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It had taken me about that length of time to ascend some fifty
feet above the bottom when a noise above attracted my attention。
To my chagrin I saw that the covering of the pit was being removed
far above me； and in the light of the courtyard beyond I saw a
number of yellow warriors。
Could it be that I was laboriously working my way into some new trap？
Were the messages spurious； after all？ And then； just as my hope and
courage had ebbed to their lowest； I saw two things。
One was the body of a huge； struggling； snarling apt being lowered
over the side of the pit toward me； and the other was an aperture
in the side of the shaftan aperture larger than a man's body；
into which my rope led。
Just as I scrambled into the dark hole before me the apt passed me；
reaching out with his mighty hands to clutch me； and snapping； growling；
and roaring in a most frightful manner。
Plainly now I saw the end for which Salensus Oll had destined me。
After first torturing me with starvation he had caused this
fierce beast to be lowered into my prison to finish the work that
the jeddak's hellish imagination had conceived。
And then another truth flashed upon meI had lived nine days
of the allotted ten which must intervene before Salensus Oll could
make Dejah Thoris his queen。 The purpose of the apt was to insure
my death before the tenth day。
I almost laughed aloud as I thought how Salensus Oll's measure
of safety was to aid in defeating the very end he sought； for when
they discovered that the apt was alone in the Pit of Plenty they
could not know but that he had completely devoured me； and so no
suspicion of my escape would cause a search to be made for me。
Coiling the rope that had carried me thus far upon my strange
journey； I sought for the other end； but found that as I followed
it forward it extended always before me。 So this was the meaning
of the words： 〃Follow the rope。〃
The tunnel through which I crawled was low and dark。 I had followed
it for several hundred yards when I felt a knot beneath my fingers。
〃Beyond the knots lies danger。〃
Now I went with the utmost caution； and a moment later a sharp
turn in the tunnel brought me to an opening into a large；
brilliantly lighted chamber。
The trend of the tunnel I had been traversing had been slightly upward；
and from this I judged that the chamber into which I now found myself
looking must be either on the first floor of the palace or directly
beneath the first floor。
Upon the opposite wall were many strange instruments and devices；
and in the center of the room stood a long table； at which two men
were seated in earnest conversation。
He who faced me was a yellow mana little； wizened…up；
pasty…faced old fellow with great eyes that showed the
white round the entire circumference of the iris。
His companion was a black man； and I did not need to see his
face to know that it was Thurid； for there was no other of the
First Born north of the ice…barrier。
Thurid was speaking as I came within hearing of the men's voices。
〃Solan；〃 he was saying； 〃there is no risk and the reward is great。
You know that you hate Salensus Oll and that nothing would
please you more than to thwart him in some cherished plan。
There be nothing that he more cherishes today than the idea
of wedding the beautiful Princess of Helium； but I； too；
want her； and with your help I may win her。
〃You need not more than step from this room for an instant
when I give you the signal。 I will do the rest； and then； when I
am gone； you may come and throw the great switch back into its place；
and all will be as before。 I need but an hour's start to be safe
beyond the devilish power that you control in this hidden chamber
beneath the palace of your master。 See how easy；〃 and with
the words the black dator rose from his seat and； crossing the
room； laid his hand upon a large； burnished lever that protruded
from the opposite wall。
〃No！ No！〃 cried the little old man； springing after him； with a
wild shriek。 〃Not that one！ Not that one！ That controls the
sunray tanks； and should you pull it too far down； all Kadabra
would be consumed by heat before I could replace it。 Come away！
Come away！ You know not with what mighty powers you play。
This is the lever that you seek。 Note well the symbol inlaid
in white upon its ebon surface。〃
Thurid approached and examined the handle of the lever。
〃Ah； a magnet；〃 he said。 〃I will remember。 It is settled
then I take it；〃 he continued。
The old man hesitated。 A look of combined greed and
apprehension overspread his none too beautiful features。
〃Double the figure；〃 he said。 〃Even that were all too small
an amount for the service you ask。 Why； I risk my life by even
entertaining you here within the forbidden precincts of my station。
Should Salensus Oll learn of it he would have me thrown to the apts
before the day was done。〃
〃He dare not do that； and you know it full well； Solan；〃
contradicted the black。 〃Too great a power of life and death
you hold over the people of Kadabra for Salensus Oll ever to risk
threatening you with death。 Before ever his minions could lay
their hands upon you； you might seize this very lever from which
you have just warned me and wipe out the entire city。〃
〃And myself into the bargain；〃 said Solan； with a shudder。
〃But if you were to die； anyway； you would find the nerve to do it；〃
replied Thurid。
〃Yes；〃 muttered Solan； 〃I have often thought upon that very thing。
Well； First Born； is your red princess worth the price I ask for my
services； or will you go without her and see her in the arms of
Salensus Oll tomorrow night？〃
〃Take your price； yellow man；〃 replied Thurid； with an oath。
〃Half now and the balance when you have fulfilled your contract。〃
With that the dator threw a well…filled money…pouch upon the table。
Solan opened the pouch and with trembling fingers counted its contents。
His weird eyes assumed a greedy expression； and his unkempt beard
and mustache twitched with the muscles of his mouth and chin。
It was quite evident from his very mannerism that Thurid had
keenly guessed the man's weaknesseven the clawlike； clutching
movement of the fingers betokened the avariciousness of the miser。
Having satisfied himself that the amount was correct； Solan
replaced the money in the pouch and rose from the table。
〃Now；〃 he said； 〃are you quite sure that you know the way to
your destination？ You must travel quickly to cover the ground
to the cave and from thence beyond the Great Power； all within
a brief hour； for no more dare I spare you。〃
〃Let me repeat it to you；〃 said Thurid； 〃that you may see if
I be letter…perfect。〃
〃Proceed；〃 replied Solan。
〃Through yonder door；〃 he commenced； pointing to a door at the
far end of the apartment； 〃I follow a corridor； passing three
diverging corridors upon my right； then into the fourth right…hand
corridor straight to where three corridors meet； here again I
follow to the right； hugging the left wall closely to avoid the pit。
〃At the end of this corridor I shall come to a spiral runway；
which I must follow down instead of up； after that the way
is along but a single branchless corridor。 Am I right？〃
〃Quite right； Dator；〃 answered Solan； 〃and now begone。 Already
have you tempted fate too long within this forbidden place。〃
〃Tonight； or tomorrow； then； you may expect the signal；〃 said Thurid；
rising to go。
〃Tonight； or tomorrow；〃 repeated Solan； and as the door closed
behind his guest the old man continued to mutter as he turned
back to the table； where he again dumped the contents of the
money…pouch； running his fingers through the heap of shining metal；
piling the coins into little towers； counting； recounting； and fondling
the wealth the while he muttered on and on in a crooning undertone。
Presently his fingers ceased their play； his eyes popped wider than ever
as they fastened upon the door through which Thurid had disappeared。
The croon changed to a querulous muttering； and finally to an ugly growl。
Then the old man rose from the table； shaking his fist at the closed door。
Now he raised his voice； and his words came distinctly。
〃Fool！〃 he muttered。 〃Think you that for your happiness Solan
will give up his life？ If you escaped； Salensus Oll would
know that only through my connivance could you have succeeded。
Then would he send for me。 What would you have me do？ Reduce the
city and myself to ashes？ No； fool； there is a better waya better
way for Solan to keep thy money and be revenged upon Salensus Oll。〃
He laughed in a nasty； cackling note。
〃Poor fool！ You may throw the great switch that will give you
the freedom of the air of Okar； and then； in fatuous security；
go on with thy red princess to