The confession of love which the girl's fright had wrungfrom her touched me deeply; but it humiliated me as well,since I felt that in some thoughtless word or act I had givenher reason to believe that I reciprocated her affection.

Never have I been much of a ladies' man, being moreconcerned with fighting and kindred arts which have everseemed to me more befitting a man than mooning over ascented glove four sizes too small for him, or kissing a deadflower that has begun to smell like a cabbage. So I was quiteat a loss as to what to do or say. A thousand times rather facethe wild hordes of the dead sea bottoms than meet the eyes of thisbeautiful young girl and tell her the thing that I must tell her.

But there was nothing else to be done, and so I did it.Very clumsily too, I fear.

Gently I unclasped her hands from about my neck, and stillholding them in mine I told her the story of my love forDejah Thoris. That of all the women of two worlds that I hadknown and admired during my long life she alone had I loved.

The tale did not seem to please her. Like a tigress she sprang,panting, to her feet. Her beautiful face was distorted in anexpression of horrible malevolence. Her eyes fairly blazed into mine.

"Dog," she hissed. "Dog of a blasphemer! Think you thatPhaidor, daughter of Matai Shang, supplicates? She commands. What to her is your puny outer world passion for the vilecreature you chose in your other life?

"Phaidor has glorified you with her love, and you havespurned her. Ten thousand unthinkably atrocious deathscould not atone for the affront that you have put upon me.The thing that you call Dejah Thoris shall die the mosthorrible of them all. You have sealed the warrant for her doom.

"And you! You shall be the meanest slave in the serviceof the goddess you have attempted to humiliate. Torturesand ignominies shall be heaped upon you until you grovelat my feet asking the boon of death.

"In my gracious generosity I shall at length grant yourprayer, and from the high balcony of the Golden CliffsI shall watch the great white apes tear you asunder."

She had it all fixed up. The whole lovely programme fromstart to finish. It amazed me to think that one so divinelybeautiful could at the same time be so fiendishly vindictive.It occurred to me, however, that she had overlooked one littlefactor in her revenge, and so, without any intent to add to herdiscomfiture, but rather to permit her to rearrange her plansalong more practical lines, I pointed to the nearest port-hole.

Evidently she had entirely forgotten her surroundings andher present circumstances, for a single glance at the dark,swirling waters without sent her crumpled upon a low bench,where with her face buried in her arms she sobbed more like avery unhappy little girl than a proud and all-powerful goddess.

Down, down we continued to sink until the heavy glass ofthe port-holes became noticeably warm from the heat ofthe water without. Evidently we were very far beneaththe surface crust of Mars.

Presently our downward motion ceased, and I could hearthe propellers swirling through the water at our stern andforcing us ahead at high speed. It was very dark down there,but the light from our port-holes, and the reflection fromwhat must have been a powerful searchlight on the submarine'snose showed that we were forging through a narrow passage,rock-lined, and tube-like.

After a few minutes the propellers ceased their whirring.We came to a full stop, and then commenced to rise swiftlytoward the surface. Soon the light from without increasedand we came to a stop.

Xodar entered the cabin with his men.

"Come," he said, and we followed him through the hatchwaywhich had been opened by one of the seamen.

We found ourselves in a small subterranean vault, in thecentre of which was the pool in which lay our submarine,floating as we had first seen her with only her black back showing.

Around the edge of the pool was a level platform, and thenthe walls of the cave rose perpendicularly for a few feetto arch toward the centre of the low roof. The wallsabout the ledge were pierced with a number of entrances todimly lighted passageways.

Toward one of these our captors led us, and after a shortwalk halted before a steel cage which lay at the bottom of ashaft rising above us as far as one could see.

The cage proved to be one of the common types of elevatorcars that I had seen in other parts of Barsoom. They areoperated by means of enormous magnets which are suspendedat the top of the shaft. By an electrical device the volume ofmagnetism generated is regulated and the speed of the car varied.

In long stretches they move at a sickening speed, especially onthe upward trip, since the small force of gravity inherent to Marsresults in very little opposition to the powerful force above.

Scarcely had the door of the car closed behind us thanwe were slowing up to stop at the landing above, so rapidwas our ascent of the long shaft.

When we emerged from the little building which housesthe upper terminus of the elevator, we found ourselvesin the midst of a veritable fairyland of beauty.The combined languages of Earth men hold no words toconvey to the mind the gorgeous beauties of the scene.

One may speak of scarlet sward and ivory-stemmed treesdecked with brilliant purple blooms; of winding walks pavedwith crushed rubies, with emerald, with turquoise, even withdiamonds themselves; of a magnificent temple of burnishedgold, hand-wrought with marvellous designs; but where arethe words to describe the glorious colours that are unknownto earthly eyes? where the mind or the imagination thatcan grasp the gorgeous scintillations of unheard-of rays asthey emanate from the thousand nameless jewels of Barsoom?

