The face of carthoris of Helium gave no token of theemotions that convulsed him inwardly as he heard fromthe lips of Hal Vas that Helium was at war with Dusar,and that fate had thrown him into the service of the enemy.

That he might utilize this opportunity to the good ofHelium scarce sufficed to outweigh the chagrin he feltthat he was not fighting in the open at the head of hisown loyal troops.

To escape the Dusarians might prove an easy matter;and then again it might not. Should they suspect hisloyalty (and the loyalty of an impressed panthan was alwaysopen to suspicion), he might not find an opportunity toelude their vigilance until after the termination of the war,which might occur within days, or, again, only after longand weary years of bloodshed.

He recalled that history recorded wars in which actualmilitary operations had been carried on without cessationfor five or six hundred years, and even now there werenations upon Barsoom with which Helium had made no peacewithin the history of man.

The outlook was not cheering. He could not guess thatwithin a few hours he would be blessing the fate that hadthrown 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 firstappellation that occurred to him.

As he spoke his eyes crossed quickly to the tall warriorwho was entering the room. Where before had he seenthat giant figure, that taciturn countenance, and thelivid 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 cameback to Carthoris--the forward servant upon the landing-stage at Ptarth that time that he had been explaining theintricacies of his new compass to Thuvan Dihn; the loneslave that had guarded his own hangar that night he hadleft upon his ill-fated journey for Ptarth--the journeythat had brought him so mysteriously to far Aaanthor.

"Vas Kor," he repeated aloud, "blessed be your ancestorsfor this meeting," nor did the Dusarian guess the wealthof meaning that lay beneath that hackneyed phrase withwhich 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 therecame to him the only explanation he might make to accountfor the white skin and auburn hair of the bowman;for he feared that the truth might not be believed andthus 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 templesin search of adventure. I came upon him in the pits ofAaanthor; 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 falsereligion by John Carter, the majority of the therns hadgladly accepted the new order of things, so that it wasnow no longer uncommon to see them mingling with themultitudes of red men in any of the great cities of theouter world, so Vas Kor neither felt nor expressed anygreat astonishment.

All during the interview Carthoris watched, catlike,for some indication that Vas Kor recognized in thebattered panthan the erstwhile gorgeous Prince of Helium;but the sleepless nights, the long days of marching andfighting, the wounds and the dried blood had evidentlysufficed to obliterate the last remnant of his likenessto his former self; and then Vas Kor had seen him but twicein all his life. Little wonder that he did not know him.

During the evening Vas Kor announced that onthe 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 guardof the regular Dusarian warriors that manned the craft.

Toward midnight Vas Kor returned to the vessel from hisson's house, repairing at once to his cabin. Carthoris,with one of the Dusarians, was on watch. It was withdifficulty that the Heliumite repressed a cold smile asthe noble passed within a foot of him--within a foot ofthe long, slim, Heliumitic blade that swung in his harness.

How easy it would have been! How easy to avenge thecowardly trick that had been played upon him--to avengeHelium 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 heraway during the fight before Aaanthor.

And then, too, there was the instigator of the entirefoul plot. HE must pay the penalty; and who better thanVas Kor could lead the Prince of Helium to Astok of Dusar?

Faintly out of the night there came to Carthoris's earsthe purring of a distant motor. He scanned the heavens.

Yes, there it was far in the north, dimly outlined againstthe dark void of space that stretched illimitably beyond it,the faint suggestion of a flier passing, unlighted, throughthe Barsoomian night.

Carthoris, knowing not whether the craft might befriend or foe of Dusar, gave no sign that he had seen,but turned his eyes in another direction, leaving the matterto the Dusarian who stood watch with him.

Presently the fellow discovered the oncoming craft, andsounded the low alarm which brought the balance of thewatch and an officer from their sleeping silks and fursupon the deck near by.

The cruiser-transport lay without lights, and,resting as she was upon the ground, must have beenentirely invisible to the oncoming flier, which allpresently recognized as a small craft.

It soon became evident that the stranger intended makinga 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 tenthousand other craft."

