The Snowflake herald., 1921-04-22
CHAPTER xlv-continued.


at the corners of her mouth she made
answer:
"From the beginning Of time upon
BarSOom it has been the prerogative
of woman to change her mind as she
listed and to diSsemble in matters con-
corning her heart. That you will for
give, Than Kosis, as has your son.
Two days ago was not sure of his
love for me, but now / am, and |
have come to beg of you to forget
my rash words and to accept the as
surance of the princess of Helium
that when the time comes she will
wed Sab Than, prince of Zodanga. :
Il am glad that you have so de-
cided" replied Than Kosis. 1T is far
from my desire to push war further
against the people of Helium, and,
your promise shall be recorded and
a proclamation to my people issued
forthwith. We shall see how the peo-
pie of Helium take to peace. l shall
at least offer it to them"
Deiah Thoris, after a few words,
turned and left the apartment, still
followed by her guards.
Thus was the edifice of my brief
dream of happiness dashed, broken,
to the ground of reality. The woman
for whom I had offered my life, and
from whose lips / had so recently
heard declaration of love for me,
had lightly forgotten my very exist
ence and smilingly given herself to
the son of her peoples most hated
enemy
Although / had heard it with my
own ears I could not believe it. l
must search out her apartments Gnd
force her to repeat the cruel truth
to me alone before l would be con-
vnced, and so l deserted my post
and FASTENED through the passage be-
hind the tapestries toward the door
by which she had left the chamber.
Slipping quietly through this opening
l discovered a maze of winding corri-
dors, branching and turning in every
direction.
Running rapidly down first one and
then another of them l soon became
hopelessly lost and was standing pant
ing against a side wall when / heard
voices near me- Apparently they were
coming from the opposite side of the
partition against which / leaned and
presently / made out the tone of De-
jah Thoris. | could not hear the words
but | knew that / could not possibly
be mistaken in the voice.
Walking boldly forward I pushed
into the room only to find myself in
small antechamber in which were
the four guards who had accompanied
her. One of them instantly arose and
accosted me, asking the nature OF my
business.
81 am from Than Kosis," l replied,
"and wish to speak privately with
Deiah Thoris, princess of Helium."
mo one comes from Than Kosis
without carrying an order or the pass
word. You must give me one or the
other before you may pass"
1.-THE only order require, my friend,
to enter where | will, hangs at my
side" l answered, tapping my long
sword; twill you let me pass in peace
or nO?"
"You are not here by the order of
Than Kosis," cried the one who had
first addressed me. 'and not only shall
you not enter the apartments of the
princess of Helium, but you shall go
back to Than Kosis under guard to ex-
plain this unwarranted temerity.
Throw down your sword you cannot
hope to overcome four Of us" he added
with a grim smile.
My reply was a quick thrust which
left me but three antagonists and
can assure you that they were worthy
of my metal. They had me backed
against the wall in no time, fighting
for my life. Slowly l worked my way
to a corner of the room where could
force them to come at me only one at
time, and thus we fought upward of
twenty minutes; the changing Of steel
on steel producing a veritable bedlam
: in the little room.
The noise had brought Dejah Thoris
to the door of her apartment, and
there she stood throughout the conflict
with Sola at her back peering over her
shoulder. Her face was set and emo
tiOnless and knew that she did not
recognize me, nor did Sola
Finally lucky cut brought down a
second guardsman and then, with only
two opposing me, changed my tactics
and rushed them down after the
fashion of my fighting that had won
me many victory. The third fell
within ten seconds after the second
and the last lay dead upon the bloody
floor few moments later. They were
brave men and noble fighters, and II
grieved me that had been forced to
kill them, but l would have willingly
depopulated all Barsoom could I have
reached the side of my Dejah Thoris
in no other way.
Sheatbing my bloody blade / ad
Vdnced toward my Martian princess
who still stood mutely gazing at me
without sign of recognition.
who are you, Zodangan?" she whis