"And my Jed stood before me now," cried Tasor, "and my avowal could be made without violating his confidence, I should cast my sword at his feet and beg the high privilege of dying for him as my sire died for his sire."There could be no doubt of his sincerity nor any that he was cognizant of Gahan's identity.The Jed of Gathol smiled."And if your Jed were here there is little doubt but that he would command you to devote your talents and your prowess to the rescue of the Princess Tara of Helium," he said, meaningly."And he possessed the knowledge I have gained during my captivity he would say to you, 'Go, Tasor, to the pit where A-kor, son of Haja of Gathol, is confined and set him free and with him arouse the slaves from Gathol and march to The Gate of Enemies and offer your services to U-Thor of Manataj, who is wed to Haja of Gathol, and ask of him in return that he attack the palace of O-Tar and rescue Tara of Helium and when that thing is accomplished that he free the slaves of Gathol and furnish them with the arms and the means to return to their own country.' That, Tasor of Gathol, is what Gahan your Jed would demand of you.""And that, Turan the slave, is what I shall bend my every effort to accomplish after I have found a safe refuge for Tara of Helium and her panthan," replied Tasor.
Gahan's glance carried to Tasor an intimation of his Jed's gratification and filled him with a chivalrous determination to do the thing required of him, or die, for he considered that he had received from the lips of his beloved ruler a commission that placed upon his shoulders a responsibility that encompassed not alone the life of Gahan and Tara but the welfare, perhaps the whole future, of Gathol.And so he hastened them onward through the musty corridors of the old palace where the dust of ages lay undisturbed upon the marble tiles.Now and again he tried a door until he found one that was unlocked.Opening it he ushered them into a chamber, heavy with dust.Crumbling silks and furs adorned the walls, with ancient weapons, and great paintings whose colors were toned by age to wondrous softness.
"This be as good as any place," he said."No one comes here.
Never have I been here before, so I know no more of the other chambers than you; but this one, at least, I can find again when I bring you food and drink.O-Mai the Cruel occupied this portion of the palace during his reign, five thousand years before O-Tar.
In one of these apartments he was found dead, his face contorted in an expression of fear so horrible that it drove to madness those who looked upon it; yet there was no mark of violence upon him Since then the quarters of O-Mai have been shunned for the legends have it that the ghosts of Corphals pursue the spirit of the wicked Jeddak nightly through these chambers, shrieking and moaning as they go.But," he added, as though to reassure himself as well as his companions, "such things may not be countenanced by the culture of Gathol or Helium."Gahan laughed."And if all who looked upon him were driven mad, who then was there to perform the last rites or prepare the body of the Jeddak for them?""There was none," replied Tasor."Where they found him they left him and there to this very day his mouldering bones lie hid in some forgotten chamber of this forbidden suite."Tasor left them then assuring them that he would seek the first opportunity to speak with A-Kor, and upon the following day he would bring them food and drink.** Those who have read John Carter's description of the Green Martians in A Princess of Mars will recall that these strange people could exist for considerable periods of time without food or water, and to a lesser degree is the same true of all Martians.
After Tasor had gone Tara turned to Gahan and approaching laid a hand upon his arm."So swiftly have events transpired since Irecognized you beneath your disguise," she said, "that I have had no opportunity to assure you of my gratitude and the high esteem that your valor has won for you in my consideration.Let me now acknowledge my indebtedness; and if promises be not vain from one whose life and liberty are in grave jeopardy, accept my assurance of the great reward that awaits you at the hand of my father in Helium.""I desire no reward," he replied, "other than the happiness of knowing that the woman I love is happy."For an instant the eyes of Tara of Helium blazed as she drew herself haughtily to her full height, and then they softened and her attitude relaxed as she shook her head sadly.
"I have it not in my heart to reprimand you, Turan," she said, "however great your fault, for you have been an honorable and a loyal friend to Tara of Helium; but you must not say what my ears must not hear.""You mean," he asked, "that the ears of a Princess must not listen to words of love from a panthan?""It is not that, Turan," she replied; "but rather that I maynot in honor listen to words of love from another than him to whom I am betrothed--a fellow countryman, Djor Kantos.""You mean, Tara of Helium," he cried, "that were it not for that you would --""Stop!" she commanded."You have no right to assume aught else than my lips testify.""The eyes are ofttimes more eloquent than the lips, Tara," he replied; "and in yours I have read that which is neither hatred nor contempt for Turan the panthan, and my heart tells me that your lips bore false witness when they cried in anger: 'I hate you!'""I do not hate you, Turan, nor yet may I love you," said the girl, simply.
"When I broke my way out from the chamber of I-Gos I was indeed upon the verge of believing that you did hate me," he said, "for only hatred, it seemed to me, could account for the fact that you had gone without making an effort to liberate me; but presently both my heart and my judgment told me that Tara of Helium could not have deserted a companion in distress, and though I still am in ignorance of the facts I know that it was beyond your power to aid me.""It was indeed," said the girl."Scarce had I-Gos fallen at the bite of my dagger than I heard the approach of warriors.I ran then to hide until they had passed, thinking to return and liberate you; but in seeking to elude the party I had heard I ran full into the arms of another.They questioned me as to your whereabouts, and I told them that you had gone ahead and that Iwas following you and thus I led them from you.""I knew," was Gahan's only comment, but his heart was glad with elation, as a lover's must be who has heard from the lips of his divinity an avowal of interest and loyalty, however little tinged by a suggestion of warmer regard it may be.To be abused, even, by the mistress of one's heart is better than to be ignored.
As the two conversed in the ill-lit chamber, the dim bulbs of which were encrusted with the accumulated dust of centuries, a bent and withered figure traversed slowly the gloomy corridors without, his weak and watery eyes peering through thick lenses at the signs of passage written upon the dusty floor.
