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〃You ARE free！〃 he cried。 〃John Carter； Prince of Helium； is dead。〃
〃I know better than that； but even were he dead； and I must
needs choose another mate； it should be a plant man or a great
white ape in preference to either Matai Shang or you； black calot；〃
she answered with a sneer of contempt。
Of a sudden the vicious beast lost all control of himself；
as with a vile oath he leaped at the slender woman； gripping her
tender throat in his brute clutch。 Thuvia screamed and sprang to
aid her fellow…prisoner； and at the same instant I； too； went mad；
and tearing at the bars that spanned my window I ripped them from
their sockets as they had been but copper wire。
Hurling myself through the aperture I reached the garden；
but a hundred feet from where the black was choking the life
from my Dejah Thoris； and with a single great bound I was upon him。
I spoke no word as I tore his defiling fingers from that beautiful
throat； nor did I utter a sound as I hurled him twenty feet from me。
Foaming with rage； Thurid regained his feet and charged me
like a mad bull。
〃Yellow man；〃 he shrieked； 〃you knew not upon whom you had
laid your vile hands； but ere I am done with you； you will
know well what it means to offend the person of a First Born。〃
Then he was upon me； reaching for my throat； and precisely as
I had done that day in the courtyard of the Temple of Issus I did
here in the garden of the palace of Salensus Oll。 I ducked beneath
his outstretched arms； and as he lunged past me I planted a
terrific right upon the side of his jaw。
Just as he had done upon that other occasion he did now。 Like a top
he spun round； his knees gave beneath him； and he crumpled to the
ground at my feet。 Then I heard a voice behind me。
It was the deep voice of authority that marks the ruler of men；
and when I turned to face the resplendent figure of a giant
yellow man I did not need to ask to know that it was Salensus Oll。
At his right stood Matai Shang； and behind them a score of guardsmen。
〃Who are you；〃 he cried； 〃and what means this intrusion within
the precincts of the women's garden？ I do not recall your face。
How came you here？〃
But for his last words I should have forgotten my disguise
entirely and told him outright that I was John Carter；
Prince of Helium； but his question recalled me to myself。
I pointed to the dislodged bars of the window above。
〃I am an aspirant to membership in the palace guard；〃 I said；
〃and from yonder window in the tower where I was confined awaiting
the final test for fitness I saw this brute attack the this woman。
I could not stand idly by； O Jeddak； and see this thing done within
the very palace grounds； and yet feel that I was fit to serve and
guard your royal person。〃
I had evidently made an impression upon the ruler of Okar by my
fair words； and when he had turned to Dejah Thoris and Thuvia of
Ptarth； and both had corroborated my statements it began to look
pretty dark for Thurid。
I saw the ugly gleam in Matai Shang's evil eyes as Dejah Thoris
narrated all that had passed between Thurid and herself； and
when she came to that part which dealt with my interference with
the dator of the First Born her gratitude was quite apparent；
though I could see by her eyes that something puzzled her strangely。
I did not wonder at her attitude toward me while others were present；
but that she should have denied me while she and Thuvia were the only
occupants of the garden still cut me sorely。
As the examination proceeded I cast a glance at Thurid
and startled him looking wide…eyed and wonderingly at me；
and then of a sudden he laughed full in my face。
A moment later Salensus Oll turned toward the black。
〃What have you to say in explanation of these charges？〃 he asked
in a deep and terrible voice。 〃Dare you aspire to one whom
the Father of Therns has chosenone who might even be a fit mate
for the Jeddak of Jeddaks himself？〃
And then the black…bearded tyrant turned and cast a sudden
greedy look upon Dejah Thoris； as though with the words a new
thought and a new desire had sprung up within his mind and breast。
Thurid had been about to reply and； with a malicious grin upon
his face； was pointing an accusing finger at me； when Salensus
Oll's words and the expression of his face cut him short。
