to fight at all. There be good reasons why every thern upon Barsoom should yearn to spill the blood of the blasphemer, the sacrilegist; but let us mix wisdom with our righteous hate. The Prince of Helium is bound upon an errand which we ourselves, but a moment since, were wishing that we might undertake.

“Let him go then and slay the black. When he returns we shall still be here to bar his way to the outer world, and thus we shall have rid ourselves of two enemies, nor have incurred the displeasure of the Father of Therns.”

As he spoke I could not but note the crafty glint in his evil eyes, and while I saw the apparent logic of his reasoning I felt, subconsciously perhaps, that his words did but veil some sinister intent. The other thern turned toward him in evident surprise, but when Lakor had whispered a few brief words into his ear he, too, drew back and nodded acquiescence to his superior’s suggestion.

“Proceed, John Carter,” said Lakor; “but know that if Thurid does not lay you low there will be those awaiting your return who will see that you never pass again into the sunlight of the upper world. Go!”

During our conversation Woola had been growling and bristling close to my side. Occasionally he would look up into my face with a low, pleading whine, as though begging for the word that would send him headlong at the bare throats before him. He, too, sensed the villainy behind the smooth words.Beyond the therns several doorways opened off the guardroom, and toward
the one upon the extreme right Lakor motioned.
“That way leads to Thurid,” he said.
But when I would have called Woola to follow me there the beast whined
and held back, and at last ran quickly to the first opening at the
left, where he stood emitting his coughing bark, as though urging me to
follow him upon the right way.
I turned a questioning look upon Lakor.
“The brute is seldom wrong,” I said, “and while I do not doubt your
superior knowledge, Thern, I think that I shall do well to listen to
the voice of instinct that is backed by love and loyalty.”
As I spoke I smiled grimly that he might know without words that I
distrusted him.
“As you will,” the fellow replied with a shrug. “In the end it shall be
all the same.”
I turned and followed Woola into the left-hand passage, and though my
back was toward my enemies, my ears were on the alert; yet I heard no
sound of pursuit. The passageway was dimly lighted by occasional radium

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