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know itI have seen neither。 But if they be； then shall they be
returned to you on the morrow。〃
As he spoke he looked straight at Matai Shang； not as a devotee
should look at a high priest； but as a ruler of men looks at one
to whom he issues a command。
It must have been plain to the Father of Therns； as it was to me；
that the recent disclosures of his true character had done much
already to weaken the faith of Kulan Tith； and that it would require
but little more to turn the powerful jeddak into an avowed enemy；
but so strong are the seeds of superstition that even the great
Kaolian still hesitated to cut the final strand that bound him
to his ancient religion。
Matai Shang was wise enough to seem to accept the mandate of
his follower； and promised to bring the two slave women to the
audience chamber on the morrow。
〃It is almost morning now；〃 he said； 〃and I should dislike to break
in upon the slumber of my daughter； or I would have them fetched
at once that you might see that the Prince of Helium is mistaken；〃
and he emphasized the last word in an effort to affront me so
subtilely that I could not take open offense。
I was about to object to any delay； and demand that the Princess
of Helium be brought to me forthwith； when Thuvan Dihn made such
insistence seem unnecessary。
〃I should like to see my daughter at once；〃 he said； 〃but if
Kulan Tith will give me his assurance that none will be permitted
to leave the palace this night； and that no harm shall befall
either Dejah Thoris or Thuvia of Ptarth between now and the moment
they are brought into our presence in this chamber at daylight I
shall not insist。〃
〃None shall leave the palace tonight；〃 replied the Jeddak of Kaol；
〃and Matai Shang will give us assurance that no harm will come
to the two women？〃
The thern assented with a nod。 A few moments later Kulan Tith
indicated that the audience was at an end； and at Thuvan Dihn's
invitation I accompanied the Jeddak of Ptarth to his own apartments；
where we sat until daylight； while he listened to the account of
my experiences upon his planet and to all that had befallen
his daughter during the time that we had been together。
I found the father of Thuvia a man after my own heart； and that
night saw the beginning of a friendship which has grown until
it is second only to that which obtains between Tars Tarkas；
the green Jeddak of Thark； and myself。
The first burst of Mars's sudden dawn brought messengers from
Kulan Tith； summoning us to the audience chamber where Thuvan Dihn
was to receive his daughter after years of separation； and I was to
be reunited with the glorious daughter of Helium after an almost
unbroken separation of twelve years。
My heart pounded within my bosom until I looked about me in
embarrassment； so sure was I that all within the room must hear。
My arms ached to enfold once more the divine form of her
whose eternal youth and undying beauty were but outward
manifestations of a perfect soul。
At last the messenger despatched to fetch Matai Shang returned。
I craned my neck to catch the first glimpse of those who should
be following； but the messenger was alone。
Halting before the throne he addressed his jeddak in a voice
that was plainly audible to all within the chamber。
〃O Kulan Tith； Mightiest of Jeddaks；〃 he cried； after the
fashion of the court； 〃your messenger returns alone； for when he
reached the apartments of the Father of Therns he found them empty；
as were those occupied by his suite。〃
Kulan Tith went white。
A low groan burst from the lips of Thuvan Dihn who stood next me；
not having ascended the throne which awaited him beside his host。
For a moment the silence of death reigned in the great audience
chamber of Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol。 It was he who broke the spell。
Rising from his throne he stepped down from the dais to the
side of Thuvan Dihn。 Tears dimmed his eyes as he placed both
his hands upon the shoulders of his friend。
〃O Thuvan Dihn；〃 he cried； 〃that this should have happened in the
palace of thy best friend！ With my own hands would I have wrung
the neck of Matai Shang had I guessed what was in his foul heart。
Last night my life…long faith was weakenedthis morning it has
been shattered； but too late； too late。
〃To wrest your daughter and the wife of this royal warrior
