“There is immortality only in Issus,” she replied. “And Issus is for the race of therns alone. Thus am I immortal.” 

 I caught a fleeting grin passing across the features of the black as he heard her words. I did not then understand why he smiled. Later I was to learn, and she, too, in a most horrible manner. 

 “If the other thing you have just learned,” she continued, “has led to as erroneous deductions as the first you are little richer in knowledge than you were before.” 

 “The other,” I replied, “is that our dusky friend here does not hail from the nearer moon—he was like to have died at a few thousand feet above Barsoom. Had we continued the five thousand miles that lie between Thuria and the planet he would have been but the frozen memory of a man.” 

 Phaidor looked at the black in evident astonishment. 

 “If you are not of Thuria, then where?” she asked. 

 He shrugged his shoulders and turned his eyes elsewhere, but did not reply. 

 The girl stamped her little foot in a peremptory manner. 

 “The daughter of Matai Shang is not accustomed to having her queries remain unanswered,” she said. “One of the lesser breed should feel honoured that a member of the holy race that was born to inherit life eternal should deign even to notice him.” 

 Again the black smiled that wicked, knowing smile. 

 “Xodar, Dator of the First Born of Barsoom, is accustomed to give commands, not to receive them,” replied the black pirate. Then, turning to me, “What are your intentions concerning me?” 

 “I intend taking you both back to Helium,” I said. “No harm will come to you. You will find the red men of Helium a kindly and magnanimous race, but if they listen to me there will be no more voluntary pilgrimages down the river Iss, and the impossible belief that they have cherished for ages will be shattered into a thousand pieces.” 

 “Are you of Helium?” he asked. 

 “I am a Prince of the House of Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium,” I replied, “but I am not of Barsoom. I am of another world.” 

 Xodar looked at me intently for a few moments. 

 “I can well believe 

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