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These low； commodious wagons moved two abreast； and on either
side of them marched solid ranks of mounted warriors； for in
the chariots were the women and children of the royal court。
Upon the back of each monster zitidar rode a Martian youth；
and the whole scene carried me back to my first days upon Barsoom；
now twenty…two years in the past； when I had first beheld the
gorgeous spectacle of a caravan of the green horde of Tharks。
Never before today had I seen zitidars in the service of red men。
These brutes are huge mastodonian animals that tower to an immense
height even beside the giant green men and their giant thoats；
but when compared to the relatively small red man and his breed of
thoats they assume Brobdingnagian proportions that are truly appalling。
The beasts were hung with jeweled trappings and saddlepads of
gay silk； embroidered in fanciful designs with strings of diamonds；
pearls； rubies； emeralds； and the countless unnamed jewels of
Mars； while from each chariot rose a dozen standards from
which streamers； flags； and pennons fluttered in the breeze。
Just in front of the chariots the visiting jeddak rode alone
upon a pure white thoatanother unusual sight upon Barsoomand
after them came interminable ranks of mounted spearmen； riflemen；
and swordsmen。 It was indeed a most imposing sight。
Except for the clanking of accouterments and the occasional
squeal of an angry thoat or the low guttural of a zitidar；
the passage of the cavalcade was almost noiseless； for neither
thoat nor zitidar is a hoofed animal； and the broad tires of the
chariots are of an elastic composition； which gives forth no sound。
Now and then the gay laughter of a woman or the chatter of
children could be heard； for the red Martians are a social；
pleasure…loving peoplein direct antithesis to the cold and
morbid race of green men。
The forms and ceremonials connected with the meeting of the
two jeddaks consumed an hour； and then we turned and retraced our
way toward the city of Kaol； which the head of the column reached
just before dark； though it must have been nearly morning before
the rear guard passed through the gateway。
Fortunately； I was well up toward the head of the column； and
after the great banquet； which I attended with the officers of the
royal guard； I was free to seek repose。 There was so much activity
and bustle about the palace all during the night with the constant
arrival of the noble officers of the visiting jeddak's retinue that
I dared not attempt to prosecute a search for Dejah Thoris； and so；
as soon as it was seemly for me to do so； I returned to my quarters。
As I passed along the corridors between the banquet hall and
the apartments that had been allotted me； I had a sudden feeling
that I was under surveillance； and； turning quickly in my tracks；
caught a glimpse of a figure which darted into an open doorway
the instant I wheeled about。
Though I ran quickly back to the spot where the shadower had
disappeared I could find no trace of him； yet in the brief glimpse
that I had caught I could have sworn that I had seen a white face
surmounted by a mass of yellow hair。
The incident gave me considerable food for speculation； since
if I were right in the conclusion induced by the cursory glimpse
I had had of the spy； then Matai Shang and Thurid must suspect my
identity； and if that were true not even the service I had rendered
Kulan Tith could save me from his religious fanaticism。
But never did vague conjecture or fruitless fears for the future
lie with sufficient weight upon my mind to keep me from my rest；
and so tonight I threw myself upon my sleeping silks and furs
and passed at once into dreamless slumber。
Calots are not permitted within the walls of the palace proper；
and so I had had to relegate poor Woola to quarters in the stables
where the royal thoats are kept。 He had comfortable； even luxurious
apartments； but I would have given much to have had him with me；
and if he had been； the thing which happened that night would not
have come to pass。
I could not have slept over a quarter of an hour when I was
suddenly awakened by the passing of some cold and clammy thing
across my forehead。 Instantly I sprang to my feet； clutching in
the direction I thought the presence lay。 For an instant my hand
touched against human flesh； and then； as I lunged headforemost
