Thuvia, Maid of Mars

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 hea

that 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