按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
floor； and this I followed downward for several stories until
I reached the doorway of a large apartment in which were a
number of guardsmen。 The walls of this room were hung with
transparent tapestries behind which I secreted myself without
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； I 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 breathlessly； crying that they had found their four
comrades butchered in the antechamber。
In a moment the entire palace was alive with people。
Guardsmen； officers； 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 I grasped it；
for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place
I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the
palace until； in passing through a great hall； I saw the blessed
light of day coming in through a series of larger windows。
Here I 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 below；
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 have
appeared impossible； but to me； with my earthly strength
and agility； it seemed already accomplished。 My only fear
was in being detected before darkness fell； for I could not
make the leap in broad daylight while the court below and
the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans。
Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found
one by accident； inside a huge hanging ornament which
swung from the ceiling of the hall； and about ten feet from
the floor。 Into the capacious bowl…like vase I sprang with
ease； and scarcely had I settled down within it than I heard
a number of people enter the apartment。 The group stopped
beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear their
every word。
〃It is the work of Heliumites；〃 said one of the men。
〃Yes； O Jeddak； but how had they access to the palace？ I
could believe that even with the diligent care of your
guardsmen a single enemy might reach the inner chambers；
but how a force of six or eight fighting men could have
done so unobserved is beyond me。 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：
〃O mighty Jeddak； it is a strange tale I read in the dead
minds of your faithful guardsmen。 They were felled not by a
number of fighting men； but by a single opponent。〃
He paused to let the full weight of this announcement
impress his hearers； and that his statement was scarcely
credited was evidenced by the impatient exclamation of
incredulity which escaped the lips of Than Kosis。
〃What manner of weird tale are you bringing me； Notan？〃 he cried。
〃It is the truth； my Jeddak；〃 replied the psychologist。
〃In fact the impressions were strongly marked on the brain
of each of the four guardsmen。 Their antagonist was a very
tall man； wearing the metal of one of your own guardsmen；
and his fighting ability was little short of marvelous for he
fought fair against the entire four and vanquished them by
his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance。
Though he wore the metal of Zodanga； my Jeddak； such a
man was never seen before in this or any other country upon
Barsoom。
〃The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined
and questioned was a blank to me； she has perfect
control； and I could not read one iota of it。 She said that
she witnessed a portion of the encounter； and that when she
looked there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen；
a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen。〃
〃Where is my erstwhile savior？〃 spoke another of the
party； and I recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis；
whom I 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。 What know you of him； cousin？ It seemed
strange to me now that I think upon it that there should
have been such a fighting man in Zodanga； of whose name；
even； we were ignorant before today。 And his name too；
John Carter； who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom！〃
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 questioned； 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 is a stranger and likely as not they both hail
from Helium； and where one is we shall sooner or later
find the other。 Quadruple the air patrol； and let every man
who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to the
closest scrutiny。〃
Another messenger now entered with word that I was still
within the palace walls。
〃The likeness of every person who has entered or left the
palace grounds today has been carefully examined；〃 concluded
the fellow； 〃and not one approaches the likeness of this new
padwar of the guards； other than that which was recorded of
him at the time he entered。〃
〃Then we will have him shortly；〃 commented Than Kosis
contentedly； 〃and in the meanwhile we will repair to the
apartments of the Princess of Helium and question her in
regard to the affair。 She may know more than she cared to
divulge to you； Notan。 Come。〃
They left the hall； and； as darkness had fallen without； I
slipped lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the
balcony。 Few were in sight； and choosing a moment when
none seemed near I sprang quickly to the top of the glass
wall and from there to the avenue beyond the palace grounds。
CHAPTER XXIII
LOST IN THE SKY
Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of
our quarters； where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan。 As
I neared the building I became more careful； as I judged；
and rightly； that the place would be guarded。 Several men in
civilian metal loitered near the front entrance and in the
rear were others。 My only means of reaching； unseen； the
upper story where our apartments were situated was through
an adjoining building； and after considerable maneuvering I
managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away。
Leaping from roof to roof； I soon reached an open window
in the building where I hoped to find the Heliumite； and in
another moment I stood in the room before him。 He was
alone and showed no surprise at my coming； saying he had
expected me much earlier； as my tour of duty must have
ended some time since。
I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at
the palace； and when I had enlightened him he was all
excitement。 The news that Dejah Thoris had promised her
hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay。
〃It cannot be；〃 he exclaimed。 〃It is impossible！ Why no
man in all Helium but would prefer death to the selling of
our loved princess to the ruling house of Zodanga。 She must
have lost her mind to have assented to such an atrocious
bargain。 You； who do not know how we of Helium love
the members of our ruling house； cannot appreciate the
horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance。〃
〃What can be done； John Carter？〃 he continued。 〃You are
a resourceful man。 Can you not think of some way to save
Helium from this disgrace？〃
〃If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than；〃 I answered；
〃I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned；
but for personal reasons I would prefer that another struck
the blow that frees Dejah Thoris。〃
Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke。
〃You love her！〃 he said。 〃Does she know it？〃
〃She knows it； Kantos Kan； and repulses me only because
she is promised to Sab Than。〃
The splendid fellow sprang to his feet； and grasping me
by the shoulder raised his sword on high； exclaiming：
〃And had the choice been left to me I could not have
chosen a more fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom。
Here is my hand upon