Warlord of Mars | Page 8

of our
duties and obligations."
To the rowers he issued the command that brought their boat in toward
the bank not a dozen paces beyond the spot where I lay.
Had they pulled in below me they must surely have seen me against the
faint glow of light ahead, but from where they finally came to rest I was
as secure from detection as though miles separated us.
The few words I had already overheard whetted my curiosity, and I was
anxious to learn what manner of vengeance Thurid was planning
against me. Nor had I long to wait. I listened intently.
"There are no obligations, Father of Therns," continued the First Born.
"Thurid, Dator of Issus, has no price. When the thing has been
accomplished I shall be glad if you will see to it that I am well received,
as is befitting my ancient lineage and noble rank, at some court that is
yet loyal to thy ancient faith, for I cannot return to the Valley Dor or
elsewhere within the power of the Prince of Helium; but even that I do
not demand--it shall be as your own desire in the matter directs."
"It shall be as you wish, Dator," replied Matai Shang; "nor is that
all--power and riches shall be yours if you restore my daughter, Phaidor,
to me, and place within my power Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium.
"Ah," he continued with a malicious snarl, "but the Earth man shall
suffer for the indignities he has put upon the holy of holies, nor shall
any vileness be too vile to inflict upon his princess. Would that it were
in my power to force him to witness the humiliation and degradation of
the red woman."
"You shall have your way with her before another day has passed,
Matai Shang," said Thurid, "if you but say the word."
"I have heard of the Temple of the Sun, Dator," replied Matai Shang,
"but never have I heard that its prisoners could be released before the

allotted year of their incarceration had elapsed. How, then, may you
accomplish the impossible?"
"Access may be had to any cell of the temple at any time," replied
Thurid. "Only Issus knew this; nor was it ever Issus' way to divulge
more of her secrets than were necessary. By chance, after her death, I
came upon an ancient plan of the temple, and there I found, plainly writ,
the most minute directions for reaching the cells at any time.
"And more I learned--that many men had gone thither for Issus in the
past, always on errands of death and torture to the prisoners; but those
who thus learned the secret way were wont to die mysteriously
immediately they had returned and made their reports to cruel Issus."
"Let us proceed, then," said Matai Shang at last. "I must trust you, yet
at the same time you must trust me, for we are six to your one."
"I do not fear," replied Thurid, "nor need you. Our hatred of the
common enemy is sufficient bond to insure our loyalty to each other,
and after we have defiled the Princess of Helium there will be still
greater reason for the maintenance of our allegiance--unless I greatly
mistake the temper of her lord."
Matai Shang spoke to the paddlers. The boat moved on up the tributary.
It was with difficulty that I restrained myself from rushing upon them
and slaying the two vile plotters; but quickly I saw the mad rashness of
such an act, which would cut down the only man who could lead the
way to Dejah Thoris' prison before the long Martian year had swung its
interminable circle.
If he should lead Matai Shang to that hollowed spot, then, too, should
he lead John Carter, Prince of Helium.
With silent paddle I swung slowly into the wake of the larger craft.

UNDER THE MOUNTAINS

As we advanced up the river which winds beneath the Golden Cliffs
out of the bowels of the Mountains of Otz to mingle its dark waters
with the grim and mysterious Iss the faint glow which had appeared
before us grew gradually into an all-enveloping radiance.
The river widened until it presented the aspect of a large lake whose
vaulted dome, lighted by glowing phosphorescent rock, was splashed
with the vivid rays of the diamond, the sapphire, the ruby, and the
countless, nameless jewels of Barsoom which lay incrusted in the
virgin gold which forms the major portion of these magnificent cliffs.
Beyond the lighted chamber of the lake was darkness--what lay behind
the darkness I could not even guess.
To have followed the thern boat across the gleaming water would have
been to invite instant detection, and so, though I was loath to permit
Thurid to pass even for