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blade as Solan。
For a time he liked to have bested me； but presently the latent
possibilities that must have been lying dormant within me for a
lifetime came to the fore； and I fought as I had never dreamed
a human being could fight。
That that duel…royal should have taken place in the dark recesses
of a cellar； without a single appreciative eye to witness it has
always seemed to me almost a world calamityat least from
the viewpoint Barsoomian； where bloody strife is the first
and greatest consideration of individuals； nations； and races。
I was fighting to reach the switch； Solan to prevent me；
and； though we stood not three feet from it； I could not win
an inch toward it； for he forced me back an inch for the
first five minutes of our battle。
I knew that if I were to throw it in time to save the oncoming
fleet it must be done in the next few seconds； and so I tried my
old rushing tactics； but I might as well have rushed a brick wall
for all that Solan gave way。
In fact； I came near to impaling myself upon his point for my pains；
but right was on my side； and I think that that must give a man
greater confidence than though he knew himself to be battling
in a wicked cause。
At least； I did not want in confidence； and when I next rushed
Solan it was to one side with implicit confidence that he must turn
to meet my new line of attack； and turn he did； so that now we
fought with our sides towards the coveted goalthe great switch
stood within my reach upon my right hand。
To uncover my breast for an instant would have been to court
sudden death； but I saw no other way than to chance it； if by so
doing I might rescue that oncoming； succoring fleet； and so； in the
face of a wicked sword…thrust； I reached out my point and caught
the great switch a sudden blow that released it from its seating。
So surprised and horrified was Solan that he forgot to finish
his thrust； instead； he wheeled toward the switch with a loud shriek
a shriek which was his last； for before his hand could touch the
lever it sought； my sword's point had passed through his heart。
THE TIDE OF BATTLE
But solan's last loud cry had not been without effect； for a
moment later a dozen guardsmen burst into the chamber； though not
before I had so bent and demolished the great switch that it could
not be again used to turn the powerful current into the mighty
magnet of destruction it controlled。
The result of the sudden coming of the guardsmen had been to compel
me to seek seclusion in the first passageway that I could find；
and that to my disappointment proved to be not the one with which
I was familiar； but another upon its left。
They must have either heard or guessed which way I went； for I had
proceeded but a short distance when I heard the sound of pursuit。
I had no mind to stop and fight these men here when there was
fighting aplenty elsewhere in the city of Kadabrafighting
that could be of much more avail to me and mine than useless
life…taking far below the palace。
But the fellows were pressing me； and as I did not know the way
at all； I soon saw that they would overtake me unless I found a
place to conceal myself until they had passed； which would then give
me an opportunity to return the way I had come and regain the tower；
or possibly find a way to reach the city streets。
The passageway had risen rapidly since leaving the apartment
of the switch； and now ran level and well lighted straight into the
distance as far as I could see。 The moment that my pursuers
reached this straight stretch I would be in plain sight of them；
with no chance to escape from the corridor undetected。
Presently I saw a series of doors opening from either side of
the corridor； and as they all looked alike to me I tried the first
one that I reached。 It opened into a small chamber； luxuriously
furnished； and was evidently an ante…chamber off some office or
audience chamber of the palace。
On the far side was a heavily curtained doorway beyond which
I heard the hum of voices。 Instantly I crossed the small chamber；
and； parting the curtains； looked within the larger apartment。
Before me were a party of perhaps fifty gorgeously clad nobles
of the court； standing before a throne upon which sat Salensus Oll。
The Jeddak of Jeddaks was addressing them。
〃The allotted hour has come；〃 he was saying as I entered the apartment；
〃and though the enemies of Okar be within her gates； naught may stay the
will of Salensus Oll。 The great ceremony must be omitted that no single
man may be kept from his place in the defenses other than the fifty that
custom demands shall witness the creation of a new queen in Okar。
〃In a moment the thing shall have been done and we may return
to the battle； while she who is now the Princess of Helium looks
down from the queen's tower upon the annihilation of her former
countrymen and witnesses the greatness which is her husband's。〃
Then； turning to a courtier； he issued some command in a low voice。
The addressed hastened to a small door at the far end of the
chamber and； swinging it wide； cried： 〃Way for Dejah Thoris；
future Queen of Okar！〃
Immediately two guardsmen appeared dragging the unwilling bride
toward the altar。 Her hands were still manacled behind her；
evidently to prevent suicide。
Her disheveled hair and panting bosom betokened that； chained though
she was； still had she fought against the thing that they would do to her。
At sight of her Salensus Oll rose and drew his sword； and the sword
of each of the fifty nobles was raised on high to form an arch；
beneath which the poor； beautiful creature was dragged toward her doom。
A grim smile forced itself to my lips as I thought of the rude
awakening that lay in store for the ruler of Okar； and my itching
fingers fondled the hilt of my bloody sword。
As I watched the procession that moved slowly toward the throne
a procession which consisted of but a handful of priests；
who followed Dejah Thoris and the two guardsmenI caught a
fleeting glimpse of a black face peering from behind the
draperies that covered the wall back of the dais upon which
stood Salensus Oll awaiting his bride。
Now the guardsmen were forcing the Princess of Helium up the
few steps to the side of the tyrant of Okar； and I had no eyes
and no thoughts for aught else。 A priest opened a book and；
raising his hand； commenced to drone out a sing…song ritual。
Salensus Oll reached for the hand of his bride。
I had intended waiting until some circumstance should give me
a reasonable hope of success； for； even though the entire ceremony
should be completed； there could be no valid marriage while I lived。
What I was most concerned in； of course； was the rescuing of
Dejah ThorisI wished to take her from the palace of Salensus Oll；
if such a thing were possible； but whether it were accomplished
before or after the mock marriage was a matter of secondary import。
When； however； I saw the vile hand of Salensus Oll reach out for
the hand of my beloved princess I could restrain myself no longer；
and before the nobles of Okar knew that aught had happened I had
leaped through their thin line and was upon the dais beside
Dejah Thoris and Salensus Oll。
With the flat of my sword I struck down his polluting hand；
and grasping Dejah Thoris round the waist； I swung her behind
me as； with my back against the draperies of the dais； I faced
the tyrant of the north and his roomful of noble warriors。
The Jeddak of Jeddaks was a great mountain of a mana coarse；
brutal beast of a manand as he towered above me there； his fierce
black whiskers and mustache bristling in rage； I can well imagine
that a less seasoned warrior might have trembled before him。
With a snarl he sprang toward me with naked sword； but whether
Salensus Oll was a good swordsman or a poor I never learned；
for with Dejah Thoris at my back I was no longer humanI was
a superman； and no man could have withstood me then。
With a single； low： 〃For the Princess of Helium！〃 I ran my
blade straight through the rotten heart of Okar's rotten ruler；
and before the white； drawn faces of his nobles Salensus Oll rolled；
grinning in horrible death； to the foot of the steps below his
marriage throne。
For a moment tense silence reigned in the nuptial…room。 Then the
fifty nobles rushed upon me。 Furiously we fought； but the
advantage was mine； for I stood upon a raised platform above them；
and I fought for the most glorious woman of a glorious race；
and I fought for a great love and for the mother of my boy。
And from behind my shoulder； in the silvery cadence of that
dear voice； rose the brave battle anthem of Helium which the
nation's women sing as their men march out to victory。
That alone was enough to inspire me to victory