covered by venomous snakes and loathsome reptiles。
To have attempted to cross that floor would have been to court
instant death； and for a moment I was almost completely discouraged。
Then it occurred to me that Thurid and Matai Shang with their party
must have crossed it； and so there was a way。
Had it not been for the fortunate accident by which I overheard
even so small a portion of the therns' conversation we should
have blundered at least a step or two into that wriggling
mass of destruction； and a single step would have been all…
sufficient to have sealed our doom。
These were the only reptiles I had ever seen upon Barsoom；
but I knew from their similarity to the fossilized remains of
supposedly extinct species I had seen in the museums of Helium
that they comprised many of the known prehistoric reptilian genera；
as well as others undiscovered。
A more hideous aggregation of monsters had never before assailed
my vision。 It would be futile to attempt to describe them
to Earth men； since substance is the only thing which they possess
in common with any creature of the past or present with which you
are familiareven their venom is of an unearthly virulence that；
by comparison； would make the cobra de capello seem quite as
harmless as an angleworm。
As they spied me there was a concerted rush by those nearest
the entrance where we stood； but a line of radium bulbs inset along
the threshold of their chamber brought them to a sudden halt
evidently they dared not cross that line of light。
I had been quite sure that they would not venture beyond the
room in which I had discovered them； though I had not guessed at
what deterred them。 The simple fact that we had found no reptiles
in the corridor through which we had just come was sufficient
assurance that they did not venture there。
I drew Woola out of harm's way； and then began a careful survey
of as much of the Chamber of Reptiles as I could see from where
I stood。 As my eyes became accustomed to the dim light of its
interior I gradually made out a low gallery at the far end of
the apartment from which opened several exits。
Coming as close to the threshold as I dared； I followed this
gallery with my eyes； discovering that it circled the room as far
as I could see。 Then I glanced above me along the upper edge of
the entrance to which we had come； and there； to my delight； I saw
an end of the gallery not a foot above my head。 In an instant I
had leaped to it and called Woola after me。
Here there were no reptilesthe way was clear to the opposite
side of the hideous chamberand a moment later Woola and I dropped
down to safety in the corridor beyond。
Not ten minutes later we came into a vast circular apartment
of white marble； the walls of which were inlaid with gold in the
strange hieroglyphics of the First Born。
From the high dome of this mighty apartment a huge circular column
extended to the floor； and as I watched I saw that it slowly revolved。
I had reached the base of the Temple of the Sun！
Somewhere above me lay Dejah Thoris； and with her were Phaidor；
daughter of Matai Shang； and Thuvia of Ptarth。 But how to
reach them； now that I had found the only vulnerable spot
in their mighty prison； was still a baffling riddle。
Slowly I circled the great shaft； looking for a means of ingress。
Part way around I found a tiny radium flash torch； and as
I examined it in mild curiosity as to its presence there in this
almost inaccessible and unknown spot； I came suddenly upon the
insignia of the house of Thurid jewel…inset in its metal case。
I am upon the right trail； I thought； as I slipped the bauble
into the pocket…pouch which hung from my harness。 Then I continued
my search for the entrance； which I knew must be somewhere about；
nor had I long to search； for almost immediately thereafter I came
upon a small door so cunningly inlaid in the shaft's base that it
might have passed unnoticed by a less keen or careful observer。
There was the door that would lead me within the prison； but
where was the means to open it？ No button or lock were visible。
Again and again I went carefully over every square inch of its
surface； but the most that I could find was a tiny pinhole a little
above and to the right of the door's centera pinhole that seemed
only an accident of manufacture or an imperfection of material。
Into this minute aperture I attempted to peer； but whether it
was but a fraction of an inch deep or passed completely through
the door I could not tellat least no light showed beyond it。
I put my ear to it next and listened； but again my efforts
brought negligible results。
During these experiments Woola had been standing at my side
gazing intently at the door； and as my glance fell upon him it
occurred to me to test the co