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outbreak of rage upon my partsomething that would have
added to the spice of his revenge。 But I did not give him the
satisfaction that he craved。
Instead； I did the one thing of all others that might rouse his
anger and increase his hatred of me； for I knew that if I died
Dejah Thoris； too； would find a way to die before they could
heap further tortures or indignities upon her。
Of all the holy of holies which the thern venerates and worships none
is more revered than the yellow wig which covers his bald pate；
and next thereto comes the circlet of gold and the great diadem；
whose scintillant rays mark the attainment of the Tenth Cycle。
And； knowing this； I removed the wig and circlet from my head；
tossing them carelessly upon the flagging of the court。 Then I
wiped my feet upon the yellow tresses； and as a groan of rage arose
from the balcony I spat full upon the holy diadem。
Matai Shang went livid with anger； but upon the lips of Thurid
I could see a grim smile of amusement； for to him these things were
not holy； so； lest he should derive too much amusement from my act；
I cried： 〃And thus did I with the holies of Issus； Goddess of Life
Eternal； ere I threw Issus herself to the mob that once had
worshiped her； to be torn to pieces in her own temple。〃
That put an end to Thurid's grinning； for he had been high in
the favor of Issus。
〃Let us have an end to this blaspheming！〃 he cried； turning to
the Father of Therns。
Matai Shang rose and； leaning over the edge of the balcony；
gave voice to the weird call that I had heard from the lips of the
priests upon the tiny balcony upon the face of the Golden Cliffs
overlooking the Valley Dor； when； in times past； they called the
fearsome white apes and the hideous plant men to the feast of
victims floating down the broad bosom of the mysterious Iss toward
the silian…infested waters of the Lost Sea of Korus。
〃Let loose the death！〃 he cried； and immediately a dozen
doors in the base of the tower swung open； and a dozen grim
and terrible banths sprang into the arena。
This was not the first time that I had faced the ferocious
Barsoomian lion； but never had I been pitted； single…handed；
against a full dozen of them。 Even with the assistance of
the fierce Woola； there could be but a single outcome to so
unequal a struggle。
For a moment the beasts hesitated beneath the brilliant glare
of the torches； but presently their eyes； becoming accustomed to
the light； fell upon Woola and me； and with bristling manes and
deep…throated roars they advanced； lashing their tawny sides with
their powerful tails。
In the brief interval of life that was left me I shot a last；
parting glance toward my Dejah Thoris。 Her beautiful face was set
in an expression of horror； and as my eyes met hers she extended
both arms toward me as； struggling with the guards who now held her；
she endeavored to cast herself from the balcony into the pit beneath；
that she might share my death with me。 Then； as the banths were about
to close upon me； she turned and buried her dear face in her arms。
Suddenly my attention was drawn toward Thuvia of Ptarth。
The beautiful girl was leaning far over the edge of the balcony；
her eyes bright with excitement。
In another instant the banths would be upon me； but I could
not force my gaze from the features of the red girl； for I knew
that her expression meant anything but the enjoyment of the grim
tragedy that would so soon be enacted below her； there was some
deeper； hidden meaning which I sought to solve。
For an instant I thought of relying on my earthly muscles and
agility to escape the banths and reach the balcony； which I could
easily have done； but I could not bring myself to desert the
faithful Woola and leave him to die alone beneath the cruel fangs
of the hungry banths； that is not the way upon Barsoom； nor was it
ever the way of John Carter。
Then the secret of Thuvia's excitement became apparent as from
her lips there issued the purring sound I had heard once before；
that time that； within the Golden Cliffs； she called the fierce
banths about her and led them as a shepherdess might lead her flock
of meek and harmless sheep。
At the first note of that soothing sound the banths halted in
their tracks； and every fierce head went high as the beasts sought
the origin of the familiar call。 Presently they discovered the red
girl in the balcony above them； and； turning； roared out their
recognition and their greeting。
Guards sprang to drag Thuvia away； but ere they had succeeded
she had hurled a volley of commands at the listening brutes；
and as one they turned and marched back into their dens。
〃You need not fear them now； John Carter！〃 cried Thuvia；
before they could silence her。 〃Those banths will never harm
you now； nor Woola； either。〃
It was all I cared to know。 There was naught to keep me from
that balcony now； and with a long； running leap I sprang far aloft
until my hands grasped its lowest sill。
In an instant all was wild confusion。 Matai Shang shrank back。
Thurid sprang forward with drawn sword to cut me down。
Again Dejah Thoris wielded her heavy irons and fought him back。
Then Matai Shang grasped her about the waist and dragged her
away through a door leading within the tower。
For an instant Thurid hesitated； and then； as though fearing
that the Father of Therns would escape him with the Princess of
Helium； he； too； dashed from the balcony in their wake。
Phaidor alone retained her presence of mind。 Two of the guards
she ordered to bear away Thuvia of Ptarth； the others she commanded
to remain and prevent me from following。 Then she turned toward me。
〃John Carter；〃 she cried； 〃for the last time I offer you the
love of Phaidor； daughter of the Holy Hekkador。 Accept and your
princess shall be returned to the court of her grandfather； and you
shall live in peace and happiness。 Refuse and the fate that my
father has threatened shall fall upon Dejah Thoris。
〃You cannot save her now； for by this time they have reached a place
where even you may not follow。 Refuse and naught can save you；
for； though the way to the last stronghold of the Holy Therns
was made easy for you； the way hence hath been made impossible。
What say you？〃
〃You knew my answer； Phaidor；〃 I replied； 〃before ever you spoke。
Make way；〃 I cried to the guards； 〃for John Carter； Prince of
Helium； would pass！〃
With that I leaped over the low baluster that surrounded the
balcony； and with drawn long…sword faced my enemies。
There were three of them； but Phaidor must have guessed what the
outcome of the battle would be； for she turned and fled from the
balcony the moment she saw that I would have none of her proposition。
The three guardsmen did not wait for my attack。 Instead； they
rushed methe three of them simultaneously； and it was that which
gave me an advantage； for they fouled one another in the narrow
precincts of the balcony； so that the foremost of them stumbled
full upon my blade at the first onslaught。
The red stain upon my point roused to its full the old blood…lust
of the fighting man that has ever been so strong within my breast；
so that my blade flew through the air with a swiftness and deadly
accuracy that threw the two remaining therns into wild despair。
When at last the sharp steel found the heart of one of them
the other turned to flee； and； guessing that his steps would lead
him along the way taken by those I sought； I let him keep ever far
enough ahead to think that he was safely escaping my sword。
Through several inner chambers he raced until he came to a
spiral runway。 Up this he dashed； I in close pursuit。 At the
upper end we came out into a small chamber； the walls of which were
plank except for a single window overlooking the slopes of Otz and
the Valley of Lost Souls beyond。
Here the fellow tore frantically at what appeared to be but a
piece of the blank wall opposite the single window。 In an instant
I guessed that it was a secret exit from the room； and so I paused
that he might have an opportunity to negotiate it； for I cared
nothing to take the life of this poor servitorall I craved was a
clear road in pursuit of Dejah Thoris； my long…lost princess。
But； try as he would； the panel would yield neither to cunning
nor force； so that eventually he gave it up and turned to face me。
〃Go thy way； Thern；〃 I said to him； pointing toward the entrance
to the runway up which we had but just come。 〃I have no quarrel
with you； nor do I crave your life。 Go！〃
For answer he sprang upon me with his sword； and so suddenly；
at that； that I was like to have gone down before his first rush。
So there was nothing for it but to give him what he sought； and
that as quickly as might be； that I might not be delayed too long