"Right you are!" exclaimed Vas Kor, who had comeon 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 ourlights," and a moment later the smaller craft settledclose beside the Kalksus, and the lights of thelatter were immediately extinguished once more.

Several figures could be seen slipping over the side ofthe Thuria and advancing toward the Kalksus. Ever suspicious,the Dusarians stood ready to receive the visitors asfriends or foes as closer inspection might prove them.Carthoris stood quite near the rail, ready to take sideswith the new-comers should chance have it that they wereHeliumites playing a bold stroke of strategy upon thislone 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 railundeceived him with a shock that was not at allunpleasurable--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 andofficers returned to their sleeping silks and furs, and oncemore the deck was deserted except for the Dusarian warriorand Turjun, the panthan, who stood guard.

The latter walked quietly to and fro. The former leanedacross the rail, wishing for the hour that would bringhim relief. He did not see his companion approach thelights of the cabin of Vas Kor. He did not see himstoop 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 thething he was trying to tell. It should have been forever the secret of Nutus and Astok, for upon it restedthe safety of a throne. With that knowledge any mancould wrest from the Jeddak of Dusar whatever he listed.

But Astok was afraid, and he wanted from this olderman 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 knowhis commands have been executed. I am now supposedto be gone to the spot where we have her hiddenthat I may fetch her in secrecy to Dusar. None is toknow that she has ever been in the keeping of a Dusarian. I do not need to tell you what would befall Dusar shouldPtarth and Helium and Kaol ever learn the truth."

The jaws of the listener at the ventilator clickedtogether with a vicious snap. Before he had but guessedat the identity of the subject of this conversation. Nowhe knew. And they were to kill her! His muscular fingersclenched until the nails bit into the palms.

"And you wish me to go with you while you fetchher 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 ofVas 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 woulddoubtless be not difficult for you to find a jed you donot love, Astok--there are many who do not love you."

Already Vas Kor was commencing to presume upon hispower over the young prince. Astok was quick to noteand 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 jedwhen the thing is done," and then, to himself: "Nor willit 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 suchrecruits as the various Dwars of the Roads might havecollected 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 Kalksusto follow and pick up the recruits."

"Yes," acquiesced Vas Kor; "that is the better plan.Come; I am ready," and he rose to accompany Astokto the latter's flier.

The listener at the ventilator came to his feet slowly,like an old man. His face was drawn and pinchedand 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 ofhis dagger. Could he despatch them both before he wasoverpowered? He smiled. He could slay an entire utanof 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 succouringThuvia of Ptarth. He might be chosen as one to accompanythe assassins, and once he had learned where the captivelay he could dispatch Astok and Vas Kor as well as now.To kill them before he knew where Thuvia was hid wassimply 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 hemight not be overlooked. The noble aroused the mensleeping upon the deck, but always before him thestrange panthan whom he had recruited that same dayfound means for keeping himself to the fore.

Vas Kor turned to his lieutenant, giving instructionfor the bringing of the Kalksus to Dusar, and thegathering up of the recruits; then he signed to twowarriors who stood close behind the padwar.

"You two accompany us to the Thuria," he said, "andput yourselves at the disposal of her dwar."

It was dark upon the deck of the Kalksus, so Vas Korhad not a good look at the faces of the two he chose;but that was of no moment, for they were but commonwarriors 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 otherwas not Carthoris.

The Heliumite was mad with disappointment. He snatchedhis dagger from his harness; but already Astok had leftthe deck of the Kalksus, and he knew that before he couldovertake him, should he dispatch Vas Kor, he would be killedby the Dusarian warriors, who now were thick upon the deck.With either one of the two alive Thuvia was in as greatdanger as though both lived--it must be both!

As Vas Kor descended to the ground Carthoris boldlyfollowed 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 whohad been detailed to duty upon the Thuria. Carthoriswalked close to the left side of the latter. Now they cameto the dense shadow under the side of the Thuria. It wasvery dark there, so that they had to grope for the ladder.

Kar Komak preceded the Dusarian. The latter reachedupward for the swinging rounds, and as he did so steelfingers closed upon his windpipe and a steel blade piercedthe very centre of his heart.