through the darkness to seize my nocturnal visitor； my foot became
entangled in my sleeping silks and I fell sprawling to the floor。
By the time I had resumed my feet and found the button which
controlled the light my caller had disappeared。 Careful search of
the room revealed nothing to explain either the identity or business
of the person who had thus secretly sought me in the dead of night。
That the purpose might be theft I could not believe； since thieves
are practically unknown upon Barsoom。 Assassination； however；
is rampant； but even this could not have been the motive of my
stealthy friend； for he might easily have killed me had he desired。
I had about given up fruitless conjecture and was on the point
of returning to sleep when a dozen Kaolian guardsmen entered my
apartment。 The officer in charge was one of my genial hosts of
the morning； but now upon his face was no sign of friendship。
〃Kulan Tith commands your presence before him；〃 he said。 〃Come！〃
NEW ALLIES
Surrounded by guardsmen I marched back along the corridors of
the palace of Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； to the great audience
chamber in the center of the massive structure。
As I entered the brilliantly lighted apartment； filled with
the nobles of Kaol and the officers of the visiting jeddak；
all eyes were turned upon me。 Upon the great dais at the end
of the chamber stood three thrones； upon which sat Kulan Tith
and his two guests； Matai Shang； and the visiting jeddak。
Up the broad center aisle we marched beneath deadly silence；
and at the foot of the thrones we halted。
〃Prefer thy charge；〃 said Kulan Tith； turning to one who stood
among the nobles at his right； and then Thurid； the black dator
of the First Born； stepped forward and faced me。
〃Most noble Jeddak；〃 he said； addressing Kulan Tith；
〃from the first I suspected this stranger within thy palace。
Your description of his fiendish prowess tallied with that
of the arch…enemy of truth upon Barsoom。
〃But that there might be no mistake I despatched a priest of
your own holy cult to make the test that should pierce his disguise
and reveal the truth。 Behold the result！〃 and Thurid pointed a
rigid finger at my forehead。
All eyes followed the direction of that accusing digitI alone
seemed at a loss to guess what fatal sign rested upon my brow。
The officer beside me guessed my perplexity； and as the brows of
Kulan Tith darkened in a menacing scowl as his eyes rested upon me；
the noble drew a small mirror from his pocket…pouch and held it
before my face。
One glance at the reflection it gave back to me was sufficient。
From my forehead the hand of the sneaking thern had reached out
through the concealing darkness of my bed…chamber and wiped away
a patch of the disguising red pigment as broad as my palm。
Beneath showed the tanned texture of my own white skin。
For a moment Thurid ceased speaking； to enhance； I suspect；
the dramatic effect of his disclosure。 Then he resumed。
〃Here； O Kulan Tith；〃 he cried； 〃is he who has desecrated the
temples of the Gods of Mars； who has violated the persons of the
Holy Therns themselves and turned a world against its age…old
religion。 Before you； in your power； Jeddak of Kaol； Defender of
the Holies； stands John Carter； Prince of Helium！〃
Kulan Tith looked toward Matai Shang as though for corroboration
of these charges。 The Holy Thern nodded his head。
〃It is indeed the arch…blasphemer；〃 he said。 〃Even now he has
followed me to the very heart of thy palace； Kulan Tith； for the
sole purpose of assassinating me。 He〃
〃He lies！〃 I cried。 〃Kulan Tith； listen that you may know the truth。
Listen while I tell you why John Carter has followed Matai Shang
to the heart of thy palace。 Listen to me as well as to them；
and then judge if my acts be not more in accord with true
Barsoomian chivalry and honor than those of these revengeful
devotees of the spurious creeds from whose cruel bonds I have
freed your planet。〃
〃Silence！〃 roared the jeddak； leaping to his feet and laying his hand
upon the hilt of his sword。 〃Silence； blasphemer！ Kulan Tith need not
permit the air of his audience chamber to be defiled by the heresies
that issue from your polluted throat to judge you。
〃You stand already self…condemned。 It but remains to determine the
manner of your death。 Even the service that you rendered the arms
of Kaol sh