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So there was nothing for it but to give him what he sought； and
that as quickly as might be； that I might not be delayed too long
in this chamber while Matai Shang and Thurid made way with Dejah
Thoris and Thuvia of Ptarth。
The fellow was a clever swordsmanresourceful and extremely tricky。
In fact； he seemed never to have heard that there existed such a thing
as a code of honor； for he repeatedly outraged a dozen Barsoomian
fighting customs that an honorable man would rather die than ignore。
He even went so far as to snatch his holy wig from his head
and throw it in my face； so as to blind me for a moment while he
thrust at my unprotected breast。
When he thrust； however； I was not there； for I had fought with
therns before； and while none had ever resorted to precisely that
same expedient； I knew them to be the least honorable and most
treacherous fighters upon Mars； and so was ever on the alert for some
new and devilish subterfuge when I was engaged with one of their race。
But at length he overdid the thing； for； drawing his
shortsword； he hurled it； javelinwise； at my body； at the same
instant rushing upon me with his long…sword。 A single sweeping
circle of my own blade caught the flying weapon and hurled it
clattering against the far wall； and then； as I sidestepped my
antagonist's impetuous rush； I let him have my point full in the
stomach as he hurtled by。
Clear to the hilt my weapon passed through his body； and with
a frightful shriek he sank to the floor； dead。
Halting only for the brief instant that was required to wrench
my sword from the carcass of my late antagonist； I sprang across
the chamber to the blank wall beyond； through which the thern had
attempted to pass。 Here I sought for the secret of its lock；
but all to no avail。
In despair I tried to force the thing； but the cold； unyielding
stone might well have laughed at my futile； puny endeavors。
In fact； I could have sworn that I caught the faint suggestion
of taunting laughter from beyond the baffling panel。
In disgust I desisted from my useless efforts and stepped to
the chamber's single window。
The slopes of Otz and the distant Valley of Lost Souls held
nothing to compel my interest then； but； towering far above me；
the tower's carved wall riveted my keenest attention。
Somewhere within that massive pile was Dejah Thoris。 Above me
I could see windows。 There； possibly； lay the only way by which
I could reach her。 The risk was great； but not too great when
the fate of a world's most wondrous woman was at stake。
I glanced below。 A hundred feet beneath lay jagged granite
boulders at the brink of a frightful chasm upon which the tower
abutted； and if not upon the boulders； then at the chasm's bottom；
lay death； should a foot slip but once； or clutching fingers loose
their hold for the fraction of an instant。
But there was no other way and with a shrug； which I must
admit was half shudder； I stepped to the window's outer sill
and began my perilous ascent。
To my dismay I found that； unlike the ornamentation upon most
Heliumetic structures； the edges of the carvings were quite
generally rounded； so that at best my every hold was most
precarious。
Fifty feet above me commenced a series of projecting cylindrical
stones some six inches in diameter。 These apparently circled
the tower at six…foot intervals； in bands six feet apart；
and as each stone cylinder protruded some four or five inches
beyond the surface of the other ornamentation； they presented a
comparatively easy mode of ascent could I but reach them。
Laboriously I climbed toward them by way of some windows which
lay below them； for I hoped that I might find ingress to the tower
through one of these； and thence an easier avenue along which to
prosecute my search。
At times so slight was my hold upon the rounded surfaces of the
carving's edges that a sneeze； a cough； or even a slight gust of
wind would have dislodged me and sent me hurtling to the depths below。
But finally I reached a point where my fingers could just clutch
the sill of the lowest window； and I was on the point of breathing
a sigh of relief when the sound of voices came to me from above
through the open window。
〃He can never solve the secret of that lock。〃 The voice was
Matai Shang's。 〃Let us proceed to the hangar above that we may be
far to the south before he finds another wayshould that be possible。〃
〃All things seem possible to that vile calot；〃 replied another voice；
which I recognized as Thurid's。
〃Then let us haste；〃 said Matai Shang。 〃But to be doubly sure；
I will leave two who shall patrol this runway。 Later they
may follow us upon another flierovertaking us at Kaol。〃
My upstretched fingers never reached the window's sill。 At
the first sound of the voices I drew back my hand and clung there
to my perilous perch； flattened against the perpendicular wall；
scarce daring to breathe。
What a horrible position； indeed； in which to be discovered by
Thurid！ He had but to lean from the window to push me with his
sword's point into eternity。
Presently the sound of the voices became fainter； and once
again I took up my hazardous ascent； now more difficult； since more
circuitous； for I must climb so as to avoid the windows。
Matai Shang's reference to the hangar and the fliers indicated
that my destination lay nothing short of the roof of the tower； and
toward this seemingly distant goal I set my face。
The most difficult and dangerous part of the journey was accomplished
at last； and it was with relief that I felt my fingers close about
the lowest of the stone cylinders。
It is true that these projections were too far apart to make
the balance of the ascent anything of a sinecure； but I at least
had always within my reach a point of safety to which I might cling
in case of accident。
Some ten feet below the roof； the wall inclined slightly inward
possibly a foot in the last ten feet； and here the climbing was
indeed immeasurably easier； so that my fingers soon clutched the eaves。
As I drew my eyes above the level of the tower's top I saw a
flier all but ready to rise。
Upon her deck were Matai Shang； Phaidor； Dejah Thoris； Thuvia
of Ptarth； and a few thern warriors； while near her was Thurid in
the act of clambering aboard。
He was not ten paces from me； facing in the opposite direction；
and what cruel freak of fate should have caused him to turn about
just as my eyes topped the roof's edge I may not even guess。
But turn he did； and when his eyes met mine his wicked face
lighted with a malignant smile as he leaped toward me； where I
was hastening to scramble to the secure footing of the roof。
Dejah Thoris must have seen me at the same instant； for she
screamed a useless warning just as Thurid's foot； swinging in
a mighty kick； landed full in my face。
Like a felled ox； I reeled and tumbled backward over the
tower's side。
ON THE KAOLIAN ROAD
If there be a fate that is sometimes cruel to me； there surely
is a kind and merciful Providence which watches over me。
As I toppled from the tower into the horrid abyss below I
counted myself already dead； and Thurid must have done likewise；
for he evidently did not even trouble himself to look after me；
but must have turned and mounted the waiting flier at once。
Ten feet only I fell； and then a loop of my tough； leathern harness
caught upon one of the cylindrical stone projections in the tower's
surfaceand held。 Even when I had ceased to fall I could not believe
the miracle that had preserved me from instant death； and for a moment
I hung there； cold sweat exuding from every pore of my body。
But when at last I had worked myself back to a firm position
I hesitated to ascend； since I could not know that Thurid was not
still awaiting me above。
Presently； however； there came to my ears the whirring of the
propellers of a flier； and as each moment the sound grew fainter
I realized that the party had proceeded toward the south without
assuring themselves as to my fate。
Cautiously I retraced my way to the roof； and I must admit
that it was with no pleasant sensation that I raised my eyes once
more above its edge； but； to my relief； there was no one in sight；
and a moment later I stood safely upon its broad surface。
To reach the hangar and drag forth the only other flier which
it contained was the work of but an instant； and just as the two
thern warriors whom Matai Shang had left to prevent this very
contingency emerged upon the roof from the tower's interior；
I rose above them with a taunting laugh。
Then I dived rapidly to the inner court where I had last seen Woola；
and to my immense relief found the faithful beast still there。
The twelve great banths