A cunning look crept into his eyes； and I knew from the expression of
his face that his next words were not the ones he had intended to speak。
〃O Mightiest of Jeddaks；〃 he said； 〃the man and the women do not
speak the truth。 The fellow had come into the garden to assist
them to escape。 I was beyond and overheard their conversation；
and when I entered； the woman screamed and the man sprang upon
me and would have killed me。
〃What know you of this man？ He is a stranger to you； and I
dare say that you will find him an enemy and a spy。 Let him be put
on trial； Salensus Oll； rather than your friend and guest； Thurid；
Dator of the First Born。〃
Salensus Oll looked puzzled。 He turned again and looked upon
Dejah Thoris； and then Thurid stepped quite close to him and
whispered something in his earwhat； I know not。
Presently the yellow ruler turned to one of his officers。
〃See that this man be securely confined until we have time to
go deeper into this affair；〃 he commanded； 〃and as bars alone seem
inadequate to restrain him； let chains be added。〃
Then he turned and left the garden； taking Dejah Thoris with
himhis hand upon her shoulder。 Thurid and Matai Shang went also；
and as they reached the gateway the black turned and laughed again
aloud in my face。
What could be the meaning of his sudden change toward me？
Could he suspect my true identity？ It must be that； and the thing
that had betrayed me was the trick and blow that had laid him low
for the second time。
As the guards dragged me away my heart was very sad and bitter indeed；
for now to the two relentless enemies that had hounded her for so long
another and a more powerful one had been added； for I would have been
but a fool had I not recognized the sudden love for Dejah Thoris that had
just been born in the terrible breast of Salensus Oll； Jeddak of Jeddaks；
ruler of Okar。
THE PIT OF PLENTY
I did not languish long within the prison of Salensus Oll。
During the short time that I lay there； fettered with chains of gold；
I often wondered as to the fate of Thuvan Dihn； Jeddak of Ptarth。
My brave companion had followed me into the garden as I attacked Thurid；
and when Salensus Oll had left with Dejah Thoris and the others；
leaving Thuvia of Ptarth behind； he； too； had remained in the garden
with his daughter； apparently unnoticed； for he was appareled
similarly to the guards。
The last I had seen of him he stood waiting for the warriors
who escorted me to close the gate behind them； that he might be
alone with Thuvia。 Could it be possible that they had escaped？
I doubted it； and yet with all my heart I hoped that it might be true。
The third day of my incarceration brought a dozen warriors to
escort me to the audience chamber； where Salensus Oll himself was
to try me。 A great number of nobles crowded the room； and among
them I saw Thurid； but Matai Shang was not there。
Dejah Thoris； as radiantly beautiful as ever； sat upon a small
throne beside Salensus Oll。 The expression of sad hopelessness
upon her dear face cut deep into my heart。
Her position beside the Jeddak of Jeddaks boded ill for her and me；
and on the instant that I saw her there； there sprang to my mind
the firm intention never to leave that chamber alive if I must
leave her in the clutches of this powerful tyrant。
I had killed better men than Salensus Oll； and killed them
with my bare hands； and now I swore to myself that I should kill
him if I found that the only way to save the Princess of Helium。
That it would mean almost instant death for me I cared not； except
that it would remove me from further efforts in behalf of Dejah
Thoris； and for this reason alone I would have chosen another way；
for even though I should kill Salensus Oll that act would not
restore my beloved wife to her own people。 I determined to
wait the final outcome of the trial； that I might learn all that I
could of the Okarian ruler's intentions； and then act accordingly。
Scarcely had I come before him than Salensus Oll summoned Thurid also。
〃Dator Thurid；〃 he said； 〃you have made a strange request of me；
but； in accordance with your wishes and your promise that it will
result only to my interests； I have decided to accede。
〃You tell me that a certain announcement will be the means of
convicting this prisoner and； at the same time； open the way to the
gratification of my dearest wish。〃
Thurid nodded。
〃Then shall I make the