Part 11 (2/2)

”Good,” said Astok, and a half-hourabove Dusar in his swiftest flier

CHAPTER XIII

TURJUN, THE PANTHAN

The face of carthoris of Heliuave no token of the emotions that convulsed him inwardly as he heard from the lips of Hal Vas that Helium was at ith Dusar, and that fate had thrown hiht utilize this opportunity to the good of Heliurin he felt that he was not fighting in the open at the head of his own loyal troops

To escape the Dusarians ht not Should they suspect his loyalty (and the loyalty of an iht not find an opportunity to elude their vigilance until after the terain, only after long and weary years of bloodshed

He recalled that history recorded wars in which actual military operations had been carried on without cessation for five or six hundred years, and even now there were nations upon Barsoom hich Helium had made no peace within the history of uess that within a few hours he would be blessing the fate that had thrown him into the service of Dusar

”Ah!” exclaimed Hal Vas ”Here is lad to hty panthan--” He hesitated

”Turjun,” interjected Carthoris, seizing upon the first appellation that occurred to him

As he spoke his eyes crossed quickly to the tall warrior as entering the rooure, that taciturn countenance, and the livid 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 ca-stage at Ptarth that ti the intricacies of his new couarded his own hangar that night he had left upon his ill-fated journey for Ptarth--the journey that had brought him so mysteriously to far Aaanthor

”Vas Kor,” he repeated aloud, ”blessed be your ancestors for thisthat lay beneath that hackneyed phrase hich a Barsooes an introduction

”And blessed be yours, Turjun,” replied Vas Kor

Now came the introduction of Kar Koh the little cereht make to account for the white skin and auburn hair of the bowht not be believed and thus suspicion be cast upon the

”Kar Komak,” he explained, ”is, as you can see, a thern He has wandered far from his icebound southern temples in search of adventure I cah I have known him so short a time, I can vouch for his bravery and loyalty”

Since the destruction of the fabric of their false religion by John Carter, the ladly accepted the new order of things, so that it was now no longer unco with the reat cities of the outer world, so Vas Kor neither felt nor expressed any great astonish the interview Carthoris watched, catlike, for sonized in the battered panthan the erstwhile gorgeous Prince of Heliuhting, the wounds and the dried blood had evidently sufficed to obliterate the last remnant of his likeness to his former self; and then Vas Kor had seen him but twice in all his life Little wonder that he did not know hi Vas Kor announced that on theup 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 Koular Dusarian warriors that ht Vas Kor returned to the vessel fro at once to his cabin Carthoris, with one of the Dusarians, was on watch It ith difficulty that the Heliumite repressed a cold smile as the noble passed within a foot of hi, sli in his harness

How easy it would have been! How easy to avenge the cowardly trick that had been played upon hie Helium and Ptarth and Thuvia!

But his hand er's hilt, for first Vas Kor ht knohere Thuvia of Ptarth lay hidden now, if it had truly been Dusarians that had spirited her away during the fight before Aaanthor

And then, too, there was the instigator of the entire foul plot HE must pay the penalty; and who better than Vas Kor could lead the Prince of Heliuht there ca of a distant motor He scanned the heavens

Yes, there it was far in the north, diainst the dark void of space that stretched illi, unlighted, through the Barsooht be friend or foe of Dusar, gave no sign that he had seen, but turned his eyes in another direction, leaving the matter to the Dusarian who stood watch with hi craft, and sounded the low alarht the balance of the watch and an officer fro silks and furs upon the deck near by

The cruiser-transport lay without lights, and, resting as she was upon the ground,flier, which all presently recognized as a ser intendedslowly above theraceful curve

”It is the Thuria,” whispered one of the Dusarian warriors ”I would know her in the blackness of the pits aht you are!” exclaimed Vas Kor, who had come on deck And then he hailed: ”Kaor, Thuria!”

”Kaor!” came presently from above after a brief silence Then: ”What shi+p?”

”Cruiser-transport Kalksus, Vas Kor of Dusar”

”Good!” caside?”

”Yes, close in to starboard Wait, ill show our lights,” and a moment later the shts of the latter were iures could be seen slipping over the side of the Thuria and advancing toward the Kalksus Ever suspicious, the Dusarians stood ready to receive the visitors as friends or foes as closer inspection ht prove them Carthoris stood quite near the rail, ready to take sides with the new-co a bold stroke of strategy upon this lone Dusarian shi+p He had led like parties hiency was quite possible

But the face of the first man to cross the rail undeceived him with a shock that was not at all unpleasurable--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 and officers returned to their sleeping silks and furs, and once more the deck was deserted except for the Dusarian warrior and Turjun, the panthan, who stood guard

The latter walked quietly to and fro The for for the hour that would bring hihts of the cabin of Vas Kor He did not see him stoop 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 fro her here”

He paused Noto tell It should have been for ever the secret of Nutus and Astok, for upon it rested the safety of a throne With that knowledge any man could wrest from the Jeddak of Dusar whatever he listed

But Astok was afraid, and he wanted froestion of an alternative He went on

”I a fearfully around ”Nutus merely wishes to see the body that he may know his coone to the spot where we have her hidden that I may fetch her in secrecy to Dusar None is to know that she has ever been in the keeping of a Dusarian I do not need to tell you ould befall Dusar should Ptarth and Helium and Kaol ever learn the truth”

The jaws of the listener at the ventilator clicked together with a vicious snap Before he had but guessed at the identity of the subject of this conversation Now he knew And they were to kill her! His ers clenched until the nails bit into the palo with you while you fetch her 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 of Vas 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