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THE MAGNET SWITCH
The guardsmen paid not the slightest attention to their wards；
for the red men could not move over two feet from the great rings
to which they were padlocked； though each had seized a weapon upon
which he had been engaged when I entered the room； and stood ready
to join me could they have but done so。
The yellow men devoted all their attention to me； nor were they long
in discovering that the three of them were none too many to defend the
armory against John Carter。 Would that I had had my own good long…sword
in my hand that day； but； as it was； I rendered a satisfactory account
of myself with the unfamiliar weapon of the yellow man。
At first I had a time of it dodging their villainous hook…swords；
but after a minute or two I had succeeded in wresting a second straight
sword from one of the racks along the wall； and thereafter； using it
to parry the hooks of my antagonists； I felt more evenly equipped。
The three of them were on me at once； and but for a lucky
circumstance my end might have come quickly。 The foremost
guardsman made a vicious lunge for my side with his hook after the
three of them had backed me against the wall； but as I sidestepped
and raised my arm his weapon but grazed my side； passing into a
rack of javelins； where it became entangled。
Before he could release it I had run him through； and then；
falling back upon the tactics that have saved me a hundred times
in tight pinches； I rushed the two remaining warriors； forcing them
back with a perfect torrent of cuts and thrusts； weaving my sword
in and out about their guards until I had the fear of death upon them。
Then one of them commenced calling for help； but it was too late
to save them。
They were as putty in my hands now； and I backed them about the
armory as I would until I had them where I wanted themwithin
reach of the swords of the shackled slaves。 In an instant
both lay dead upon the floor。 But their cries had not been
entirely fruitless； for now I heard answering shouts and the
footfalls of many men running and the clank of accouterments
and the commands of officers。
〃The door！ Quick； John Carter； bar the door！〃 cried Tardos Mors。
Already the guard was in sight； charging across the open court
that was visible through the doorway。
A dozen seconds would bring them into the tower。 A single
leap carried me to the heavy portal。 With a resounding bang I
slammed it shut。
〃The bar！〃 shouted Tardos Mors。
I tried to slip the huge fastening into place； but it defied
my every attempt。
〃Raise it a little to release the catch；〃 cried one of the red men。
I could hear the yellow warriors leaping along the flagging just
beyond the door。 I raised the bar and shot it to the right
just as the foremost of the guardsmen threw himself against the
opposite side of the massive panels。
The barrier heldI had been in time； but by the fraction of
a second only。
Now I turned my attention to the prisoners。 To Tardos Mors I
went first； asking where the keys might be which would unfasten
their fetters。
〃The officer of the guard has them；〃 replied the Jeddak of Helium；
〃and he is among those without who seek entrance。 You will have
to force them。〃
Most of the prisoners were already hacking at their bonds with
the swords in their hands。 The yellow men were battering at the
door with javelins and axes。
I turned my attention to the chains that held Tardos Mors。
Again and again I cut deep into the metal with my sharp blade；
but ever faster and faster fell the torrent of blows upon the portal。
At last a link parted beneath my efforts； and a moment later
Tardos Mors was free； though a few inches of trailing chain still
dangled from his ankle。
A splinter of wood falling inward from the door announced the
headway that our enemies were making toward us。
The mighty panels trembled and bent beneath the furious onslaught
of the enraged yellow men。
What with the battering upon the door and the hacking of the
red men at their chains the din within the armory was appalling。
No sooner was Tardos Mors free than he turned his attention to
another of the prisoners； while I set to work to liberate Mors Kajak。
We must work fast if we would have all those fetters cut before
the door gave way。 Now a panel crashed inward upon the floor；
and Mors Kajak sprang to the opening to defend the way until
we should have time to release the others。
With javelins snatched from the wall he wrought havoc among
the foremost of the Okarians while we battled with the insensate
metal that stood between our fellows and freedom。
At length all but one of the prisoners were freed； and then
the door fell with a mighty crash before a hastily improvised
battering…ram； and the yellow horde was upon us。
〃To the upper chambers！〃 shouted the red man who was still
fettered to the floor。 〃To the upper chambers！ There you may
defend the tower against all Kadabra。 Do not delay because of me；
who could pray for no better death than in the service of
Tardos Mors and the Prince of Helium。〃
But I would have sacrificed the life of every man of us rather
than desert a single red man； much less the lion…hearted hero who
begged us to leave him。
〃Cut his chains；〃 I cried to two of the red men； 〃while the
balance of us hold off the foe。〃
There were ten of us now to do battle with the Okarian guard；
and I warrant that that ancient watchtower never looked down upon
a more hotly contested battle than took place that day within
its own grim walls。
The first inrushing wave of yellow warriors recoiled from the
slashing blades of ten of Helium's veteran fighting men。 A dozen
Okarian corpses blocked the doorway； but over the gruesome barrier
a score more of their fellows dashed； shouting their hoarse and
hideous war…cry。
Upon the bloody mound we met them； hand to hand； stabbing where
the quarters were too close to cut； thrusting when we could push
a foeman to arm's length； and mingled with the wild cry of the
Okarian there rose and fell the glorious words： 〃For Helium！
For Helium！〃 that for countless ages have spurred on the bravest of
the brave to those deeds of valor that have sent the fame of Helium's
heroes broadcast throughout the length and breadth of a world。
Now were the fetters struck from the last of the red men；
and thirteen strong we met each new charge of the soldiers
of Salensus Oll。 Scarce one of us but bled from a score
of wounds； yet none had fallen。
From without we saw hundreds of guardsmen pouring into the courtyard；
and along the lower corridor from which I had found my way to the
armory we could hear the clank of metal and the shouting of men。
In a moment we should be attacked from two sides； and with
all our prowess we could not hope to withstand the unequal odds
which would thus divide our attention and our small numbers。
〃To the upper chambers！〃 cried Tardos Mors； and a moment later
we fell back toward the runway that led to the floors above。
Here another bloody battle was waged with the force of yellow
men who charged into the armory as we fell back from the doorway。
Here we lost our first man； a noble fellow whom we could ill spare；
but at length all had backed into the runway except myself； who
remained to hold back the Okarians until the others were safe above。
In the mouth of the narrow spiral but a single warrior could
attack me at a time； so that I had little difficulty in holding
them all back for the brief moment that was necessary。 Then；
backing slowly before them； I commenced the ascent of the spiral。
All the long way to the tower's top the guardsmen pressed me closely。
When one went down before my sword another scrambled over the dead man to
take his place； and thus； taking an awful toll with each few feet gained；
I came to the spacious glass…walled watchtower of Kadabra。
Here my companions clustered ready to take my place； and for a
moment's respite I stepped to one side while they held the enemy off。
From the lofty perch a view could be had for miles in every direction。
Toward the south stretched the rugged； ice…clad waste to the edge of
the mighty barrier。 Toward the east and west； and dimly toward the
north I descried other Okarian cities； while in the immediate foreground；
just beyond the walls of Kadabra； the grim guardian shaft reared its
somber head。
Then I cast my eyes down into the streets of Kadabra； from which
a sudden tumult had arisen； and there I saw a battle raging；
and beyond the city's walls I saw armed men marching in great
columns toward a near…by gate。
Eagerly I pressed forward against the glass wall of the observatory；
scarce daring to credit the testimony of my own eyes。 But at last
I could doubt