Even my eyes, for long years accustomed to the barbaricsplendours of a Martian Jeddak's court, were amazed at theglory of the scene.

Phaidor's eyes were wide in amazement.

"The Temple of Issus," she whispered, half to herself.

Xodar watched us with his grim smile, partly of amusementand partly malicious gloating.

The gardens swarmed with brilliantly trapped black menand women. Among them moved red and white femalesserving their every want. The places of the outer world andthe temples of the therns had been robbed of their princessesand goddesses that the blacks might have their slaves.

Through this scene we moved toward the temple. At themain entrance we were halted by a cordon of armed guards.Xodar spoke a few words to an officer who came forward toquestion us. Together they entered the temple, where theyremained for some time.

When they returned it was to announce that Issus desiredto look upon the daughter of Matai Shang, and the strangecreature from another world who had been a Prince of Helium.

Slowly we moved through endless corridors of unthinkablebeauty; through magnificent apartments, and noble halls.At length we were halted in a spacious chamber in the centreof the temple. One of the officers who had accompanied usadvanced to a large door in the further end of the chamber.Here he must have made some sort of signal for immediatelythe door opened and another richly trapped courtier emerged.

We were then led up to the door, where we were directed to getdown on our hands and knees with our backs toward the room wewere to enter. The doors were swung open and after beingcautioned not to turn our heads under penalty of instantdeath we were commanded to back into the presence of Issus.

Never have I been in so humiliating a position in my life,and only my love for Dejah Thoris and the hope which stillclung to me that I might again see her kept me from rising toface the goddess of the First Born and go down to mydeath like a gentleman, facing my foes and with their bloodmingling with mine.

After we had crawled in this disgusting fashion for a matterof a couple of hundred feet we were halted by our escort.

"Let them rise," said a voice behind us; a thin, waveringvoice, yet one that had evidently been accustomed to commandfor many years.

"Rise," said our escort, "but do not face toward Issus."

"The woman pleases me," said the thin, wavering voice againafter a few moments of silence. "She shall serve me theallotted time. The man you may return to the Isle of Shadorwhich lies against the northern shore of the Sea of Omean.Let the woman turn and look upon Issus, knowing that thoseof the lower orders who gaze upon the holy vision of herradiant face survive the blinding glory but a single year."

I watched Phaidor from the corner of my eye. She paledto a ghastly hue. Slowly, very slowly she turned, as thoughdrawn by some invisible yet irresistible force. She wasstanding quite close to me, so close that her bare arm touchedmine as she finally faced Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal.

I could not see the girl's face as her eyes rested for the firsttime on the Supreme Deity of Mars, but felt the shudder that ranthrough her in the trembling flesh of the arm that touched mine.

"It must be dazzling loveliness indeed," thought I, "tocause such emotion in the breast of so radiant a beautyas Phaidor, daughter of Matai Shang."

"Let the woman remain. Remove the man. Go." Thusspoke Issus, and the heavy hand of the officer fell upon myshoulder. In accordance with his instructions I dropped tomy hands and knees once more and crawled from the Presence. It had been my first audience with deity, but I am freeto confess that I was not greatly impressed--other than withthe ridiculous figure I cut scrambling about on my marrow bones.

Once without the chamber the doors closed behind us andI was bid to rise. Xodar joined me and together we slowlyretraced our steps toward the gardens.

"You spared my life when you easily might have taken it,"he said after we had proceeded some little way in silence,"and I would aid you if I might. I can help to make yourlife here more bearable, but your fate is inevitable.You may never hope to return to the outer world."

"What will be my fate?" I asked.

"That will depend largely upon Issus. So long as she does notsend for you and reveal her face to you, you may live on foryears in as mild a form of bondage as I can arrange for you."

"Why should she send for me?" I asked.

"The men of the lower orders she often uses for variouspurposes of amusement. Such a fighter as you, for example,would render fine sport in the monthly rites of the temple.There are men pitted against men, and against beasts for theedification of Issus and the replenishment of her larder."

"She eats human flesh?" I asked. Not in horror, however,for since my recently acquired knowledge of the Holy ThernsI was prepared for anything in this still less accessible heaven,where all was evidently dictated by a single omnipotence;where ages of narrow fanaticism and self-worship had eradicatedall the broader humanitarian instincts that the race mightonce have possessed.

They were a people drunk with power and success, lookingupon the other inhabitants of Mars as we look upon thebeasts of the field and the forest. Why then should they noteat of the flesh of the lower orders whose lives and charactersthey no more understood than do we the inmost thoughts andsensibilities of the cattle we slaughter for our earthly tables.

"She eats only the flesh of the best bred of the Holy Thernsand the red Barsoomians. The flesh of the others goes to ourboards. The animals are eaten by the slaves. She also eatsother dainties."

