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To escape the Dusarians might prove an easy matter; and then again

it might not. Should they suspect his loyalty (and the loyalty

of an impressed panthan was always open to suspicion), he might

not find an opportunity to elude their vigilance until after the

termination of the war, which might occur within days, or, again,

only after long and weary years of bloodshed.



He recalled that history recorded wars in which actual military

operations had been carried on without cessation for five or six

hundred years, and even now there were nations upon Barsoom with

which Helium had made no peace within the history of man.



The outlook was not cheering. He could not guess that within a

few hours he would be blessing the fate that had thrown him into

the service of Dusar.



"Ah!" exclaimed Hal Vas. "Here is my father now. Kaor! Vas Kor.

Here is one you will be glad to meet--a doughty panthan--" He

hesitated.



"Turjun," interjected Carthoris, seizing upon the first appellation

that occurred to him.



As he spoke his eyes crossed quickly to the tall warrior who was

entering the room. Where before had he seen that giant figure,

that taciturn countenance, and the livid sword-cut from temple to

mouth?



"Vas Kor," repeated Carthoris mentally. "Vas Kor!" Where had he

seen the man before?



And then the noble spoke, and like a flash it all came back to

Carthoris--the forward servant upon the landing-stage at Ptarth

that time that he had been explaining the intricacies of his new

compass to Thuvan Dihn; the lone slave that had guarded his own hangar

that night he had left upon his ill-fated journey for Ptarth--the

journey that had brought him so mysteriously to far Aaanthor.



"Vas Kor," he repeated aloud, "blessed be your ancestors for this

meeting," nor did the Dusarian guess the wealth of meaning that lay

beneath that hackneyed phrase with which a Barsoomian acknowledges

an introduction.



"And blessed be yours, Turjun," replied Vas Kor.



Now came the introduction of Kar Komak to Vas Kor, and as Carthoris

went through the little ceremony there came to him the only

explanation he might make to account for the white skin and auburn

hair of the bowman; for he feared that the truth might not be

believed and thus suspicion be cast upon them both from the beginning.



"Kar Komak," he explained, "is, as you can see, a thern. He

has wandered far from his icebound southern temples in search of

adventure. I came upon him in the pits of Aaanthor; but though

I have known him so short a time, I can vouch for his bravery and

loyalty."



Since the destruction of the fabric of their false religion by

John Carter, the majority of the therns had gladly accepted the

new order of things, so that it was now no longer uncommon to see

them mingling with the multitudes of red men in any of the great

cities of the outer world, so Vas Kor neither felt nor expressed

any great astonishment.



All during the interview Carthoris watched, catlike, for some

indication that Vas Kor recognized in the battered panthan the

erstwhile gorgeous Prince of Helium; but the sleepless nights, the

long days of marching and fighting, the wounds and the dried blood

had evidently sufficed to obliterate the last remnant of his likeness

to his former self; and then Vas Kor had seen him but twice in all

his life. Little wonder that he did not know him.



During the evening Vas Kor announced that on the morrow they should

depart north toward Dusar, picking up recruits at various stations

along the way.



In a great field behind the house a flier lay--a fair-sized

cruiser-transport that would accommodate many men, yet swift and

well armed also. Here Carthoris slept, and Kar Komak, too, with

the other recruits, under guard of the regular Dusarian warriors

that manned the craft.



Toward midnight Vas Kor returned to the vessel from his son's

house, repairing at once to his cabin. Carthoris, with one of the

Dusarians, was on watch. It was with difficulty that the Heliumite

repressed a cold smile as the noble passed within a foot of

him--within a foot of the long, slim, Heliumitic blade that swung

in his harness.



How easy it would have been! How easy to avenge the cowardly

trick that had been played upon him--to avenge Helium and Ptarth

and Thuvia!



But his hand moved not toward the dagger's hilt, for first Vas Kor

must serve a better purpose--he might know where Thuvia of Ptarth

lay hidden now, if it had truly been Dusarians that had spirited

her away during the fight before Aaanthor.



And then, too, there was the instigator of the entire foul plot.

HE must pay the penalty; and who better than Vas Kor could lead

the Prince of Helium to Astok of Dusar?



Faintly out of the night there came to Carthoris's ears the purring

of a distant motor. He scanned the heavens.



Yes, there it was far in the north, dimly outlined against the

dark void of space that stretched illimitably beyond it, the faint

suggestion of a flier passing, unlighted, through the Barsoomian

night.



