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before me was open。
At last the truth dawned upon meI was following a subterranean
river which emptied into the Iss at the very point where I had hidden。
The rowers were now quite close to me。 The noise of their own
paddles drowned the sound of mine； but in another instant the
growing light ahead would reveal me to them。
There was no time to be lost。 Whatever action I was to take must
be taken at once。 Swinging the prow of my boat toward the right；
I sought the river's rocky side； and there I lay while Matai Shang
and Thurid approached up the center of the stream； which was much
narrower than the Iss。
As they came nearer I heard the voices of Thurid and the
Father of Therns raised in argument。
〃I tell you； Thern；〃 the black dator was saying； 〃that I wish
only vengeance upon John Carter； Prince of Helium。 I am leading
you into no trap。 What could I gain by betraying you to those who
have ruined my nation and my house？〃
〃Let us stop here a moment that I may hear your plans；〃
replied the hekkador； 〃and then we may proceed with a better
understanding of our duties and obligations。〃
To the rowers he issued the command that brought their boat in
toward the bank not a dozen paces beyond the spot where I lay。
Had they pulled in below me they must surely have seen me
against the faint glow of light ahead； but from where they finally
came to rest I was as secure from detection as though miles
separated us。
The few words I had already overheard whetted my curiosity；
and I was anxious to learn what manner of vengeance Thurid was
planning against me。 Nor had I long to wait。 I listened intently。
〃There are no obligations； Father of Therns；〃 continued the
First Born。 〃Thurid； Dator of Issus； has no price。 When the thing
has been accomplished I shall be glad if you will see to it that I
am well received； as is befitting my ancient lineage and noble
rank； at some court that is yet loyal to thy ancient faith； for I
cannot return to the Valley Dor or elsewhere within the power of
the Prince of Helium； but even that I do not demandit shall be as
your own desire in the matter directs。〃
〃It shall be as you wish； Dator；〃 replied Matai Shang； 〃nor is
that allpower and riches shall be yours if you restore my
daughter； Phaidor； to me； and place within my power Dejah Thoris；
Princess of Helium。
〃Ah；〃 he continued with a malicious snarl； 〃but the Earth man
shall suffer for the indignities he has put upon the holy of
holies； nor shall any vileness be too vile to inflict upon his
princess。 Would that it were in my power to force him to witness
the humiliation and degradation of the red woman。〃
〃You shall have your way with her before another day has
passed； Matai Shang；〃 said Thurid； 〃if you but say the word。〃
〃I have heard of the Temple of the Sun； Dator；〃 replied Matai Shang；
〃but never have I heard that its prisoners could be released
before the allotted year of their incarceration had elapsed。
How； then； may you accomplish the impossible？〃
〃Access may be had to any cell of the temple at any time；〃
replied Thurid。 〃Only Issus knew this； nor was it ever Issus' way
to divulge more of her secrets than were necessary。 By chance；
after her death； I came upon an ancient plan of the temple；
and there I found； plainly writ； the most minute directions
for reaching the cells at any time。
〃And more I learnedthat many men had gone thither for Issus in
the past； always on errands of death and torture to the prisoners；
but those who thus learned the secret way were wont to die
mysteriously immediately they had returned and made their
reports to cruel Issus。〃
〃Let us proceed； then；〃 said Matai Shang at last。 〃I must
trust you； yet at the same time you must trust me； for we
are six to your one。〃
〃I do not fear；〃 replied Thurid； 〃nor need you。 Our hatred of
the common enemy is sufficient bond to insure our loyalty to each
other； and after we have defiled the Princess of Helium there will
be still greater reason for the maintenance of our allegiance
unless I greatly mistake the temper of her lord。〃
Matai Shang spoke to the paddlers。 The boat moved on up the tributary。
It was with difficulty that I restrained myself from rushing upon
them and slaying the two vile plotters； but quickly I saw the mad
rashness of such an act； which would cut down the only man who
could lead the way to Dejah Thoris' prison before the long
Martian year had swung its interminable circle。
If he should lead Matai Shang to that hollowed spot； then；
too； should he lead John Carter； Prince of Helium。
With silent paddle I swung slowly into the wake of the larger craft。
UNDER THE MOUNTAINS
As we advanced up the river which winds beneath the Golden
Cliffs out of the bowels of the Mountains of Otz to mingle its dark
waters with the grim and mysterious Iss the faint glow which had
appeared before us grew gradually into an all…enveloping radiance。
The river widened until it presented the aspect of a large
lake whose vaulted dome； lighted by glowing phosphorescent rock；
was splashed with the vivid rays of the diamond； the sapphire；
the ruby； and the countless； nameless jewels of Barsoom which lay
incrusted in the virgin gold which forms the major portion of these
magnificent cliffs。
Beyond the lighted chamber of the lake was darknesswhat lay
behind the darkness I could not even guess。
To have followed the thern boat across the gleaming water
would have been to invite instant detection； and so； though I was
loath to permit Thurid to pass even for an instant beyond my sight；
I was forced to wait in the shadows until the other boat had passed
from my sight at the far extremity of the lake。
Then I paddled out upon the brilliant surface in the direction
they had taken。
When； after what seemed an eternity； I reached the shadows at
the upper end of the lake I found that the river issued from a low
aperture； to pass beneath which it was necessary that I compel
Woola to lie flat in the boat； and I； myself； must need bend double
before the low roof cleared my head。
Immediately the roof rose again upon the other side； but no longer
was the way brilliantly lighted。 Instead only a feeble glow emanated
from small and scattered patches of phosphorescent rock in wall and roof。
Directly before me the river ran into this smaller chamber through
three separate arched openings。
Thurid and the therns were nowhere to be seeninto which of
the dark holes had they disappeared？ There was no means by which
I might know； and so I chose the center opening as being as
likely to lead me in the right direction as another。
Here the way was through utter darkness。 The stream was narrow
so narrow that in the blackness I was constantly bumping first
one rock wall and then another as the river wound hither and
thither along its flinty bed。
Far ahead I presently heard a deep and sullen roar which
increased in volume as I advanced； and then broke upon my ears with
all the intensity of its mad fury as I swung round a sharp curve
into a dimly lighted stretch of water。
Directly before me the river thundered down from above in a
mighty waterfall that filled the narrow gorge from side to side；
rising far above me several hundred feetas magnificent a
spectacle as I ever had seen。
But the roarthe awful； deafening roar of those tumbling
waters penned in the rocky； subterranean vault！ Had the fall not
entirely blocked my further passage and shown me that I had
followed the wrong course I believe that I should have fled anyway
before the maddening tumult。
Thurid and the therns could not have come this way。 By
stumbling upon the wrong course I had lost the trail； and they had
gained so much ahead of me that now I might not be able to find
them before it was too late； if； in fact； I could find them at all。
It had taken several hours to force my way up to the falls
against the strong current； and other hours would be required for
the descent； although the pace would be much swifter。
With a sigh I turned the prow of my craft down stream； and
with mighty strokes hastened with reckless speed through the dark
and tortuous channel until once again I came to the chamber into
which flowed the three branches of the river。
Two unexplored channels still remained from which to choose；
nor was there any means by which I could judge which was the more
likely to lead me to the plotters。
Never in my life； that I can recall； have I suffered such an
agony of indecision。 So much depended upon a correct choice；
so much depended upon haste。
The hours that I had already lost might seal the fate of the
incomparable Dejah Thoris were she not already deadto sacrifice
other hours； and maybe days in a fru