I did not understand then that there lay any special significancein his reference to other dainties. I thought the limit ofghoulishness already had been reached in the recitation ofIssus' menu. I still had much to learn as to the depths ofcruelty and bestiality to which omnipotence may drag its possessor.

We had about reached the last of the many chambers and corridorswhich led to the gardens when an officer overtook us.

"Issus would look again upon this man," he said. "The girl hastold her that he is of wondrous beauty and of such prowess thatalone he slew seven of the First Born, and with his bare handstook Xodar captive, binding him with his own harness."

Xodar looked uncomfortable. Evidently he did not relishthe thought that Issus had learned of his inglorious defeat.

Without a word he turned and we followed the officeronce again to the closed doors before the audience chamberof Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal.

Here the ceremony of entrance was repeated. Again Issusbid me rise. For several minutes all was silent as the tomb.The eyes of deity were appraising me.

Presently the thin wavering voice broke the stillness,repeating in a singsong drone the words which forcountless ages had sealed the doom of numberless victims.

"Let the man turn and look upon Issus, knowing that thoseof the lower orders who gaze upon the holy vision of herradiant face survive the blinding glory but a single year."

I turned as I had been bid, expecting such a treat as onlythe revealment of divine glory to mortal eyes might produce.What I saw was a solid phalanx of armed men between myselfand a dais supporting a great bench of carved sorapuswood. On this bench, or throne, squatted a female black.She was evidently very old. Not a hair remained upon herwrinkled skull. With the exception of two yellow fangs shewas entirely toothless. On either side of her thin, hawk-likenose her eyes burned from the depths of horribly sunkensockets. The skin of her face was seamed and creased witha million deepcut furrows. Her body was as wrinkled as herface, and as repulsive.

Emaciated arms and legs attached to a torso which seemedto be mostly distorted abdomen completed the "holy visionof her radiant beauty."

Surrounding her were a number of female slaves, amongthem Phaidor, white and trembling.

"This is the man who slew seven of the First Born and, bare-handed,bound Dator Xodar with his own harness?" asked Issus.

"Most glorious vision of divine loveliness, it is," replied theofficer who stood at my side.

"Produce Dator Xodar," she commanded.

Xodar was brought from the adjoining room.

Issus glared at him, a baleful light in her hideous eyes.

"And such as you are a Dator of the First Born?" she squealed."For the disgrace you have brought upon the ImmortalRace you shall be degraded to a rank below the lowest. No longer be you a Dator, but for evermore a slave of slaves,to fetch and carry for the lower orders that serve in the gardensof Issus. Remove his harness. Cowards and slaves wear no trappings."

Xodar stood stiffly erect. Not a muscle twitched, nor atremor shook his giant frame as a soldier of the guardroughly stripped his gorgeous trappings from him.

"Begone," screamed the infuriated little old woman. "Begone,but instead of the light of the gardens of Issus let youserve as a slave of this slave who conquered you in theprison on the Isle of Shador in the Sea of Omean. Take himaway out of the sight of my divine eyes."

Slowly and with high held head the proud Xodar turnedand stalked from the chamber. Issus rose and turned to leavethe room by another exit.

Turning to me, she said: "You shall be returned to Shadorfor the present. Later Issus will see the manner of yourfighting. Go." Then she disappeared, followed by her retinue.Only Phaidor lagged behind, and as I started to follow myguard toward the gardens, the girl came running after me.

"Oh, do not leave me in this terrible place," she begged."Forgive the things I said to you, my Prince. I did notmean them. Only take me away with you. Let me shareyour imprisonment on Shador." Her words were an almostincoherent volley of thoughts, so rapidly she spoke."You did not understand the honour that I did you. Among thetherns there is no marriage or giving in marriage, as among thelower orders of the outer world. We might have lived togetherfor ever in love and happiness. We have both looked uponIssus and in a year we die. Let us live that year at leasttogether in what measure of joy remains for the doomed."

"If it was difficult for me to understand you, Phaidor," Ireplied, "can you not understand that possibly it is equallydifficult for you to understand the motives, the customsand the social laws that guide me? I do not wish to hurtyou, nor to seem to undervalue the honour which you havedone me, but the thing you desire may not be. Regardlessof the foolish belief of the peoples of the outer world, or ofHoly Thern, or ebon First Born, I am not dead. While Ilive my heart beats for but one woman--the incomparableDejah Thoris, Princess of Helium. When death overtakes memy heart shall have ceased to beat; but what comes afterthat I know not. And in that I am as wise as Matai Shang,Master of Life and Death upon Barsoom; or Issus, Goddessof Life Eternal."

Phaidor stood looking at me intently for a moment. Noanger showed in her eyes this time, only a pathetic expressionof hopeless sorrow.

"I do not understand," she said, and turning walked slowly inthe direction of the door through which Issus and her retinuehad passed. A moment later she had passed from my sight.