from the clutches of these archfiends you have but to command the
resources of a mighty nation； for all Kaol is at your disposal。
What may be done？ Say the word！〃
〃First；〃 I suggested； 〃let us find those of your people who be
responsible for the escape of Matai Shang and his followers。
Without assistance on the part of the palace guard this thing
could not have come to pass。 Seek the guilty； and from them
force an explanation of the manner of their going and the
direction they have taken。〃
Before Kulan Tith could issue the commands that would initiate
the investigation a handsome young officer stepped forward and
addressed his jeddak。
〃O Kulan Tith； Mightiest of Jeddaks；〃 he said； 〃I alone be
responsible for this grievous error。 Last night it was I
who commanded the palace guard。 I was on duty in other parts of
the palace during the audience of the early morning； and knew
nothing of what transpired then； so that when the Father of Therns
summoned me and explained that it was your wish that his party be
hastened from the city because of the presence here of a deadly
enemy who sought the Holy Hekkador's life I did only what a
lifetime of training has taught me was the proper thing to do
I obeyed him whom I believed to be the ruler of us all；
mightier even than thou； mightiest of jeddaks。
〃Let the consequences and the punishment fall on me alone；
for I alone am guilty。 Those others of the palace guard who
assisted in the flight did so under my instructions。〃
Kulan Tith looked first at me and then at Thuvan Dihn； as though
to ask our judgment upon the man； but the error was so evidently
excusable that neither of us had any mind to see the young officer
suffer for a mistake that any might readily have made。
〃How left they；〃 asked Thuvan Dihn； 〃and what direction did they take？〃
〃They left as they came；〃 replied the officer； 〃upon their own flier。
For some time after they had departed I watched the vessel's lights；
which vanished finally due north。〃
〃Where north could Matai Shang find an asylum？〃 asked Thuvan Dihn
of Kulan Tith。
For some moments the Jeddak of Kaol stood with bowed head；
apparently deep in thought。 Then a sudden light brightened
his countenance。
〃I have it！〃 he cried。 〃Only yesterday Matai Shang let drop
a hint of his destination； telling me of a race of people unlike
ourselves who dwell far to the north。 They； he said； had always
been known to the Holy Therns and were devout and faithful
followers of the ancient cult。 Among them would he find a
perpetual haven of refuge； where no ‘lying heretics' might
seek him out。 It is there that Matai Shang has gone。〃
〃And in all Kaol there be no flier wherein to follow；〃 I cried。
〃Nor nearer than Ptarth；〃 replied Thuvan Dihn。
〃Wait！〃 I exclaimed； 〃beyond the southern fringe of this great
forest lies the wreck of the thern flier which brought me that far
upon my way。 If you will loan me men to fetch it； and
artificers to assist me； I can repair it in two days； Kulan Tith。〃
I had been more than half suspicious of the seeming sincerity
of the Kaolian jeddak's sudden apostasy； but the alacrity with
which he embraced my suggestion； and the despatch with which a
force of officers and men were placed at my disposal entirely
removed the last vestige of my doubts。
Two days later the flier rested upon the top of the watchtower；
ready to depart。 Thuvan Dihn and Kulan Tith had offered me the
entire resources of two nationsmillions of fighting men were
at my disposal； but my flier could hold but one other than
myself and Woola。
As I stepped aboard her； Thuvan Dihn took his place beside me。
I cast a look of questioning surprise upon him。 He turned to the
highest of his own officers who had accompanied him to Kaol。
〃To you I entrust the return of my retinue to Ptarth；〃 he said。
〃There my son rules ably in my absence。 The Prince of Helium
shall not go alone into the land of his enemies。 I have spoken。
Farewell！〃
THROUGH THE CARRION CAVES
Straight toward the north； day and night； our destination compass
led us after the fleeing flier upon which it had remained set
since I first attuned it after leaving the thern fortress。
Early in the second night we noticed the air becoming
perceptibly colder； and from the distance we had come
from the equator were assured that we were rapidly
approaching the north arctic region。
My knowled