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The first man to follow him was Tanus and when the last reached the deck of the cruiser there remained upon the palace roof only the twelve warriors of Helium, ith naked swords, had taken the posts of the Gatholians at the le warrior who had remained aboard the Vanator would leave her now
"I expected no less," said Gahan, as with the help of those already on the deck he and the others found secure lashings The commander of the Vanator shook his head He loved his trim craft, the pride of her class in the little navy of Gathol It was of her he thought-not of hietation of some distant sea-bottoreen horde He looked at Gahan
"Are you ready, San Tothis?" asked the jed
"All is ready"
"Then cut away!"
Word was passed across the deck and over the side to the Heliuun they were to cut away Twelve keen swords must strike simultaneously and with equal power, and each must sever completely and instantly three strands of heavy cable that no loose end fouling a block bring immediate disaster upon the Vanator
Booh the screa wind to the twelve warriors upon the roof Boom! Twelve swords were raised above twelve brawny shoulders Boos, clean and as one
The Vanator, her propellors whirling, shot forith the storm The tempest struck her in the stern as with a reat ship upon her nose, and then it caught her and spun her as a child's top spins; and upon the palace roof the twelve men looked on in silent helplessness and prayed for the souls of the brave warriors ere going to their death And others saw, froars upon a thousand roofs; but only for an instant did the preparations stop that would send other brave htful maelstroe of the warriors of Barsooht of the city at least, though as long as the watchers could see her never for an instant did she rest upon an even keel Soain she hurtled along keel up, or rolled over and over, or stood upon her nose or her tail at the caprice of the great force that carried her along And the watchers saw that this great ship was reat and small that filled the sky Never in the memory of ed across the face of Barsoom