Carthoris, knowing not whether the craft might be friend or foe

of Dusar, gave no sign that he had seen, but turned his eyes in

another direction, leaving the matter to the Dusarian who stood

watch with him.



Presently the fellow discovered the oncoming craft, and sounded

the low alarm which brought the balance of the watch and an officer

from their sleeping silks and furs upon the deck near by.



The cruiser-transport lay without lights, and, resting as she was

upon the ground, must have been entirely invisible to the oncoming

flier, which all presently recognized as a small craft.



It soon became evident that the stranger intended making a landing,

for she was now spiraling slowly above them, dropping lower and

lower in each graceful curve.



"It is the Thuria," whispered one of the Dusarian warriors. "I

would know her in the blackness of the pits among ten thousand

other craft."



"Right you are!" exclaimed Vas Kor, who had come on deck. And then

he hailed:



"Kaor, Thuria!"



"Kaor!" came presently from above after a brief silence. Then:

"What ship?"



"Cruiser-transport Kalksus, Vas Kor of Dusar."



"Good!" came from above. "Is there safe landing alongside?"



"Yes, close in to starboard. Wait, we will show our lights," and

a moment later the smaller craft settled close beside the Kalksus,

and the lights of the latter were immediately extinguished once

more.



Several figures could be seen slipping over the side of the Thuria

and advancing toward the Kalksus. Ever suspicious, the Dusarians

stood ready to receive the visitors as friends or foes as closer

inspection might prove them. Carthoris stood quite near the rail,

ready to take sides with the new-comers should chance have it that

they were Heliumites playing a bold stroke of strategy upon this

lone Dusarian ship. He had led like parties himself, and knew that

such a contingency was quite possible.



But the face of the first man to cross the rail undeceived him

with a shock that was not at all unpleasurable--it was the face of

Astok, Prince of Dusar.



Scarce noticing the others upon the deck of the Kalksus, Astok

strode forward to accept Vas Kor's greeting, then he summoned the

noble below. The warriors and officers returned to their sleeping

silks and furs, and once more the deck was deserted except for the

Dusarian warrior and Turjun, the panthan, who stood guard.



The latter walked quietly to and fro. The former leaned across

the rail, wishing for the hour that would bring him relief. He

did not see his companion approach the lights of the cabin of Vas

Kor. He did not see him stoop with ear close pressed to a tiny

ventilator.



"May the white apes take us all," cried Astok ruefully, "if we are

not in as ugly a snarl as you have ever seen! Nutus thinks that

we have her in hiding far away from Dusar. He has bidden me bring

her here."



He paused. No man should have heard from his lips the thing he was

trying to tell. It should have been for ever the secret of Nutus

and Astok, for upon it rested the safety of a throne. With that

knowledge any man could wrest from the Jeddak of Dusar whatever he

listed.



But Astok was afraid, and he wanted from this older man the suggestion

of an alternative. He went on.



"I am to kill her," he whispered, looking fearfully around. "Nutus

merely wishes to see the body that he may know his commands have

been executed. I am now supposed to be gone to the spot where we

have her hidden that I may fetch her in secrecy to Dusar. None

is to know that she has ever been in the keeping of a Dusarian. I

do not need to tell you what would befall Dusar should Ptarth and

Helium and Kaol ever learn the truth."



The jaws of the listener at the ventilator clicked together with

a vicious snap. Before he had but guessed at the identity of the

subject of this conversation. Now he knew. And they were to kill

her! His muscular fingers clenched until the nails bit into the

palms.



"And you wish me to go with you while you fetch her to Dusar," Vas

Kor was saying. "Where is she?"



Astok bent close and whispered into the other's ear. The suggestion

of a smile crossed the cruel features of Vas Kor. He realized the

power that lay within his grasp. He should be a jed at least.



"And how may I help you, my Prince?" asked the older man suavely.



"I cannot kill her," said Astok. "Issus! I cannot do it! When

she turns those eyes upon me my heart becomes water."



Vas Kor's eyes narrowed.



"And you wish--" He paused, the interrogation unfinished, yet

complete.



Astok nodded.



"YOU do not love her," he said.



"But I love my life--though I am only a lesser noble," he concluded

meaningly.



"You shall be a greater noble--a noble of the first rank!" exclaimed

Astok.



"I would be a jed," said Vas Kor bluntly.



Astok hesitated.



"A jed must die before there can be another jed," he pleaded.



