The Snowflake herald., 1921-04-22
BY
EDGAR RICE
BURROUGHS
Aufbor of
Tarzan Of the Apes

/ til the ceremony had actually been
performed.
AS | wandered along the corridors,
l was as absolutely lost in the mazes
of winding passageways as had been
before / discovered Dejah Thoris'
apartments.
Presently / came upon spiral run
way leading to lower floor, and this
followed downward for several stories
until l reached the doorway of large
apartment in which we're number OF
guardsmen. The walls of this room
were hung with transparent tapestries
behind which l secreted myself with
out being apprehended.
The conversation of the guardsmen
was general, and awakened no interest,"
in me until an officer entered the room
and ordered four of the men to relieve
the detail who were guarding the
princess Of Helium. Now, | knew, my
troubles would commence in earnest
and indeed they were upon me all too
soon. for it seemed that the squad had
scarcely left the guardroOm before one
of their number burst in again breath
lessly, crying that they had found
their four comrades butchered in the
antechamber.
In a moment the entire palace was
alive with people. Guardsmen, offi-
GERS, courtiers, servants and slaves ran
helter skelter through the corridors
and apartments carrying messages and
orders, and searching for signs Of the
assassin.
This was my opportunity and slim
as it appeared l grasped it, for as a
number of soldiers came hurrying past
my hiding place fell In behind them
and followed through the mazes OF the
palace until, in passing through
great hall, l saw the blessed light of
day coming in through a series Of
larger windows.
Here l left my guides, and, slipping
to the nearest window, sought for an
avenue of escape The windows opened
upon a great balcony which overlooked
one of the broad avenues of Zodanga.
The ground was about thirty feet be-
low. and at a like distance from the
building was a wall fully twenty feet
high constructed of polished glass
about a foot in thickness. To a red
Martian escape by this path would
4 have appeared impossible, but to me-
with my earthly strength and agility
it seemed already accomplished. Ny
only fear was in being detected before
darkness fell, for / could not make the
leap in broad daylight while the court
below and the avenue beyond were
crowded with Zodangans.
Accordingly 1 searched for hiding
place and finally found one by acci-
dent, inside a huge hanging ornament
which hung from the ceiling Of the
hall, and about ten feet from the floor,
Into the capacious bowl-like vase |
sprang with ease, and scarcely had /
settled down within it than | heard a
number of people enter the apartment.
The group stopped beneath my hiding
place and 1 could plainly overhear
their every word.
''It is the work of HeliumiteS," said
one Of the men.
Eyes, o Jeddak, but how had they
access to the palace? We shall soon
know, however, for here comes the
royal psychologist"
Another man now Joined the group,
and, after making his formal greetings
to his ruler, said:
30 mighty Jeddak. it is a strange
tale read in the dead minds Of your
faithful guardsmen. They were felled
not by number Of fighting men, but
by single opponent"
He paused to let the full weight of
this announcement impress his hear
ers, and that his statement was scarce
ly credited was evidenced by the impa-
tient exclamation of increduIity which
escaped the lips Of Than Kosis.
"Where is my erstwhile saviOr?''
spoke another of the party, and 1 rec
Ognized the voice of the cousin of
Than Kosis, whom l had rescued from
the green warriors. ''By the metal of
my first ancestor" he went on. ''but
the description fits him to perfection,
especially as to his fighting ability"
where is this man?" cried Than
Kosis. "Have him brought to me at
once"
Word was soon brought that I was
nowhere to be found, either in the
palace or at my former quarters in
the barracks of the air-scout squadron
Kantos Kan they had found and ques-
toned, but he knew nothing of my
whereabouts, and as to my past, he
had told them he knew as little, since
he had but recently met me during
our captivity among the Warhoons.
Keep your eyes on this other one
commanded Than Kosis. HE also Il
stranger and likely as not they both
hail from Helium, and where one Ii
we shall sooner or later find the 9th
er.'
Another messenger now entered
with word that was still within the
palace walls.
'The likeness Of every person who
| has entered or left the Dalace grounds