Turjun, the panthan, was the last to clamber over the railof 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 warriorwho had been detailed to accompany him. His eyes wentwide as they rested upon the face of the young manwhom he had met beside the granite cliffs that guardmysterious Lothar. How had he come in place of the Dusarian?

A quick sign, and Kar Komak turned once more to findthe Thuria's dwar that he might report himself for duty.Behind him followed the panthan.

Carthoris blessed the chance that had caused Vas Korto choose the bowman of all others, for had it beenanother Dusarian there would have been questionsto answer as to the whereabouts of the warrior who layso quietly in the field beyond the residence of Hal Vas,Dwar of the Southern Road; and Carthoris had no answer tothat question other than his sword point, which alone wasscarce adequate to convince the entire crew of the Thuria.

The journey to Dusar seemed interminable to theimpatient Carthoris, though as a matter of fact it wasquickly accomplished. Some time before they reachedtheir destination they met and spoke with another Dusarianwar flier. From it they learned that a great battle wassoon to be fought south-east of Dusar.

The combined navies of Dusar, Ptarth and Kaol hadbeen intercepted in their advance toward Helium by themighty Heliumitic navy--the most formidable upon Barsoom,not alone in numbers and armament, but in the trainingand courage of its officers and warriors, and thezitidaric proportions of many of its monster battleships.

Not for many a day had there been the promiseof such a battle. Four jeddaks were in direct commandof their own fleets--Kulan Tith of Kaol, Thuvan Dihn ofPtarth, and Nutus of Dusar upon one side; while uponthe other was Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium. With thelatter was John Carter, Warlord of Mars.

From the far north another force was moving southacross the barrier cliffs--the new navy of Talu, Jeddak ofOkar, coming in response to the call from the warlord.Upon the decks of the sullen ships of war black-beardedyellow men looked over eagerly toward the south. Gorgeouswere they in their splendid cloaks of orluk and apt. Fierce, formidable fighters from the hothouse citiesof the frozen north.

And from the distant south, from the sea of Omean andthe cliffs of gold, from the temples of the therns andthe garden of Issus, other thousands sailed into thenorth at the call of the great man they all had learned torespect, and, respecting, love. Pacing the flagship of thismighty fleet, second only to the navy of Helium, was theebon godar, Jeddak of the First Born, his heart beatingstrong in anticipation of the coming moment when heshould hurl his savage crews and the weight of his mightyships upon the enemies of the warlord.

But would these allies reach the theatre of war in timeto be of avail to Helium? Or, would Helium need them?

Carthoris, with the other members of the crew of theThuria, heard the gossip and the rumours. None knewof the two fleets, the one from the south and the otherfrom the north, that were coming to support the ships ofHelium, and all of Dusar were convinced that nothingnow could save the ancient power of Helium from beingwiped for ever from the upper air of Barsoom.

Carthoris, too, loyal son of Helium that he was, felt thateven his beloved navy might not be able to cope successfullywith the combined forces of three great powers.

Now the Thuria touched the landing-stage above thepalace of Astok. Hurriedly the prince and Vas Kordisembarked and entered the drop that would carrythem to the lower levels of the palace.

Close beside it was another drop that was utilized bycommon warriors. Carthoris touched Kar Komak upon the arm.

"Come!" he whispered. "You are my only friendamong 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 insearch of them, at the same time entering the cage.Kar Komak followed him, closing the door. The slavedid not start the cage downward. Every second counted.They must reach the lower level as soon as possible afterAstok 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 cageshot downward at sickening speed, the bowman grappledwith the slave. Carthoris could not leave the control toassist his companion, for should they touch the lowestlevel at the speed at which they were going, all would bedashed to instant death.

Below him he could now see the top of Astok's cagein the parallel shaft, and he reduced the speed ofhis 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 oneof the higher levels of the palace. Opening the door, hegrasped the still form of the slave and pushed it outupon the floor. Then he banged the gate and resumed thedownward drop.

Once more he sighted the top of the cage that heldAstok and Vas Kor. An instant later it had stopped,and as he brought his car to a halt, he saw the two mendisappear through one of the exits of the corridor beyond.