"Jeds have died before," snapped Vas Kor. "It would doubtless be

not difficult for you to find a jed you do not love, Astok--there

are many who do not love you."



Already Vas Kor was commencing to presume upon his power over the

young prince. Astok was quick to note and appreciate the subtle

change in his lieutenant. A cunning scheme entered his weak and

wicked brain.



"As you say, Vas Kor!" he exclaimed. "You shall be a jed when

the thing is done," and then, to himself: "Nor will it then be

difficult for me to find a jed I do not love."



"When shall we return to Dusar?" asked the noble.



"At once," replied Astok. "Let us get under way now--there is

naught to keep you here?"



"I had intended sailing on the morrow, picking up such recruits as

the various Dwars of the Roads might have collected for me, as we

returned to Dusar."



"Let the recruits wait," said Astok. "Or, better still, come you

to Dusar upon the Thuria, leaving the Kalksus to follow and pick

up the recruits."



"Yes," acquiesced Vas Kor; "that is the better plan. Come; I am

ready," and he rose to accompany Astok to the latter's flier.



The listener at the ventilator came to his feet slowly, like an

old man. His face was drawn and pinched and very white beneath

the light copper of his skin. She was to die! And he helpless to

avert the tragedy. He did not even know where she was imprisoned.



The two men were ascending from the cabin to the deck. Turjun,

the panthan, crept close to the companionway, his sinuous fingers

closing tightly upon the hilt of his dagger. Could he despatch

them both before he was overpowered? He smiled. He could slay an

entire utan of her enemies in his present state of mind.



They were almost abreast of him now. Astok was speaking.



"Bring a couple of your men along, Vas Kor," he said. "We are

short-handed upon the Thuria, so quickly did we depart."



The panthan's fingers dropped from the dagger's hilt. His quick

mind had grasped here a chance for succouring Thuvia of Ptarth.

He might be chosen as one to accompany the assassins, and once he

had learned where the captive lay he could dispatch Astok and Vas

Kor as well as now. To kill them before he knew where Thuvia was

hid was simply to leave her to death at the hands of others; for

sooner or later Nutus would learn her whereabouts, and Nutus, Jeddak

of Dusar, could not afford to let her live.



Turjun put himself in the path of Vas Kor that he might not be

overlooked. The noble aroused the men sleeping upon the deck, but

always before him the strange panthan whom he had recruited that

same day found means for keeping himself to the fore.



Vas Kor turned to his lieutenant, giving instruction for the bringing

of the Kalksus to Dusar, and the gathering up of the recruits; then

he signed to two warriors who stood close behind the padwar.



"You two accompany us to the Thuria," he said, "and put yourselves

at the disposal of her dwar."



It was dark upon the deck of the Kalksus, so Vas Kor had not a good

look at the faces of the two he chose; but that was of no moment,

for they were but common warriors to assist with the ordinary duties

upon a flier, and to fight if need be.



One of the two was Kar Komak, the bowman. The other was not

Carthoris.



The Heliumite was mad with disappointment. He snatched his dagger

from his harness; but already Astok had left the deck of the Kalksus,

and he knew that before he could overtake him, should he dispatch

Vas Kor, he would be killed by the Dusarian warriors, who now were

thick upon the deck. With either one of the two alive Thuvia was

in as great danger as though both lived--it must be both!



As Vas Kor descended to the ground Carthoris boldly followed him,

nor did any attempt to halt him, thinking, doubtless, that he was

one of the party.



After him came Kar Komak and the Dusarian warrior who had been

detailed to duty upon the Thuria. Carthoris walked close to the

left side of the latter. Now they came to the dense shadow under

the side of the Thuria. It was very dark there, so that they had

to grope for the ladder.



Kar Komak preceded the Dusarian. The latter reached upward for

the swinging rounds, and as he did so steel fingers closed upon

his windpipe and a steel blade pierced the very centre of his heart.



Turjun, the panthan, was the last to clamber over the rail of the

Thuria, drawing the rope ladder in after him.



A moment later the flier was rising rapidly, headed for the north.



At the rail Kar Komak turned to speak to the warrior who had been

detailed to accompany him. His eyes went wide as they rested

upon the face of the young man whom he had met beside the granite

cliffs that guard mysterious Lothar. How had he come in place of

the Dusarian?



A quick sign, and Kar Komak turned once more to find the Thuria's

dwar that he might report himself for duty. Behind him followed

the panthan.



