the presence of Tario, leaving her alone wit
d appointments bespoke wealth and culture, and carried the suggestion that th
her being than herself and the recumbent figure of Tario, the jeddak, who watch
of Jav and Carthoris the man ey
oyal edicts of Lothar. Tell me, woman, from whose brain have you sprung? Jav's? No, do not deny it. I know that it could be no other than that envious realist. He
en rising to Thuvia's face. Her chin was
am no man's 'creature.' Never before to-day did I lay eyes upon him you call Jav, nor upo
the price were a real throne. And as for using them to win your worse than futile power-"
ch, his feet upon the floor. He was leaning forward with eyes no
ds and manner. There was evidently something more s
came to
ut you are REAL! A REAL woman! No dream!
ward her, with ha
you would come. And now that you are here I can scarce believe the testimony of my e
dagger. The man saw the move, and stopped. A cunning expression entered his eyes. Then
cause of it she did not guess; but somehow the man befor
Her hand slipped from the dagger's hilt. Tario came closer. He spoke gentle, fri
n-bent toward hers. She looked up into his face. His gaze seemed to bo
ore her consciousness. She had known Tario for ever. He was more than friend to her. She moved a little closer to
ing in the expression of his face, or whether from Carthoris of Helium in a far chamber of the palace came a more power
m, and, accustomed as she was to the strange manifestations of highly developed mentality which are
s grasp. But the momentary contact had aroused within Tar
er, throwing his arms about her and
ke you queen of Lothar. Listen to me! Listen to
to free herself
"Stop! I do not love you. Sto
ughed in
s of Lothar is there who might come in answer to your call
ng, dare to cut you down upon your own throne, if he th
v?" aske
otharian," she replied; "but a real ma
man laug
her. "What could your red warrior acc
ughly to him, dragging
y queen," he said, "y
!" cried
ng her, staggered back, both hands pressed to his side. At the same instant the room
their arrows into Thuvia's heart. Involuntarily she gave a single cry for
lender shafts pierced her tender side. She raised her
dak of Lothar lying at her feet, a little pool of crimson stainin
bowmen? Why had they not loosed th
ddak; yet now, with the evidence of her deed plain before them, they had vanished as mysteriously as they ha
first for signs of the return of the bo
vy hangings. Thuvia was running quickly towards one of these when she heathat screening arras and, perchance, have found some avenue of e
and there, before her, running swiftly across the broad chamber to
Fate had thrown them together she had scarce favoured him with more than the most perfunctory replies to his r
fight for her; but whether to save her f
if he had been instrumental in her abduction, his motives could n
filled with apprehension for her safety, his splendid figure personifying all that is finest in the fighting men
any man been so welcome to her. It was with difficult
was promised to Kulan Tith. Not even might she trust herself to
the scene within the room-the still figure of the jeddak spra
you, Thuvia
rimsoned blade th
id, "he did
lighted Car
see if we may not make good our escape from this accursed city
ginia and Dejah Thoris of Helium, he grasped her hand and, turning back across the hall, strode toward
rang into the apartment through another entrance. It w
ready in his hand, and his great body
alive with Thuvia of Ptarth." Then, seeing that the man wore no sword, he exclaimed: "Bring on your bowme
l blood-real death. Tario was, after all, as real as I. Yet he was an etherealist. He would not materialize his sustenance. Can it
m glad. Now shall Jav come into his o
o opened his eyes an
d, and then: "Kadar! Kadar!" wh
He fell upon his belly,
but just this instant entered the apartment to find you lying prone upon the floor and these
ever, he is dead now. Of that I am glad. Now shall Jav
condemned you as surely as the acts of these red creatures ha
said, and before the words could be uttered he had sprung fo
in rage and
warned the Heliumite, "I shall forget that you wear no
speak, but so hideously were the muscles of his face working that he could ut
!" and then he turned to
rward, scream
served you faithfully. Remember all that I have done for Lothar
gh and continued to back toward the
d toward
ve life, let him not leave this room," and as
as too quick for them. By the time they reached the arras behind which he ha
e floor in a s
an attempt to leave the city. We are still alive, and while we live we may yet endeavour t
shook
, if we could have but intercepted him! Then there mig
will be time enough to worry about that after they come-at present I see no indicati
his head m
ve already come-and gone. They have done their w
of the several doorways which pierced the walls of the g
asked Ca
he death," whisp
say. He just sat upon the edge
naked sword, he let his brave eyes roam ceaselessly about t
terrible. Even Carthoris of Helium began to feel the terrible strain upon his nerves. If he could but know how and whence the hand of death was to strike, h
l of his arm against hers, and with the contact of her the man took a
said, laughing; "and, shame be upon me that I should confess it
ly when a fearful shriek broke
The end is coming! The floor! Th
look at the floor to be aware of the
the movement, being gradual, was scarce noticeable; but presently the angle of the
ide toward the centre of the room, where both Thuvia and Carthoris suddenly noted a smal
lt to cling to the dizzy inclinatio
ut himself commenced to slide and sl
dar hide and with his bare feet braced himself against the sickening
was close to his. Death, unseen and of unknown form, seemed close up
princess,"
g lips above hers and brave eyes, untouch
tly. There was a sudden slipping rush as t
three found themselves piled upon the royal couch of Tario, whic
ntinuing to enlarge. The couch slipped downward. Jav shrieked again. There was a sickening sen