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"Indeed!" she cried "What do you mean?"

"Gahan of Gathol has asked perht and tilted her chin in the air "I would not ith a walking diamond-mine," she said "I will not have him"

"I told hiood as betrothed to another He was very courteous about it; but at the saetting what he wanted and that he wanted you very much I suppose it will mean another war Your mother's beauty kept Helium at war forto set all Barsoom afire to win you, as I still would to keep your divine olden service at the undiirl should not yet be troubled with such matters," said Dejah Thoris "Re with an Earth child, whose span of life would be hter of Barsoohters of Barsoom sometimes marry as early as twenty?" he insisted

"Yes, but they will still be desirable in the eyes of enerations of Earth folk have returned to dust-there is no hurry, at least, upon Barsoom We do not fade and decay here as you tell h you, yourself, belie your oords When the time seems proper Tara of Heliuive the irl, "the subject irks me, and I shall not marry Djor Kantos, or another-I do not intend to wed"

Her father and mother looked at her and smiled "When Gahan of Gathol returns he one?" asked the girl

"His flier departs for Gathol in the ," John Carter replied

"I have seen the last of hih of relief

"He says not," returned John Carter

The girl dis and the conversation passed to other topics A letter had arrived fro at her father's court while Carthoris, her mate, hunted in Okar Word had been received that the Tharks and Warhoons were again at war, or rather that there had been an engagement, for as their habitual state In the e green hordes-only a single temporary truce T battleships had been launched at Hastor A little band of holy therns was atteion of Issus, who they claimed still lived in spirit and had communicated with them There were rumors of war from Dusar A scientist claimed to have discovered human life on the further moon A madman had attempted to destroy the atmosphere plant Seven people had been assassinated in Greater Heliu the last ten zodes, (the equivalent of an Earth day)