Carthoris blessed the chance that had caused Vas Kor to choose the

bowman of all others, for had it been another Dusarian there would

have been questions to answer as to the whereabouts of the warrior

who lay so quietly in the field beyond the residence of Hal Vas,

Dwar of the Southern Road; and Carthoris had no answer to that

question other than his sword point, which alone was scarce adequate

to convince the entire crew of the Thuria.



The journey to Dusar seemed interminable to the impatient Carthoris,

though as a matter of fact it was quickly accomplished. Some

time before they reached their destination they met and spoke with

another Dusarian war flier. From it they learned that a great

battle was soon to be fought south-east of Dusar.



The combined navies of Dusar, Ptarth and Kaol had been intercepted

in their advance toward Helium by the mighty Heliumitic navy--the

most formidable upon Barsoom, not alone in numbers and armament,

but in the training and courage of its officers and warriors, and

the zitidaric proportions of many of its monster battleships.



Not for many a day had there been the promise of such a battle.

Four jeddaks were in direct command of their own fleets--Kulan Tith

of Kaol, Thuvan Dihn of Ptarth, and Nutus of Dusar upon one side;

while upon the other was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. With the

latter was John Carter, Warlord of Mars.



From the far north another force was moving south across the barrier

cliffs--the new navy of Talu, Jeddak of Okar, coming in response

to the call from the warlord. Upon the decks of the sullen ships

of war black-bearded yellow men looked over eagerly toward the

south. Gorgeous were they in their splendid cloaks of orluk and

apt. Fierce, formidable fighters from the hothouse cities of the

frozen north.



And from the distant south, from the sea of Omean and the cliffs

of gold, from the temples of the therns and the garden of Issus,

other thousands sailed into the north at the call of the great man

they all had learned to respect, and, respecting, love. Pacing the

flagship of this mighty fleet, second only to the navy of Helium,

was the ebon Xodar, Jeddak of the First Born, his heart beating

strong in anticipation of the coming moment when he should hurl his

savage crews and the weight of his mighty ships upon the enemies

of the warlord.



But would these allies reach the theatre of war in time to be of

avail to Helium? Or, would Helium need them?



Carthoris, with the other members of the crew of the Thuria, heard

the gossip and the rumours. None knew of the two fleets, the one

from the south and the other from the north, that were coming to

support the ships of Helium, and all of Dusar were convinced that

nothing now could save the ancient power of Helium from being wiped

for ever from the upper air of Barsoom.



Carthoris, too, loyal son of Helium that he was, felt that even

his beloved navy might not be able to cope successfully with the

combined forces of three great powers.



Now the Thuria touched the landing-stage above the palace of Astok.

Hurriedly the prince and Vas Kor disembarked and entered the drop

that would carry them to the lower levels of the palace.



Close beside it was another drop that was utilized by common

warriors. Carthoris touched Kar Komak upon the arm.



"Come!" he whispered. "You are my only friend among a nation of

enemies. Will you stand by me?"



"To the death," replied Kar Komak.



The two approached the drop. A slave operated it.



"Where are your passes?" he asked.



Carthoris fumbled in his pocket pouch as though in search of them,

at the same time entering the cage. Kar Komak followed him, closing

the door. The slave did not start the cage downward. Every second

counted. They must reach the lower level as soon as possible after

Astok and Vas Kor if they would know whither the two went.



Carthoris turned suddenly upon the slave, hurling him to the opposite

side of the cage.



"Bind and gag him, Kar Komak!" he cried.



Then he grasped the control lever, and as the cage shot downward

at sickening speed, the bowman grappled with the slave. Carthoris

could not leave the control to assist his companion, for should

they touch the lowest level at the speed at which they were going,

all would be dashed to instant death.



Below him he could now see the top of Astok's cage in the parallel

shaft, and he reduced the speed of his to that of the other. The

slave commenced to scream.



"Silence him!" cried Carthoris.



A moment later a limp form crumpled to the floor of the cage.



"He is silenced," said Kar Komak.



Carthoris brought the cage to a sudden stop at one of the higher

levels of the palace. Opening the door, he grasped the still form

of the slave and pushed it out upon the floor. Then he banged the

gate and resumed the downward drop.



Once more he sighted the top of the cage that held Astok and Vas

Kor. An instant later it had stopped, and as he brought his car

to a halt, he saw the two men disappear through one of the exits

of the corridor beyond.