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scarce daring to credit the testimony of my own eyes。 But at last
I could doubt no longer； and with a shout of joy that rose strangely
in the midst of the cursing and groaning of the battling men at the
entrance to the chamber； I called to Tardos Mors。
As he joined me I pointed down into the streets of Kadabra and
to the advancing columns beyond； above which floated bravely in
the arctic air the flags and banners of Helium。
An instant later every red man in the lofty chamber had seen
the inspiring sight； and such a shout of thanksgiving arose as I
warrant never before echoed through that age…old pile of stone。
But still we must fight on； for though our troops had entered Kadabra；
the city was yet far from capitulation； nor had the palace been
even assaulted。 Turn and turn about we held the top of the runway
while the others feasted their eyes upon the sight of our valiant
countrymen battling far beneath us。
Now they have rushed the palace gate！ Great battering…rams
are dashed against its formidable surface。 Now they are repulsed
by a deadly shower of javelins from the wall's top！
Once again they charge； but a sortie by a large force of Okarians
from an intersecting avenue crumples the head of the column；
and the men of Helium go down； fighting； beneath an overwhelming force。
The palace gate flies open and a force of the jeddak's own guard；
picked men from the flower of the Okarian army； sallies forth
to shatter the broken regiments。 For a moment it looks as
though nothing could avert defeat； and then I see a noble figure
upon a mighty thoatnot the tiny thoat of the red man； but one of
his huge cousins of the dead sea bottoms。
The warrior hews his way to the front； and behind him rally the
disorganized soldiers of Helium。 As he raises his head aloft
to fling a challenge at the men upon the palace walls I see
his face； and my heart swells in pride and happiness as the
red warriors leap to the side of their leader and win back
the ground that they had but just lostthe face of him upon
the mighty thoat is the face of my sonCarthoris of Helium。
At his side fights a huge Martian war…hound； nor did I need a
second look to know that it was Woolamy faithful Woola who had
thus well performed his arduous task and brought the succoring
legions in the nick of time。
〃In the nick of time？〃
Who yet might say that they were not too late to save； but surely
they could avenge！ And such retribution as that unconquered army
would deal out to the hateful Okarians！ I sighed to think that I
might not be alive to witness it。
Again I turned to the windows。 The red men had not yet forced
the outer palace wall； but they were fighting nobly against the
best that Okar affordedvaliant warriors who contested every inch
of the way。
Now my attention was caught by a new element without the city wall
a great body of mounted warriors looming large above the red men。
They were the huge green allies of Heliumthe savage hordes from
the dead sea bottoms of the far south。
In grim and terrible silence they sped on toward the gate；
the padded hoofs of their frightful mounts giving forth no sound。
Into the doomed city they charged； and as they wheeled across the
wide plaza before the palace of the Jeddak of Jeddaks I saw； riding at
their head； the mighty figure of their mighty leaderTars Tarkas；
Jeddak of Thark。
My wish； then； was to be gratified； for I was to see my old friend
battling once again； and though not shoulder to shoulder with him；
I； too； would be fighting in the same cause here in the high tower of Okar。
Nor did it seem that our foes would ever cease their stubborn attacks；
for still they came； though the way to our chamber was often clogged
with the bodies of their dead。 At times they would pause long enough
to drag back the impeding corpses； and then fresh warriors would forge
upward to taste the cup of death。
I had been taking my turn with the others in defending the
approach to our lofty retreat when Mors Kajak； who had been
watching the battle in the street below； called aloud in
sudden excitement。 There was a note of apprehension in his voice
that brought me to his side the instant that I could turn my place
over to another； and as I reached him he pointed far out across the
waste of snow and ice toward the southern horizon。
〃Alas！〃 he cried； 〃that I should be forced to witness cruel fate
betray them without power to warn or aid； but they be past either now。〃
As I looked in the direction he indicated I saw the cause of
his perturbation。 A mighty fleet of fliers was approaching
majestically toward Kadabra from the direction of the ice…barrier。
On and on they came with ever increasing velocity。
〃The grim shaft that they call the Guardian of the North is
beckoning to them；〃 said Mors Kajak sadly； 〃just as it beckoned to
Tardos Mors and his great fleet； see where they lie； crumpled and
broken； a grim and terrible monument to the mighty force of
destruction which naught can resist。〃
I； too； saw； but something else I saw that Mors Kajak did not；
in my mind's eye I saw a buried chamber whose walls were lined with
strange instruments and devices。
In the center of the chamber was a long table； and before it sat a
little； pop…eyed old man counting his money； but； plainest of all；
I saw upon the wall a great switch with a small magnet inlaid
within the surface of its black handle。
Then I glanced out at the fast…approaching fleet。 In five minutes
that mighty armada of the skies would be bent and worthless scrap；
lying at the base of the shaft beyond the city's wall； and yellow
hordes would be loosed from another gate to rush out upon the few
survivors stumbling blindly down through the mass of wreckage；
then the apts would come。 I shuddered at the thought； for I could
vividly picture the whole horrible scene。
Quick have I always been to decide and act。 The impulse
that moves me and the doing of the thing seem simultaneous；
for if my mind goes through the tedious formality of reasoning；
it must be a subconscious act of which I am not objectively aware。
Psychologists tell me that； as the subconscious does not reason；
too close a scrutiny of my mental activities might prove anything
but flattering； but be that as it may； I have often won success
while the thinker would have been still at the endless task of
comparing various judgments。
And now celerity of action was the prime essential to the
success of the thing that I had decided upon。
Grasping my sword more firmly in my hand； I called to the red man
at the opening to the runway to stand aside。
〃Way for the Prince of Helium！〃 I shouted； and before the
astonished yellow man whose misfortune it was to be at the fighting
end of the line at that particular moment could gather his wits
together my sword had decapitated him； and I was rushing like a
mad bull down upon those behind him。
〃Way for the Prince of Helium！〃 I shouted as I cut a path
through the astonished guardsmen of Salensus Oll。
Hewing to right and left； I beat my way down that warrior…choked
spiral until； near the bottom； those below； thinking that an army
was descending upon them； turned and fled。
The armory at the first floor was vacant when I entered it；
the last of the Okarians having fled into the courtyard； so none
saw me continue down the spiral toward the corridor beneath。
Here I ran as rapidly as my legs would carry me toward the
five corners； and there plunged into the passageway that led
to the station of the old miser。
Without the formality of a knock； I burst into the room。
There sat the old man at his table； but as he saw me he
sprang to his feet； drawing his sword。
With scarce more than a glance toward him I leaped for the great switch；
but； quick as I was； that wiry old fellow was there before me。
How he did it I shall never know； nor does it seem credible
that any Martian…born creature could approximate the marvelous
speed of my earthly muscles。
Like a tiger he turned upon me； and I was quick to see why
Solan had been chosen for this important duty。
Never in all my life have I seen such wondrous swordsmanship
and such uncanny agility as that ancient bag of bones displayed。
He was in forty places at the same time； and before I had half a chance
to awaken to my danger he was like to have made a monkey of me；
and a dead monkey at that。
It is strange how new and unexpected conditions bring out
unguessed ability to meet them。
That day in the buried chamber beneath the palace of Salensus Oll
I learned what swordsmanship meant； and to what heights of sword
mastery I could achieve when pitted against such a wizard of the
blade as Solan。
For a time he liked to have bested me； but presently the latent
possibilities that m